Free Concerts Every Saturday!
Summer Music Series
Welcome to Union Square Plaza’s highly anticipated Summer Music Series this July through mid October with a floral twist! Union Square in Bloom embraces the blossoming of music this summer brought to you by SF Live. Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of music, as the plaza comes alive with an eclectic blend of talented artists. With an abundance of local restaurants and bars surrounding the venue, you can indulge in delicious food and refreshing drinks before enjoying the incredible performances. The lineup is as diverse as it gets, featuring an array of local songwriters and solo musicians, up-and-coming artists on the brink of stardom, energizing EDM and Dance DJ sets, soulful Jazz renditions, and captivating Latin rhythms. As an extra treat, make a day out of it! Indulge in a delightful experience by exploring 30 captivating floral installations at Union Square’s bars, restaurants, and hotels. Alternatively, savor the exquisite flavors of our Bloom + Bubbles Passport Program, offering a selection of 29 enticing floral cocktails.. So mark your calendars and join us for a summer filled with memorable music experiences in the heart of Union Square Plaza.
Below you will find details about an artist showcase, a pop-up bar, a rotating food vendor, family-friendly activities, and 21+ events, with information for August – October to be announced soon.
Headliner Band: Lavay Smith is an American singer specializing in swing and blues. She tours with her eight-piece “little big band”, Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.
Opening Band: Stephanie Woodford Trio spans multiple genres, including jazz and pop. As a jazz musician, she is skilled in performing jazz standards, improvisation, and swing music. In the realm of pop music, she can interpret contemporary hits and create her own original pop compositions.
DJ: DJ Sep is a renowned San Francisco Bay Area DJ/producer and founder of Dub Mission, a legendary Reggae club, who has showcased her versatile skills in spinning various genres at countless shows, festivals, clubs, and private events, while also leaving a lasting impact on Bay Area radio for over two decades.
Indoor Venue Partner: Biscuits & Blues
Rotating Food Vendors:
Bar Garden:
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Headliner Band: Barry “The Fish” Melton is a prominent American guitarist and singer, best known as one of the founding members of the psychedelic rock band Country Joe and the Fish. His electrifying guitar skills and passionate vocals contributed to the band’s signature sound and their iconic performances during the 1960s counterculture movement.
DJ: DJ Art
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Headliner Band: Soul Glitch is a multi-sensory experience, fusing live Electro-Pop with captivating and meaningful songs that explore the human condition and collective growth through a synergy of musicianship, synthesizers, and real-time audio effects.
DJ: DJ Forest Green is a highly skilled and well-traveled DJ, known for her energetic performances and delivering some of the best EDM tracks to captivate and move the audience.
Indoor Venue Partner: Madrone
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Headliner Band: Hailing from Sonoma, Pardon the Interruption (PTI) emerges as a vibrant New Wave/Prog-Pop band, bridging the musical legacies of the San Francisco Bay Area while infusing their own original and modern sound, resulting in an undeniable and enjoyable experience that will make you dance—akin to a perfect pepperoni pizza.
DJ: DJ Jah Yzer is an Award winning DJ & member of Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi sound system, originally from Miami now in the Bay Area, CA.
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Theme: Jerry Garcia Day
Headliner Band: Big Brother and the Holding Company is the band, known for recording ‘Cheap Thrills,’ an acclaimed classic rock album, still performs their iconic music with founding members Peter Albin and Dave Getz after 58 years. Darby Gould, along with Tom Finch and David Aguilar on guitars, recreates Janis Joplin’s legendary hits, ensuring the timeless and classic appeal of their music.
DJ: DJ Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist is a Bay Area DJ and curator known for organizing acclaimed hip-hop events and supporting independent artists, having won “Best of the Bay” in 2000, and his True Skool online magazine and newsletter serves as a resource for hip-hop history, politics, emerging artists, and events.
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Headliner: DJs Love Bizarre dance music collective was conceived with love and grown over 30 years of deep friendships rooted in the creation of the early SF rave scene. All-vinyl disco and classic house sets are carefully curated by SF dance music pioneers Ammon (The Rhythm Society, Ambient Mafia, Mushroom Jazz), Disco Dianna (Toon Town, Love Works, Carefree), Iggy (Ambient Mafia, Boomzilla, Sound Collective), Jim Hopkins (San Francisco Disco Preservation Society, Filth), and Marcelino ($BinDisco), who showcase the most timeless deep grooves. Hosts Jim Williams, Micha Collins-Oliver, and Nori Castillo, have promoted and produced global events and bring the sparkle.
Indoor Venue Partner: Hawthorn
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Headliner: Cardboard People is the Bay Area’s hottest alt-indie-soul-artpop band, fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Yunoka Berry and produced by Jim Greer and Domino from Hieroglyphics. Starting out as a duo and expanding to a four piece band with an all female rhythm section, Yunoka & Jim started creating buzz around their dynamic and eclectic sound: from laid-back indie-soul to hyped-up 80’s-tinged bangers and gospel-inspired tracks. Articles in KQED, East Bay Express, and a string of bookings have followed, putting the band at the forefront of the music scene in the Bay Area.
Indoor Venue Partner: American Conservatory Theater will be previewing their upcoming production, Hippest Trip, The Soultrain Musical!
