As a frequent gig / concert / festival-goer, I'll keep this review brief and to the key points that make or break a decent show: 1. Sound: The main factor, and this place is not bad at all. The vocals were maybe a hair low, but that's based on a three-man band so I dunno how they'd check a bigger act. Volume not high enough to merit earplugs when standing just in front of the sound booth, but might have been close to necessary by the stage. System sounds pretty clear and well balanced overall. 2. Temperature: Eugh... Warm, oppressively so. Dunno if the AC was broken or just off, but it got toasty considering it was a show where most of the crowd were pretty static and there was solely a headline and no support sets. Outside temperature wasn't oppressive either, seemed worse than similar sized venues. 3. Plenty of parking for (what still seems to me an excessive amount of) $20 outside. Traffic getting out was chaos, with people cutting queues and nobody organizing egress until the actual gate. read more

I bought a combo ticket to the San Diego Fair and to see Andrew Santino & Dvonte Coleman comedy shows at 8:00 pm on June 28 at "The Sound" in San Diego, CA. I was disappointed on several levels: First and foremost, the quality of the comedians was mediocre at best! The crowd rarely laughed and when they did laugh, it was weak and unenthusiastic. I recently attended Jim Gaffigan's performance and laughed my ass off (and I don't laugh easily). Secondly, I got to the Fair a few hours early to see some exhibits and get dinner. When I presented my ticket at the main gate, I was told I needed a different ticket to enter the Fair. The gate agent referred me to her supervisor who said this problem has been happening all day to other guests. The supervisor directed out of line and to the Box Office. The Box Office agent said she could not help me even though I showed her my official eTicket to the Comedy event. She directed me to the far end of the fairgrounds to get my ticket to the Fair from The Sound box office. read more

it was rly special that we were able to see someone who sold out madison square garden at such a small venue. they were able to accommodate her specific stage setup, lighting cues, visuals, sound, etc. even tho when we got there it was already p packed (it was 2 hrs before the headliner's set but we didn't realize so many ppl would come down from LA), we were able to stand at a bar behind the sound techs & have a mostly unobstructed view of the stage. GA can also stand on the balcony but we preferred staying on the same level. ushers / security were helpful abt telling us where we could go, but also diligent abt asking ppl to move if they were obstructive. backstage staff were also quick to mop up the stage floor upon artist's request. our main complaint was how hot it got, again even tho we were far back & not even in the crowd; even the artist made note of it. $20 parking wasn't ideal either but we've also seen worse read more

Excellent show last night. Fun venue, felt intimate. VIP parking made it easy getting in and out. Bar had good selection, I had champagne. Sound and lighting on point. Writing this post because staff onsite was the BEST. They were in control and aware of what was happening and genuinely wanted everyone attending to have a good experience. Highly recommend read more

Very cool venue! The size is perfect for an intimate experience. The exterior is very classy and pretty. We purchased premium parking. It wasn't cheap but it was front row, steps away from the entrance! My only complaint is that we purchased seats. They were high and backless bar stools. Not comfortable or easy to get up on. I would prefer a folding chair. The security was helpful. The other guests were friendly. read more

The Sound - Front entrance - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

The seating up stairs provides a great unobstructed view to the stage. The sound quality is amazing. The lighting is great. The venue is the perfect size for an intimate setting with a big venue feel. Didn't try any food, not sure if any was offered on the night I went. (Dec 31 2025 thievery corporation ) Parking was easy. Staff was professional and friendly. Elevators provided for second floor seating. read more

