Illuminate and SF Rec and Park hosts 5th Season of Free Live Music at the Golden Gate Bandshell in 2025 with more than 125 performances are planned to celebrate the Bandshell’s 125th anniversary.

The 2025 season will run through mid-November, featuring shows most Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and select Saturdays.

The Bandshell, renovated by Illuminate in 2020 with world-class sound and lighting systems, continues to be the center of independent music in one of America’s premier parks, with over 23 million annual visits.

Illuminate LIVE 2025 Season Details:

• The free, all-ages concerts begin March 1 and continue through mid-November:
  • Singer/Songwriter Wednesdays: 4 – 7 p.m.
  • Friday Happy Hour: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Crucial Reggae Sundays: 4:20 – 7:30 p.m.
  • + select Saturdays
• The free concerts attract more than 250,000 music lovers annually.

The 2025 full schedule will be updated regularly, including special events.

2025 Free Bandshell Concert Schedule

Catch live music in the park every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (plus select Saturdays) through November.

See the upcoming schedule (subject to change)

May 2025:

• Fri 5/23 (4:30-7:30pm) – Friday Night Happy Hour – UnaMas (2 Sets)
• Sat 5/24 (12:00 pm-4:00pm) – 2nd Annual Retro Future Review with Little Oil 12:00-12:45 Love and Havoc 1:00-1:45, Treasures 2:00-3:00, plus special guest TBA 
• Sun 5/25 (4:30 pm-7:30pm) – Crucial Reggae Sunday with Irie Dole and DJ Guidance and special guests Native Elements (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 5/28 (4-7pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday, Pickleweed Paul 4:00 pm, Muze ZaK 5:00 pm, The Berrios Trio 6:00 pm
• Fri 5/30 (4:30-7:30pm) – Friday Night Happy Hour – Erik Jekabson Ensemble (2 Sets)
• Sun 6/1 (4:30 pm -7:30 pm) Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole and DJ Guidance with special guests Mighty Mystic (5:30 to 6:30 pm

June 2025:

• Sun 6/1 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guests Mighty Mystic (Live Band) (5:30 to 7:00 pm)
• Fri 6/06 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – Key Elements Jazz Band (2 Sets)
• Sat 6/07 (12:00 PM to 4:00 pm) – Paul in the Park in association with the de Young Museum featuring Swami 3, The Welcome Matt, Joyce Lee, Steven Pitsenbarger, Eva J. Fortune, John Elliot, Jamie Wilson and special guests
• Sun 6/08 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guests Rebel and Chillbo (6:00 to 7:00 pm)
• Wed 6/11 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – An Evening with Essence & Gold Country + special guest opener Graham Patzner (of Whiskerman)
• Fri 6/13 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Sgt. Splendor (2 sets)
• Wed 6/18 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – 4:00 pm – Matt Jaffe, 5:00 pm – Drew Martin, 6:00 pm – Migrant Pickers
• Fri 6/20 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour with Maurice Tani (2 sets)
• Sat 6/21 (12:00 PM to 7:00 pm) – Make Music Day 2025 featuring 12:00 PM Jonathan Burnside, 1:00: PM Sammy Patrick Band, 2:00 PM Great American Robber Barrons, 3:00 PM Scatterbrained Uncle, 4:00 PM Manos Lindas, 5:00 PM Pirate Radio, 6:00 PM Grooblen
• Sun 6/22 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guests Byrds of a Feather (Live Band) (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 6/25 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday –    4:00 pm – Jaeger & Reid 5:00 pm – Allan Wachs, 6:00 pm – Flying Salvias 
• Fri 6/27 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour with Momotombo (2 sets)
• Sat 6/28 (12:00 PM to 4:00 pm) – Country Risqué and Big Leap Collective Present Queer Country Pride 12:00 – 12:30 PM Squeakie, 12:45 – 1:30 PM Country Risqué, 2:15 – 2:55 PM, Secret Emchy Society, 3:00  – 4:00 PM Paisley Fields
• Sun 6/29 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guest Saritah Duo (Live Band) (5:30 to 6:30 pm)

