San Francisco’s Stern Grove Festival returns on June 14 for its 89th summer of free music, kicking off with a concert by Indian psychedelic indie band Peter Cat Recording Co., with an opening set by San Francisco’s own Marinero.
The festival continues on Sundays through August, bringing 10,000 fans each week to the eucalyptus-lined amphitheater of Sigmund Stern Grove. The lineup features all-time musical greats, buzzy bands and rising local acts like. The Big Picnic, Stern Grove’s closing weekend, will include headlining sets from Public Enemy on Aug. 15 and Al Green on Aug. 16, with support from the GLIDE ensemble and Oakland R&B star Goapele.
Other Stern Grove highlights include the highly danceable Colombian electronic pop band Bomba Estéreo on June 21; cult favorite singer-songwriter Japanese Breakfast on June 28; and DJ crew Major Lazer with Richmond rapper Fijiana on July 5.
Stern Grove continues with Charley Crockett and Nicki Bluhm on July 19; Suki Waterhouse on July 26; Violent Femmes and Tune-Yards on Aug. 2; and Patti LaBelle and Destini Wolf on Aug. 9.
Although Stern Grove is free, fans must secure tickets through a lottery system. The lottery opens six weeks before each show, and fans have a week to enter to win up to four tickets.
