The Punch Brothers to Steve Earle to the Dub Side of the Moon – This week in live music

The Punch Brothers Hit the Epstein Family Amphitheater

Grammy-winning bluegrass and acoustic music combo, The Punch Brothers, play the Epstein Family Amphitheater on October 9. Founded by mandolinist and Oceanside native Chris Thile, perhaps best known as a member of the platinum-selling trio Nickel Creek, The Punch Brothers include guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas, offering a take on Americana that’s steeped in folk traditions.

The group’s current road trip showcases music from their recently released all-instrumental seventh album, “The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers,” but fans will also love the quintet’s quirky cover selections, which on a given night might include unlikely gems from composer John Williams or Sia.

• The Punch Brothers: Friday, October 9 at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive. 7:30 p.m. $31 & up.

Grab Your Stein and Head to OB Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest returns to Ocean Beach on October 9-10 for two days of fun, music, and food. Located in the beach-adjacent main parking lot at the foot of Newport Avenue, activities include Oktoberfest standards such as stein-holding competitions, pretzel toss, and brat-eating contest, but the main draw over the weekend will be the music. Friday’s offerings include sets from Grateful Dead tribute combo, The Electric Waste Band, reggae favorites Doah’s Daydream and rock trio, Band of Gringos, while Saturday will feature music from several tribute bands including No Duh (No Doubt), American Idiot (Green Day) and the Red Not Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Taking place just feet from the Pacific Ocean, it will be hard for local music fans to beat OB’s Oktoberfest’s two days of fun in the sun.

• Ocean Beach Oktoberfest: Friday & Saturday, October 9 & 10 at The Ocean Beach Pier Parking Lot, 5099 Newport Ave., Gate 4 p.m. Friday, Noon Saturday. $20.

The Faux Fighters hit the Holding Company

Foo Fighter tribute band, The Faux Fighters, take the stage at The Holding Company on October 10. Part of the venue’s Oktoberfest activities, the band headlines an afternoon show that also includes Quel Bordel and Cosmic Amigo. Faux Fighters are an excellent tribute act, sounding pretty much like the real deal, but what sets them apart is singer and guitarist Chelsea Scott, who could easily pass for Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl’s twin brother. With a greatest-hits set full of favorites such as “Everlong,” “Learn to Fly” and “Times Like These,” the Faux Fighters offer up a show that will have alternative rockers up on their feet and singing along.

• Faux Fighters: Saturday, October 10 at The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave, 4 p.m.

Who’s Got the BEAT

King Crimson fans are in for a treat on October 11 when BEAT appears at the Civic Theatre. The group features four music icons: guitarist Adrian Belew and bassist Tony Levin, both of whom had a stint in King Crimson, alongside guitarist Steve Vai, and drummer Terry Bozzio. The four men onstage at this show are collectively responsible for hundreds of hits and album cuts for everyone from Peter Gabriel and David Bowie to John Lennon and Missing Persons, but for these shows the night’s set is built around the albums Levin and Belew contributed to: “Discipline” (1981), “Beat” (1982), and “Three of a Perfect Pair” (1984). This is a dream gig for anyone who enjoys progressive rock or appreciates virtuoso musicianship.

• BEAT: Belew/Vai/Levin/Bozzio: Sunday, October 11 at The Civic Theatre, 3rd & B St. 8 p.m. $45 & up.

Poiesis Quartet Brings Classical to the Baker Baum Concert Hall

Classical music may not get many headlines these days, but plenty of young musicians are still attracted to its charms. Such is the case with the Poiesis Quartet, who stop in at the Baker Baum Concert Hall for a matinee performance on October 11. Winners of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition, at this show the Cincinnati-based group will perform selections by Prokofiev and Beethoven, a brand-new song, “Tapestry of the Beloved Beatified,” custom written for them by composer Jeff Scott, and a rendition of Sky Macklay’s adventurous tune, “Many, Many, Cadences.” The Poiesis Quartet is performing in advance of the release of a new album, “Surfacing,” featuring modern classical works, an excellent addition to their canon. However, this opportunity to see and hear them live, where their musical interplay can take flight, should not be passed up.  

