California August Music Festivals

What a wonderful time to be living in California or visiting! In addition to free summer concerts in parks,  August features music festivals on the river,  in the mountains, at the beach and all over the place. The genres are varied--pop, rock, classical, Indie, country, bluegrass, reggae--you name it! And some concerts are actually free!

SAN DIEGO: SoCal Taco Fest August 17, 2024, 12-10 p.m.
at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway  San Diego, CA. Line up:   .  21 + only so make sure to bring your ID. No "in and out" of festival will be allowed.$, socaltacofest.com | tacos

 

Past events

SANTA CRUZ: Cabrillo Music Festival July 30-August 13, 2023
Civic Auditorium
307 Church St.
Santa Cruz, Ca
$tickets, cabrillomusic.org

HOLLISTER - TRES PINOS: Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival   August 10-13, 2023
San Benito County Historical Park
8300 Highway
Tres Pinos, CA
$31-up, scbs.org
Line up:  Bean Creek, Birches Bend, The Courthouse Ramblers, Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band, Eric Burman & Brookdale Bluegrass Band, Festival Speed Bluegrass Jubilee, Lonesome Still, Lucas Lawson and the Unturned Stock, Marin County Breakdown, Mission Blue, Red Dog Ash, Sunny Side of the Mountain, The Goat Hill Girls, The Post Revivalists, The Stoney Mountain Ramblers, The Storytellers, Trouble Town, West 45, Who's Feeling Young Now

OROVILLE: For the Funk of It Music Festival August 11-13, 2023
Lake Concow Campground, 12967 Concow Rd., Oroville, CA. $270 weekend pass (approx.), ftffest.com
Line up: Polyrhythmics, Adryon de Leon, The Humidors, Hop Sauce, Jenes N the Juice, Element Brass

LONG BEACH: Long Beach Jazz Festival  August 11-13, 2023
Great line up of acts, , VIP options, too. Held at the beautiful Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Park, this event offers room to roam, vendors galore and jazz, oh yea!
$75-200, longbeachjazzfestival.com
Line up: Will Downing, Pieces of a Dream, Najee, Brian Simpson, Jackiem Joyner, Jessy J, Phil Perry, Marion Meadows, and  more

SAN FRANCISCO: Outside Lands August 11-13, 2023
Golden Gate Park. $175-5000, sfoutsidelands.com
The largest independently owned music festival in the country.
Line up: Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, Janelle Monae, Maggie Rogers, FISHER, Lil Yachty, Noah Kahan, Cigarettes After Sex, J.I.D, Interpol, WILLOW, Father John Misty, Tobe Nwigwe, Orville Peck, aespa, Beabadoobee, L'Impératrice, Cuco, Nora En Pure, Poolside, Alvvays, NIKI, Alex G, Soccer Mommy, Diesel (Shaquille O'Neal), Monolink, Raveena, Trixie Mattel, Mariah the Scientist, ISOxo, Holly Humberstone, Lovejoy, Becky Hill, Joy Oladokun, Jessie Murph, Inhaler, Crumb, DOPE LEMON, Gabriels, Ethel Cain, Zack Fox, The Dip, Cobra Man, Samia, TOPS, Orion Sun, The Jungle Giants, Mild Minds, La Doña, Yaya Bey, Nation of Language, Donny Benét, Evan Giia, MANILA GREY, Nanna, Eddie Zuko, Wild Child, No Vacation, UPSAHL, Pretty Sick, Grace Ives, Matt Hansen, Westend, Wednesday, midwxst, Adi Oasis, Izzy Heltai, Fake Fruit, Sour Widows, Venus & the Flytraps, Ame Live, Trikk, BLOND:ISH, Claptone, Coco & Breezy, Daniel Avery, Denis Sulta, Disco Lines, DJ EREZ, Justin Jay, Kim Ann Foxman, Loverground, MISS DRE, NALA, Red Axes, Sama' Abdulhadi, Tinlicker, VNSSA, DJ WhoMadeWho

