David Cultura

David Cultura is a Panamanian multi-instrumentalist based on the West Coast, blending jazz, Latin rhythms, and contemporary influences into a sound that feels vibrant, danceable, and emotionally direct.

Approaching the saxophone like a vocalist, he crafts expressive, melodic performances rooted in heritage and fearless genre-defying artistry.

Pocket Change

Pocket Change is a San Diego-based jazz fusion trio pulling from world beat, dance, and neo-soul music.

Made up of keyboardist John Hooper, bassist Hunter Hartmann, and drummer Hunter Bragg, the group often rotates guest instrumentalists, from percussionists and horn players to singers.

They’ve played festivals, built residencies around San Diego, opened for The Soul Rebels at Belly Up, and created “Garage Grooves,” a series featuring artists from across the city.

RIVA

Jazz musician by craft and DJ by newfound passion, RIVA commands jazz club and dance club alike with an eclectic blend of jazz, house, and everything in between.

RIVA brings genre-spanning influences and an improvisational approach to the dancefloor, always with a saxophone nearby.

Part Time Tough Guy

Part Time Tough Guy is a San Diego-based selector whose genre and BPM range stays wide, eclectic, and focused on the room.

Deep house, electro breaks, and underground R&B tracks weave their way into every set, creating mixes that feel familiar while still pushing the floor somewhere new.

Mitchum Yacoub

Mitchum Yacoub is an Egyptian-American multi-instrumentalist, producer, and DJ based in San Diego.

A lifelong drummer with roots in Afrobeat, soul, funk, and reggae, Yacoub builds strong, repetitive grooves layered with Afro-Latin percussion and vibrant horn lines that call dancers straight to the floor.

Since beginning live performances in 2019, he has shared stages with The Wailers, Antibalas, Jungle Fire, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, and Seun Kuti’s Egypt 80, helping place his band in the global Afrobeat conversation.

Al Akhbar

Al Akhbar is a genre-defying ensemble reimagining Arabic traditional music through the lens of jazz.

Named after the Arabic word for “news,” the group brings a new narrative to the sounds of home, blending traditional Arabic instruments like oud, nay, and riqq with the improvisational spirit of jazz.

Your Mom’s Best Friend

Twin brothers Zach and Chris Blocher grew up in a sleepy Southern California beach town and turned their childhood playroom into a recording studio.

Along the way, they met Joey Rae from NYC and started writing and playing music together as Your Mom’s Best Friend, delivering upbeat, euphoric surf rock made to move you.

suntan

From sun-drenched San Diego, suntan is a Spanglish pop-rock band blending cultural influences, bilingual lyricism, and sophisticated musicality that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

The band recently wrapped filming for their first music video featuring “Gold,” a story about self-discovery, heartbreak, and the longing that trails the dissolution of one’s former self.

The Reckless

The Reckless, featuring Fritz Fayman, John Kelly, Michael Kennedy, and Sophia Cole, forged their sound in the fire of San Diego’s underground.

They hit like a thunderclap: classic rock roots with a modern bite, stadium-ready anthems, razor-edged riffs, powerhouse vocals, and tight-as-hell musicianship.

Their 2025 EP Who Are You announced their arrival, with the title track becoming an instant smash and helping push the band past 100,000 total streams.

Tigers In Cairo

Tigers in Cairo mix Jawbreaker’s raw grit with Militarie Gun’s punch, picking up ’90s rock and kicking it into overdrive.

Nebtunes

Nebtunes is the DJ project of Nebula, bringing another side of her sound to the Summer Launchpad finale.