IPO San Diego 2026

 
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CLICK HERE to see IPO San Diego 2026 Artist Yearbook Photos
 
 

Artists From San Diego

 
Tamar Berk – Having established herself as a fixture in several bands in both Chicago and Portland, with releases on Kill Rock Stars and Minty Fresh, Berk has settled in San Diego and is recording and performing under her own name. Her music showcases both her indie darling edgy riot grrrl roots, as well as her ear for a fine pop melody. Her latest album, OCD (her fifth in five years!), has earned some rave reviews for good reason! “The album sounds like the inside of an endlessly looping thought, restless and electric, with fuzzed out guitars, Wurlitzer grooves, trumpet bursts, and synths that circle like taunting voices. It is about anxieties, regrets, memories, the pull of control but also the strange beauty that can come out of being stuck inside them” (Matt Jensen, Pitch Perfect). We can’t wait to see and hear what she does next!
 
The Colour Monday – Creating meaningful and impactful music, The Colour Monday continues to evolve and push boundaries in their sound, promising to deliver even more exciting music in the future. With a unique blend of eccentric and innovative art rock, they deliver a modern sound with thoughtful lyrics. The Colour Monday continues to defy expectation in the art rock world, constantly experimenting with new sounds and styles to create music that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. Their music blends ethereal textures with indie rock and subtle psychedelia, pairing shimmering guitars with driving rhythms, creating a balance between mood and momentum. You can find them streaming on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, just to name a few.
 
Ralph Covert – A veritable Chicago pop music legend who now makes his home in San Diego, who we’re always thrilled to have join us for IPO! Covert has been a fixture on the Chicago pop rock scene since his heyday in the early ‘90s with The Bad Examples, when their single “Not Dead Yet” was tearing up the airwaves on local station WXRT, and was also heard across the country. He’s been nominated for a Grammy and featured in The New York Times for his kids’ project, Ralph’s World, for bringing a love and appreciation for melodic music to a whole new generation. His lyrics and melodies evoke comparisons to artists like Elliott Smith and Paul McCartney, arranged with sparse yet sparkling production. Covert’s latest release, The Dirty Looks, is a would have been self-titled debut forty-three years in the making by The Bad Examples under their original name…featuring seven never before released classic pop gems!! Check it out!
 
Mess of Fun – With influences ranging from Raspberries and Big Star to The Banana Splits, Rosenbaum is a pop-meister of the highest order, offering jangly whimsical tunes that are sure to make you smile. His “…monumental collection Have a Cool Summer! is like a message in a bottle that’s suddenly washed ashore… Get ready for a ‘great lost album’ experience because Rosenbaum’s songs are tight hooky little masterpieces…” (PopRockRecord.com). The album was named one of the “25 Must-Have LPs of 2021” by PopRockRecord.com and appeared on several other year end “best of” lists (including mine!), so we can’t wait to see and hear him play these songs live at IPO San Diego!
 
Hector Penalosa (of Flying Color) – Penalosa has long been a fixture on the California music scene scene as the frontman of ‘80s power pop band, Flying Color, and a member of The Zeros, Squiddo, My Revenge, and The Baja Bugs (several of which have appeared at past renditions of IPO San Diego). His latest solo record, My Beautiful Tragedy, has been described as “…a top down, drive across the desert, in love with America masterpiece…” (Sioux Guitars). Wow!
 
The Rightovers – Whether you like new wave, dark wave, shoegaze, or noise pop, you will love the shimmering sounds of The Rightovers! Their singles, which you can hear on various streaming platforms, all sound like coulda/shoulda been radio hits from the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. We can hardly wait to see and hear them do their thing live at IPO!!
 
Scott Samuels and Friends – Samuels has played IPOs in both San Diego and LA under his own name and as the leader of Roxy Monoxide, as well as in Chicago with a reunion of his high school band! His flair for fine melodies and ability to turn just about any thought or experience into a hook for a great song lyric – as well as his support and help with IPO San Diego – are very much appreciated! His sixth and newest album, Starlight and Sunshine, showcases his love of ‘70s power pop and glam!
 