SUTTER CREEK: Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival August 11-13, 2023
4-5 locations throughout the town feature: Saturday evening concert and a Sunday afternoon concert to end the festival. Event passes are required at the venues, but you can still see and listen to the music at the Sina's backroads Cafe with no pass.  $25-85, historicsuttercreekragtimefestival.com / sold through the mail, online or in town at the beginning of the event.
Line up: Keith Taylor, Paul Orsi, Carl Sonny Leyland, Michael Chisholm, ​Frederick Hodges, Matt Tolentino, Brian Holland, ​ Danny Coots, Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, ​ ​​ Stevens Price, Anthony Sarginson, Vincent Johnson, Squeek Steele, ​Kevin Gunia, Free Badge Serenaders, Bub & Petra Sullivan, The Amador Clarinet Quartet, ​ ​ Virginia Tichenor, Elliott Adams, Youth Concert Performers: Max Libertor, Isabelle Erickson, Isak Erickson, Carter Enos, Anthony Sarginson & Isaiah Burton as the Emcee

SAN JOSE: San Jose Jazz Summer Fest August 11-13, 2023
Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, 170 S. Market
Downtown San Jose, CA
$35-up, sanjosejazz.org
The Summer Fest grounds encompass the heart of downtown San Jose.
Line up: W.I.T.C.H., Noah And The Arkiteks, The Bad Plus, The Soul Rebels, Malachi Whitson, Dk Harrell, Billy Childs,Pete Rock & The Soul Brothers Ft. Bishop Nehru, Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, Monterey Jazz Festival Regional All-Star Band, Mitch Woods And His Rocket 88s, Vanessa Collier, The Blues Defenders Blues Review Featuring Mz. Dee & Willy Jordan, Top Shelf Big Band,  Benny Benack Iii, Vibrasón, Marcus Miller, Lalin St. Juste,  Halie Loren, Maxx Cabello Jr., Bloco Do Sol, Óskar Ly & Rumbalú, Blaque Dynamite, Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Ton3s, Grace Kelly, Los Tacoyos, Gabriel Gonzalez Y La Verdad, Sunny War, Ian Santillano, Joyce Randolph, Full Spectrum Jazz Band, Unitarian Jazz Service, Mr. Clifford’s Young Jazz All Stars, Marcus Shelby Orchestra With Tiffany Austin, Soj Band, Berkeley High School Combo, Yakiv Tsvietinskyi With The Sjz Collective, Mosaic America: Journey Through Multicultural Jazz & Dance, Mariachi Mexico, , Veronica Swift, Sobrato Organization Main Stage Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits Featuring Laura Chavez, Ronit Widmann-Levy & Angel Romero, Connie Han Trio, Savannah Martinez Band, Footnotes Big Band, Club Mambí, Billy Iuso, Patrice Rushen, Sjz U19s, Ames Jazz Band, Shayna Steele, Kenny Washington, Nicolas Bearde And Jamie Davis, San Miguel, Bee Taylor, Gregory Porter, Ensamble A Contratiempo Afrovenezuelan Jazz, Swing Solution, Orquesta La Moderna Tradición With Orlando Maraca Valle, Telmary & Friends, Mae.Sun

SEBASTOPOL: Gravenstein Apple Fair August 12-13, 2023
$18-20, gravensteinapplefair.com
50th anniversary celebration at Ragel Ranch Park.
Saturday lineup: Hubbub Club, Wild Catahoulas, Erica Ambrin and The Eclectic Soul Project, Dan Imhoff Band, The Crux, La Agencia, Rainbow Girls, The Sam Chase and The Untraditional
Sunday lineup: Love Choir, Wreckless Strangers, Eki'Shola & E. Doc Smith, SambaDa, SoloRio & Matt Szemela, Royal Jelly Jive, Poor Man’s Whiskey 

SAN MATEO: Aloha Festival, August 12, 2023
Hula, Polynesian dance performances, music, Hawaiian art and souvenirs, food. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 
San Mateo Event Center
1346 Saratoga Drive
San Mateo, CA
$25, pica-org.org

SAN CLEMENTE: San Clemente 68th Annual Fiesta Music Street Festival August 13, 2023
100-200 blocks Avenida del Mar
San Clemente, CA
Free, scchamber.com
Line up: The Aggrolites,- Headliner Band Rumble King, NOT, The Provos, Star Zero, Laxi, Wes Chiller, The Pegs, Big Rig Dollhouse, 16 Again, Triple Thread, Mark Dozens, The Plastic Owls, Scott Altman, Groove Switch, Cinima, Tamborine Man, No Pressure, Unrehearsed, Dave Long, Megan Malerie

