Kool & the Gang and the Sugarhill Gang Hit the Rady Shell

There are shows, and then there are events – the kind where you’re still talking about the setlist on the drive home. Kool & the Gang landing at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park this summer is squarely in the second category, and with the Sugarhill Gang along for the ride, it’s shaping up to be one of the most fun nights of the year.

Funk Royalty, Live Under the Stars

Kool & the Gang has been doing this longer than any R&B group in history – from Nairobi to Newark, they’ve kept the party going for more than five decades without so much as a pause. That kind of longevity isn’t luck; it’s the product of genuinely great music that connects across generations.

A Hollywood Walk of Fame star, inductions into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Class of 2024), and a catalog that has been sampled more than any other R&B band in history – the résumé speaks for itself.

And the songs? You already know them. “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish,” “Summer Madness,” “Open Sesame” – these tracks have soundtracked everything from Rocky and Saturday Night Fever to Pulp Fiction and Wreck-It Ralph. Hearing them live at an outdoor venue on a San Diego summer evening hits differently.

The Original Hip Hop Party Starters

Opening the night is the Sugarhill Gang, and this isn’t just a warm-up act – it’s a history lesson in the best possible way. In 1979, Wonder Mike, Master Gee, and Big Bank Hank introduced the world to hip hop with “Rapper’s Delight,” the first worldwide rap hit and the biggest-selling rap single of all time at over eight million copies sold.

Their follow-ups – “Apache,” “8th Wonder,” and “Living in the Fast Lane” – cemented their place as the group that brought hip hop from the block to the mainstream. Decades later, they still bring the kind of energy that gets everyone on their feet.

Where the Music Meets the Bay

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park does something special to a concert experience. With the San Diego skyline framing the stage and the bay just beyond, there’s a reason this venue has become one of the city’s best spots for live music. Pair that backdrop with back-to-back legends and you’ve got a summer night worth planning around.

See you there!

Two legendary acts, one iconic waterfront venue. This is the kind of double bill that San Diego summers are made for. Don’t sleep on it.

📆 Friday, June 26, 2026 | 7:30 PM
📍 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego
🎟️ Get your tickets here
ℹ️ Find more details here

See you there, San Diego!