The '26 Hollywood Bowl Lineup
Since this is Dudamel's last season, I thought I'd highlight some of the fun shows that I will be hopefully catching this summer.
It's bittersweet that 2026 is the final year that Gustavo Dudamel will be the conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He's been an institution in Los Angeles for almost 20 years and while he's moving on to bigger and better things (he's taking over the NY Philharmonic), he will be missed. How many composers have a TV show loosely based on them. (That would be Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle.)
I've seen him in concert conducting the Philharmonic playing classical, with Andrew Bird (who apparently held out on the LA Phil until they agreed to have Dudamel conduct), and as part of the 100th anniversary of the LA Philharmonic, which was headlined by... Katy Perry. Since this is Dudamel's last season, I thought I'd highlight some of the fun shows that I will be hopefully catching this summer. (Lease events and staple shows like The Sound of Music singalong are not included)
The Headliner
Foo Fighters w/ the LA Phil & YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) - Aug 22
Last year, Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic played Coachella, and as part of that set, Dudamel brought out Dave Grohl to play a couple of Foo Fighter tunes. This coincides with when Dave Grohl only popped up at special events like SNL's 50th Anniversary Concert and charity events. Clearly, Dave and Dudamel hit it off, so instead of playing a couple of songs together, Dave is bringing the whole band and we're getting a full show. Other than the occasional secret show / charity show, The Foo Fighters have been playing stadiums so seeing them at the The Hollywood Bowl will feel like a more intimate show even though it can pack 18 thousand people.
The Other Headliner
Dudamel's Playlist - Aug 21
As of now, these are the only details for the show:
Join Gustavo for a one-of-a-kind, one-night-only celebration! Acting as host for the evening, he’ll invite some of his favorite artists to the stage for a surprise-filled performance. Guests to be announced.
As previously mentioned, Dudamel is pals with Katy Perry. His Coachella set also included appearances from Laufey and Cynthia Erivo. I'm sure that's just a few of many names in his address book. I don't doubt for a second that Dudamel and LA Phil won't be pulling out all the stops for this celebration.
Our Podcast's Dream Show
Music from the Films of Wes Anderson - July 10/11/12
No guests have been announced but the description for this show has piqued my interest:
The music in Wes Anderson’s films is a hallmark of his cinematic story-telling. Rediscovered pop hits—or should-have-been hits. Superstar songs reimagined. Uniquely original film scores. Special guest performers join us for a celebration of the music from the wondrous world of Wes Anderson.
What piques my interest is that the show is looking to combine both the scores of Wes Anderson films and the songs from them. From the sound of things, it seems like original songs, covers, and needle drops are all options. While I don't expect The Rolling Stones to show up to play any of their songs, the set list could be pretty unpredictable.
Composer Alexander Desplat and Seu Jorge have both performed at the Hollywood Bowl. Come to think of it, Jarvis Cocker was here last year with Pulp too, albeit as part of a lease event. Jason Schwartzman is a musician and I bet he wouldn't mind playing one of the amazing songs from the Rushmore soundtrack! The possibilities are endless.
Perfect for an Orchestra
Saint Vincent w/ Orchestra - Aug 2
Annie Clark is a massive talent even though I may not be the biggest Saint Vincent fan. Playing with an orchestra in Hollywood, in a concert venue designed by Frank Gehry, is like the most Annie Clark thing ever. From her earlier albums, to her collaboration album with David Byrne, and beyond, she has a deep enough catalog and lush enough arrangements to warrant a full set with an orchestra.
Nostalgia is One Hell of a Drug
Blues Traveler / Gin Blossoms / Spin Doctors - July 18
When browsing music performances to watch with my kids last year, I stumbled upon this recent clip:
This is from May 2025! They both sound great. I never went to the H.O.R.D.E. tour back in the 90s but this seems like the next best thing. Because it's a Hollywood Bowl show, you're welcome to bring your own booze. Belting out "Two Princes" with 18,000 millennials and Gen Xers sounds like a lot of fun!
