2023 Festivals & Music Series Listed by Start Date.
Music Festivals and Concerts are linked to event pages on ContraCostaLive.com. To see who is playing today, follow the concert link.
These pages oftentimes have band links, maps, organizers, and phone numbers.
Music lineups and some details are subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm.
Most events invite you to bring a picnic, blankets, folding chairs, and leashed pets.
Signup for free updates.
CONCERTS IN THE GROVE, Saturdays, Clayton, FREE 10-week concert series, May 13th, thru Sept 16th, 6-8 pm. 10 bands, shade, stores, and restaurants nearby, and free parking.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FAIR, Antioch, TICKETED EVENT, May 18th thru 21st, Thr & Fri 12-10 pm; Sat 12-11 pm; Sun 12-10 pm. Carnival, Arts & Agriculture Pavilions, Livestock, Acts & Attractions, Auto Racing, Two Stages of Live Entertainment.
SHORELINE FESTIVAL, Saturday, Crockett, FREE 1-day event, Sat May 20th, 11-6 pm, five bands, hot air balloon rides, children’s area, vendors, beer, wine, and food trucks
ART & WINE FESTIVAL, Sat & Sun, Pleasant Hill, FREE 2-day event, May 20th & 21st, 10-8 & 11-6, 9 bands play, 70+ arts and craft vendors, beer & wine, and kids area.
Want to be a vendor? Be sure to state what event(s) you are interested in.
ART & WIND FESTIVAL, Sun & Mon, San Ramon, FREE 2-day event, May 28th & 29th, 11-6 both days, six bands. Arts and crafts, food and drink vendors, kite demonstrations, helicopter landing, and a tethered hot air balloon.
CONCERTS BY THE LAKE, Sundays, Pleasant Hill, FREE, 8-week series, May 8th thru Sept 3rd, 6-8 pm. Eight bands. Food, wine, and beer.
SUMMER CAR & MUSIC SHOW, Thursdays, Pittsburg, 9-week car & music show, May 11th thru Sept 7th, 6-8 pm, nine bands, nice park, and downtown restaurants.
In a band and want to play? Be sure to state what event(s) you are interested in.
June 2023 Start Dates
MUSIC & MARKET, Thursdays, Concord, FREE, 18-week series, June 1 thru Sep 28th, 6:30-8 pm, 18 bands, farmers market, Todos Santos Park, free parking, restaurants, and stores nearby.
ROCK THE PLAZA, Fridays, Lafayette, FREE, 4-week series, June 2 thru 23rd, 6-8 pm. 4 bands, vendors, restaurants, and stores nearby.
ART & WINE, Sat & Sun, Walnut Creek, FREE, two days, June 3rd & 4th, 11-7 & 11-6, 8 bands, 200 artisans, kids zone, festival train, food, wine, and beer.
Signup for free updates.
SUMMER CONCERTS, Thursdays, Moraga, FREE, 9-week series, June 8th thru Aug 3rd, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm, nine bands. Pack a picnic.
SUMMER CONCERTS, Thursdays, Orinda, FREE, 8-week series, June 8th thru Sept 21st, 6-8 pm, eight bands, food truck night.
SUMMER CONCERTS, Fridays, Brentwood, FREE, 10-week series, June 16th thru Aug 18th, ten bands, downtown with restaurants and stores nearby.
Want to be a vendor? Be sure to state what event(s) you are interested in.
BBQ & MUSIC FESTIVAL, Fri-Sun, Martinez, a FREE, 3-Day festival, June 16th thru 18th, 5-9 pm, 11-8 pm & 11-6 pm, ten bands, carnival, vendors, beer, wine, and BBQ!
July 2023 Start Dates
SUMMER CONCERTS, Sundays, San Ramon, FREE, 5-week series, July 9th thru Aug 8th, five bands, shade, food, and beverage trucks.
SUMMER CONCERTS, Thr & Sat, Antioch, FREE, 4-week series, July 13th thru Aug 5th, four bands, this city splits their concerts over a location in downtown and the waterpark.
In a band and want to play? Be sure to state what event(s) you are interested in.
BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL, Fri & Sat, Pleasant Hill, is a FREE, 2-day festival, July 14th & 15th, with four bands, arts, craft, beer, and wine vendors.
September 2023 Start Dates
ART & WINE FESTIVAL, Sat & Sun, Lafayette, a FREE, 2-day festival, Sept 23rd & 24th, 10-7 & 10-6 pm, three stages, 16 bands, 100’s craft vendors, food trucks, restaurants, beer, and wine
Signup for free updates.
