Every winter, I await the announcement of Oscar nominations, as well as the announcement of summer Hollywood Bowl lineup. As a LA native, Bowl has been the center of my summer since I was a child. So listening to who plays who every year will be the stage for the season and thrill you with warm evenings with unparalleled music and picnics.
Several lease events have already been announced in recent weeks (they are still bowl shows. The only difference as a concert attendant is that you can’t have BYOB or wine in these shows). But for over 100 years, the Hollywood Bowl has been Rafil’s summer home, unveiling the full schedule for yesterday’s show.
The lineup won’t be disappointing. As always, there’s something really there for everyone. The 2025 lineup includes Hollywood and Broadway A-listers, classical music, pop, rock, blues, hip-hop, jazz, soundtracks, and more. Take some highlights.
One particularly exciting and interesting entry from Bat is the free concert of “Wildfire First Responsers and Imfactured Community Member.” The evening lineup has not yet been announced, but Gustavo Dudamel will be directed in anticipation of an uplifting night of love for Angelenos and the city.
Speaking of Dudamel, I would like to make catching at least one of his shows this year a priority. This marks his penultimate summer in the bowl as his beloved Rafil Music and artistic director decamp the end of the 2025/26 season. He will perform eight performances in August at Rafil and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela.
Photo: courtesy of the artist
One of the season’s biggest events, the opening night headlines are nothing more than Hugh Jackman this year. The Wolverine actor will perform songs such as the great showman The Music Man, accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins.
Fellow films A-Lister and Broadway star Cynthia Erivo also take the stage, but keeping them from “eliminating gravity” or taking on other evil tracks. Among the inspired castings, the Oscar nominee will perform a masterpiece in Bowl’s annual musical. Expect a properly star-studded supporting cast to be announced near the show.
Photo: Michael Giuliano
As always, the film is well represented in the lineup. This makes sense. After all, it’s a Hollywood bowl. The music of John Williams in particular shows love. The calendar features three maestros for film concerts, but the 93-year-old film composer himself is not listed in the lineup. Instead, David Newman raffles as he plays a selection of Williams’ biggest hit sets towards the film clip. Hundreds of lightsabers illuminating the amphitheater are always impressive sights. Typical summer blockbusters Jaws (managed by Newman) and Jurassic Park (managed by Dudamel himself) have their scores performed live in films and undergo their own screening.
A fellow Oscar-winning composer, Alexandre Despla, is also in the spotlight of his own nights. He was the first to see the Grand Budapest Hotel (both won the Desplat Oscar), the form of water, both in the strange case of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Argo and Benjamin Button (both won the Desplat Oscar). You will conduct Rafil when you play the selection. And it’s an annual tradition that concludes the film offering. Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Music Songs” are getting longer.
Another annual tradition has returned, but this year we have a new partner. The Blue Note Jazz Festival (formerly the Playboy Jazz Festival, then the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival) is named after the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, which is set to open LA. Jazz club this March. The two-day festival features Grace Jones, Iree Brothers, Willow and De La Soul on weekend plays filled with top-notch jazz.
And what is the bowl season without some razzle dazzle? Despite recent wildfires (we had to evacuate the bowl itself during the sunset fire), the fourth fireworks on July 4th (the earth, wind and fire claims this year ) and there are still classic fireworks shows on the calendar. , 2 nights Tchaikovsky’s grand fireworks and 3 nights fireworks finale with Chicago.
I was able to continue waxing lyrical about the lineup (Air! Alabama Shakes! Diana Ross! Josh Groban!), but here’s what you really need to know: How to get tickets. The lease event is already on sale, but the show created by LA Phil will not be available until May 6th at 10am. There are certain exceptions. Tickets for the Roots Picnic Experience Ticket are already on sale. The opening night with Hugh Jackman tickets will go on sale tomorrow, February 20th at 10am. Alabama Shake tickets will be on sale at 10am on February 28th. In addition, tickets for the Blue Note Jazz Festival will be available from 10am on March 4th. And, as always, subscribers who purchase ticket packages for a series of concerts will win their first pick. Another option is to create your own package from March 25th. This means you can select three or more concerts of interest and access tickets early to save on your fees.
To decide, you can find the complete calendar on the Hollywood Bowl website, but below is a few outstanding lists.
30 shows in the Hollywood Bowl lineup for the 2025 season
April
We are ❤️LA
Tuesday, April 1st
June
Opening Night at the Bowl: Night with Hugh Jackman
Saturday, June 7th
Roots Picnic Experience: Class of 95, Roots, Lil Kim, Redman & Method Man, Bone Thugs and Memoneys, etc.
Sun, June 8th
Blue Note Jazz Festival
SAT-SUN, June 14th-15th
Rhiannon Giddens: American Tune
Wednesday, June 18th
KCRW Festival: Noise Orchestra Colored Wizkid
Sun, June 22nd
July
July 4th Fireworks, Earth, Wind, Fire
Wednesdays, July 2-4
Jaw in coordination with La Phil
Saturday, July 5th
Classic pride
Thu, July 10th
Warner Bros Discovery Global Experience announces Bug Bunny at the Symphony. Celebrate the 85th anniversary of Bugs Bunny!
Fri – Sat, July 11th-12th
Alexandre Desplatt’s film score
Tuesday, July 15th
KCRW Festival: Sir
Sun, July 20th
Diana Ross
Fri – Sat, July 25th-26th
I want the 80s featuring Rick Springfield, John Wait, Wang Chong and Paul Young.
Sun, July 27th
August
Cynthia Eribo, Jesus Christ Superstar
Fri – Sun, August 1-3
Jurassic Park live concerts
Fri – Sat, August 8-9
KCRW Festival: King Gizard and the Lizard Wizard
Sun, August 10th
Alabama sways with Shannon and Clams
Wednesday, August 13th
Los Aguilar, The Bolívars & Gustavo Dudamel
Fri – Sat, August 15th-16th
KCRW Festival: Reggae Night xxiii featuring Damian Marley and Stephen Marley
Sun, August 17th
Herbie Hancock
Wednesday, August 20th
Film Maestro: Celebrating the music of John Williams
Fri – Sun, August 22-24
Sarabande African featuring Angelique Kiggio and Yoyo Ma
Thu, August 28th
Cyndi Lauper: Only girls want to enjoy it
Fri – Sat, August 29th-30th
September
Raphile and Josh Grovan
Fri – Sat, September 5-6
Black Movie Soundtrack V featuring host Craig Robinson
Wednesday, September 10th
Fireworks Finale: Chicago
September 12th-14th, FRI – SUN
KCRW Festival: Air with Orchestra
Sun, September 21st
Big thief
Saturday, September 27th
John Legend
Sun, September 28th
Additionally, there will be five lease events held before the opening night.
fish
Fri – Sun, April 25-27
Halsey with Evanescence and Warning
Wednesday, May 14th
Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings and Sierra Hull
Friday, May 16th
Ricky Gerve
Saturday, May 31st
Charlie Crockett and Leon Bridges
Thu, June 5th
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