Sometimes it’s best to just hunker down with some good storytelling. Whether it’s pop, Americana, urban or traditional Tonga, North County has stories for you at a variety of venues.

Catie Curtis – 3/10

Brick 15

Del Mar

You may recognize Curtis’ pop music from TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Dawson’s Creek and Felicity or movies like Finding Graceland and A Slipping Down Life.

Her 2017 tour called The Last Outing is just that: her last time touring. Catch her singer-songwriter set at Brick 15 or forever hold your peace.

Ozomatli – 3/10

The Belly Up

Solana Beach

This Los Angeles group has been making music since 1995.  The band mixes classic to modern Latino, urban, hip-hop and other world styles to make music that represents the eclectic cultures of L.A.

Sophomore Ozomatil album Embrace the Chaos won a Grammy award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album in 2002, and Street Signs did the same in 2005.

Ozomatli’s current project? Reimagining Mexican classics with a touch of Reggae.

Trouble in the Wind – 3/10

Booze Brothers Brewing Company

Vista, CA

North County native Trouble in the Wind performs at a venue owned by North County natives and brothers Donny and Dave Firth.

Trouble in the Wind won Best Americana Album at the San Diego Music Awards in 2014 and received a nomination for Album of the Year for Lefty in 2016.

Check out this critically-acclaimed act at a homegrown—or should I say “homebrewed?”—venue.

Bad Kids – 3/11

The Pour House

Oceanside

These self-described “good, old-fashioned, dirty, teenage, Californian hoodrats” live up to the descriptors and the moniker: they play garage-beach, indie-surf rock and hail from San Diego.

Bad Kids has that classic ‘60s surf rock feel with the energy of a 1980s punk act, but the group brings surf rock to the new Millennium with its exuberant garage-beach rock.

Darryl Purpose – 3/11

Brick 15

Del Mar

Purpose’s life has been much like one of his songs: a twisting and turning story set to guitar. He left a music program to play cards in Vegas when he was a teenager and became the fastest card counter around.

After being banned from casinos on six continents, Purpose returned to music with—forgive me—a new purpose. Listen to his musician-and-peacenik-inspired music and appreciate the headspace that a 7-year-Rocky Mountain sabbatical creates.

Semisi & FulaBula – 3/11

Aztec Brewing Company

Vista

Breweries are picking up the slack when it comes to venues in North County. Aztec Brewing Company throws its hat into the ring once more with the musical collective that is Semisi & FulaBula.

Semisi Ma’u directs an ever-changing line-up of musicians as they play music founded on traditional Tongan rhythms. Tonga dances told stories that were sung by singers and acted out by dancers in the South Pacific.

Semisi & FulaBula keep these rhythms alive-and-well for San Diego to experience.