SAN DIEGO: Hillcrest CityFest August 13, 2023, 12-11 p.m. ON 5th Avenue - 9 city blocks! (includes parts of Robinson & University Streets) San Diego, CA. Free,   fabuloushillcrest.com | lineup

COTATI: Accordion Festival August 19-20, 2023. Nonstop accordion music in this annual event held at La Plaza Park. $19-32, cotatifest.com  
Line up: Maria Carrillo Jazz Messengers, Sourdough Slim & Robert Armstrong, Elena Stenkina, Carlos Mejia Godoy, Tracey Collins, Cory Pesaturo & Yasmine Azaiez,  The Mad Maggies, Erica Mancini & Sam Harmet, Hernandez Hideaway, Courtney Von Drehle, Junk Parlor, Mignano & Jim Lehmann, The Steve Balich Polka Band, Mark St. Mary, Iko Ya Ya, Cila Puccadella, Jet Black Pearl, Wind Weavers, Creosote, 5 Cent Coffee, Zla Vila, Duckmandu, Future Stars, Mike Danner, Erica Mancini & Sam Harmet, Jenny Conlee, Mariposas del Alma, Lady of Spain, Tracey Collins, Cory Pesaturo & Yasmine Azaiez, Foleada Forró, Elena Stenkina, Those Darn Accordions, Sheri Mignano & Jim Lehmann, The Steve Balich Polka Band, Zydeco Dance Party, California Blue Runners, Wild Catahoulas, Amber Lee Baker, Barn Swallows, Art Peterson, Zla Vila, Juniper Djinn

LONG BEACH: Uptown Jazz Festival August 19, 2023
Houghton Park
6301 Myrtle Ave.
Long Beach, CA
Free, longbeach.gov/ special-events-filming/ events/
Line up:  American funk band - The Original Lakeside, DW3, Biscuits & Gravy, Los Chicos Del Mambo, DJ Mr. Quick
Entertainment, a food and beer garden, a Kids Zone,  vendor and community resource booths and food trucks. Bring your own low back lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets. There is a beer and wine garden available for consumption within the boundaries.  

CASTRO VALLEY: Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival  August 19, 2023, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Rowell Ranch
9725 Dublin Canyon Road
Castro Valley, CA 94552
$25-45, bayarealatinjazzfestival.com
$5 parking
Showcasing Latin Jazz, with an emphasis on Afro-Caribbean and Latin American influences. Festival includes great food, music, dance, and artistry. 
Lineup: Cuban pianist Daniel Amat, Carlos Xavier & His Salsa Band, Montuno Productions All-Stars Salsa Project, Ricky's Grupo Afro-Nativo, MC & DJ Luis Medina

LOS ANGELES: K-Con Concerts August 18-20, 2023
Los Angeles Convention Center
Crypto Arena
Los Angeles, CA
$ kconusa.com
Lineup: WayV, Zerobaseone, The Boyz, Ateez, Cravity, Ive, NMixx, Shownu X Hyungwone (Monsta X), Taeyong, Taemin, Fifty Fifty, Ini, Kep1er, Rain, xikers, Everglow, G I-dle, Itzy, Jo1, Lapillus, Stray Kids

VISTA: Summergass Bluegrass Music Festival August 18-20, 2023
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue
Vista CA
$20-85 (camping also available for a fee), summergrass.net
Bluegrass bands, workshops Impromptu jam sessions Vendors A raffle Special kid's activities Tasty food Plenty of onsite dry camping And more!
Line up:  John Moore and Friends Stuart Duncan, Ron Block, Rick Faris, & Missy Raines Featuring Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, High Fidelity, Breaking Grass with MohaviSoul, Ol’ Train, Sheri Lee & Blue Heart, Chris Cerna & Bluegrass Republic Drought Tolerant, Hot October, Philly and the Cheesesteaks, Virtual Strangers, Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam

LAKE ARROWHEAD: Jazz Festival in San Bernardino Mountains at Tavern Bay August 24-26, 2023
Location: 28399 N Shore Rd. Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352$40-50, bluejayjazz.org
Line up: Lisa Haley and the Zydekats, Lao Tizer Band featuring Eric Marienthal, George Whitty Trio 

