Shakira, Blackpink and more: 10 must-see Southern California concerts this summer
Craving a break from the desert heat? Or just missing the desert music festival season?
This summer, let the music guide you to cooler temperatures with concerts that are well worth the drive to Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
From The Weeknd's soulful anthems to Linkin Park's dynamic energy, Southern California has something for fans of all music genres this season. Here are 10 concerts that The Desert Sun recommends checking out.
After gaining popularity by posting covers of songs on Instagram and TikTok, Riverside resident and Mexican music singer-songwriter Ivan Cornejo performed at the Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits festivals in 2023, and at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. For those who can't get enough of his songs "RELOG" and "Baby Please," he'll perform on June 14 at Pechanga Arena.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14, Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Tickets are available at pechangaarenasd.com/event/ivan-cornejo/.
Remember that time when Shakira was going to perform two shows last November at Acrisure Arena but pulled a "Whenever, Wherever" and canceled over an "unprecedented demand," shifting the tour to stadiums? Well, it makes sense considering she's a superstar and it's been seven years since her last U.S. tour. If you're still up for seeing the Colombian singer-songwriter, she'll perform at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 20.
If you go: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. Tickets are available at sofistadium.com/events.
The Weeknd has been busy over the past five years. He's evolved his sound since the 2020 synth-pop driven album "After Hours," the experimental "Dawn FM" in 2022, and "Hurry Up Tomorrow" released in January, which might be the singer's final album under The Weekend persona.
The Weeknd will perform four concerts June 25-29 at SoFi Stadium.
If you go: 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 through Sunday, June 29, SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. Tickets are available at sofistadium.com/events.
Blackpink in our area! The renowned female K-pop band featuring Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa is on tour this summer and performing two dates at SoFi Stadium July 12-13. Lisa and Jennie both performed solo sets at Coachella 2025 following Blackpink's headlining performance in 2023. For those who have never seen the band, expect an energetic performance full of pyrotechnics and surreal moments.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. Tickets are available at sofistadium.com/events.
Pop star Katy Perry didn't get the public response she expected in April after joining TV personality Gayle King and journalist Lauren Sanchez to visit outer space on a Blue Origin space mission. But as she sings in "Firework," you gotta ignite the light and let it shine. She'll perform on July 13 at the Honda Center in Anaheim as part of "The Lifetimes Tour." Expect a spectacle featuring dazzling costumes, choreography and colorful production that Perry is renowned for.
If you go: 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave, Anaheim. Tickets are available at hondacenter.com/events/katy-perry.
If you're a fan of electronic and hip-hop music, you'll love the HARD Summer music festival being held Aug. 2-3 at Hollywood Park. The 2025 lineup features headliners Dom Dolla, Gesaffelstein and Kaytranada. Sean Paul, Juvenile, Four Tet, Floating Points and more are also on the lineup. HARD Summer has become a renowned Southern California festival for its eclectic lineups, and the immersive visuals and themed areas at the festivals.
If you go: Saturday Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 3, Hollywood Park, 1011 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. Festival passes are available for purchase at hardsummer.frontgatetickets.com with GA passes starting at $199 and VIP at $395, single-day GA passes at $139 and VIP at $239.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is wrapping up his tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic before he departs to become the music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026. After Dudamel and the orchestra performed at Coachella in April, the season at the Hollywood Bowl began.
On Aug. 5, Dudamel will conduct a performance of music at the Hollywood Bowl by French composer and pianist Maurice Ravel and jazz great Duke Ellington based on Ravel's 1928 visit to Harlem and jazz clubs in upper Manhattan and Ellington's jazz symphony "Black, Brown and Beige."
If you go: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are available at my.hollywoodbowl.com and cost between $13 and $151.
Australian psychedelic-rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard has a reputation for performing highly energetic sets that electrify late-night crowds at music festivals, but on Aug. 10, the band will perform a unique set with the Hollywood Bowl orchestra and conductor Sarah Hicks at the Hollywood Bowl. Expect to hear cuts from the new album "Phantom Island" and other songs from the extensive discography of progressive rock, folk, thrash metal and more.
If you go: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are available at my.hollywoodbowl.com and cost between $24 and $184.
After the death of Linkin Park's frontman, Chester Bennington, in 2017, the band returned last year with a new female vocalist, Emily Armstrong — much to the delight of many fans. Linkin Park will perform on Sept. 13 at the Intuit Dome as part of the From Zero World Tour.
The show was originally going to be at Dodger Stadium but was switched to the Intuit Dome due to low ticket sales. But the tour features stunning visuals and Armstrong's debut during the band's 2024 performance at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles was well-received.
If you go: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, Intuit Dome, 3930 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood.Tickets are available at intuitdome.com/events.
A music festival founded by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder set against the serene backdrop of Doheny State Beach in Dana Point? Yes, please! Ohana Festival returns Sept. 26-28 featuring headliners Vedder, Kings of Leon, Hozier, Leon Bridges, Green Day and Cage the Elephant. Other notable performers include The Chats, Margo Price, Garbage and more.
If you go: Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 27, Doheny State Beach, 25-300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. Tickets are available at ohanafest.com/tickets and GA festival passes are $530, VIP $1,589 to $10,255. Single day GA is $198 and VIP is $624.
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Hollywood Bowl concerts and more: 10 SoCal concerts to see this summer
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