• Poiesis Quartet: Sunday, October 11 at The Baker Baum Concert Hall at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. 3 p.m. $40 and up.

Still Breaking Hearts – Heartbreakers’ Keyboardist Benmont Tench at Music Box

Keyboardist Benmont Tench, best known as a founding member of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, performs a solo show at Music Box on October 13.  A veteran of all 16 albums Petty recorded with the Heartbreakers, for these shows on this tour Tench is in true solo mode, just him and a piano. The night’s focus will be on Tench’s most recent solo album, “The Melancholy Season,” but he also includes nods to his past, with recent shows also including several Petty deep cuts, as well as tunes early by influences such as Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry.

• Benmont Tench: Tuesday, October 13 at Music Box, 1337 India Street. 8 p.m. $67.

Happy Birthday to Blues Man Robin Henkel

One of the cornerstones of San Diego’s blues community, Robin Henkel, celebrates his 75^th birthday with a special show at Tio Leo’s on October 15. A gifted performer, Henkel’s manic playing style and deep knowledge of blues roots have made him a favorite around the Southland for the past four decades. For this show, Henkel will be backed by a band featuring horns for a run through original music, vintage swing, blues, jazz, and funk tunes. If you haven’t caught a set from Henkel yet, this show will make the perfect introduction, while this is also a wonderful opportunity for his long-time fans to say “thanks” for all the great music Henkel has produced over the years.

• Robin Henkel: Thursday, October 15 at Tio Leo’s, 6333 Mission Gorge Rd. 7 p.m. $12.

From Baseball to Americana – Tim Flannery at Humphrey’s

Baseball and Americana fans alike will want to check out an appearance from Tim Flannery & Lunatic Fringe at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on October 15. Flannery is best known for his eleven seasons with the Padres, from 1979 – 1989, but in the ensuing years he has also built a second career as an Americana-tinged singer-songwriter, with over a dozen albums to his credit. Flannery is a really good songwriter, with a heartfelt delivery that can be quite moving, especially live. Anyone who appreciates the music of troubadours such as Jeff Berkley or Jack Tempchin will find much to appreciate in Flannery’s music.

• Tim Flannery & Lunatic Fringe: Thursday, October 15 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Shelter Island. 6 p.m. $5.

Turnpike Troubadours and Opener Steve Earle at Gallagher Square

Country music aficionados won’t want to miss an appearance from the Turnpike Troubadours at Gallagher Square on October 15. Titles such as the early hit “Gin, Smoke, Lies” give a clear indication of the Turnpike Troubadours musical inspirations, with the band’s latest album, “The Price of Admission,” full of modern, radio-friendly country music, featuring plenty of twang, a bit of grit, and song hooks a mile long. Attendees will want to get to the show early for an opening set from alt-country icon Steve Earle & musical partner Reckless Kelly. Their recent single “Bad Girls” is a catchy earworm with genre crossover potential. Fans of latter-day Springsteen or Richard Thompson in particular will appreciate their sound.

• The Turnpike Troubadours: Thursday, October 15 at Gallagher Square at Petco Park, 899 J Street. 6 p.m. $75.

The ‘Dub Side of the Moon’ Easy Star All-Stars at Belly Up

On October 15, reggae group the Easy Star All-Stars will perform “Dub Side of the Moon,” a recast version of Pink Floyd’s 1973 prog rock album, “Dark Side of the Moon,” at the Belly Up Tavern. It’s a gimmick, but it’s a good one. The band’s song updates work surprisingly well, with even the source album’s reflective opener, “Speak to Me,” sounding like a custom-made reggae track. Anyone who enjoys island sounds will love the Easy Star All-Stars’ fresh take on familiar songs, but rock fans will also want to hear these “alternate universe” renditions, which really do work well as reggae tracks.

• Easy Star All-Stars: Thursday, October 15 at The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Avenue. 8 p.m. $33 and up.