The Guide to Outdoor Music in Los Angeles
Fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl | Photo: LA Phil
The Greek Theatre | Photo: Francisco Saiso Alva/The Greek Theatre
Dance DTLA | Photo: The Music Center
Thanks to the beautiful year round weather, Los Angeles is home to some of the best outdoor music venues and events in the country. Whether you’re in the mood for pop, jazz, blues, alternative or EDM, there are music events taking place day and night that will keep you in the groove all the way to the fall.
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States and is renowned as one of the world's premier outdoor cultural venues. The Bowl hosts the greatest artists from all genres of music, with Gustavo Dudamel and the acclaimed LA Phil at its core. Get your tickets early for perennial favorites like the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with Earth, Wind & Fire (July 2-4), John Williams: Maestro of the Movies (Aug. 22-24) and the Sound of Music Sing-A-Long (Sep. 20).
Highlights of the 2025 season include: John Fogerty (July 6), Bugs Bunny at the Symphony (July 11-12), The Cinematic Scores of Alexandre Desplat (July 15), Juanes (July 16), SiR (July 20), Diana Ross (July 25-26), I Want My '80s (July 27), Cynthia Erivo & Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar (Aug. 1-3), King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Aug. 10), Alabama Shakes (Aug. 13), Reggae Night XXIII (Aug. 17), Herbie Hancock (Aug. 20), Charlie Wilson & Babyface (Aug. 27), Cyndi Lauper (Aug. 29-30), Josh Groban with the LA Phil (Sep. 5-6), Bomba Estéreo & Rawayana (Sep. 7), Fireworks Finale: Chicago (Sep. 12-14), Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts (Sep. 15), The Who (Sep. 17 & 19), Air with Orchestra (Sep. 21), Big Thief (Sep. 27) and John Legend (Sep. 28).
Throughout the year, the Hollywood Bowl hosts fantastic "Lease Events" (non-LA Phil-produced events), including the 36th Mariachi USA (June 28), LCD Soundsystem & Pulp (Sep. 25-26), AJR (Oct. 4) and Shawn Mendes (Oct. 17).
BMO Stadium
Located at Exposition Park, BMO Stadium is the home of MLS's LAFC and Angel City FC of NWSL. Easily accessed from the Metro E Line, BMO Stadium is LA's first new open-air stadium since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962.
Upcoming concerts include Phil Wickham & Brandon Lake (Aug. 3), ATEEZ (Aug. 8-9), Enhypen (Aug. 16), Grey Day 2025 (Sep. 5) and Twenty One Pilots (Oct. 25).
Dance DTLA - The Music Center
The Music Center's popular Dance DTLA series returns for six select Friday nights this summer (June 20 - August 1) with free lessons and dancing under the stars!
Taking place from 7pm to 11pm on Jerry Moss Plaza, Dance DTLA features top local DJs and bands playing live while the crowd learns new moves - Bollywood, Afrobeats, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton and Disco.
Dance DTLA is free and open to all ages. Wine, cocktails and other beverages are available for purchase on-site.
Dodger Stadium
One of the true cathedrals of Major League Baseball, Dodger Stadium has also hosted concerts by The Beatles, Elton John (as depicted in Rocketman), The Jacksons, David Bowie, U2, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Beyoncé and many more.
Upcoming concerts include: My Chemical Romance (July 26-27), Jonas Brothers (Sep. 6) and Linkin Park (Sep. 13).
The Ford
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, The Ford is second to none when it comes to sheer beauty and intimacy - no one at the 1,200-seat amphitheater is more than 96 feet from the stage.
Highlights of the 2025 season include: Noah Cyrus (July 11), The Pharcyde & Friends (July 18), Perritos World National Tour (July 19), Punk Kids LA! with Bob Baker (July 20), Rakim, Kurupt & Friends (July 23), "If I Awaken in Los Angeles" (Aug. 1), 9th Annual Boleros de Noche (Aug. 2), Leyendas del Mariachi (Aug. 7), The Improvised Shakespeare Co (Aug. 9), Andy Grammar (Aug. 10), Serenatas y Bodas de México (Aug. 16), WonderLAnd! (Aug. 17), Lula Washington Dance Theatre (Aug. 23), Element Band 20th Anniversary (Aug. 24), Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (Aug. 23), Betty Who & the LA Phil (Aug. 30), Bajo la Luna (Aug. 31), Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band (Sep. 5), Flypoet Summer Classic (Sep. 6), Terry Riley 90th Birthday (Sep. 7), Sofiane Pamart (Sep. 9), Noche de Cumbia (Sep. 13), Hangawi: Korea Autumn Festival (Sep. 14), JP Saxe (Sep. 18), Aly & AJ (Sep. 19-20), Pino Palladino & Blake Mills (Sep. 26), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Sep. 27) and Tributo A Los Grandes (Sep. 28).
Grand Performances at California Plaza
Founded in 1986, Grand Performances presents music, dance, theater and more at California Plaza with a mission to "inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts."
Free seating is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seats in the VIP Balcony are available to Grand Performances members.
Guests are invited to pack a picnic, or dine-in / order to-go from the nearby Grand Central Market. An on-site bar will be set up on select evenings. For more info and the 2025 schedule, visit the Grand Performances website.
