Music venues were one of the major community losses of the pandemic. While bookings for artists may have picked up again, tributes and covers are the current trend.

“A lot of songwriters are forced into positions where they have to take on cover gigs to just be able to pay their bills, because those are, unfortunately, the gigs that tend to pay at all. Whereas it’s a lot more challenging to make a living doing your original music,” explained musician Lindsay White.

With Lestat’s concert venue and Java Joe’s closed, songwriters have far less opportunities to share their original songs than they did five years ago. Jewel and Jason Mraz, two of the top acoustic performers in the nation from the last 30 years both performed at Java Joe’s early on in their careers.

“There’s just tons of different, amazing, beautiful artists that have come out of the scene and when those places closed, our clubhouse is closed and there hasn’t really been any place that has taken its place,” said Jeff Berkley, a legendary musician and producer in San Diego.

Songwriter Sanctuary was founded in January 2023 to address this need. At each monthly concert, three singer-songwriters perform for a local audience inside Normal Heights United (NHU).

The format of the concert is unique. Set up in a ‘Nashville round,’ rather than separate sets, the performers each take turns to play a single song.

“It allows for a little bit more spontaneity and allows for a little bit more improvisation,” said White, who performed at the inaugural Songwriter Sanctuary. “It just really opens itself up to a one-of-a-kind experience. You’re never gonna get that set again.”

Berkley, who hosts the series, likened the format to a pickin’ party where after a late night gig, musicians drank, shared stories and played songs off each other.

“Every singer songwriter has their own unique thumbprint. They just have their own thing and so, instead of having that one thing all night, you get a whole ‘nother flavor and you get songs you might not hear from every artist because they’re responding to a song they just heard from somebody else. It changes the way you decide what songs to play,” he said.

Berkley hopes his name lends credibility to the series. Once the concert starts though, he aims to keep the focus on the musicians, hopefully bringing them new fans.

“They’re not going to get anything like this anywhere else in town,” Berkley said.

He noted many San Diegans don’t realize that there is a world class singer-songwriter, Americana and roots music scene in the city. The music exists, but does not always find listeners.

“The talent is there. It’s just we need that community buy in as well,” White said.

The cost of living is another issue the songwriter community is facing. Ben Grace Gilmore, who founded Songwriter Sanctuary while he was working as the music pastor for NHU, has since moved away due to affordability. Drag queen Flamy Grant who performed at the Pride-themed Songwriter Sanctuary in June moved away even as her star rose, with her album “Bible Belt Baby” reaching the top spot on iTunes Christian charts.

To improve accessibility, the tickets are donation based although the audience is urged to support local artists as much as they can. All proceeds from each concert is split evenly between the three songwriters. The venue and Berkley do not take a cut.

NHU has hosted bands during Adams Unplugged annually as well as other one-off music events. The sanctuary series ensures they are a place for musicians year round.

“We thought this was a perfect way to bridge our love for being a space to host music and story and all of that, and the need for songwriters for spaces to play and perform,” said NHU associate pastor Molly Lorden.

The focus is on the songs inside the historic sanctuary that was built to naturally amplify sound. The pews are arranged in a circle around the performers.

“This building has been there for a long time and it was built for music to sound magical in it,” Berkley said.

Vendors Grace 2 Go meals, Flying Embers and Duck Foot Brewing Company sponsor the events so the audience can purchase food and drink to enjoy during the concert.

El next concert at NHU (4650 Mansfield St.) is Friday, Dec. 1 with a pop-up holiday makers market beforehand at 4 p.m. The music starts at 7 p.m. with Thea the Band, Josh Weinstein and Cheyenne Benton slated to perform.

The intimate concert series restarts in January with Eric Neilson, Astra Kelly and Dave Booda sharing their original songs on Friday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Suggested donation for tickets is $10.