SAND CITY: West End Celebration August 26-27, 2023
Ortiz & Hickory St.
Sand City, CA
westendcelebration.com
Free admission
Line up: Shana Morrison, Carl Verheyan, Wrockinfoose, Red Beans & Rice, Casey Frazier, Edge of the West, River Voices, Miranda Perl, Guitars Not Guns, Forrest Day, One A-Chord, Anthony Ayra, Two Rivers, The Transducers, Cement Ship, Sunny Side of the Mountain, Smoke Chaser, Dead Cassettes, Magenta Spreen, Gabi Bravo, McKayla Maddox, DJ Durty, Sensory Tribe, Flaco El Alijandro, Lover's Peak, Barkings, Rachel Sprung, Kevin Proctor

SANTA CRUZ: Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School August 25-September 2, 2023
valleyofthemoon.org
The Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in the northern California redwoods invites you its 30th Annual week of intensive study, recreation, and good times with people who share an interest in the music and dance traditions of Scotland. 

GROVER BEACH: Stone Soup Music Faire August 26-27, 2023
Grover Beach, CA
Free, clarkcenter.org
Stone Soup Music Festival Street Faire offers live music, vendor booths, Mardi Paws Dog Parade and international foods.  Local dance groups, too!   
Line up:  Soul Vibe 805, Na Hoa Aloha & Na Mele o ke Kai, Jane's Gang, Zongo All Stars, Dulcie Taylor, Blues Great Coco Montoya, Carbon City Lights, Strangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience, BigRock Balalaikas, The Mother Corn Shuckers, Wild at Heart, Grupo Aries, Ras Danny & The Reggae All-Stars

AUBURN: Dry Diggings Music Festival August 25-27, 2023
Gold Country Fairgrounds
209 Fairgate Road
Auburn, CA
$95-2200, drydiggingsfestival.com
Lineup Friday: Ky-Mani Marley, Jesse Royal, Protoje, Don Carlos, Groundation, Mighty Mystic, E.N. Young, Pacific Vibration | Saturday: Dirty Heads, Soja, Fortunate Youth, Artikal Sound System, Shwayze, Boostive, Sa-Roc, Aaron Wolf, Kyle Smith, Aaron Borowitz | Sunday: Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Arise Roots, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Marlon Asher, Top Shelf, Wide Eyed Kids, Pacific Dub

REDWAY: Reggae on the River August 5, 2023
Mateel Community Center. $30, reggaeontheriver.com
Line up: BLVK H3RO, Lee Scratch Perry Memorial Set by Subatomic Sound System and Screechy Dan,  Tropicali featuring Just One and G Davis, and DJ s Guerrilla Takeover 

ORINDA:  Paper Moon Presents August 5-6, 2023
Bruns Amphitheater
100 California Shakespeare Theater Way
Orinda, CA
$45-75, Papermoonpresents.live | etix.com
Set among the redwoods and eucalyptus in the East Bay hills just outside Berkeley and Oakland.  Doors open at 5 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show on Saturday, August 5. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the matinee 3 p.m. show on Sunday, August 6.
Lineup: ALO - Animal Liberation Orchestra, Two Runner, Dead & Company drummer Jay Lane & The Mayhem

DUNSMUIR: Pacific Crest Music Festival Season 11 runs July 28 - Aug 8, 2023
pacificcrestmusic.com
Music in the Mountains Musicians from around the country come to Dunsmuir, CA to learn and to play together. Classical music and more. Public performances, outdoor concerts, outreach events, and other live musical events included. Lineup: Members of San Francisco Symphony, the Cavani Quartet, and The Juilliard School of Music, and much more. 

LOS ANGELES: Hard Summer Festival August 5-6, 2023 SOLD OUT!
LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA $169-up, hardsummer.com

SAN DIEGO: Tiki Oasis August 2-6, 2023
Music & Mayhem

MAMMOTH LAKES: Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza August 3-6, 2023
Mammoth Lakes, California
$25-305, mammothbluesbrewsfest.com
Annual Mammoth Bluesapalooza and Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza includes 2 days of beer tasting from 150 brews + 4 days of music.  This is an outdoor venue - you can bring blankets and LOW BACKED sand chairs, no pets or outside alcohol.
Line up: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Larkin Poe, Elvin & Charlie

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.