Free Golden Gate Park Outdoor Concert Night (2023)

@RecParkSF

Live music will return for its third season at the Golden Gate Bandshell’s iconic stage with another series of free outdoor concerts in Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the arts nonprofit Illuminate announced today.

The series, Illuminate Live, which kicks off March 1, 2023, will bring 100+ free concerts to the GGP Music Concourse in 2023. The lineup of performers returning to the stage is diverse and local as it was in its first two seasons—the 2023 concerts will feature R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band musicians, string ensembles, indie and psychedelic rock bands, and many diverse singer-songwriters. In addition, the series will include reggae, salsa, and some EDM and electronic music.

The free, all-ages concerts will run through mid-November of 2023, and echo the past two seasons’ schedule with Singer-Songwriter/Folk/Rock Wednesday; Jazz, Soul, R&B and Funk Friday Happy Hours; Cultural and Community performances on Saturdays; and Reggae Sundays, as well as many special events, including a special performance for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 with celebrated Bay Area artist Shana Morrison and her band Caledonia performing two sets from 4:30 to 7 pm.

Golden Gate Park’s Free Outdoor Concert Series 2023

Catch live music in the park every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through November.

See the upcoming schedule | See all concerts | Up to the Minute Listings at Golden Gate Park Bandshell website.

March 2023 (Celebrating International Women’s Month):

• Wed 3/1 (4:00-7:00 pm) 
  Market to Bandshell – All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Common De Nomi
  5:00 pm – Frances Ancheta Becker
  6:00 pm – Nikki Nash
  (produced in association with Sunset Mercantile)
• Fri 3/3 (4:30-7:30 pm)
  Friday Happy Hour
  Soul and R&B with Nate’ Soulsanger
  4:30 to 5:30 and 6:00 to 7:00 pm (2 Sets)

• Sat 3/4 (12:00-4:00 pm)
  Women of the World Day – a Musical Journey
  12:00pm – Ants
  1:00pm – Monica Maria
  2:00pm – Free Press Music
• Sun 3/5 (4:30–7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm – Estrella (full band)
• Wed 3/8 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Stephanie Woodford
  5:00 pm – Eva J. Fortune
  6:00 pm – Paula Frazer and David Cuetter
• Fri 3/10 (4:30-7:30pm)
  Friday Happy Hour
  Celebration of Women Empowerment through Music
  Featuring Butta, Yvonne Cobbs, Robin Hodge-Williams, and Mary Williams
• Sun 3/12 (4:30–7:30 pm) 
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm – DJ Sep
• Wed 3/15 (4:00–7:00 pm)
  All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Elizabeth Boaz
  5:00 pm – Essie Thomas
  6:00 pm – Momma Mia D’Bruzzi
• Fri 3/17 (4:30-7:30 pm)
  St. Patrick’s Day at GGP Bandshell featuring
  Shana Morrison and Caledonia
  4:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 to 7:00 pm (2 sets)
• Sat 3/18 (12:00–4:00 pm)
  All-City Choir Concert featuring performances from many SFUSD school groups
• Sun 3/19 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm – DJ Ay Que Linda
• Wed 3/22 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
  All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Sara Rodenburg
  5:00 pm – Aireene Espiritu
  6:00 pm – Deborah Crooks
• Fri 3/24 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Friday Happy Hour with Citizen’s Jazz
  4:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 to 7:00 pm (2 sets)
• Sun 3/26 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm DJ RunDat
• Wed 3/29 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
  All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Ariana Nichole
  5:00 pm – Anna Karney
  6:00 pm – Zoe FitzGerald Carter & Friends
• Fri 3/31 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Friday Happy Hour with The Super Super
  5:30 to 6:30 pm (2 sets)

April 2023:

• Sun 4/2 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm Nice and Fresh Crew (full band)
• Wed 4/5 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  Market to Bandshell – All-Female Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Season of Us
  5:00 pm – Skinny Katz
  6:00 pm – Jon and The Baptists
  (produced in association with Sunset Mercantile)
• Fri 4/7 (4:30-7:30pm)
  Friday Happy Hour with Mission Varrio Project (MVP)
  4:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm (2 sets)
• Sat 4/8 (12:00 to 4:00 pm) – Big Leap Collective Presents Do You Remember? Psychedelic San Francisco Indie Fest 12:00 – 12:30 For Your Pleasure 12:40 – 1:10 Grooblen 1:20 – 2:00 PEÑA 2:10 to 2:45 Mild Universe 2:55 – 3:10 Analog Dog 3:15 – 4:00 pm 
• Sun 4/9 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm DJ Henroc
• Wed 4/12 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – The Beautiful Losers
  5:00 pm – Dore Coller
  6:00 pm – Jim Bruno
• Fri 4/14 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Indie Soul Fest at GGP Bandshell featuring 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm Mar Tierra 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Cardboard People 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm AXL PHOENIX 

