San Francisco’s oldest music competition returns after flood
May 31, 2022
An image from the Stern Grove concert series.
Courtesy of Stern Grove Festival
San Francisco music festivals don’t get much more beloved than Stern Grove.
Now in its 85th year, the free summer concert series has been a staple in the Bay Area, but its status was put in jeopardy last year after a flood severely damaged the park grounds. Thankfully, renovations are nearing completion, and the reopening party is going to be one to remember.
The June 12 kickoff features two historic Bay Area acts — rap legend Too $hort and prolific horn section Tower of Power — both of whom were originally scheduled to perform for the 2021 season finale. The rest of the lineup was announced in unconventional (and accidental) fashion with an advertisement on Muni.
Traditionally, the Stern Grove concerts were first come, first served. As a result, attendees would arrive in the early morning hours to secure a parcel of grass for picnic blankets and coolers. That changed with the pandemic, which led the organizers to launch an online reservation system. Tickets are still free, and go on sale 12 days before each show, with additional tickets released throughout the week prior to the event.
Ticket reservations will open for the June 12 event at 2 pm at Stern Grove’s website.
Dan Gentile is the culture editor at SFGATE. He moved to San Francisco from Austin, TX where he worked as a vinyl DJ and freelance writer covering food and music. His writing has been featured in Texas Monthly, American Way, Rolling Stone, Roads & Kingdoms, VICE, Thrillist and more. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com.
