The best concerts in L.A. this June

One of L.A.’s best free live music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. The beloved program is back again for the season, and so too is its open seating and picnicking format (whereas last year you needed a reservation). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) starting in April.

See a free salsa concert every second Friday of the summer during this series at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. This year’s lineup includes Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loka, TROMBOR, Echo Park Project, La Obsesión and La Verdad.

Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. Back for the first time since 2019, this year’s lineup of free Saturday night shows includes Zsela (May 21), Bartees Strange (June 18), Los Retros (July 9), Hand Habits (July 23) and Standing on the Corner (Aug 27). Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early. You’ll get to visit the exhibits (which stay open until 8pm starting in June) and beat the dinner rush.

Giuseppe Verdi’s 1871 masterpiece returns to the LA Opera stage for the first time in 16 years with a lavish production that features designs from street artist RETNA. The opera (which features a full chorus, orchestra and ballet) tells the story of a tragic romance between secret lovers from rival kingdoms in ancient Egypt. Latonia Moore and Russell Thomas star, Francesca Zambello directs and James Conlon conducts.

Listen to classical and jazz in a dome more than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hosting monthly concerts this summer (after an abbreviated version of its season last year) inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century. The schedule includes Beethoven and Mozart on May 22, chamber music on June 19, jazz on July 17, a brass quintet on August 7, more jazz on September 4 and Bach on October 2. In all cases, you’ll find shows at 3 and 5pm. Tickets cost $50 (that also includes access to the exhibit at the observatory) and it’s highly recommended that you buy them in advance since seating is limited. You’ll need to be able to climb 53 steps to reach the dome, and children under 12 aren’t permitted. 

It’s been a mainstay of protest signs, songs and chants, but this spring the “power to the people” refrain will fill the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock are once again bringing together musicians, artists and activists for a series of shows between May 29 and June 9 that celebrate solidarity and humanitarian spirit. Programs include reimagined traditional hymns from Nathaniel Gumbs, a performance by Bryonn Bain at the Skirball, an Afro-American symphony and poetry at Disney Hall and a conversation with Saul Williams at the CAAM. The centerpiece performance at Disney Hall includes appearances from Devendra Banhart, Mon Laferte, Rodrigo Amarante and more.

Whether he’s playing White Stripes songs or ripping through the raucuous blues of his solo efforts, Jack White absolutely delivers in his live sets. Catch him over two nights at the YouTube Theater on his “Supply Chain Issues” tour in support of a pair of new albums, Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive.

The Texan indie veterans play the Palladium, led as ever by inscrutable frontman Britt Daniel. Since forming in ’93, the alt punk outfit went on to become a fixture on movie and TV soundtracks, as well as late-night talk shows, in addition to releasing 10 studio albums—including their latest, Lucifer on the Sofa.

Lil’ Kim, Jessie J, Marina and Years & Years headline this three-day concert at West Hollywood Park as part of WeHo Pride.

Kick off the start of the Hollywood Bowl season with his performance from Gwen Stefani, backed by the Gustavo Dudamel-led LA Phil. In fact, the No Doubt singer’s set is stuffed with guest appearances, including Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, saxophonist Branford Marsalis and dancing sisters Let It Happen, plus a team-up between the UCLA and USC marching bands (which surely has to be for “Hollaback Girl”). The night starts with the premiere of a John Williams-penned fanfare for the Bowl’s centennial and wraps up with fireworks.