Golden Gate Park’s New Free 2021 Outdoor Concert Series
Golden Gate Bandshell welcomes back live performances with a diverse lineup of musicians to play free concerts at historic landmark.
Live music has returned to the Golden Gate Bandshell’s iconic stage with a series of free outdoor concerts in Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, San Francisco Parks Alliance and the arts nonprofit Illuminate announced
The lineup of performers returning to the stage is diverse and local—rock and reggae bands, Latin jazz players and R&B singers, big band musicians and string ensembles, West African and South Asian drummers and dancers, as well as homegrown stars like DJ Shortkut and Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.
Golden Gate Park’s Free Outdoor Concert Series
The free, all-ages concerts will run through the end of 2021, with Singer-Songwriter Wednesdays, Jazz and Soul Fridays, Cultural and Community groups on Saturdays, and Reggae Sundays, as well as many special events, including the Golden Gate Bandshell Kid’s Festival featuring Charity and the JAMband Sept. 11.
See the upcoming schedule | See all concerts
August 2021
Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
August 29, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial – featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guestsSeptember 2021
Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
September 1, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Jason Crawford (w/ Nick Michels); Sammy Patrick; Carry NationGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
September 5, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guests; BAYONICS Born in the San Francisco Mission District, for the past two decades BAYONICS has mixed Reggae and Latin music to create a style as unique as the city they call home.Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
September 8, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
CarnyMusic; Seth Pressly; Secret LivesGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
September 10, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Sweater Funk DJsKids Music Festival at the Golden Gate Bandshell
September 11, 2021, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Kids music festival featuring Charity & the JAMband, and magic by Bri CrabteeGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
September 12, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial-featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guests; Dub GabrielGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
September 15, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Dan Ashley Combo and moreGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
September 22, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Female songwriters- 4-4:45 pm Sara Rodenburg, 5-5:45 pm Essie Thomas, 6-6:45 pm Mia d’BruzziGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
September 24, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Lavey Smith and her Red Hot Skillet LickersGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
September 29, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Sammy Patrick Band and moreOctober 2021
Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
October 1, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Bluegrass- Tim Weed and FriendsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Parks Alliance Presents Culture & Community
October 2, 2021, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Brazilian Day- 12:30 to 1:30 pm Groupo Falso Baiano and 2:00 to 3:30 pm BatuciGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
October 3, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guests; and more!Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
October 6, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Anna Karney Full Band and Choir, and more!Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
October 8, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
The Dave Dieni QuartetGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Whole Day Dance Event
October 9, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
With Dunyia Dance & Drum Company, a Bay Area South Asian and West African dance and drum groupGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
October 10, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guestsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
October 13, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
An Evening with Megan Slankard; and moreGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
October 15, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Latin Jazz Night 4 to 5 pm Obryzon and 5:30 to 6:45 pm Calmao
Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
October 17, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guests/Yzer’s Birthday ShowGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
October 22, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Cornell “CC” Carter and FriendsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
October 24, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guests; Estrella and Value CultureGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
October 27, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Chris Peck; Alison Niedbalski; Future TwinNovember 2021
Golden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
November 3, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
November 5, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Cuban Jazz with Value CultureGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Native Elements
November 6, 2021, All Day @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Native ElementsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
November 7, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guestsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
November 10, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
November 12, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Comic OrchestraGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Strings in the Park
November 13, 2021, All Day @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Strings in the Park concert with Del Soul String Quartet; Left Coast Chamber EnsembleGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
November 14, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guestsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
November 17, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
November 19, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Reggae Sunday
November 21, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
Crucial- featuring DJ Jah Yzer plus special guestsGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
November 24, 2021, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAGolden Gate Bandshell Concert- Soul/Jazz Friday
November 26, 2021, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM @ Golden Gate Bandshell
TBAWhat’s Next? Check out the upcoming events calendar
“The return of live performances in the park is a celebration of our city’s ongoing recovery,” said Mayor Breed. “Arts and music, especially free public performances, are such an important part of our city’s history and culture. I’m so excited to finally celebrate Golden Gate Park’s 150th anniversary at the historic Bandshell stage with San Francisco’s diverse communities.”
The Illuminate and Parks Alliance-produced events will strictly follow all current guidelines and recommendations from the Department of Public Health and will adapt accordingly as guidelines change.
The free concert series was planned for Golden Gate Park’s 150th anniversary in 2020, a yearlong celebration put on by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. While the series kickoff was delayed by the pandemic, the Golden Gate Bandshell was upgraded with a new stage, built-in theatrical lighting and state-of-the-art Meyer sound system.
The new concert series will supplement free Sunday performances by the Golden Gate Park Band, which has been presenting free concerts in Golden Gate Park for 139 years. Its 2021 season began Aug. 1 and will continue through Oct. 3.
The 121-year-old Golden Gate Bandshell is the oldest structure in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, an open air plaza built for the 1894 World’s Fair. Also called the Spreckels Temple of Music, the Bandshell was a gift to San Franciscans from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels. Its recent renovation was made possible through the generosity of Carla and David Crane.
“Music heals,” said Illuminate Founder and CEO Ben Davis. “After a century of near silence, we are delighted to hear music fill the park’s Music Concourse once again. Our city needs an accessible outdoor performance space more than ever.”
