The longest days of 2025 lie just ahead, accompanied by a bounty of free music concerts from South County all the way up the Peninsula. On June 18, salsa band Edgardo & Candela plays for free in the Mission College Summer Concert Series at 6pm in the Central Plaza at Mission College in Santa Clara. On June 19, Yo’dele and Riddim Exchange will get people moving at CityDance, in front of the San Jose Museum of Art. Entertainment at Redwood City’s Courtyard Square ranges from cumbia (La Gente SF on June 20) to classical (the Redwood Symphony on June 21). And the Levitt Pavilion concert series continues with country music at St. James Park on June 22.
But the most widespread gift of free entertainment comes from Make Music San Jose, an all-day effort by the Office of Cultural Affairs to fill the city with music. On June 21, at more than 30 locations—libraries, churches, strip malls, local businesses and even some city sidewalks—a multitude of musicians will perform for free from morning to night. With all the options available, one can work a little live music into the day. Catch Los Improviders before a movie screening (5pm at the PruneYard) or pair breakfast with folk music from the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association (11am at Hobee’s in downtown San Jose). Or spend the whole day downtown at multiple locations, including The Tech Interactive (11am-4:30pm), Parque de Los Pobladores (3-8:3pm), Fox Tale Fermentation Project (1-11pm) and at four spots along Paseo de San Antonio. See all the options at makemusicday.org/sanjose—and sample the music on the Make Music Day 2025 public playlist on Spotify.
Thu, June 19
Pobladores Night Market—Through July 31, this open-air market brings together local makers and business, artists, performers and food purveyors. Free. June 19, 5:30-9pm. Parque de los Pobladores, 501 S 1st St, San Jose. sjdowntown.com
Songwriter Concert—Presented in partnership with KRTY, this fundraiser for the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association features four Nashville songwriters—Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Bob DiPiero and Scooter Carusoe—sharing songs and stories to accompany curated wine tastings and small bites as the sun sets. $78. June 19, 6-9pm. Clos La Chance, 1 Hummingbird Lane San Martin. eventbrite.com
CityDance—The city’s monthly dance event celebrates Juneteenth with a night of dancing with professional instructors and live music by Afriicionado, Yo’dele and Riddim Exchange. All skill levels are welcome. Free. June 19, 6-9pm. Circle of Palms in front of the San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S Market St, San Jose. facebook.com/citydancesj
Movies on the Square—For Juneteenth, Redwood City’s Movies on the Square starts off with Bravemaker Film Fest’s spotlight on Black independent filmmakers, followed by the feature screening, Bob Marley: One Love. Free. June 19, 8pm. Courtyard Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org
Fri, June 20
Garden at the Flea—It’s Kawaii Kpop Night, with anime and K-pop themed vendors plus Kpop and Jpop dance performances, food trucks and a beer garden. Free ($5 for parking). Friday, June 20, 5-9pm. Berryessa Flea Market, 1590 Berryessa Rd, San Jose. gardenattheflea.com
Alex Lucero Band—A popular performer around the region, Lucero appears at the Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series. Free. June 20, 5:30pm. Downtown Amphitheater, Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. morganhillchamber.org
Music on the Square—La Gente SF entertains the crowds with an outdoor concert of cumbia, reggae, salsa and reggaeton. Free. June 20, 6-8pm. Courtyard Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org
Summer Concert Series in the Beer Garden—Live jazz and classic rock by First Call. Free. June 20, 6:30-10:30pm. Teske’s Germania, 255 N 1st St, San Jose. 408.292.0291. teskes-germania.com
American Hwangap—A reading of a play by Lloyd Suh, which depicts a bittersweet family reunion. $23.18 general, $17.85 students and seniors. June 20-21, 7pm. Akiyama Center, 110 Jackson St, San Jose. catsasiantheaterscene.org
Ivan Cornejo—A fresh voice in the evolving landscape of Latin music, Mexican-American singer-songwriter Ivan Cornejo brings his emotive storytelling to San Jose. $163+. June 20, 8pm. SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose. sapcenter.com
Metallica: M72 World Tour—Now entering its third year, this tour promoting 72 Seasons, the band’s 11th studio album, hits the South Bay for two nights, each with different setlists. Friday’s opening bands are Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills; on Sunday, Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies hit the stage. $95+. June 20 and 22, Levi’s Stadium, 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara. metallica.com/tour
Sat, June 21
Slam Jose! 3×3 Hoops Festival—A two-day competition for youth, community members and organizations powered by Hoop It Up, a grassroots basketball tour. The festival is a partnership of the Urban Vibrancy Institute, Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley and San Jose Sports Authority. June 21, 10am-6pm; June 22, 10am-3pm. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, downtown San Jose. slamjose.com
