Summer Music
Bay Area Outdoor Concerts
That Welcome Families
By Melanie Lawrence
Copyright 2005 by Parents'
Press. All rights reserved.
When the weather's warm and you
want something both relaxing and entertaining to do with your
kids, consider a picnic on the grass and good, live music
and then take a look at our annual round-up of free, family-friendly
concerts happening around the Bay Area this summer.
Concerts are listed alphabetically by city.
Evening Concerts
at Alameda's Crab Cove, 1252
McKay Ave., Alameda, Friday, June 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Local rockers
Eddie and the Boppers lead off this year's Concerts at the Cove
series (second Friday of the month) with a tribute to the music
of the '50s and '60s. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs; refreshments
available for sale at Crab Cove. (510) 521-6887 or www.ebparks.org.
The Black
Irish Band in Concert, Black Diamond
Mines, 5175 Somersville Rd., Antioch, Saturday, June 11, 7-9
p.m. These four wild lads will play a set of Irish, Italian,
and American folk music to kick off the park's annual summer
concert series. Special parking fee: $10. Complete schedule:
(925) 757-2620. www.ebparks.org.
Berkeley BART
Plaza Concert Series, Shattuck
Ave. at Center St., downtown Berkeley, Thursdays, June 2-July
28, noon-1 p.m. Families may especially enjoy the concerts by
jazz and blues singer Pamela Rose (June 2), Capoeira Arts Café's
young musical martial artists (June 30 and July 7), and the bluegrass
sounds of the David Thom Band (July 21). (510) 549-2230 or www.downtownberkeley.org.
Concord's Music
at Noon Series, Todos Santos
Plaza, Willow Pass Rd. at Grant St., Concord, Tuesdays through
July 26, noon-1:30 p.m. Get down with an eclectic selection of
Bay Area musical talent: e.g., classical music from the Gold
Coast Chamber Players; Houseblend's a cappella barbershop stylings;
and Mixed Nuts, a local cover band. Meanwhile, the Market & Music series at Todos Santos is back on Thursdays
through Sept. 19, 6:30-8 p.m., giving you a chance to hear good
music (such as the old-time sound of the Stairwell Sisters) and
get some shopping done at the 4-8 p.m. farmers' market. Plus,
there'll be free
movie nights on Thursdays,
Aug. 18-Sept. 1. (925) 671-3000 or www.concordfirst.org.
Community Concerts
Does Concord, Cal State East
Bay, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord, Saturdays, June 25, July
23, Aug. 13; Friday, Sept. 16; all at 7 p.m. That useful cultural
resource, Community Concerts, is the impresario behind this series
(and the Todos Santos Plaza concerts), which includes Latin harp
and violin virtuoso Carlos Reyes and the Beatles tribute band
the Sun Kings. Bring a blanket or short lawn chair, and a picnic,
or buy food onsite. (925) 602-8654, www.concord.csueastbay.edu,
or www.communityconcerts.com.
Sunday Afternoons
in Hayward, Memorial Park,
24176 Mission Blvd., Sundays, June 19-July 24, 2:30 p.m. The
park's Morelli Bandstand will host the Hayward Municipal Band,
whose repertory ranges from big band to classical to all-out
John Philip Sousa. Free. (510) 881-6733.
Musicians in
Moraga, Moraga Commons Park,
1799 St. Mary's Rd., Thursdays, June 16-Aug. 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lafayette-Moraga Recreation promises a smorgasbord of sound this
summer, from Stone Soup's classic good-time rock to Devil Mountain
Jazz. Bring blankets and lawn chairs; there will be food to buy
on-site. (925) 376-2520.
Sousa Lives at
Lake Merritt, Lakeside Park,
Grand Ave. and Harrison St., Oakland, most summer Sundays, 2
p.m. Every summer, the park's old bandstand rings with the marches
of John Philip Sousa. Another good picnic spot. (Young ones might
also want to visit Children's Fairyland or the birds at the Rotary
Nature Center, both nearby.) (510) 451-9112 or www.northlakegroup.org.