The Sound - Empire Brass? - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

Recently, I went to the sound for the first time. There were things I liked and things I didn't like at all. I have been to many many venues growing up with family in the industry so I have a lot to compare. Cons: Parking is pretty pricey at $20. The parking lot is huge and empty, with the exception of concert goers taking up a tiny amount of spaces. Unfortunately, there's nowhere nearby to park unless you want to walk a long way or use uber or Lyft so you don't have much of a choice. They even charge for disabled patrons. A lot of staff/security that I encountered were rude and impatient both inside and out. I didn't get food or drinks so I didn't experience that aspect. As soon as the show ended everyone was told to leave and herded out the door. People weren't loitering, they were trying to find their friends, saying goodbye or trying to go to the bathroom. The same thing happened in the parking lot when everyone was leaving. Including people who were parked in the handicapped spaces. I get if it was 20-30 mins after the end of the show but this was immediate. The pros: It's a clean, modern space with retro neon lighting. The air conditioning kept it pretty cool, but it was only maybe half full so occupancy may make a difference. The few ushers I encountered near where I sat were mostly nice and seemed like they were happy to be there. There are several bar areas to get drinks and some food options when you first walk in. The sound is decent, some songs were louder than others and I would have liked to hear the singers voices a bit more, but all in all it was fine. The bathrooms were clean and stocked. I didn't encounter lines but that may have just been lucky. I would likely come back if someone really I like is playing, but the parking and ticket prices will be a consideration. Maybe the staff was having an off night? I'll have to update if/when I visit again. read more

See all

So, we have had mixed experiences at the Sound, from the different times we've been there. It would've been a little higher, but the negative experiences have brought it down by a star. The first thing people will mention is the $20 for parking. You have no choice, because it's on the front right side of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. It used to be the old location of the off-track betting area. There's no way to park nearby and walk, you would have to rideshare instead. We have experienced some very nice employees, and also some truly infuriating ones. One friend had such a horrible experience in the ADA section, that she had to complain and speak to the owner. We have also had a bad experience with a member of management on several occasions. I appreciate that they have a good ADA section, that you make a reservation for. The last show had a few too many people in the ADA, and a woman with a walker had difficulty getting in and out because the rows were closer together than normal. The sound quality is usually good, haven't had too much problem with that. It can get crowded and backed up on the floor, restrooms, etc when there is a sold-out show. The staff also is instructed to immediately push you out as soon as the show is over, so try to use the restroom before the show is over if possible. They also comb the parking lot making people leave immediately, so you will be in the long line waiting to exit the parking lot. read more

See all

I watched Durand Jones & The Indications at The Sound and it was such a great first time experience! The venue isn't huge, but it has a really nice setup. Food and drinks are a bit pricey, though that's expected in Del Mar and pretty much at any event venue. We sat on the lower left side of the terrace (bar seat) and had an awesome view of the stage. They have standing room only but it was very crowded and I'm glad we had seats. The acoustics were excellent and I must say security did a great job keeping everyone in their designated spots. Overall, it was a fun night with great sound and good vibes all around!!! read more

See all

My daughter and I went to The Sound last week for a concert. She was careful to buy tickets for seats where we would be comfortable and could see. She made sure not to select obstructed view seats. The seats were the back row of the balcony. We could not see the left half of the stage and could barely see the heads of the center performers. When the people in front stood up we couldn't see a thing. If you select balcony make sure it's the front row. You'll be able to see everything. The sound wasn't great. There were several songs either a buzzing like a cord was bad. It continued through the whole song. They do not provide kids for their drinks at the bar which is weird because I thought it was a California law. Maybe it's not in effect yet. But it does explain why the floors were sticky. Parking was crazy. $20 with no option to park elsewhere. And no direction when you were leaving. A little chaotic. Probably wouldn't go here again unless I got front row balcony and I really wanted to see the artist. read more

The Sound - No lids - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

Great little intimate venue! Nice setup with good seating. The staff from walking in, to being shown our seats to the wonderful woman that took our food order. 3 STARS DUE TO THE FOOD! Now, the food... No bueno! Turkey Cubano Sliders...low quality deli turkey meat, a pickle and a piece of cheese on a type of sweet roll. The sweet roll was the best part. Now...now...my real issue! I bought a bottle of water and wasn't allowed to keep the cap! Are you kidding me? Are we at a rave in the mid 2000s? Just seemed completely unacceptable in my mind. !!I HAD TO THINK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE MORE!! As someone whose drinks was tampered with at a bar, I really would like the "take the cap from your water bottle" thing addressed! read more

