Tons of Fun, FREE Outdoor Concerts in SF
You may have noticed a bunch of free outdoor bands, beats, and buskers this summer in San Francisco. That’s because there are lots of different publicly and privately funded initiatives putting on outdoor shows on city streets and in public venues throughout the city.
Like Dirty Bird’s ‘BACK TO BAYSICS’, free dance party at Justin Herman Plaza this past weekend, which was organized by Another Planet Entertainment, the same SF producers who masterminded the “spontaneous” Fred Again and Skrillex show at the Civic Center in June.
The Fred Again show was planned months in advance by APE, with the City…although it was a surprise to the fans and was part of Fred/Skrillex’s marketing style of seemingly impulsive shows in massive outdoor venues…the Fred Again show was a ticketed event, and brought an estimated 25k visitors to the city. But the rest of the shows listed below are totally free (AND provide thousands of jobs for event makers and artists alike).
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The Dirty Bird and Fred Agains shows are just two of the loudest examples of live events put on through the efforts of our public officials, and NGO’s conspiring with local music venues and concert promoters, to bring life, music, and visitors back to San Francisco.
One of these wonderful initiatives is SF LIVE, a program putting on outdoor concerts all over the city in partnership with local venues like The Great Northern, Monarch, Madrone Art Bar, Bottom of the Hill, El Rio, Neck of the Woods, Great American Music Hall, Rickshaw Stop, The EndUp, Pandora Karaoke, Kilowatt, Cafe Du Nord, The Chapel, Mr. Tipples, and The SF Eagle.
If you run into San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, try to remember to thank him for leading the effort to secure a $2.5 million investment from the State Legislature to secure free outdoor concerts in our city. He got the funding and OEWD curated a list of SF venues to collaborate with. Although the shows aren’t at those specific venues, the venues booked the talent and are producing the free outdoor shows, all over SF.
“The SF Live concert series is a celebration of live music in San Francisco, and I’m really excited for our residents, workers, and visitors to experience the amazing concerts that SF live music venues are creating in our world-class parks and plazas.” – Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office the Economic and Workforce Development.
‘SF LIVE’ FREE OUTDOOR SHOWS IN SF
Sudan Archives @ Crane Cove Park
This show is produced by Rickshaw Stop, SF Parks Alliance, and Noise Pop.
Sudan Archives @ Crane Cove Park
El Rio Presents San Cha, Healing Gems and Peña @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell
This show is produced in partnership by Illuminate and El Rio.
El Rio Presents San Cha, Healing Gems and Peña @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell
West Grand Brass Band @ Union Square
West Grand Brass Band @ Union Square
Dueling Swing Bands @ Fulton Plaza
Dueling Swing Bands is produced in partnership by Illuminate and Mr. Tipple’s.
Dueling Swing Bands @ Fulton Plaza
Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew: Remain in Light @ China Basin Park
This show is produced by SF Parks Alliance, Noise Pop, and Great American Music Hall.
Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew: Remain in Light @ China Basin Park
Follow SF LIVE for more: @sflivefest
LIVE FREE MUSIC ON MARKET STREET
If you’ve been on Market Street on any given afternoon this summer you probably noticed pockets of live music in front of local venues, this is because of the efforts of Market Street Arts who led a pilot program called Busk it! In conjunction with dozens of small businesses and bands putting on free concerts all down Market Street.
In fact, they are looking for more artists to play on Market Street in 2024, you can apply to be a busker right here.
The Busk it! schedule for August hasn’t been released just yet but there are still several shows going on this July on mid-Market.
Follow them @marketstreetarts
FREE live music IN 6 SF Districts
Noise Pop is partnering with the Civic Joy Fund to produce San Francisco’s second year of the Summer of Music series! The program brings musicians of all styles and genres from around The Bay Area to perform outside local businesses throughout six neighborhoods across the city all summer long.
There are dozens of FREE shows happening in the MISSION, MARINA, COW HOLLOW, NORTH BEACH, CASTRO, HAIGHT, & INNER SUNSET all summer long
Explore the weekly Summer of Music schedule by day or by neighborhood and follow along
for a new Saturday and Sunday lineup of artists each week! FULL SCHEDULE HERE.
Or follow them @summerofmusicsf
Want to keep track of MORE awesome Bay Area events?!
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