CLAYTON CONCERT IN THE GROVE I hope I don’t miss Aug 19th with FLEETWOOD MASK. Great venue, great band.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FAIR I go every year. I go early in the day before it gets crowded and the lines get longer. Love the baby goats, bunnies, chickens, and even the hogs and sheep. Pro tip get on the rides early in the day.
SHORELINE FESTIVAL May 20th taking two women to this. It’s not me they want it’s the OTHER Hot Air Balloon (at the festival LOL), great bands, and I’m sure we’ll stop by TOOT’S and the DEADFISH.
ART & WINE PLEASANT HILL Looking forward to seeing The Landbirds and Salvage Title! I like to rock! I’ll go Saturday.
Favorite Bands:
Houserockers
East Bay Mudd
Pride and Joy
Groove Doctors
Spazmatics
Nice choices Doug. The only one I am unfamiliar with is the GROVE DOCTORS. Where are they playing?
Groove doctors are so good and so popular in this area! They play July 23 at 5:30 in San Ramon at their free concert series in Central Park and August 6 at the Pleasant Hill free concert series, 100 Gregory Ln.. 6-8. Just bring a blanket or lawnchair!
Alice, thanks for the note. Because of it and because I have not heard of this band I looked for a website. Here it is or more specifically their songlist https://www.groovedoctors.com/#songlist-head. Here’s the link to the San Ramon music series https://www.contracostalive.com/event/5457 also here’s a link to the Pleasant Hill Series you spoke of https://www.contracostalive.com/event/7048. If you can add a few songs that they almost are assured of playing add it here. Thanks for the heads-up.
I haven’t seen one of my favorite bands mentioned, they are Gerald Glasper’s band, Project Four from Pittsburg.
I also like Best Intentions, Andre Thierry, East Bay Mudd, the PHD’s so much great local talent!
Teresa, are you kidding? Gerald is the hardest working man in the entertainment business. See the band here next week https://www.contracostalive.com/event/7852 make sure you are a SPOTLIGHT newsletter subscriber. Ever Weds we tell tell you who is playing where.
Fav bands:
Forejour (Foreigner and Journey Tribute Band)
House of Floyd
Solid choices Diane. Let’s see who is coming up.. May 25th PAPA JOE & the NEW DEAL Funk, soul, Latin mix Pittsburg Car Show. DAD & CO at the Sugar Barge Sat 5/27. ROD THE MOD Clayton 5/27; SOUCANO latin rock Sat 5/28 San Ramon; and the HOUSE ROCKERS Mon 5/29 also in San Ramon.. CROSSMAN CONNECTION 5/28 Pleasant Hill, better get my running shoes on.
SEE THE ContraCostaLive.com calendar for all the bands performing next week https://www.contracostalive.com/event
Forejour (Foreigner and Journey Tribute Band) will be at the Campanile in Antioch May 25th. Can’t wait!
Petty theft
Illeagles
Creedence
Saw BILLY MARTINI 70’s rock band at the Shoreline Festival, Crockett Sat May 21 and SALVAGE TITLE a soft rock covers band at the Pleasant Hill Art & Wine Festival Sat May 21st. I preferred BILLY MARTINI.
PITTSBURG CAR SHOW BAND on May 25th featured the band PAPA JOE & the NEW DEAL funk, soul band playing SLY & THE FAMILY STONE and much more rhythm & blues music. The keyboard and guitar player were very good. The four gals doing most of the vocals were young and talented. Very good show. They will be performing June 4th at the HERCULES FESTIVAL you won’t be disappointed.
Delta Dogs
Love all the bands in your lineup!! We always have a blast at your shows! Especially happy always to see our top faves, The Sun Kings, on the calendar!!
The Touch Of Class Band
We are an Oakland based Rock and Soul band- We’d love to be involved in your summer concert series..
http://www.themarchmen.com
510-393-1750
Thanks for checking in you might check in with both Antioch and Orinda. The time to apply is generally Oct/Nov.
I would love to see any of the Beatles tribute bands. There is the Sun Kings, as well as the Fab Four, and Ticket to Ride, and Paperback Writer, all are good.
I would love to see and hear carnival come back to Clayton as well as Patron Latin rhythm!
Carnival is a carbon copy of Santana! Patron Latin Rhythm is the equivalent of Tower of Power w/a Latin flavor, right down to the horns!! They also do classic hits, both are a true treat 🎯
I can’t stand those hard rock bands they are starting to book at the Pleasant Hill Concert By the Lake. I don’t go when they are playing and I used to go consistently every time because they are so fun and great place to have a picnic.
Hi Jennifer, you don’t say here what music you prefer. If you did I would try to direct you. Having said that and as a close observer of the bands that play in Contra Costa and Pleasant Hill I can assure you there is a mix of all types of music. Mention here the types of music you like or the names of some local bands and I will try to help. Thanks for the comment.