Concert season is upon us, which is all year round! I have made it a point to book a few new venues each year. This spring was a first trip to the Sound and I only have good things to say about the experience. The parking was so easy, right in front of the venue. The drink and merchandise vendors were right inside the main corridor with short lines. The seats were good near the stage but to the side with a great view. We went to see Vertical Horizon. This was pure nostalgia for me as Vertical Horizon got their start at my friends bar, called the Grog and Tankard in Washington DC. A great way to bring it home. VH was opening for Matt Nathanson, who put on a pretty entertaining show for us. I especially liked his talk about AI and music. What will the world look like for music in the future? He merged his song with a country vibe for fun. I got a signed album by Matt Scanell of VH before departing for the evening. A fab first at the Sound in Del Mar. #DelMar #TheSound #Nostalgia #VerticalHorizon read more

See all

Saw Dean Lewis it was a wonderful venue 2 floors was very intimate, great sound quality, love their a lot of restrooms, and bars, I would definately will go there again for a concert. read more

See all

It was our first time here and overall we had a really good time. Although some reviews are negative because the staff, we were fortunate to encounter a great experience with staff from start (parking) to finish (inside the venue). Staff were friendly, approachable, and made things feel easy instead of stressful. Came to see All American Rejects...such a great show!!! The venue has a cool, intimate vibe that's great for live shows, and the staff definitely added to the experience. Would happily come back and would recommend giving it a shot! read more

Such a great local venue! There were a few food stands inside serving everything from a charcuterie tray to burgers, tacos, and even snacks and candy. They also had plenty of bar spaces and even water coolers with free lemon water (a rarity nowadays everyone usually charges). The staff was super friendly and helped us find our seats quickly. Sound was pretty good. Located just inside the parking lot entrance of the SD County Fairgrounds in Del Mar there was plenty of parking. I had upgraded to the premium parking ($40 vs. $20). It was nice but not sure entirely necessary this evening. Overall great venue, sound, staff and food and very easy to get in and out of. Loved it and cannot wait to go back for another show!!! read more

See all

I attended a Dean Lewis concert here last night. The venue itself is very cute, intimate, spacious, and well lit, which worked nicely for the performance. That said, the overall experience, especially as a VIP ticket holder, was disappointing. Dean Lewis originally rescheduled this concert from April 26, 2025 to January 10, 2026. We were given until around July 2025 to request a refund, and I chose to keep my VIP tickets specifically for the meet and greet. I did not learn that the meet and greet was canceled until I arrived at the venue. VIP ticket holders were told to arrive between 5:45 and 6:15 PM for merchandise pickup. We entered at 6:15, while general admission entered at 6:30. Since the venue is standing room only, we were essentially standing around for over an hour before the show even began, with no real added value for the VIP tickets. It did not feel like a VIP experience at all. When I asked others in line about the meet and greet, several said they were contacted by the venue in December and given a partial refund of about $47. I was never notified at that time and only learned about the refund while in line for the event. I also never received the refund so I emailed the venue once I found out. Complaints: 1. The venue was freezing. It was already chilly outside, and it felt even colder inside. Many people were visibly uncomfortable. 2. Prices were excessive. Water was $6 and a small bag of chips was $5. It would have been nice to see more reasonable pricing or at least some healthier snack options. 3. Communication regarding the rescheduled event and changes to the VIP experience was very poor. 4. Parking was an absolute mess. Parking cost $20, but there was no one directing traffic. Cones forced cars to turn around repeatedly, and it took me at least 20-25 minutes just to exit the lot. Positives: 1. There is a large variety of food options including burgers, vegan bao buns, tacos, charcuterie boards, mini hot dogs, pretzel bites, and more, though prices are quite high. 2. The lighting was excellent and really enhanced the performance. 3. There is a cute upstairs deck where you can sit if you purchase those tickets. 4. The venue was very clean. Overall, this is a cute and intimate venue, but I did not realize it was standing room only. Standing for four hours with VIP tickets was not an enjoyable experience. Between the poor organization surrounding the rescheduled concert, the failure to provide what was originally purchased, the freezing temperature inside, and the parking issues, it's hard to recommend this venue. Despite its charm and cleanliness, it's not worth it unless you're comfortable standing for hours in an uncomfortable environment with little direction or communication from the venue. read more