The Greek Theatre
Opened in 1929, the historic Greek Theatre is one of LA’s premier outdoor music venues. Located inside Griffith Park, the 5,900-seat venue offers an intimate concert experience with state-of-the-art acoustics, excellent sight lines, and a picturesque setting.
Highlights of the 2025 season include: James Blunt (June 27), mike.: (June 28), Brit Floyd & Alan Parsons (July 11), Alison Krauss & Union Station (July 13), Caamp (July 16) ,Maoli (July 17), Billy Currington & Kip Moore (July 18), David Foster & Chris Botti (July 19), The Red Clay Strays (July 20), Father John Misty (July 25),Oldies 2 Souldies (July 26) ,Joe Bonamassa (July 31), Smokey Robinson (Aug. 2), Melissa Etheridge & Indigo Girls (Aug. 5), Primus (Aug. 6), Car Seat Headrest (Aug. 8), Gipsy Kings (Aug. 9), Taylor Tomlinson (Aug. 10), Fujii Kaze (Aug. 11), Tedeschi Trucks Band (Aug. 13), Freestyle Festival (Aug. 16), Tennis (Aug. 20), Men I Trust (Aug. 21), Japanese Breakfast (Aug. 22),Pink Martini (Aug. 23), Lost '80s Live (Aug. 24), Mac DeMarco (Aug. 29-31), Ava Max (Sep. 3), The Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse (Sep. 4), Thievery Corporation (Sep. 5), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Sep. 6), Goo Goo Dolls (Sep. 7), Wardruna (Sep. 8), Teddy Swims (Sep. 9-10), Kruder & Dorfmeister (Sep. 11), Echoes of Our Ancestors (Sep. 12), Stardew Valley (Sep. 13-14), Cuco (Sep. 15), Coheed and Cambria (Sep. 17), Jordan Davis (Sep. 18), The Swell Season (Sep. 19), d4vd (Sep. 20), Psychedelic Furs & Gary Numan (Sep. 22), Dabeull (Sep. 25), Alex G (Sep. 26-27), The Head and the Heart (Sep. 28) and Sparks (Sep. 30).
Jazz at LACMA (Through Nov. 2025)
One of the museum’s most popular offerings, Jazz at LACMA showcases LA's finest jazz musicians on Friday nights from May through October. Previous concerts have featured legends such as Wayne Shorter, The Yellowjackets, Quincy Jones All Star Orchestra with John Clayton, Arturo Sandoval, Jeff Lorber, Billy Childs, Tierney Sutton, Ernie Watts, and many more.
Jazz at LACMA takes place every Friday from 6pm - 8pm at the Smidt Welcome Plaza. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the full schedule and info about the musicians, visit the LACMA website.
JazzPOP - Hammer Museum (August 2024)
Now in its 17th season, JazzPOP at the Hammer Museum invites luminaries of West Coast jazz and improvised music for Thursday night concerts in the museum's courtyard. The 2024 edition features quintets led by three innovative California bandleaders who explore a vast terrain in their dynamic, adventurous music: Jamael Dean and the Afronauts (Aug. 1), Beth Schenck Quintet (Aug. 8) and Dan Rosenboom's Polarity Quintet (Aug. 15).
KCRW Summer Nights
One of LA's most popular outdoor dance parties, KCRW Summer Nights features KCRW DJs and live bands at cultural landmarks across LA. This year's free, all-ages events include: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (June 28), Chinatown (July 12, Sep. 13), Union Station (July 19), Grand Performances (July 26), CAAM (Aug. 1), Kidspace Museum (Aug. 2), Wende Museum (Aug. 8), Downtown Long Beach (Aug. 16), Descanso Gardens (Aug. 29), Bowers Museum (Aug. 30) and The Autry (Sep. 5).
Off the 405 - Getty Center
The Getty Center's annual outdoor summer series, Off the 405 features performances by up-and-coming bands, along with DJ sets to open the night. Upcoming performances include Helado Negro (July 20), Julia Holter (July 27) and Woods (Aug. 24).
All performances take place in the Museum Courtyard, with a cash bar offering beer, cocktails, and bites. Arrive early to enjoy the Getty Center’s spectacular views and explore the world-class art collection and exhibits. Free admission, register for tickets at the Getty Center website.
Original Farmers Market
"Meet me at 3rd & Fairfax" for Thursday Night Music at The Original Farmers Market from June through August. Shop and dine at the historic marketplace, then enjoy live music on the Plaza from Count Basie & Sinatra to 60s and 90s, Texas Blues, jazz, funk, hip-hop and salsa.
SoFi Stadium
The first indoor-outdoor stadium to be constructed, SoFi Stadium is the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. The state-of-the-art stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI, the College Football Championship Game in 2023, and will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in 2028.
Upcoming concerts include The Weeknd (June 25-26 & 28-29), Blackpink (July 12-13), George Strait & Chris Stapleton (July 19), HARD Summer Music Festival (Aug. 2-3) Shakira (Aug. 4-5) and Chris Brown: Breezy Bowl XX (Sep. 13-14).
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball
The 27th season of Sunset Concerts at the Skirball Cultural Center "explores the diaspora and identity of African and Caribbean artists whose music warmly embraces humanity’s inherent right to freedom." The 2024 lineup features El Laberinto del Coco (July 18), Bao L'Bluz (July 25), Waahli (Aug. 1), and the series' first-ever DJ dance party with Jauretsi. Doors at 6:30pm, the FREE concerts begin at 8pm.