Summer's in full swing, and that means free outdoor concerts abound in L.A. We've picked five of our favorite series that start this month to show you where you can hear great music on the cheap. And don't forget about some of the other free summer concert series that have already started, including The Getty's Saturdays off the 405, Union Station concerts, Grand Performances, the Levitt Pavilion concerts and Jazz, Latin and other music happenings at LACMA.



The Grove’s Summer Concert Series takes place on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 pm weekly through July 27.

July 6: Plain White T´s with Tonic

July 13: Atlas Genius with Phases

July 20: Smash Mouth with Brian Vander Ark

July 27: Cher Lloyd with AJ

Santa Monica’s Twilight Concert Series is the largest free concert series in Southern California held on Thursdays from 7-10 pm at the Santa Monica Pier. It runs from this Thursday (July 7) to Sept. 8. Here’s the full lineup for the 32nd annual season:



July 7: Mayer Hawthorne with Alina Baraz, hosted by KCRW DJ Jason Bentley

July 14: Børns with Porches, hosted by KCRW DJ Valida

July 21: The Psychedelic Furs with Day Wave, hosted by KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

July 28: Protoje with Raging Fyah, hosted by KCRW DJ Anne Litt

Aug. 4: Natalia Lafourcade with Monsieur Perine, hosted by KCRW DJ Raul Campos

Aug. 11: Rufus Du Sol with Marc Baker, hosted by KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez

Aug. 18: Mavis Staples with The Suffers, hosted by KCRW DJ Gary Calamar

Aug. 25: Save Ferris with Cibo Matto, hosted by KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole

Sept. 1: Unknown Mortal Orchestra with Steady Holiday, hosted by KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox

Sept. 8: Ohio Players with Holy Ghost!, hosted by KCRW DJ Aaron Bird

The Sunset Concert Series at the Skirball celebrates its 20th anniversary this season with another eclectic lineup. All concerts are on Thursdays at 8 pm from July 21-Aug. 25, doors and DJs at 7 pm.

July 21: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

July 28: Sinkane

Aug. 4: Thalma de Freitas

Aug. 11: M.A.K.U. Soundsystem

Aug. 18: Music Maker Blues Revue

Aug. 25: Shai Tsabari and the Middle East Groove All Stars

The Annenberg Sound + Focus series returns to Culver City this month for three Saturdays at 5 pm (music begins at 7 pm). The concerts take place in the park adjacent to the Annenberg Space for Photography, and the photography space stays open late until 11 pm to see the exhibition currently on view. Food trucks and cafes and a 21+ beer garden will be available.

July 9: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Imarhan, DJ set by Jason Bentley

July 16: Baaba Maal, Classixx, Brazilian Girls, DJ set by Aaron Byrd

July 23: Nas, Wild Belle, DJ set by Garth Trinidad

The Hammer Museum and KCRW presents Disappear Here: Music Made in L.A., four free nights of live concerts by L.A. musicians in the museum's courtyard. The series is being held in conjunction with the Hammer's biennial exhibition, Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only. Happy hour begins at 6:30 pm, DJ sets begin at 7:30 and the live music starts at 8:15 pm.

July 7: Poolside, Carlos Niño & Friends, KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd

July 14: Peanut Butter Wolf, Mndsgn, KCRW DJ Mathieu Schreyer

July 21: Ceci Bastida, KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez and more TBA

July 28: TOKiMONSTA, Ambré with Special Guests and KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe