Up Next: ​Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month  - ASL provided!

Good Gravy Street Blues

Good Gravy is a street band heavily influenced by the bluesmen/women of the 30’s & 40’s. Good Gravy’s flavor can be described as a modern approach to American roots music or Americana. Within their recipe are the remnants of blues, bluegrass, folk, and jazz. Captivating melodies, thick vocals, and intriguing dynamics, this band’s imagination is fresh in the live music scene. 

Rey Wolf

Rey Wolf is the latest project from songwriter Stephen El Rey, shaped by a cinematic sense of his own past and the shadowed corners of American music traditions. Born in Victorville, CA and raised in San Diego, Rey cut his teeth busking the streets of San Francisco and L.A. before landing a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, with songs placed in film and television including Embrace of the Vampire. His sound draws from a childhood in El Centro, where jukeboxes spun Mexican love songs, Johnny Cash, and 50s rock and roll. Rey Wolf channels those roots into something darker and more restless, moving between jazz noir, border town blues, Chicano soul, and unpredictable rock and roll with a crooner’s edge.

Nathan & Jessie

Music with a spirit of beauty, spontaneity, dance, and jazz improvisation! From the city where they sun shines through the mist, Temecula, California, comes the jazzy folk duo Nathan & Jessie. Born of the individuals, Nathan Rivera and Jessie Andra Smith, this duo is a unique blend of jazzy folk and blues on resonator guitars and accordion, along with interesting interplay between male and female vocals. Their performances not only include unique all original music, but stories of their travels and interaction with the audience that make for an unforgettable experience. Love of sharing music has taken Nathan & Jessie all over the world, frequenting places like Mexico, Canada, France, New Orleans, and the Pacific Northwest. The upbeat tunes they write reflect the cultural, emotional, and inspirational images of their life experience and are rooted in the spirit of jazz, improvisation, storytelling, language, and humor.
For those wishing to practice a little community care, please come out a little early (6pm-6:30pm) for our Pre-Show Pantry Jam to help fill our community pantry & closet with unopened/unexpired shelf-stable food or gently used clothing.  

General Info

  • Address: August Showcase will take place at St. Mary's in the Valley - 1010 12th St. Ramona, CA

  • Doors: 6:30pm, Music: 7-9ish pm with intermission; (Pre-Show Pantry Jam 6pm)

  • Food & Beverage: Duck Foot Brewing, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages & small concessions available.

  • Suggested Donation: $10+. No one turned away for lack of funds. If you can, please be generous to these top-tier songwriters, as their work is their livelihood! We want to send artists home with rent money, not gas money.

  • All Ages welcome, but we do not censor artists. Please review and make the best decision for your family.

  • Booking: ​Visit our Booking FAQ and submit if interested!

  • Photo/Video Consent: Unless artists give consent, we ask guests to obtain permission before posting photos/videos of them. Guests seated near performers may appear peripherally in marketing photos; if you’d prefer not to be included or would like an online image removed, please let us know. 

Accessibility and Care at Normal Heights United

  • ​Accommodations: The majority of our concerts take place at Normal Heights United, a 100 year-old building with a non-traditional seating arrangement. While the church's leadership is ultimately in charge of building accessibility, we want to make sure every guest feels as safe and supported as possible when they are at our shows. Please send accommodation requests to Lindsay at [email protected] (cc Molly at [email protected] if building-related) at least five business days prior to the event. Our RSVP/ticket form also includes a field where you can disclose accessibility requests and/or preferences.

  • Entrances & Seating: The venue has an ADA ramp entrance and reserved seating for guests who use wheelchairs, mobility aids, and/or need additional space for themselves and their parties. Additional reserved seating is available for those who want prominent access to ASL interpreters. All seating is self-select and guests are welcome to choose any available seat upon arrival. Balcony seating (stair access only, unfortunately) is available for those who prefer less noise or stimulation. 

  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing Access: ASL access is confirmed for the remainder of the 2027 season, provided by Deaf Community Services of San Diego with generous support from Ability Central and other sponsors. We also post a QR code and link to a website with artist-provided lyrics for further access.

  • Sensory & Safety: In the foyer, you'll find single-use masks, ear plugs, and hand sanitizer. If you’re feeling unwell, please plan to join us another time to help keep our community healthy. There is a water station near the restrooms, and a small, quiet seating area in the adjacent social hall for guests who want or need to take a break from the music or sanctuary space.

  • Photography/Videography: Songwriter Sanctuary is committed to prioritizing and modeling consent. We ask artists for their consent for audience members to post pics/vids online; they usually agree, but if they don't, we will make that announcement at the beginning of the show. If you are an attendee and do not want to be captured by our in-house photographers or videographers, please let us know and we will make every effort to honor your request. 

  • Community Care: Normal Heights United has a big community fridge, pantry, and closet just steps from the venue. Please consider bringing unopened/unexpired items and/or gently used clothing for our under-resourced neighbors! Please be courteous and don't bring anything you wouldn't eat or wear yourself. If our Songwriter Sanctuary audience can stock this area once a month, that would be an incredible gift to the community and support for our venue partners at NHU who actually church like churches should church!

2026 On Deck

9/25 

ASL Provided for Sanctuary Show!
​Hispanic Heritage Month Edition, Presented with Julia Sage
Good Gravy
Rey Wolf
Nathan & Jessie

10/30

ASL Provided for Sanctuary Show!
Sam Franz
Ms. Connie
Deidre

12/4

ASL Provided for Sanctuary Show!
​Holiday Edition, Presented with Writers Round SD
Calabio Twins
Ryan Sheker
Lilia Rose
Danielle Angeloni
KISUI
Omar Musisko
John & Eileen Schnarr
Isaac Cheong