• Sun 4/16 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm DJ Boomshot
• Wed 4/19 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Wormhole (Special Guests TBA)
• Sun 4/23 (12:00 to 4:30 pm) – CalacaVerse Presents ONE EARTH Festival featuring Deuce Eclipse (Nicaragua) SETI X (India) DJ El Kool Kyle DJ Saurus, Monk HTS, Odaymar and more.
• Sun 4/23 (4:20 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm DJ Jah Yzer
• Wed 4/26 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Ben Lang
  5:00 pm – Footprints
  6:00 pm – Nondual Trio
• Fri 4/28 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – An Evening with Katdelic  – Infuse your weekend with the infectious groove created by the incomparable Katdelic! 2 Sets: 4:30 – 5:30pm 6:00 – 7:00pm 
• Sat 4/29 (12:00 to 4:00 pm) – Mediterranean Music Festival with Lars and In Charge plus many special guests
• Sun 4/30 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and Blakk Lung and Messenjah Selah with Special Guest Warri and Full Band (5:00 to 6:30 pm)

May 2023:

• Wed 5/3 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  Market to Bandshell
  4:00 pm – Ryvo
  5:00 pm – Johnny San Francisco
  6:00 pm – The Under Trio
  (produced in association with Sunset Mercantile)
• Fri 5/5 (4-7pm) – Peña Toribio presents Cinco De’ Mayo featuring Francisco Herrera– 4:00 pm Cascada De Flores – 5:30 pm DíaPaSon – 6:30 pm
• Sun 5/7 (4:30 – 7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and Special Guest 5:30 to 6:30 pm Bobby Hustle (full band)
• Wed 5/10 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Steven Pitsenbarger
  5:00 pm – Jack Cutter
  6:00 pm – Based on a True Story
• Fri 5/12 (4:30-7:30 pm)
  Friday Happy Hour with Asher Belsky – R&B, Rock, and Jazz
  4:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (2 sets)
• Sun 5/14 (4:30-7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole and DJ Guid8nce plus guests 5:30 to 6:30 pm Pardon the Interruption
• Wed 5/17 (4:00 -7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:15 pm – Rebecca Chapa
  5:15 to 6:45 pm – Sammy Patrick Band

• Fri 5/19 (4:30-7:30pm) –Evan Wardell’s Psychedelic Bandshell Show 4:00 PM – 5:00 pm Coywolf 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Rose Haze 6:00 pm – 7:00 PM The Green Door
• Sat 5/20 (12:00-4:00 pm)
  Rockin’ the Bandshell
  12:00 PM – JW Blunt
  1:00 pm – Loser Soup
  2:00 pm – Michael Michael Motorcycle
  3:00 pm – Scary Scare
• Sun 5/21 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm)
  Crucial Reggae with Irie Dole and DJ Guid8nce special guest
  5:30 to 6:30 pm – Fadda Leo – Guerilla Takeover
   
• Wed 5/24 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Karyn Ann
  5:00 pm – Hayley Lynn
  6:00 pm – Todos Santos
   
• Fri 5/26 (4:30-7:30 pm)
  Friday Night Happy Hour Erik Jekabson Band
  4:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (2 sets)
• Sat 5/27 (10:00 am-2:00 pm)
  GGP Bandshell Kids’ Fest 2023
  10:30 AM- 12:30 PM Charity and the JAMBand
  12:45 -1:30 pm Magic with Mike Della Penna
• Sun 5/28 (4:30 pm-7:30pm)
  Crucial Reggae Sunday with Irie Dole and special guests
  5:30 to 6:30 pm Native Elements
• Wed 5/31 (4:00-7:00 pm)
  Singer/Songwriter Wednesday
  4:00 pm – Donovan Plant
  5:00 pm – Jenny Kerr
  6:00 pm – Riptide Station 

June 2023:

