How to Have A Night At the Hollywood Bowl During the Pandemic

As we continue to adhere to the new normal of life in quarantine, many of us are feeling nostalgic for our past freedoms of being able to gather to enjoy live music events. In past summers, ACEBSA has been pleased to offer our members a special opportunity to attend the Smooth Summer Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. Unfortunately, in late May, we had to inform our members that, due to the cancellation of the 2020 season at the Hollywood Bowl, this popular event would not be taking place. Though we are not able to enjoy this favorite annual event alongside our members this year, we are pleased to share with you an amazing resource that allows you to watch, listen, and enjoy from the safety of your own couch. The Hollywood Bowl’s Watch & Listen online collection features an incredible assemblage of live recorded musical performances, behind-the-scenes videos, curated playlists, historical deep-dives, and much more. Here are some highlights from their collection:

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Gustavo Dudamel, world-renowned conductor and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, hosts a 6-episode series highlighting the most unforgettable performances from the past decade at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to performances, the program features conversations and insights into the rich history behind the venue itself. You can tune in through this link for currently available episodes, and be sure to check out their schedule of upcoming releases!

LA Phil x KCRW: World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

In partnership with the LA Philharmonic, KCRW National Public Radio has been bringing an eclectic mix of talented artists from around the world to the Hollywood Bowl stage for 20 years. Thanks to Watch & Listen, some of the best performances from the festival’s history can be relived both online and on the radio. To listen to artist acts ranging from the Mexican acoustic guitar duo, Rodrigo y Gabriela, to electronic and pop artists like Flying Lotus and Santigold, ACEBSA members can tune in every Sunday from 6:30PM - 8:00PM now through October 11th to enjoy!

Sound/Stage: An LA Phil Media Production

Starting Friday, September 25th, a new collection of concert films, interviews, essays and artworks that offer broader insights into the music will be available online. Performances range from orchestral concerts to sets of jazz legends like Kamasi Washington and vocalists like Andra Day. Take a sneak peek into what will be available by clicking this link. These highlights barely scratch the surface of what the Hollywood Bowl has to offer online! If you are looking to deep-dive further into their archive, they have organized their materials into five convenient categories: Video, Music, Interviews, Articles, and Radio Broadcasts. While enjoying live music and concerts looks a little different this year, we hope you will still find joy through these resources the Hollywood Bowl is offering. We look forward to being able to watch & listen with you in person in the coming years!