See all

Was able to see Stephen Wilson Jr play here on Sunday 11/2! The venue was great and the show was awesome! I would definitely come here to watch another show again! SWJ packed the house! read more

The Sound - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

First time at this venue to watch Allan Stone/ Ripe and Sir Woman and we absolutely loved it! The staff are nice . Plenty of paid parking spots available. The ideal is prolly to get there about an hour before the show starts, whoch was what we did so we got a good spot in the SRO area. We were standing right next to the stage, right smack in the middle with full view of the artists. Sound system was amazing. One of the best concerts ever! It's like seeing 3 different concerts in one. Super worth it for the price we paid. Show started promptly at 7p and show ended about 11p. We had a blast! There were cocktail vendors on the side as well as merch booths for the artists. Restrooms were clean. read more

Venue was nice , I was their for the st paul and broken bones concert ,but the cook and the cashier were going at it which caused somewhat of scene if she would have just left him alone let him do his job it would have been even more eventful. At one point is was like we told the cook to ignore her. read more

This is a concert/events venue located in the fairgrounds area in Del Mar. I'm not sure when this place was built, but the building and facilities feel a little newer. Sound quality/acoustics here are pretty darn good. It's a small enough venue where you have a solid line of site to the artist anywhere in the room. I would say my only gripe about the layout is that the columns are kind of blocking the view of a lot of nooks. Maybe I just wasn't familiar enough with this space but I had to walk around for a while until I found a spot where I could still see really well and not be overcrowded. As I am becoming an older concert goer I kinda need my space lol. I came here to see one of my favorite bands of all time, Bright Eyes in January 2025. It was sold out so I wasn't surprised at the level of crowd. I think this might've been almost my 30th time watching them live lol Everyone from the parking gate to the concessions and security were all very friendly. I can't remember they actually have food items here or there were just drinks because all I ordered was a beer at one of the satellite concession locations. I'm not sure if it's just because this was the only man happening at the time or I was getting there later at night, but there was tons of parking. You just have to pay for it. And because I'm not familiar, I'm not sure what other options there are so I just went straight to the paid parking lot. read more

See all

Friendly and professional staff. Venue is a medium sized with comfortable seating. Both balcony and first floor sections has food and alcohol available. Downstairs is also where you will find your merch tables. Easy in and out general parking. Doors were supposed to open 90 minutes before the start of event and they did not. We waited outside in line with over 100+ people for half an hour. I would definitely come back, but hopefully they get a little bit more organized and communicate with each other. Nevertheless, we had an awesome time watching The Teskey Brothers from Melbourne, Australia perform. read more

See all

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Nice mid-sized venue with friendly staff. Came here for the first time a few months ago to see OK GO, since we couldn't make their LA dates. It had a nicely renovated interior, friendly staff, and competitively priced drinks. The sound and light equipment were great, and we enjoyed a great show. It was $20 for parking in their lot, which we thought was reasonable. It was definitely a trek for us, but we found it to be worthwhile, and would consider coming down for a show again if a closer venue isn't available. read more

Saw Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers here. It's a spacious venue. Parking was pricey. I have a hard time standing for an entire concert. But that's a "me" problem. I'd come here again for a bucket list band. read more

