Nothing says summer quite like an al fresco picnic while Kool and the Gang (or the San Francisco Symphony or a local Brazilian jazz singer) serenades you in the background. Toast to sunny skies and great live music at these totally free outdoor concerts around the Bay Area.
Stern Grove Festival
June 25 – August 27
Stern Grove Festival has been a San Francisco mainstay for over 80 years, bringing some of the biggest names in music to Golden Gate Park for absolutely free. Remember to pack lots of warm layers (this is summer in San Francisco, after all) and get there super early for acts like Kool and the Gang (June 25), Fantastic Negrito (July 2), the SF Symphony (July 9), Mavis Staples (August 27) and the San Francisco Ballet (July 30). See the full lineup.
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
May 7 – October 9
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival features literally dozens of performances this summer, with new acts every weekend in SoMa. Performances range from salsa dance parties to lunchtime concerts to poetry readings. Our favorites: Oakland-based rock band The Jamming Nachos hit the stage on June 29 and the Jazz Herstory Collective features some of the most prodigious young musicians in the Bay Area on August 17. See the full lineup.
Kaiser Center’s Rooftop Garden Concerts
June 16 – September 8
Not many people know about Kaiser's lush rooftop garden in Oakland, let alone that they offer free concerts every summer! Head there on Friday afternoons for live music paired with gorgeous views of downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt. This year’s program includes smooth R&B stylings from Soul Mechanix (June 30), the soulful sounds of jazz vocalist Amanda King (July 28) and New Orleans blues from Atta Kid Funk (July 7). See the full lineup.
Summer Jazz Concert Series
June 22 – August 24
Produced by SFJAZZ, this long-running series takes place in the Stanford Shopping Center’s plaza in Palo Alto, where international and local jazz legends will perform everything from swing to straight ahead jazz. Look for Beso Negro's intoxicating blend of Gypsy, Latin, and Americana on July 6 and the innovative combination of a big band horn section, a singer and a rapper from Los Angeles-based The Urban Renewal Project on August 3. See the full lineup.