Orinda Offers
Evening Entertainment, Orinda
Community Center Park, 26 Orinda Way, Tuesdays, June 21-Aug.
2 (July 4 concert is Monday), 6:30-8:30 p.m. Drop in for musical
good times with the Zydeco Flames, Lady Kaye & The Kings
of Swing, Pladdog (Celtic rock), and more. Bring blankets and
lawn chairs and a picnic. (925) 254-2445 or www.ci.orinda.ca.us.
SFJAZZ Summerfest
Series in Palo Alto, Stanford
Shopping Center, Clock Tower Plaza, El Camino Real at Sand Hill
Rd., Palo Alto, Thursdays, June 2-Aug. 4, 6-7:30 p.m. SFJAZZ,
the West Coast's leading nonprofit jazz org, produces this summer
series of outdoor concerts, to which families are especially
welcome. Artists in the line-up this year include the USAF Band
of the Golden West, Mingus Amungus, and Lavay Smith. Schedules:
(415) 398-5655 or www.sfjazz.org.
(May be more suitable for older children.)
Friday Nights
in Pleasanton, Wayside Park,
1st and Neal Sts., 1799 St. Mary's Rd., Fridays, June 3-Sept.
2, 7-8:30 p.m. Bundle up the kids and a picnic dinner and prepare
to dance to such local faves as the Silicon Valley Houserockers,
the Cool Tones (big band swing), and Cantera (Latin rock and
soul). (925) 484-2199.
Pt. Richmond
Music Festival, downtown
Pt Richmond, second Friday of month, June-Sept., 5:30-8 p.m.
Blues, boogie woogie, funk, jazz, and rock may be heard this
summer at the Point. Saturday, Sept. 10, is an all-day extravaganza
of a cappella, bluegrass, Portuguese fado, reggae, and more.
(510) 236-1401 or www.pointrichmond.com.
A Cornucopia
of Culture at Yerba Buena Gardens,
Esplanade Gardens, 4th and Mission Sts., San Francisco. As always,
YBG has a whole lot of culture going on this summer; among the
events geared for families are performances by the Caterpillar
Puppets, Saturdays, June 4-18, noon and 1:30 p.m.; and concerts
by the New Maihar Band (Indian music), June 18, 1 p.m.; and Melody
of China, Aug. 20, 1 p.m. (415) 543-1718 or www.ybgf.org/concerts.
Sunday Afternoon
Concerts in Golden Gate Park, at
the fountain in the Botanical Garden (Strybing Arboretum), San
Francisco, every Sunday through Oct. 9, 1-2:30 p.m. The Golden
Gate Park Band has been playing free weekend concerts anything
from classic band favorites to swing since 1882, and also
offers theme shows, such as Celebrating Bastille Day on July
10, which will feature French music, costumes, and dance. Pack
a picnic and come enjoy. (415) 831-5500.
Music at (the
Newly Renovated) Stern Grove,
Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave. and Sloat Blvd., San Francisco,
Sundays, June 19-Aug. 21, 2 p.m. Stern Grove events are always
top-quality; standouts for kids this year include Ladysmith Black
Mambazo (July 17), Beausoleil (Aug. 14), and daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra,
plus Youth Speaks (Aug. 21). Complete schedule and information
about interactive children's programs: (415) 252-6252 or www.sterngrove.org.
The San Francisco
Symphony Plays the Park,
Dolores Park, 18th and Dolores Sts., San Francisco, Sunday, July
24, 2 p.m. A lively program of Chabrier, Frank, Rimsky-Korsakov,
and excerpts from Bizet's Carmen. Expect food and beverage vendors,
face-painting, jugglers, and a meet-and-greet with orchestra
members before the concert. (415) 864-6000 or www.sfsymphony.org.
