Gator By the Bay Festival at Spanish Landing Park May 9-12

The annual Gator By the Bay Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival features four days of live music with over 100 musical acts and performances on seven stages, as well as 10,000 pounds of crawfish trucked from Louisiana. Local acts appearing include Blame Betty, Billy Watson, Chickenbone Slim with Laura Chavez, Ginger Cowgirl, Benneville 7, Blue Largo, Gregory Page, Ash Easton, Mercedes Moore, Kimmi Bitter, and more.

Augustana at House of Blues May 10

After playing only a handful of shows, Augustana was signed by Epic Records, who released the band’s debut album All the Stars and Boulevards in 2005. It soon sold over 300,000 copies, and the catchy piano flourishes on the hit song “Boston” helped pushed it to platinum sales status. Frontman Dan Layus has remained at the helm through a nearly complete supporting lineup shift.

Joel Rafael at Pilgrim United Church of Christ May 11

Joel Rafael has been writing and performing for over 50 years. His bio takes us on a tour up and down the West Coast, eventually landing in Encinitas, where he also began a lifetime friendship with Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin. Rafael will team up with Tempchin for a joint performance in an acoustically rich Carlsbad church.

We the Commas at the Casbah May 11

The three Comma siblings who make up alt-surf R&B rockers We the Commas ranged in age from 17 to 23 when they began hosting a series of weekly three-hour gigs at the Bunker House in Oceanside, as well as appearing on San Diego’s KUSI Morning Show and at a March of Dimes charity event in Balboa Park. They’ve been championed by supporters such as The Head and The Heart and Young the Giant, who both shared the groups covers online. The bill includes Cheyenne Benton and Topeka Clementine.

Helena Holleran at Farmer & the Seahorse May 12

Singer-songwriter Helena Holleran was still a senior in high school when she interned for Surf Dog Records in Encinitas, kicking off an eventual music career. By the age of 18, she received sponsorships from QSC Audio and Taylor Guitars and began to pursue music full-time, becoming a regular presence on local and national stages and festivals. Among the influences she cites are Nina Simone and Curtis Mayfield.