Enjoy premier talent and VIP bottle service at San Diego’s hottest nightclub! The guest list is free before 10 PM, so secure your spot now and prepare for a memorable night!
September lands with a tight run at SideBar, pairing San Diego favorites with Los Angeles and Las Vegas talent before the month closes on a still-to-be-announced Wednesday booking. It fits the room. SideBar describes itself as an intimate boutique nightclub and lounge in the Gaslamp Quarter, built around seasonal cocktails, luxury VIP service, signature lighting and high-energy DJ performances. The vibe is polished without feeling distant: start on the lounge side, then let the club side take over when the group is ready to stay out. That balance makes rotating open-format talent especially effective here.
Wednesday, September 23 — Julz
Julz opens the week with the local credibility that makes a Wednesday worth clearing your calendar for. Also known as Julian Dela Peña, he is closely connected to Hickies & Dry Humps, a San Diego party crew with an established presence in the city’s DJ culture. Julz has appeared on Quartyard lineups under the Hickies banner, and 2026 has kept that connection visible: he was part of the crew’s ROAD Podcast feature, joined the Real Friends anniversary at Gaslamplighter in March and appeared at June’s Run It Back party in San Diego.
Musically, Julz is open-format in the most useful sense. SideBar’s previous coverage highlights hip-hop, R&B, throwbacks and house, with quick pivots that keep his sets social rather than stuck in one lane. That range is ideal for SideBar: familiar records when the room wants to sing along, then a sharper switch when the energy needs to climb.
For San Diego regulars, there is also something appealing about starting this run with a DJ tied closely to the city rather than treating Wednesday like a warm-up for the weekend. Julz already knows this audience and this venue, making September 23 a strong excuse to get the group together early.
Thursday, September 24 — Thurston
Thursday brings Christian Thurston, the Los Angeles DJ and producer whose public profile connects him to the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound. That background gives his sets more dimension than a playlist of whatever happens to be charting. Thurston moves through R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, house, edits, throwbacks and turntablism, letting technique sit alongside crowd-friendly selection instead of choosing between the two.
He has also built a noticeable digital footprint around his mixes. Apple Music released R&B and RIBS Radio: Thurston on February 13, 2026, a 46-track, 58-minute mix that shows just how quickly he can move through ideas while maintaining an R&B center. SideBar’s recent profile points to 248,000 views for his WAVPOOL Export 003 set and 56,000 for a San Diego yacht set, along with an event trail stretching from West Hollywood to Oakland.
That makes Thurston a natural Thursday booking: polished enough for SideBar’s luxury edge, but technically curious enough to keep the night from becoming predictable.
Friday, September 25 — VTECH
Friday belongs to VTECH, and this booking has unmistakable Las Vegas scale.
The open-format DJ and producer has held major Vegas residencies including TAO, TAO Beach and Marquee Dayclub, along with a three-year run at Encore Beach Club. Her SKAM Artist biography also details appearances opening for heavyweights including David Guetta, Kaskade, Zedd, Diplo, Skrillex and DJ Snake. Outside the nightclub circuit, VTECH completed two U.S. tours with Jordin Sparks as Sparks’ DJ and MC.
VTECH’s reach now extends far beyond a Vegas booth. Her Instagram audience is above 26,000 followers and identifies her as an LA/Vegas DJ and Twitch Partner, while SiriusXM’s current Pitbull’s Globalization schedule features VTech The DJ – Power Hour Mix on Channel 13.
The sound is built for open-format freedom: pop and hip-hop can meet electronic records and forgotten throwbacks, while scratching, original edits and unexpected switches give her sets personality. Her production background has also allowed her to build custom edits and remixes rather than relying entirely on standard club versions.
Inside SideBar’s compact, dressed-up environment, that Vegas polish should feel even bigger. Friday is the night to make the reservation, bring the full crew, and plan on staying late.
Saturday, September 26 — Shawn Looney
Shawn Looney closes the weekend with Bay Area flavor and one of the busiest recent calendars in this lineup. His artist profiles place hip-hop, R&B, pop, and house at the center of his sound, while his Instagram identifies him as a Bay Area club and radio DJ with a weekly Friday-night slot on 99.7NOW and an audience of over 16,000 followers.
His 2026 run has been especially visible. In February, Looney joined the R&B and Ribs Big Game Pre-Party at San Francisco’s Pier 80 on a bill featuring T-Pain and Sean Paul. He was back with R&B and Ribs for its Memorial Day event in San Francisco, played the party’s Seattle edition in July, then joined August’s WHY2K throwback night at DNA Lounge alongside Ethan Dreams, Sopeezy and Andy.
Apple Music added another strong 2026 marker by releasing R&B and RIBS Radio: Shawn Looney in February: 30 tracks spread across a 49-minute mix.
That résumé points to a selector comfortable moving between nostalgic R&B, hip-hop, dance records and newer cuts without making the night feel like a genre checklist. His SideBar Saturday should feel loose, social and sharply paced — exactly the kind of energy that works when the room is full and everyone came dressed for a proper Gaslamp night.
Wednesday, September 30 — TBD, with SideBar setting the pace
The final Wednesday is still TBD, giving SideBar one more reveal before September is done. Until then, the week already has a clear shape: San Diego roots with Julz, LA turntablist energy from Thurston, Vegas-level range from VTECH and Bay Area selection from Shawn Looney.
SideBar’s format makes those differences matter. The venue is intentionally intimate, with a lounge side centered on cocktails and conversation and a club side built around live DJs, VIP service and its signature lighting. SideBar currently calls for upscale, fashionable attire, reinforcing that balance between polished hospitality and late-night edge.
Come early enough to enjoy the room before peak hour. Lock in the group, watch for the September 30 announcement and make SideBar the late-night anchor for your Gaslamp plans.
Elevate Your Night – VIP Access & Experiences
- At SideBar, we’re all about luxurious experiences. From skipping the line to bottle service in your own private booth, here’s how to upgrade your night:
- Guestlist & Tickets: Get free entry before 10 PM with a Guestlist RSVP. After 10 PM, admission is $20 for general admission or $30 for VIP skip-the-line access.
- Reserve Tables: Party in style with our VIP Bottle Services, featuring premium liquor, mixers, private booth, and dedicated service.
- Private Events: Book the entire venue (4,000 sq. ft. + outdoor patio) for up to 350 guests. With LED screens, a top-tier DJ booth, and full-service options, we’ll bring your event vision to life.