July 2025:

• Wed 7/2 (4-7pm) – Market to Bandshell – Wednesday – 4:00 pm – Alex Walsh, 5:00 pm – Northern Waste, 6:00 pm – No Country
• Fri 7/4 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – Blues for Independence with Stan Erhart & the Fabulous Misfits (2 Sets)
• Sun 7/6 (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guests TBD (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/09 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday “Redo from 2024” – 4:00 pm – Joyce Lee, 5:00 pm – Nalamora, 6:00 pm – Terence Jack Band
• Fri 7/11 (4:30-7:30pm) –Friday Happy Hour – Glory Dayz featuring Frankie Adel (2 Sets)
• Sat 7/12 (12:00 to 5:00 pm) – San Francisco Free Folk Festival (featuring dozens of acts)
• Sun 7/13 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays and Dub Mission presents Subatomic Sound System featuring Screechy Dan (5:30 to 7:00 pm) with DJ Sep 
• Wed 7/16 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – 4:00 pm – Ben Lang, 5:00 pm – Alex and the Floaters, 6:00 pm – Richard March Band
• Fri 7/18 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour – An Evening with Stephanie Woodford (2 Sets)
• Sun 7/20 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guest DJ Spleece (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/23 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – 4:00 pm – Steven Pitsenbarger, 5:00 pm – Doctor, Doctor, 6:00 pm – XtinaM 
• Fri 7/25 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour – Dr Clock/Children of Lucy (2 Sets)
• Sat 7/26 (12:00 to 5:00 pm) – Third Annual Humboldt County Showcase featuring 12:00 PM The SoHum Girls Band, 12:45 PM The Vatcher Brothers, 2:00 PM Clean Girl & The Dirty Dishes, 3:00 PM Stable Vices
• Sun 7/27 (4:30 to 7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and special guests Checkerd Past (Live Band) (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 7/30 (4:00 – 7:00 pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – 4:00 pm – Dan Arwady, 5:00 pm – B – Side Galaxy, 6:00 pm – Von Doodle Daddies

August 2025:

• Sun 8/3 (4:30 pm-7:30pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with DJ Irie Dole, DJ Guidance and Skadanks (Live Band) 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm 
• Wed 8/6 (4-7pm) – Market to Bandshell Wednesday – Gabi 4:00 pm, My Dog Jack 5:00 pm, The Hiwatters 6:00 pm 
• Wed 8/13 (4-7pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday – An Evening with Jenerator (5:30 to 7:00 pm) plus special guest opener Anna Jae Trio (4:30 pm) 
• Wed 8/20 (4-7pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday, An Evening with An Evening with Jeffrey Halford and the Healers (plus opener)
• Fri 8/22 (4:30-7:30pm) – Friday Night Happy Hour – Dennis Johnson & The Revelators (2 Sets)
• Sun 8/24 (4:30 pm-7:30pm) – Crucial Reggae Sunday with Irie Dole and DJ Guidance and special guest TBD (5:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Wed 8/27 (4-7pm) – Singer/Songwriter Wednesday- Winterlark, 4:00 pm Jethro Jeremiah (Duo), 5:00 pm, Total Dysfunction, 6:00 pm
• Fri 8/29 (4:30-7:30pm) – Friday Night Happy Hour – Nate Lopez (2 Sets)
• Sat 8/30 (12:00 to 4:00 pm) – Golden Gate Bandshell Surf Festival #4 12:00 PM The New Shockwaves, 1:00 PM Uncle Sea Monster, 2:30 PM The Mermen
• Sun 8/31 (4:30 pm-7:30pm) – Crucial Reggae Sunday with Irie Dole and DJ Guidance and special guest Irie Rockerz feat Stevie Culture (5:30 to 6:30 pm)