SFJAZZ Summerfest
Series in The City, Union
Square, Geary Blvd. & Powell St., San Francisco, Thursday
evenings, July 28-Aug. 25. SFJAZZ, the West Coast's leading nonprofit
jazz impresarios, produces this summer series of outdoor concerts,
to which families are especially welcome. Artists in the line-up
include the Johnny Nocturne Band and the Marcus Shelby Septet.
Schedules: (415) 398-5655 or www.sfjazz.org.
(May be more suitable for older children.)
San Jose's Music
in the Parks: St. James Park, 1st
and St. James Sts., San Jose, Thursdays, June 9-30, 5:30-9 p.m.
All kinds of danceable music, from The Tubes to the Reggae Revolution
Band. Plaza
de César Chávez Park,
Market and San Carlos Sts., Thursdays, July 7-Sept. 8, 5:30-9
p.m. More rock, blues, reggae, and jazz. Schedule: (408) 279-1775
or www.sjdowntown.com.
The San Rafael
Farmers' Market, 4th St.
between B and Cijos Sts., downtown San Rafael, Thursday evenings,
6-9 p.m., through Sept. 29. Not content to simply offer fresh
produce, the market also maintains five performance areas where
local folkies, belly dance troupes, puppeteers, and saw-player
Jackie Jones (and her tap-dancing wooden cat) have been known
to perform. (415) 457-2266 or www.sanrafaelmarket.org.
Concerts in San
Ramon Central Park, 12501
Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, Sundays, July 17-Aug. 14, 5:30 p.m.
This series is big on vintage rock and R&B party bands and
a little bit of world music. Picnickers welcome; beverage vendors
will be on hand. (925) 973-3200.
Sausalito Delivers
Jazz & Blues by the Bay, Gabrielson
Park, Sausalito Ferry Terminal, Fridays, May 27-Aug. 26, 6:30-8
p.m. Views of Angel Island and the City are the backdrop to this
community favorite; performers this summer will include the Natasha
Miller Band, Swing Fever, and the Eugene Huggins Blues Band.
Picnicking encouraged. (415) 289-4152 or www.ci.sausalito.ca.us.
Sausalito's Concerts
for Kids, Robin Sweeney Park,
Caledonia and Litho Sts., first Saturday of June-Sept., 10:30-11:15
a.m. At last, a free concert series just for kids! Stars, in
chronological order, are Tim Cain, Miss Kitty, Aug. 6 to be announced,
James K, and Kenny Blacklock. (415) 289-4152 or www.ci.sausalito.ca.us.
Bay Model Music,
Bay Model Visitor Center,
2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Saturdays, July 2-Aug. 6, 3-6 p.m.
Last summer's line-up included Pollyanna Bush, Westwind, and
Austin Willacy; check for the new schedule: (415) 332-1851 or
www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc.
Suisun City Harbor's
Jazz Concert Series, off
Main St. at Harbor Plaza, Sundays, July 10-Aug. 21, 3-5 p.m.
Alive Music Orchestra, the SMG Band, and Delbert Bump Jazz Organ
Quartet played Suisun last year; check for the new schedule:
(707) 421-7309 or www.suisun.com.
CreekWalk Concerts
in Vacaville, Ulatis CreekWalk,
downtown Vacaville, Fridays, June 3-Aug. 26, 6:30-10 p.m. Pack
a picnic dinner and a blanket; expect an evening of danceable,
family-friendly rock and other genres from such artists as the
Fabulous CruiseTones, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, and the Dave
Russell Band. Sometimes kids' entertainers show up as well. Performance
schedule: (707) 449-6003 or www.creekwalk.com.
PARKoncerts of
Walnut Creek, Civic Park
Gazebo, Civic Dr. at Broadway, Sundays, June 12 and 27 and Aug.
7; Mondays, July 4 and Sept. 5; all at 6 p.m. The Walnut Creek
Concert Band is a frequent star here, and Festival Opera will
perform on June 27. Fourth of July and Labor Day shows include
special holiday festivities. Pack a picnic, of course. (925)
295-1400.
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