Sure, it has felt like summer ever since the kids started getting out of school a few weeks back. Yet, the calendar says that the season doesn’t officially start until this week – on June 21.
So, it seems like an ideal time to start planning some fun adventures with family and friends.
And one of the most tuneful options, of course, is to go see some live music.
Yet, that can also be a pricey choice, given that ducats to see most big-name music acts can run hundreds of dollars.
So, we’re going to forget about those kinds of shows (at least for the moment) and focus on events that cost absolutely nothing to attend.
Yes, you read that right — we’re talking about free shows.
A LOT of free shows.
There are hundreds of admission-free music events happening over the Bay Area during the warm weather months, offering up everything from rock and jazz to blues and country.
We’ve collected up many of the biggest series going on in this guide to free summer concerts in the Bay Area. The offerings are quite diverse — from jazz to blues to world music and much more — so we’re sure that most music fans will be able to find something in this roundup that should appeal to them.
So, peruse the roundup and pick a few to check out over the next few months.
Stern Grove Festival
When: 2 p.m. Sundays, June 23-Aug. 25 (also Saturday, Aug. 24).
Where: Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco; sterngrove.org
Highlights: Legendary R&B act The Commodores, with Oakland funk-soul band The Grease Traps and Bay Area DJ J Boogie (July 14); all-time jazz great Herbie Hancock, woth SFJAZZ Collective and Bay Area DJ Wonway Posibul (Aug. 11); Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chaka Khan, with acclaimed U.K. roots-reggae act Steel Pulse and Bay Area DJ LadyRyan (Aug. 25).
Note: While general admission is free, fans must reserve their spots in advance by visiting the website. Reservations open one month prior to show date. Also, there is an option to purchase reserved seats.
Los Gatos Jazz on the Plazz
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 26-Aug. 21
Where: Los Gatos Town Plaza, West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue; jazzontheplazz.com
Highlights: San Jose vocalist Jessica Johnson with the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars (July 3); Bay Area vocalist Nicolas Bearde and the Full Spectrum Jazz Orchestra (July 31); South Bay blues favorites Chris Cain Band (Aug. 17).
Redwood City Music on the Square
When: 6 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 30
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City; redwoodcity.org
Highlights: Journey tribute band Faithfully Live (July 5); Eagles tribute Boys of Summer (July 12); ’80s cover band Careless Whisper (Aug. 23).
Concord Music and Market Series
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 26
Where: Todos Santos Plaza, between Mount Diablo and Grant streets, Concord; cityofconcord.org
Highlights: The Traveling Wilburys Revue (June 27); Maya Latin Roots salute to Selena (Aug. 15); “Queen of Blues and Soul” Annie Sampson (Sept. 19).
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
When: Various dates and times through Nov. 2
Where: Yerba Buena Gardens lawn, Fourth and Mission streets, San Francisco; ybgfestival.org
Highlights: Former Cirque du Soleil vocalist Destani Wolf (12:30 p.m. July 25); charanga (Cuban dance music) outfit Orquesta La Moderna Tradición (6 p.m. Aug. 1); Afro-Cuban percussion great Jesús Díaz y su QBA (6 p.m. Sept. 5).
Point Richmond Music
When: 5:30 p.m. June 28, July 26, Aug. 23
Where: Downtown Point Richmond, Park Place between West Richmond and Washington avenues; pointrichmondmusic.org
Highlights: Grammy-winning blues artist Fantastic Negrito (June 28); Latin music act Bululú and Oakland “swing punk” outfit Van Goat (Aug. 23).
Mission College Summer Concert Series
When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays June 26, July 10 and 24, Aug. 7
Where: Central Plaza, Mission College, Santa Clara; missioncollege.edu
Highlights: San Jose bluesman Aki Kumar (July 10); R&B/pop/soul vocalist Jessica Johnson (Aug. 7).
Evenings on the Colonnade
When: 9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays through Aug. 6
Where: Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz; beachboardwalk.com
Highlights: Acoustic band 7th Wave (July 9); Chas the Shotgun Suitor with The Human Jukebox (Aug. 5).
Redwood City Music in the Park
When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 21
Where: Stafford Park, King Street and Hopkins Avenue, Redwood City; redwoodcity.org
Highlights: Bay Area reggae act Pacific Vibration (July 10); San Jose’s “King of Bollywood Blues” Aki Kumar (July 17).
Sunset by the Lake Summer Concerts
When: 6 p.m. Sundays June 23, July 7 and 21, Aug. 4 and 18, Sept. 1
Where: Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane; pleasanthillca.org
Highlights: Dirty Cello, Cocina Danzon, Fryboys, and The Guzzler (July 21); The Uninvited, Groovy Gorditas, Cousins Maine Lobster, and The Guzzler (Aug. 18).
Kids Rock!
When: 10 a.m. Sundays June 30, July 21, Aug. 21
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City; redwoodcity.org
Highlights: Andy Z and the Andyland Band (June 30); Calypso artist Asheba (Aug. 18).
Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series
When: 5:30 p.m. Fridays through July 26
Where: Downtown Amphitheater, Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill; morganhill.org
Highlights: Maroon 5 tribute band Maroon Vibes (June 28); Aerosmith female tribute act RagDolls (Aug. 9).
Sounds of the Shores
When: 5 p.m. Sundays, June 30, July 21, Aug. 18
Where: Marlin Park, 500 Cringle Drive, Redwood City; redwoodcity.org
Highlights: Bay Area party band Under the Covers (July 21); San Jose rock cover act PB&J (Aug. 18).
Pub in the Park
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, July 13, Aug. 3, Sept. 7
Where: Red Morton Park, 1120 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City; redwoodcity.org
Highlights: R&B/folk-country-rockers Stragglyrs (July 13); bluegrass act Purple Mountain Majesty (Aug. 3).
Oakland Municipal Band Summer Concerts
When: 1 p.m. July 4, 14, 21, 28, Aug. 4
Where: Edoff Memorial Bandstand, Lakeside Park, Oakland; oaklandmunicipalband.org
Golden Gate Park Band
When: 1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 6, as well as concerts on July 4 and Sept. 2.
Where: Spreckels Temple of Music (aka Golden Gate Bandshell), Golden Gate Park, San Francisco; goldengateparkband.org.
