Hollywood Bowl
Photograph: Michael Juliano

Hollywood Bowl

  • Things to do | Event spaces
  • Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended
Michael Juliano
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Time Out says

The Hollywood Bowl is beautiful even when it’s empty (when there’s no performance, the iconic venue doubles as a county park). But when there’s a show—when picnic basket-toting concertgoers amble up the hill and fill amphiteater’s 18,000 seats—it’s simply magical.

The summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1922, the Bowl is simply unlike any other concert venue in L.A.; seeing a show here isn’t just a performance, it’s an experience. The gates typically open two hours prior to showtime, when guests stream in and start to claim the picnic areas. Yes, you can bring your own food, and even your own bottles of beer and wine for LA Phil-produced shows (as opposed to lease events, which aren’t BYOB friendly).

Being just about anywhere inside the Bowl feels electric, but of course where you sit does still matter (the bulk of the venue is bench seating). If you’re able to splurge on the box seats (which can cost hundreds of dollars each), you’ll be treated to four foldable chairs with two tables that pop open for the ultimate pre-show picnic. On the opposite end, if you’re booking tickets early you might be able to nab $1 bench seats all the way in the back for some LA Phil shows. If you don’t want to drop a ton on seats but do still want a taste of a premium experience, consider booking a reservation at the Backyard, an open-air restaurant right next to one of the huge screens that flank the stage. Reserve an early time slot and you’re welcome to wine and dine right up until the start of the show.

There’s, of course, one notorious downside to seeing a show at the Bowl, but we don’t think that should stop you from coming here. Traffic can be horrendous given its canyon location (however early you think you should leave, leave even earlier), and the parking lots are all stacked, meaning you’re stuck until any adjacent cars can get out. If you insist on parking on site, just know that as of the summer of 2024, the large Lot B has been turned into a shuttle pickup and drop-off zone, while Lot C across the street is a rideshare hub—leaving only the expensive Lot A and the smaller Lot D across the street, both of which are still stacked. Otherwise, we strongly suggest either parking at or taking the Metro to Ovation Hollywood and then taking the shuttle or walking (it’s about 20-plus minutes slightly uphill), or using the Bowl shuttle from the L.A. Zoo (there are park and ride buses to farther destinations around the city, but the zoo bus is by far the most efficient).

Details

Address
2301 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles
90068
Price:
Tickets $1–$150; parking $45–$90
Opening hours:
Box office (summer season only): Tue–Sun noon–6pm
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What’s on

Chicago

Chicago, heroes of the ’70s, hits town: Expect plenty of key changes and golden oldies from its horn-heavy, soul pop-gone-soft rock back catalog, including “If You Leave Me Now” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” Oh, and expect fireworks: They're headlining the Hollywood Bowl’s fireworks finale (though LA Phil–produced concerts will continue throughout the month). Five-time Grammy winner Christopher Cross will kick things off.
  • Pop

Neil Young

Lifelong Neil Young fans (are there really any other kind?) will not want to miss the rock star/environmentalist/best-selling author as he plays the Hollywood Bowl. His live performances have a legendary reputation, and hopefully there’ll be a good mix of the old classics, the newest efforts and Young’s signature high-quality sound, energy and gripping guitar solos.
  • Rock and indie

The Who

The Who—that is, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, plus some other musicians and two very prominent ghosts—come back to town this September. See them at the Hollywood Bowl for what might be your last chance to hear “Baba O'Riley” or “My Generation” live—the tour is being billed as their North American farewell tour.
  • Rock and indie

The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long

Watch the nuns-and-Nazis musical and yodel along to the subtitles at the Hollywood Bowl’s sing-along celebration of the Julie Andrews classic. Lederhosen and wimples are optional, but they will get you in the mood for the Technicolor film, as will the choral warm-up before the screening.
  • Film events

Air

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel’s slick, spacey compositions are best appreciated with a pair of headphones (or during an… intimate evening), but that shouldn’t stop you from watching the French duo set the mood at the Hollywood Bowl. The pair prolongs its 25th anniversary celebration of its stellar debut, Moon Safari, by playing it in full.
  • Dance and electronic

LCD Soundsystem + Pulp

So far these dates at the Hollywood Bowl are the only double bill for LCD Soundsystem and Pulp, but even if they weren’t, we’d still consider this a must see. Catch James Murphy’s dance-punk outfit and Jarvis Cocker’s iconic, moody Britpop band on September 25 and 26 at the Bowl.
  • Rock and indie

Big Thief

Intimate performances have a tendency to get lost in the open air, but Big Thief’s locked-in rhythm section and the powerfully quiet vocals of Adrianne Lenker—a songwriter in the vein of Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen—will keep you from focusing more on your picnic spread during this show at the Hollywood Bowl. Chicago rapper and poet Noname opens the night.
  • Folk, country and blues

John Legend

After making a surprise Hollywood Bowl performance with Cyndi Lauper over Labor Day weekend, John Legend is back at the Bowl for a show of his own at the end of September. The R&B crooner, pianist and EGOT winner is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Get Lifted, which earned him his first three Grammys.
  • Rap, hip-hop and R&B

Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas Live with Danny Elfman

See Danny Elfman step back into the role of Jack Skellington for a live performance and screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas at the Hollywood Bowl. The concert has become somewhat of a staple in L.A.: Elfman staged similar shows at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015, ’16 and ’18, and over at what’s now BMO Stadium in 2021—before heading back to the Bowl in ’23, where the voice behind the Pumpkin King will return once again for this Halloween tradition. The concert-meets-movie event is set to bring a costume contest and trick-or-treating in tow, as well a slate of special guests, including Janelle Monáe (Sally), Keith David (Oogie Boogie), Riki Lindhome (Shock) and John Stamos (Lock). Conductor John Mauceri leads a full orchestra and choir. Tickets go on sale September 5; a portion of each will support the L.A. County Parks Foundation in restoring parks damaged by this year’s wildfires.
  • Performances
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