Tequila & Taco Music Festival—The name says it all—eat, drink, dance, repeat. $32.57. June 21, 1-9pm. Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, 16500 Condit Rd, Morgan Hill. tequilaandtacomusicfestival.com
Around the World—At this event that celebrates the community’s many cultures, there will be more than 40 vendors, a live performance, food trucks and family fun. There will also be a donation drive. Free. June 21, 3-8pm. Cityline Redwood Square, Murphy and McKinley avenues, Sunnyvale. vibesandsmiles.org
Redwood Symphony Outdoor Concert—Bring lawn chairs and listen to symphonic renditions of works by Copland, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Gershwin and Bernstein. Free. June 21, 7pm. Redwood City Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodsymphony.org
Sun, June 22
Country Vibes—The Levitt Pavilion concert series continues, with headliner Cash’d Out and opener William Johnston playing country and Americana. Free. June 22, 3:30-7pm. St James Park, 2nd St &, E St James St, San Jose. levittsanjose.org
Stanford Jazz Festival—The 53rd annual festival will feature 26 concerts at various Stanford University venues, running through Aug 1. Highlights include Tiffany Austin, Ken Peplowski, John Pizzarelli, George Cables, Taylor Eigsti and many more artists. The festival kicks off with Indian Jazz Journey featuring Mahesh Kale and George Brooks at 4pm on June 22. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Dr, Stanford. stanfordjazz.org
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band—Multi-talented Texan Lyle Lovett’s ensemble is large enough to easily cross many musical ranges, from country, jazz, blues and swing. $67+. June 22, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Earthsongs: DREAM—The Choral Project features music from around the world inspired by dreams and possibilities. Repertoire includes Henryk Górecki’s “Totus tuus,” Tesfa Wondemagegnehu’s “Dream Within A Dream,” David del Tredici’s “Acrostic Song,” Eric Whitacre’s “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine” and a choral arrangement of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” $35 ($25 seniors, $10 students). June 22, 5pm. Mission Santa Clara de Asís, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. choralproject.org/earthsongs
Tue, June 24
Barenaked Ladies—On their Last Summer on Earth Tour 2025, Canada’s Barenaked Ladies bravely cross the border to tour with American bands Guster and Fastball. $60+. June 24, 6:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Wed, June 25
Los Gatos Jazz on the Plazz—Grammy winner Mads Tolling & The Mads Men perform with vocalist Kenny Washington for the kickoff event of this popular outdoor concert. Free (option to buy reserved seats). June 25, 6:30pm. Town Plaza, West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos. jazzontheplazz.com
Continuing
Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean—This musical based on Ed Graczyk’s play features lyrics by actress and trans activist Shakina, who will also appear in the TheatreWorks production. $34-$54. Thru July 13. Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. theatreworks.org
Dragons Love Tacos—An outdoor production of a play written by Ernie Nolan and based on the book by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri. Thru July 6. Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. paloalto.gov/Events-Directory
Sweat—Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning SWEAT tells the story of coworkers who build friendships on the factory floor in industrial Pennsylvania, but layoffs and hard times find them pitted against each other. Directed by ShawnJ West and featuring a cast of 9 Bay Area actors. $20-$63. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. June 13-29. or by phone at 650.329.0891. paplayers.org
Sweet Charity—Memorable songs like “Big Spender” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now” have kept Sweet Charity popular since its debut in 1966. San Jose Stage’s production runs through June 29. $17-$74. Shows Wed.-Thu 7:30pm; Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm. The Stage, 490 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.283.7142. thestage.org
The Tempest—For this production of The Tempest updated with elements of Dungeons and Dragons, Silicon Valley Shakespeare promises “enchanted landscapes, supernatural beings, and high-stakes encounters,” as well as nontraditional casting. Free. Thru June 22, Fri–Sun, 7pm. Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park, 1320 Willow St, San Jose. svshakespeare.org
12th Night—Los Altos Stage Company presents Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub’s modern take on Shakespeare’s exploration of gender fluidity, 12th night, with a jazz score featuring original songs by Taub. $13-$41. Through June 22. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. losaltosstage.org