• Fri 6/2 (12:00-2pm) –Special Friday Lunchtime Concert – Citrus College – Wind Symphony
• Fri 6/2 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – Funkanauts (2 Sets 4:30 to 5:30 and 6:00 to 7:00 pm)
• Sun 6/4 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest DJ Green B (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 6/7 (4-7pm) – Market to Bandshell – 4:00 pm -Zeke, 5:00 pm – The Last Four, 6:00 pm – Young and Up Too Late
• Fri 6/09 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – Local Fav’s Jazz Night featuring What’s Cooking 4:30 to 5:45 and Rugburn 6:15 to 7:30 pm
• Wed 6/14 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday –    4:00 pm – Bisi O. 5:00 pm – Radley & Juelich 6:00 pm – District 8
• Fri 6/16 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Juneteenth Celebration with Special Guests (More info TBA)
• Sat 6/17 (Noon to 4 pm) – Juneteenth Celebration in association with Fillmore Jazz Ambassadors (More info TBA)
• Sun 6/18 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with DJ Jae Five and special guest- ELeNA – Live Band (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 6/21 (12:00 pm – 7:00 pm) – Make Music Day – San Francisco –   First 4 bands 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm (TBA) 4:00 pm – Kevin North Band 5:00 pm – Jason Crawford & Friends 6:00 pm – Carry Nation
• Fri 6/23 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour with David Rocha Quintet (2 sets)
• Sat 6/24 (Noon to 4 pm) – Summer of Luv featuring Bud E. Luv Band (in association with Value Culture) (More info TBA)
• Sun 6/25 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guests Epicenter Sound featuring Zelus, OMatic and Zoro (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 6/28 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday –    4:00 pm – Joe Burke 5:00 pm – Ray Vaughn 6:00 pm – Lakeville
• Fri 6/30 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour with Dirty Cello (2 sets)

July 2023

• Sun 7/2 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest DJ Trueverse (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/5 (4-7pm) – Market to Bandshell – 4:00 pm – Don Shearer, 5:00 pm – The Edelman Family Band, 6:00 pm – Country Risqué
• Fri 7/7 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – No Name Quartet featuring Helen Palma (2 Sets)
• Sat 7/8 (Noon to 4 pm) – San Francisco Free Folk Fest (More info TBA)
• Sun 7/9 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest DJ Nikka-T (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/12 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – 4:00 pm – The Nother Mother Brothers 5:00 pm – Matt Jaffe 6:00 pm – Michael Vincent and U No Who
• Fri 7/14 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – An Evening with etaoin shrdlu (2 Sets)
• Sun 7/16 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with DJ Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guest- DJ Ren (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/19 (12:00 pm – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday 4:00 pm – JimBo Trout 5:00 pm – Dave & Ray’s Magic Record Shoppe 6:00 pm – The Jim Ocean Trio
• Fri 7/21 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour an Evening with Maurice Tani
• Sun 7/23 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guests TBA (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/26 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday –    4:00 pm – Amy Obenski 5:00 pm – Adrian West Band 6:00 pm – Michael Ahern
• Fri 7/28 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour with Tracorum (2 sets)
• Sat 7/29 (Noon to 4 pm) – Humboldt County Music Showcase – 12:00 PM – Widdershins, 1:15 PM – ThunderCloud, 2:30 pm – Red Hot Shame
• Sun 7/30 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guid8nce and special guests OG The DJ and Sommertime Flow (5:30 to 6:30 pm)

The free concert series was originally launched as part of Golden Gate Park’s 150^th 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 Golden Gate Bandshell has since hosted nearly 200 free shows.

“Free live music at the Golden Gate Bandshell has made Golden Gate Park even more vibrant and inviting for people in every neighborhood in San Francisco, and across the world,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Adding to larger annual events like Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the bandshell series features hundreds of acts four days a week that you can easily access by car, bus, bike, or foot. This exciting series also ensures that the park’s proud music history lives on!”

The 122-year-old Golden Gate Bandshell is the oldest structure in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, an open-air plaza built for the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Also called the Spreckels Temple of Music, the Bandshell was a gift to San Franciscans from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels.

“To witness live free music at the Bandshell is to experience San Francisco at its finest,” said Illuminate Founder and CEO Ben Davis. “The Music Concourse is an epicenter of generosity, the place where the gift of people’s talent meets the gift of people’s attention, the place we move together as one.”