Humphreys is a concert venue tucked between a hotel and a restaurant on Shelter Island, with sailboats tied up along one edge of the seats. Most shows run from spring into fall, generally April through October, and the bay breeze is part of the night.
Seats, rows and dinner
Almost every show here is reserved seating, so you know exactly where you will sit before you leave the house. The exception is a show sold as general admission, standing only, when there are no chairs at all and the crowd stands. The venue is small for an outdoor stage, at fewer than 1,500 seats, and even the back rows feel close.
There are two ways to get nearer the front.
- Dinner packages pair a meal at Humphreys Restaurant with seats in rows 1 through 7. Book dinner at least a day ahead.
- Hotel packages add a night at Humphreys Half Moon Inn, dinner for two and seats in rows 1 through 5.
Everyone needs a ticket, including children and babies in arms. Backpacks, umbrellas and cameras are not allowed, and the venue is cashless, so bring a card.
How it started
Humphreys began with six shows in 1982. A college student named Marc Geiger saw the lawn at the Half Moon Inn and thought it would make a good stage, and by 1984 the series had grown to 48 shows. Bartell Hotels took over the inn and rebuilt the site, trading folding tables and chairs for proper seating.
Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Stevie Wonder have all played here. The band America had played it 23 times by 2015, more than any other act. The lineup leans toward artists with long careers, spread across rock, R&B and soul, jazz and blues and country and folk, with comedy nights mixed in.
Getting to Shelter Island
Shelter Island is built on fill dredged from the bay, and the land belongs to the Port of San Diego. The venue is at 2241 Shelter Island Drive. Parking is sold on site, and there are free public lots elsewhere on the island if you do not mind a short walk. MTS Route 28 runs between Old Town Transit Center and Shelter Island if you would rather ride.
Bay air turns cool after sunset, even in August, so pack a layer for the second half of the show.
Next door
The same address has an indoor room that runs all year. Our guide to Humphreys Backstage Live covers it. For other venues near the water and the Midway, including Pechanga Arena, see Point Loma and the Coast.