Songwriter Sanctuary September 2025

A (mostly) monthly concert series featuring San Diego's finest songwriters. Three acts perform in a Nashville-style round sharing the stories and inspirations behind their beautiful songs. Hosted by Jeff Berkley in partnership with Normal Heights United.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

w/ : Gráinne Hunt's reputation as a powerhouse performer has landed her on stages alongside U2 and Glen Hasard (who called her "The hardest working woman in Irish music) with opening slots for Gladys Knight and Mary Black. After showcasing at Folk Alliance International in 2024, she secured an 0-1 Visa to cement her presence stateside. She kicked off 2025 showcasing at Celtic Connections and is touring the US presently, before a showcase tour in Australia. She launches her new show ‘Queer Arrivals’ at Liverpool Irish Festival in Oct 2025. She's joined tonight with tourmate and lifemate Jules Stewart, beloved touring and studio drummer known for her stellar work with groups like Billy Nation, Alex Bergan, Please Ask for Paul, Mariela, and more.

: Joe Summers is a San Diego songwriter with roots in Folk, Blues, and Soul who mixes these styles to explore the emotions of loss, grief, and growth. He believes that music can help speak things that are hard to grasp with words alone, and that it can help realize our connection with the world around us.

is an indie-pop singer-songwriter known for heartfelt lyrics, dynamic live performance, and intimate storytelling. Following early national attention from The Voice (season 7), he has released several albums and maintained a rigorous touring schedule, garnering more than 50 million streams and nearly 600,000 monthly Spotify listeners.

EVENT DETAILS:

Location: Normal Heights United Church

4650 Mansfield St, San Diego, CA 92116. Thank you to our generous venue partner for sharing this beautiful space with the local music community!

Time: Doors 6:30pm, Show 7-9pm ish.

Suggested Donation: $10 (all ages) but please be generous in your support of these top tier talents whose creative work is their livelihood. 100% donations go to artists. No one turned away for lack of funds.

All Ages: Bear in mind we do not censor our artists so please make sure to check out the lineup and make the best decision for your family.

Parking: Street parking

Food/Drink: Beverages for small purchase, thanks to our sponsors Babe Beverages and Duck Foot Brewing Company. Guests are welcome to bring their own food into the venue (please eat and dispose of waste respectfully). There are so many delicious restaurants within walking distance - feel free to grab something take-out and bring it in!

Accessibility: Please direct any accessibility / accommodation requests to Molly mollyrose(at)nhunited(dot)org at least (5) business days prior to event.Our sensory/safety station in foyer includes single use masks, ear plugs, and hand sanitizer. Our venue runs two Corsi-Rosenthal box fan filters during event.There is an ADA ramp entrance and two rows of reserved seating for folks who use wheelchairs or need extra space for mobility aids, and ADA accessible restrooms in the adjacent reception hall. Balcony seating is available (via stairway access only) for guests who prefer fewer people and less noise / stimulation. It's a very old building with an unusual circular seating arrangement, but we want to make sure everyone feels safe and supported -please reach out to us directly to chat about how we can best accommodate you and your party.

*We are working on securing sponsors in hopes of providing ASL interpreters for our full 2026 season - stay tuned for updates on this, and please reach out if you'd like to support!

Photo/Video Consent: Please ask for consent before posting the faces and/or prominent features of artists or audience members online. If someone hasn’t given permission, consider using a blur tool to protect their privacy. While we've previously operated under the assumption that public events imply consent, a thoughtful call-in reminded us that consent must always come first—especially in a time when people’s images can be weaponized. Songwriter Sanctuary is committed to prioritizing consent and will continue to model and encourage this practice in our community.

[Banner image description: Songwriter Sanctuary flyer features photos of performers and logos of sponsors. Full text in eventbrite description. Image description: A packed audience fills Normal Heights United Church as Songwriter Sanctuary artists perform.]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Normal Heights United Church, 4650 Mansfield Street, San Diego, United States