We've already been dreaming of summer with this week's unseasonably warm weather, so today seems like the perfect occasion for the Hollywood Bowl to release its 2016 schedule.
Sigur Rós, Kraftwerk, Brian Wilson, Weird Al, Kurt Vile and more are all set to perform at the Bowl this year. You can pick up tickets now if you subscribe to an entire concert series, otherwise you'll have to wait until May 1 to pick up single tickets as well as for seats at non-subscription events.
For you Hollywood Bowl newcomers, all of the shows listed below are for LA Phil-produced performances (i.e. concerts with bench seats as low as $1 and a BYOB-friendly policy). Lease events (which don't allow outside alcohol) have their own ticketing policies and on-sale dates; some already announced performers include Janet Jackson, the Cure, Black Sabbath and Sting & Peter Gabriel.
We've listed some of this year's must-see performances below, but you can find the full schedule of nearly 60 shows on the Hollywood Bowl's website, including highlights like a live score of the 2009 Star Trek; salutes to Allen Toussaint, Jeff Beck, Shakespeare and Ray Charles; performances by Diana Ross, Chicago, Yo-Yo Ma, Ben Harper, Gladys Knight and Tower of Power; plus the annual 1812 Overture fireworks spectacular.
16 highlights of the Hollywood Bowl's 2016 season
June
Playboy Jazz Festival
With Fourplay, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Seth MacFarlane, Janelle Monáe and Jon Batiste
Sat June 11 at 3pm and Sun June 12 at 3pm (non-subscription)
Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl with Steely Dan
With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (and fireworks)
Sat June 18 at 8pm (non-subscription)
July
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
As part of Garrison Keillor's farewell tour
Fri July 1 at 8pm (non-subscription)
Pet Sounds with Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin
With M. Ward
Sun July 10 at 7pm (KCRW's World Festival)
West Side Story
Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel
Thu July 14 at 8pm (Thursday Classics) and Tue July 19 at 8pm (Tuesday Classics)
"Weird Al" Yankovic
With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Fri July 22 at 8pm and Sat July 23 at 8pm (Weekend Spectaculars)
August
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Sun Aug 7 at 7pm (KCRW's World Festival)
Rodrigo y Gabriela
With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Sun Aug 14 at 7:30pm (Sunday Sunset Concerts)
Mega Nova
Featuring Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Cindy Blackman Santana, Marcus Miller and Carlos Santana
Wed Aug 24 at 8pm (Jazz at the Bowl)
Culture Club
With the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Fri Aug 26 at 8pm and Sat Aug 27 at 8pm (Weekend Spectaculars)
The Academy Celebrates the Black Movie Soundtrack II
With Marcus Miller, Craig Robinson and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Wed Aug 31 at 8pm (Jazz at the Bowl)
September
John Williams: Maestro of the Movies
With John Williams conducting music from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, plus a medley from David Newman
Fri Sep 2 at 8pm and Sat Sep 3 at 8pm (Weekend Spectaculars) and Sun Sep 4 at 7:30pm (non-subscription)
Fireworks Finale with Jeff Lynne's ELO
With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Fri Sep 9 at 8pm and Sat Sep 10 at 8pm (Weekend Spectaculars) and Sun Sep 11 at 7:30pm (Sunday Sunset Concerts)
Kraftwerk 3-D
Sun Sep 18 at 7pm (KCRW's World Festival)
Sigur Rós
Sat Sep 24 at 8pm (non-subscription)
Bloc Party
With MS MR
Sun Sep 25 at 7pm (KCRW's World Festival)