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Nothing says summer in Los Angeles like a free outdoor concert. The weather. The tunes. The price point. And luckily for us, the purveyors of culture in our city continue to pump out some of the most robust, diverse, and flat-out fun concert experiences you’ll find… well.. anywhere.
The only pitfalls are the ones we face on the daily. There is the parking (which pinches the wallet) and the traffic (which crushes the soul). So what’s an Angeleno to do? Well, why use your TAP card to access a summer of gratis tunes and immaculate vibes? If that sounds like your perfect plan, then let’s talk options. Ten of them, in fact, all of which we’ve listed below.
Free Summer Concert Series in Los Angeles
Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza -> One Friday per month throughout the summer, hundreds of Angelenos flock to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes for rhythmic evenings of salsa where the vibes are as strong as the dance moves. The first Summer of Salsa event of 2025 is already in the books, but the lineup for the rest of the summer includes Gabrielito y La Verdad (June 14), Son Mayor (July 12), Son Miron (August 9), and Club Mambi (September 13). Doors open at 6 p.m., and music starts at 7 p.m. Always free to attend. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
Latin Sounds at LACMA (starting May 24) -> LACMA’s Saturday evening concerts series is back at Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater (just north of the La Brea Tar Pits Museum) starting in May, with dates confirmed through June 21 (and perhaps more to come?). The 2025 lineup for Latin Sounds spans the musical corridors of the Americas, with everything from everything from Indigenous music to the latest sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and Los Angeles. Each event runs 5 to 7 p.m., and is free to attend. But be forewarned, folks will show up early to grab a spot, so plan accordingly. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
Off the 405 (starting May 31) -> The Getty’s annual after-hours concerts series runs it back in 2025 with four dates firmed up, all taking place on the courtyard stage in the heart of the museum campus. Off the 405 opens on May 31 with Los Angeles-based, fusion quintet SML. The rest of the lineup includes Mabe Fratti (June 14), Madi Diaz (July 12), and Empress Of (July 26). It’s free to attend, but you’ll need to pre-register to attend. Parking is $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Sepulveda / Getty Ctr.
KCRW Summer Nights (starting June 7) -> NPR-affiliate KCRW continues an amazing run of free event programming this summer with a fresh lineup of after-hours dance parties and DJ sets at lineup at some of the iconic venues and cultural institutions around Los Angeles. On select dates starting this June, KCRW Summer Nights will make stops at the California African American Museum, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Union Station, LA Plaza, Descanso Gardens, Kidspace Museum, Chinatown Central Plaza, The Autry, and the Wende Museum. The programming will be a bit different for each event, but (just about) all are Metro accessible, so be sure to use the Metro Trip Planner if you’re using public transport.
Grand Performances (starting June 14) -> Now returning for its 39th season at California Plaza, Grand Performances is the undisputed king of free summer concerts in DTLA. 2025’s lineup kicks off with a Ozomatli 30th Anniversary Celebration on June 14. There are 18 shows in all scheduled for the summer, with key dates including a John Coltrane Tribute headlined by Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few (June 14), an Orchestral Celebration of Dr. Dre (June 28), a KCRW Summer Nights collab (July 26), and a night of ska featuring Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra (August 9). All shows free to attend. Most events are 6 to 10 p.m., but be sure to check the full schedule for complete details. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA (starting June 20) -> Free evening dance parties return to The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday from June 21 through August 16. At Dance DTLA, instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. The 2025 schedule features six events each themed for a different style of dance: Bollywood, Afrobeats, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton, and Disco. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station OR take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
Levitt Pavilion Concerts Series (starting June 21) -> Levitt Pavilion Concerts mark their 18th season with 10 outdoor concerts at the familiar stage in MacArthur Park, backed in the distance by the Downtown skyline. As in past season, diversity is the name of the game for this year’s schedule, from the turntablism of the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound to the Cambodian Pop influences of Dengue Fever or the rebellious punk attitude of Resistencia and Lxs Cochinxs. Something for everyone! All-ages, and always free to attend. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Go Metro: Take the B or D line to Westlake/MacArthur Park station.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball (starting in July) -> The schedule for the Skirball Cultural Center’s annual free Sunset Concert series has four dates for 2025, all of which will feature back-to-back sets by pairs of exceptional world music artists. The lineup includes Rodrigo Amarante / Helado Negro (July 17), La Perla / Meridian Brothers (July 24), MULA / Frente Cumbiero (July 31), and JOJO ABOT / Say She She (August 7). Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Sepulveda / Skirball Center.
NoHo Summer Nights (starting July 26) -> The Valley Cultural Foundation annual NoHo Summer Nights music series is slated to be back at North Hollywood Recreation Center starting July 26, with tribute act Jelly Soul set to perform. More dates/lineup details are promised on the Cultural Foundations website, but have yet to be released. The event free to attend, and no RSVP required. Go Metro: Take the B Line to North Hollywood station.
Friday Night Jazz at LACMA (now through October) -> We love LACMA so much it makes the list twice! The museum weekly Friday Night Jazz concerts held at Smidt Welcome Plaza (planned to go through October) are a lower key affair than the Latin Sounds series. But the good thing is if you’re a local you can take advantage of the museum’s free admission for L.A. County residents on weekdays after 3 p.m., in addition to the free tunes. Concerts start at 6 p.m. Seating is first-come first-served. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
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