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Headliner: Monica Maria of the Monica Maria Trio is a versatile musician, songwriter, and vocalist, graduated from SFSU in 2006 with a BA in Vocal Jazz and World Music. She actively engaged in the music scene, performing, and writing poetry since the late 1990s. Over the years, Monica has been involved in various bands, from Latin jazz ensembles to salsa and son jarocho groups, contributing her talents as a vocalist, bassist, and instrumentalist. Her musical journey has led her to collaborations, recordings, and performances, notably including her debut album “Nuevos Caminos” released in 2020. She remains deeply connected to her community, actively participating in events and fundraisers.
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Indoor Venue Partner: Sunset Mercantile
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Headliner Band: Batuki is a dynamic group of Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic melodic instruments and vocals. A fusion of latin music ranging from such backgrounds as Afro-Caribbean, Hip Hop and Funk. An artistic collective made up of teaching artists, cultural ambassadors and community workers. Batuki was created in response to the pandemic, holding outdoor rehearsals and free performances throughpout the Bay Area. Batuki allows them to further fortify these relationships and make sure their culture and communities thrive.
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Indoor Venue Partner: Hawthorn
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Artist: Del Sol Quartet: Fascinated by the feedback loop between social change, technology, and artistic innovation, the San Francisco-based Del Sol Quartet is a leading force in 21st-century chamber music. They believe that live music can, and should, happen anywhere – whether introducing Ben Johnston’s microtonal Americana at the Library of Congress or in a canyon cave, taking Aeryn Santillan’s gun-violence memorial to the streets of the Mission District, or collaborating with Huang Ruo and the anonymous Chinese poets who carved their words into the walls of the Angel Island Immigration Station. Since 1992, Del Sol has commissioned and premiered thousands of new works. delsolquartet.com
Indoor Venue Partner: Feinstein’s At the Nikko
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Artist: Class of ’77 is a tribute to the Punk Explosion of 1977 that changed, and saved Rock music.
Artist: MJoy is an Indie pop rock singer songwriter.
Indoor Venue Partner: Sunset Mercantile
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Headliner: Julio Bravo y su Orquesta Salsabor has been bringing hard hitting salsa to Bay Area salseros for nearly 20 years. Hailing from Peru, lead singer and band leader Julio Bravo brings together a talented group of musicians to create his own unique blend of energetic danceable salsa that has made them one of the Bay Area’s top salsa bands.
DJ: DJ Green B is one of the hottest club & festival DJ’s in California.
Indoor Venue Partner: Cigar Bar & Grill
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After Party: After the concert, keep the salsa vibes going all night long with free entry to Hawthorn Nightclub & Lounge starting at 7:30 pm.
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Headliner: DJ Umami, born and bred in the vibrant Bay Area, is an electrifying force in the local music scene! Currently, she’s the resident DJ for the San Francisco Giants, and before that, she rocked the Golden State Warriors’ arena from 2012 to 2021. Umami’s musical journey includes opening for notable artists like Dua Lipa, Anderson Paak, and Questlove at events such as Outside Lands and SXSW.
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DJ Gordo Cabeza: DJ Gordo Cabeza and guests will play originals, exclusive remixes and close relatives of your favorite Moton songs. The most talked about night in town!
Oscar Myer’s STEPPIN: Soul, Jazz, & Fillmore Funk served up hot and fresh by Oscar and his fantastic band.
HUNEY KNUCKLES: Fusing watertight grooves with high energy shreds that will make you want to jump out of your seat, this 4-piece has made a huge noise in the local scene, drawing new fans left & right at every show with their world class musicianship, mind-bending solos, and uber-funky jams.
Indoor Venue Partner: Madrone Art Bar
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The Union Square District has a long and storied tradition of being adorned with flowers. For many years, the presence of flowers, particularly daffodils, was abundant throughout the community. From handing out flowers to visitors walking through Maiden Lane to Macy’s Flower Show dating back to 1964, flowers have traditionally been a significant draw for visitors to our district. Most recently, American Tulip Day draws tens of thousands of visitors to gather tulips that decoratively blanket Union Square Park.
The Alliance wants to continue this tradition by attracting visitors through Union Square in Bloom, an annual activation that bring beauty and a sense of place to the district through vibrant floral displays and interactive programming. By working as a community, the Alliance aims to create a cohesive theme throughout the district and welcome visitors, workers, and residents to the heart of San Francisco.
Perfect for families and kids, our Union Square Bloom Passport is a delightful way to enjoy the season. Our partnered hotels, restaurants, bars, and have teamed up with local floral designers to create stunning floral displays on their storefronts. This booklet is packed with discovery, floral education, and interactive games for a fun-filled spring outing.
Come join us in Union Square, where the beauty of spring is in full bloom, and indulge in our floral cocktail program.
Each cocktail is carefully crafted to showcase the natural flavors and aromas of the flowers and herbs used, resulting in a sensory experience that’s truly unforgettable. And with a variety of non-alcoholic options available, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Cheers to a season of renewal and growth!
We are thrilled to extend an invitation to the vibrant community to join us for the Union Square in Bloom Summer Music Series. As we celebrate the harmonious blend of music, art, and nature, we warmly encourage everyone to become a part of this exciting event.
If you are a food or bar vendor interested in showcasing your offerings at the Bar Garden, please reach out to [email protected]. For those who are interested in being an artist or vendor partner, we invite you to fill out our inquiry form here.
Should you have any other inquiries or wish to contribute in a different capacity, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].
Your participation and support are deeply appreciated. Thank you!