The Legendary Belly Up Tavern is Celebrating its 50th Anniversary
The legendary local music venue the Belly Up Tavern is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and it has big plans to celebrate it.
If you’re not familiar with the Belly Up, it’s one of the best concert venues in San Diego — and it has a longstanding reputation to match. Its intimate setting has played host to bands ranging from The Rolling Stone to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Located in Solana Beach, the Belly Up got its start in 1974 when owners Dave Hodges and Greg Gilholm acquired an old hut during a search for the perfect location for their dream bar. Just a couple of years later, the Belly Up hosted its first live show in 1976. The rest, as they say, is history.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the Belly Up Tavern has planned out a 50-show run featuring some of the best acts in alternative, indie, rock, and more. Some of the bands on the listing include Spoon, Black Uhuru, The Wallflowers, Michael Franti, WAR, Steel Pulse, Build to Spill, and more.
There are a lot more excellent acts on the list, so it’s worth checking out.
The live shows at the Belly Up Tavern kicked off just a couple of days ago on July 3. They run through Sept. 30, so you’ll have plenty of time to see great bands at this cozy and intimate venue!
Media credit: Image courtesy of bellyup.com
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