Marshall Tucker was absolutely great ! Our first time to The Sound - trust the future line-up brings us back again. Concert venue is intimately sized and well appointed with food & drink options too - and - pricing for these adds was palatable. Premium parking has one right outside the venue main entry and provides well at the nights end. Upstairs balcony is a worthy consideration for the future shows per our scoping the venue out - these seats come with a full surround counter to hold your eats and spirits as you view the stage below. Actually - all seating - (upper & stage level) provide nicely for viewing - yet I'm sure some sound quality is sacrificed when not center stage. The Balcony Burger station will not disappoint if you get chef / cook we did - we shared the fully loaded burger and it was very well prepared and extremely tasty - worth it if you arrive and need a bite before the show. read more

The Sound - View from floor seating / Row H seats H8 & H9 - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

I came here for the first time to see Cuco. The venue gets extremely packed. Goodluck on getting a good view any where. Pros Plenty of parking Clean bathrooms Decent food and drink options Cons Horrible view Over packed GA Some security guards at this venue will raise their voice at you... it was our first time here the show hadn't even started and it was already super dark inside we were lost read more

The Sound - Cuco - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

For a music venue, this one is actually pretty solid! The sound was really great and we had seats front row of the top balcony - such a great view! The seats on the bottom are behind the standing GA section so you're looking over a lot of people. Wouldn't recommend if you can get something on the terrace. Their seats had a lot of cushion and there were a lot of employees available and around to ask for help. The only thing I didn't care for was the price of drinks, but that is any venue. I have heard parking is trouble here, but we arrived a little late and had no issue. It was $20 to park as well. read more

This place is dope. I'm hoping my review helps boost the ratings up because my husband and I had a great experience here. We learned that this venue is quite new (1 year old). It's at Del Mar fairgrounds. Lots of parking available, get there early if you want a good spot. Inside is spacious, clean, lots of bars to buy drinks from as well as food! The prices are not cheap. If you don't want to spend a lot, I advise you to do what we did. Eat dinner and pregame beforehand. The venue lives up to its name as the sound was amazing. It didn't matter what spot you stood or sat in, everything sounds great. All the employees were super friendly to us. I wouldn't mind coming back here for another event! read more

See all

The Good: The Sound is exactly that. All about the sound. There isn't a bad spot in the venue. The vocals and instrumentals were so clear and crisp. I will for sure go to another show there for an artist with good vocals and instrumentals. The Bad: The parking lot and pre-concert activities are absolutely terrible. The venue opens an hour before the show and the parking lot open 90 minutes before the show. The venue allows no tailgating or in my case even the ability to sit in your car and eat. I was told that is considered tailgating. I was sitting in the back of my 4Runner with all the doors closed eating some food and told that was tailgating. They wanted my group and I to get out of my 4Runner and go stand in like for 75 minutes until the venue opened. I refused and contested that claim and apparently upset someone on Elite Security because they came back around and told me the venue said we had to leave. I called BS and asked to have someone from the venue come tell me that. Elite security stood around my car like a pack of dogs until we left. Elite Security is a joke and doesn't like to be questioned. Needless to say, I still saw the show but the venue needs to get control of Elite Security. Telling someone they can't sit in their car and have to go stand in the heat and wait in line for 75 minutes is ridiculous. I was very disappointed in that aspect of the venue. Concert wise the venue is 5 stars with the added harassment from Elite Security, my rating drops to 3 stars. read more

I saw the Teskey Brothers here.... absolutely amazing venue. There's literally not a bad seat in the house. We did GA and not a bad view anywhere. Really open space with great restroom facilities located throughout. Plenty of concession areas with seating outside of the general concert area. Oh... and there was a/c!! Food was good. We had carne asada tacos which were great. I would recommend taking an uber or lyft because it saves the hassle of waiting in line to park. A quick easy walk through the parking lot. The staff were really friendly, and lastly the acoustics were amazing. It was truly a wonderful event but the venue made it even better. I will definitely be looking for other shows to attend at this venue. read more