Suite 100 – Hailing from north San Diego County, Suite 100 is a mix of sing-a-long melodies, lush arrangements, thoughtful lyrics and pure pop sensibilities. Exploring intricate, lavish and sometimes haunting territories, their sophomore album, The Only Cure For Gravity, harkens back to the days when you would throw on headphones and listen to an album in its entirety. Seamlessly crafted, each song is led into the next with a vignette that enhances or foreshadows the ensuing track. Eschewing the theory that lush harmonies and arrangements are for critics alone, Suite 100 also backs up their songwriting with an energetic live act that is not to be missed. They’re back in the studio crafting songs for a third album and back for their first appearance at IPO San Diego in the past 10 years, so come out and give them a warm welcome back!!
 
Super Buffet – Inhabiting the nexus of driving garage rock and earnest indie sensibility, Super Buffet evokes a spirited pillow fight between King Kahn and Jonathan Richman, while “96 Tears” plays in the background. Super Buffet is about bringing short, sharp, sing-able songs to the masses or whomever shows up. Check out their IPO showcase and latest digital EP, Laundry Money, to see and hear for yourself!
 
True Stories – A classic styled pop group, featuring four music scene veterans: Manual Scan and Shambles main main Bart Mendoza (vocals,guitar), David Fleminger (keys,vocals, guitar), Danny Cress (drums) and Orrick Smith (bass). Collectively the members of True Stories have been in every type of combo, from mod to country, and this band is the culmination of that experience. Their Mendoza-penned originals range from bluesy keyboard workouts to plaintive ballads, the unifying factor being a real dedication to hook filled songcraft. They are also known to have a lot of fun with a wide range of classic tunes, so don’t be surprised to see them throw a cover or two into their set! Which one(s) will they do??…you’ll have to come to their IPO Showcase to find out!
 
 

Artists From Los Angeles/Orange County

 
Michael Culhane – Celebrating 50 years as a singer, songwriter and performer – yes, he started out when he was just a kid – Michael Culhane will be performing just about all of the songs from his new AUTOBIOGRAPH digital EP’s at the 2026 festival thus airing his best Early Songs in public for the first time ever! These songs though otherwise as yet unheard led to the formation of several bands over the years, culminating in New York City with Circus Guy, who also toured abroad upon the release of their acclaimed CD The Lovely Luna. Bringing things up-to-date and now playing under his own name Culhane as the leader of his current trio will perform his latest songs onstage as well, including the one just recorded as an exclusive addition to the current IPO CD. If you missed them at IPO Los Angeles, you can still catch them live this year at IPO San Diego!
 
The Glimmer Stars – Led by one of the nicest guys with one of the coolest names, Mini Mendez, the Glimmer Stars have been an underground pop scene favorite for decades, with numerous singles and compilation appearances to their credit. Remaining true to their roots and strong belief that rock n’ roll should be fun, pure and simple, the Glimmer Stars are sure to put a smile on your face! The good folks at Rum Bar Records certainly agree: The Rise of The Glimmer Stars, a 22-song, retrospective featuring 20 years’ worth of The Glimmer Stars at their power poppin’ best, was their first Rum Bar Records release. The Glimmer Stars’ new album, Someday’s A Long Time, is the band’s second full-length release for Rum Bar Records. The ten-song LP occupies the sonic territory somewhere between the Small Faces and the Raspberries, while still maintaining its own character and identity. Come out and rock with one of the most fun and fun to be around bands we’ve had at IPO!
 
Courtney McKenna – A talented young LA-area indie-folk artist, with songs that combine poetic lyrics with the sounds of classic rock, Americana, and country…in other words, they will appeal to a very wide range of audiences. A charismatic and powerful performer, with a Stevie Nicks meets Pat Benatar style, she is always seeking new ways to engage her audience and to use her unique voice as a platform for empowerment.