Best Free Summer Concerts In Los Angeles

Warm summer evenings in the City of Angels set the scene as the ideal way to listen to your favorite music. Some of these memorable gatherings are held while fans sit under the stars as artists from various genres give free concerts. Everyone in the Southland has the chance to hear the familiar tunes from their favorites live and without costing a cent. Consider the following five exceptional opportunities.

On Fridays as the sun sets, serious strains of jazz are played by the veterans of this sound at the BP Grand Entrance to LACMA. Crowds gather for these free concerts, all of which help to close the work week on a high note. Drummer Clayton Cameron, who played with greats such as Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, and Elvis Costello, is one of the most versatile acts to perform this season at the venue outside the world renowned museum. To be sure, Cameron and his bandmates like to mix it up with a variety of sounds and styles from the heralded genre, making his night in the spotlight under the stars arguably the best of the summer.

For 40 years, Sundays during the late afternoons have typically been reserved for music lovers who take to this veteran Valley venue. Spend the end of the day grooving to the tunes of an array of artists who appear for two hours to entertain the masses for free. Those in the know go all out for these soothing weekend concerts held at the Warner Center's celebrated Lou Bredlow Pavilion, complete with gourmet picnic in tow. The outcome: A whole lot of fun with food and music for the entire family.

The 31st annual Twilight Concerts Series is starting off this season at the Santa Monica Pier with a new stage, temporarily being installed in time for the first of this series. Artists who command this new stage will be seen through the spokes of the mighty ocean-side ferris wheel. All summer, three hours of music will fill the sea air from 7 to 10 p.m., with headliners sure to inspire yet another enchanted evening in Santa Monica.

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The weather outside is usually delightful during City of Angels summers, so lounging on the lawn seems like the right way to enjoy the entertainment given at this well-groomed space situated smack dab in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. Make a point to go while expecting all kinds of keen music from a whole bunch of great entertainers, from popular local bands to international wonders to musicians from all over the world. Past acts giving up their vast cauldron of talent for free during this summer series include 10,000 Maniacs, Stand Ridgeway, The Bangles, and Michelle Shocked.

Served by the ambient sounds of a walling waterfall, this free music series serves the summer well at California Plaza. Located downtown, this urban retreat can't be beat for listening to some great musicians making great music you don't have to pay to hear. One of the headliners sure to leave an upbeat impression to all who attend this free concert is Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band, an ensemble led by a Grammy winner who leads his lads into crossover music that covers all kinds of genres, from Latin to Blues to classical.

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