Summer music: Here’s how to see 100-plus free concerts in the Bay Area

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.

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