Attended a concert here on 9/26/25. As a long time concert goer who has visited countless venues in Southern California, I feel like I can compare our experience at the sound to other venues. This place really doesn't know what they are doing. The staff were oblivious and unfriendly, not informative or accommodating to our party member with ADA needs. The venue is poory set up, poorly organized, poorly managed. For a place called "The Sound" the sound of the music was terrible, negatively impacting the show. Fan in the audience were literally yelling that they couldn't hear in between songs... I noticed many other reviews giving a pros and cons list of this venue as if to justify the terrible experience. I promise you it's not worth it! We were so excited for this show and didn't even end up staying the entire time. Parking is overpriced and poorly organized both coming in and going out after the show. TLDR: This venue, the staff and the audio engineering all suck and aren't worth the trouble. read more

IT WAS HOT!!!!! Hot, hot, hot!!! Do they not have A/C? Or were they trying to conserve finances by not turning it on? No fans were on, either! Not a good "look" for a packed, new concert facility in the middle of the summer! read more

Very nice venue. Great sound. Hint. Do not sit on the second level near the rails unless you're Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7 feet tall because you can't see over them. You'll be staring through the plexiglass. read more

I recently went with a group of friends to The Sound for the first time. We went to hear a band that is a longtime favorite for several of us, Pinback. I was excited to check out this new music venue at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. I generally have mixed feelings about the venue. First it is a very modern, new, and clean venue. I'm not sure if the building itself is new, but it is for sure newly remodeled inside. I also really liked the area around the music venue. When you are not inside the concert hall, there are various different food and drink options, as well as food court style seating. Lines to get food and drink before the show were not long at all, as there were several to choose from. As far as the music venue itself, the sound was great. I could hear the vocals really well, and it was not distorted at all. Now there were some things I was not too fond of. First, parking is $20 for general parking. There is no way around it, as this venue is not in an area with street parking at all, or any other parking lot options. Other preferred parking options are more expensive, and not necessary at all. The part that bothered me the most, is that in the music hall, general admission (of course standing room only which I'm used to) really is not that big. There is lots of seating around, but all is pre-purhased, and it makes the standing area smaller as it goes all the way around the edges. For us, that meant being crammed in like spam in a can in order to be able to hear and see the show. Sometimes for shows like that, I want a break, so I decide to stand further in back. But here, if I wanted any sort of view of the stage, it meant being super crammed in. I was able to enjoy the show, but it was hard to relax and we kept getting separated from our friend group due to the crowd. I hope my favorite bands go to a different venue in the future so I don't have to go back to The Sound, but it would probably be OK for a less crowded show. read more

See all

Amazing venue to see a show! every seat in the balcony is an absolute awesome view and the sound is amazing. Very clean venue super easy to get in and out of. read more

I was so impressed by this venue! I had no idea that there were such an awesome place on the fairgrounds. My best friend and I went to see Tony Ann, the tickets were super affordable and I think parking was 20 or $25. The massive parking lot at the fairgrounds made it so nobody had to park in the dirt. We were right up close...steps away from the venue which was amazing. We went through security super quick and they were very professional. It was just gorgeous inside, very modern, very new and clean. They had food for sale, snacks, and a huge bar. They also had self serve ice water and cups available so you could just help yourself. We were able to select our seats at the time of purchasing the tickets which I absolutely love because I don't like to be in the middle of everybody. It was just epic from start to finish. If anybody that I would like to see is performing there it would just be extra motivation to wanna go because it was just such an easy and comfortable experience at this venue. I think things would obviously be different if it was during the fair or when the races were open because it would just be that normal busy chaotic feel that the fairgrounds have. Everybody that was at the venue that I was only there to see Tony Ann so I think that definitely contributed to the general vibe and how chill everything was. read more

