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SF’s Ultimate Citywide Block Party: 800+ Free Summer Concerts (2023)

A brand new “Summer of Music” weekly festival is coming June 17th with 70+ free concerts each week spread across nine different neighborhoods
By - posted 6/2/2023 No Comment

San Francisco used to be best known for its vibrant culture and arts scene instead of store closures and a gloomy downtown. But the summer of 2023 is about to become a lot more livelier with the launch of the brand new Summer of Music festival.

The groundbreaking initiative, a collaboration between local music promoter Noise Pop and the newly-formed nonprofit Civic Joy Fund, is set to bring over 800 free concerts to the city’s neighborhoods, creating mini-block parties every Saturday across nine different locations.

Kicking off June 17, 2023 and running for 12 weeks until September 2, the Summer of Music festival aims to provide San Francisco residents and visitors with a unique, community-driven experience. The event will showcase the incredible talent of local musicians while simultaneously boosting economic activity in these neighborhoods and supporting small businesses.

“Summer of Music” Festival 2023
Every Saturday from 2-5pm
June 17 – September 2, 2023
70+ concerts at 70+ venues across nine different neighborhoods
FREE

June 17th Venues (Subject to Change)

THE BAYVIEW:
 
THE CASTRO:
 
CHINATOWN:
Multiple shows along the Grant Ave street closure (between Washington & Sacramento) as well as in Portsmouth Square
 
CLEMENT STREET:
 
CORTLAND AVENUE:
 
DIVISADERO:
 
HAIGHT STREET:
 
POLK STREET:
 
VALENCIA STREET:

From 2-5 pm each Saturday, the city’s streets, retail shops, bars, restaurants and back patios will come alive with the sounds of live music, featuring a diverse lineup of local Bay Area and NorCal artists.

The festival will span nine essential San Francisco neighborhoods and shopping corridors, including Valencia, The Castro, Clement Street, Polk Street, Chinatown, Divisadero, Haight Street, The Bayview, and Cortland Avenue.

 

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A post shared by Noise Pop (@noisepop)

In a time when financial inequalities are soaring in the Bay Area, the Summer of Music festival is a welcome opportunity for local musicians to gain exposure and earn a living. All performances will be paid opportunities for the artists, supported by corporate sponsors and donations.

The innovative project, part of a $2+ million fundraising effort by the Civic Joy Fund, is expected to reinvigorate San Francisco’s neighborhoods and help small business owners and entertainers bounce back from the economic hardships brought about by the pandemic. This citywide block party is set to inspire a sense of community and camaraderie among San Franciscans, all while enjoying the universal language of music.

For those looking to join in the festivities, applications for local music performers and retail businesses are now open at www.SummerOfMusicSF.com. (And yes! These are paid gigs) So, mark your calendars and get ready to experience a different neighborhood in San Francisco each weekend – one mini-block party at a time!