Best Places for Outdoor Music Concerts
California summer nights are tailor-made for outdoor concerts. As long days turn into night, Mother Nature turns down the thermostat and balmy breezes fill the air.
With conditions like that, could there be anything better to do on a summer evening than go to an outdoor concert? Of course not. Use this guide to decide where to go. What you pack in your picnic basket is up to you. Moreover, California is home to many large music festivals that also occur in the summer.
1. Ford Amphitheater, Los Angeles
The Ford features musical groups as diverse as the population of the county that owns it. It’s a smaller venue than the Hollywood Bowl across the freeway, with reasonable ticket prices. Tickets are even less for the kids, making the price tag for a family of four less than a night at the movies with sodas and popcorn.
You can buy tickets and see the schedules at the Ford Amphitheater website.
2. Greek Theatre, Berkeley
The Berkeley Greek is one of the state’s oldest outdoor concert venues, built in a classic Greek style. Located on the UC Berkeley campus, it offers great views, and the lineup is so eclectic that almost everyone can find a concert they’d enjoy attending.
3. Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
The LA Greek is a medium-sized venue that most Angelenos associate with rock concerts. While it has indeed hosted some great rock events, the spectrum of musicians performing there has broadened significantly.
Situated in a natural canyon that forms a natural amphitheater and surrounded by trees in Griffith Park, the Greek offers lots of fun. However, navigating there and securing parking can be challenging.
4. Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
The Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with twilight picnics, a laid-back ambiance, and some of the best performers you’ll find anywhere. This long-running summer series features classical music from the LA Philharmonic, along with jazz, blues, and myriad other musical styles.
5. Humphrey’s By the Bay Concerts, San Diego
Humphrey’s is a charming, small concert venue adjacent to a marina beside the San Diego Bay. Their summer lineup features international acts, attracting big-name performers despite its intimate size.
6. Mountain Winery, San Jose
In the Santa Cruz Mountains above Silicon Valley, the former Paul Masson Winery serves as an intimate venue where you are never far from the stage.
7. Stern Grove Concerts, San Francisco
As the only daytime concert in this lineup, Stern Grove is held in a park area surrounded by redwood and eucalyptus trees. The performers are of top-notch quality, and the best part is, admission is free. Sunday afternoons in San Francisco don’t get any better than this.
8. Vina Robles Amphitheatre, Paso Robles
Central California’s premier concert destination attracts many of the same acts that perform at the more renowned venues in the state, set in the newest amphitheater on this list.
Each of these venues offers a unique outdoor concert experience during California’s beautiful summer months. Whether you prefer the intimacy of a small venue or the grandeur of a larger amphitheater, California has something to satisfy every music lover.