This is my new favorite venue! It's spacious, clean, heavily staffed and has great acoustics. There is a lobby with tables and huge screens for people who want to grab food and drinks and have a seat during the show. I counted at least 4 different bars with a full variety of options including hard kombucha (fav)! Aside from the tables upstairs, everything is general admission both upstairs and downstairs allowing for plenty of room to move around. I watched the show from several different angles, as the main downstairs crowd was pretty packed. The seated tickets are for narrow high top tables and chairs, ideal for groups and ordering food and being able to set it down. General admission guests can stand around and behind these tables of they'd like. Staff is particular about where you stand, so be sure not to block any stairs or walkways. With that said, staff was everywhere - I noticed them picking up trash and keeping things organized. When I left for the night, staff stood outside and thanked guests for coming. Are you serious??? That's so nice. Note: the downstairs bathrooms only have two stalls so plan your tinkle schedule accordingly! Also note: they don't require clear bags, just 8x10in purses or smaller! Another thing I loved was the parking. For only $20 the lot is great because the car entrance is right by the venue itself. Rows are well labeled for someone like me who can never remember where I parked my car. As a woman at a concert alone for the first time, I felt really safe and would return to The Sound again anytime. read more

The Sound - View from upstairs standing - Music Venues Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

I'm beyond annoyed that The Souns who I directly bought my tickets through that they would not refund my tickets to the Paychadelic Furs concert that has been canceled according to The Furs website and still will not refund our tickets...DO NOT PURCHASE OR ATTEND events here!! read more

Saw Trevor Hall here in November. I guess I didn't put two and two together that the Sound was on/near the del mar fairgrounds. LOTS of parking, the line was long to get in, but honestly went pretty quick to get in. The venue itself seems pretty dated considering it's new, and kind of has The Observatory meets the Musicbox vibes in terms of layout. It can hold A LOT of people. Drinks are expensive and the seating/standing situation is meh. read more

There's a lot to like about The Sound. It is a clean, well-appointed venue. Staff are reasonably personable. Despite the fact that GA can get crowded, it is reasonably well-ventilated. There are definitely patrons who don't understand personal space, but that goes with the territory of seeing live music. They also offer food and drinks, and they were pretty good. But do expect to pay Del Mar prices; I personally did not want to pay $15 for two sub-standard tacos. General parking is another $20 on top of whatever you paid for tickets. So expect to pay a surcharge on whatever you paid for tickets. But again, this goes with the territory and I was not personally put out by this. Security, on the other hand, was amateurish, verging on the clownish. The night I attended, they actually had to stop the show twice, much to the chagrin of the musicians. Indeed, the band was sufficiently annoyed that they chose not to do an encore, which the crowd very much wanted. I recognize controlling people who don't know how to behave is a problem, but there should have been much better coordination with security staff. Where this venue really lost the most points, however, are the acoustics of the place. Sound bounces badly and causes occasional thuds. I am not sure if this is due to the shape of the room or some other factor, but standing 30 feet or so from the stage, the clarity of the music was sorely muddied through the echo-ey reverberations. The tenor lead singer almost sounded like a baritone. I should also add that both the opening band and the mainliners were having various technical difficulties (mics not working, etc.). I don't if this was just unlucky or something that happens with greater regularity at this spot, but it also diminished the quality of the show. I want to like The Sound. It is nice to have a medium size venue relatively close to home. But there are both serious management and sound problems that need to be addressed. It's probably better to patronize the other club establishment up the road in Solana Beach. read more

The Sound is at Del Mar Fairgrounds in North County. We saw Stephen Wilson Jr. here and he was just incredible! So was this venue. It's just the right size to get an intimate experience. Generous standing area if you're into that (I'm not. Shoulder to shoulder standing for 2 hours would not be my gig. They even have nice handicap seating for those like me who need it. Call the box office or email them after you buy your tickets to let them know you need handicap seating and they will reserve for you. There isn't a way to designate that on Ticketmaster. All balcony seating has excellent view. The parking is $20. Food and drink available. Hamburger was tasty but $18. They also have tacos. Beer, wine, cocktails. I will definitely go to The Sound again! read more