Free Event: Live Music, a Psychedelic Light Display & the Conservatory of Flowers

Slide into summer with a splash of color by experiencing the return of the psychedelic combination of large-scale light art with live music inside Golden Gate Park at the iconic Conservatory of Flowers.

On June 20, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department will host a free, all-ages, flower-powered concert with a light art installation coinciding with the year’s longest day, as it transitions into night. The lighting of the massive exhibit, formally named Photosynthesis, will take place around 9:15pm, transforming the facade of the Conservatory into a colorful canvas. This is the same installation as the 50th-anniversary celebration of the ‘Summer of Love’ last year, but if you missed it then, now is your second chance to see the light display.

Live music from the concert will be played by beloved legacy bands and local talents, revisiting iconic tunes of the late sixties. See below for the complete musical performers, with more legendary acts to be announced as the date approaches. Beyond the music, a variety of food trucks from Off the Grid will also be on site. Space and parking at this event limited at this event, and public transportation is highly recommended. John F. Kennedy Drive will be closed on June 20 between Conservatory Drive East and West.

This event was made possible by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks which partnered with nonprofit arts group Illuminate (known for The Bay Lights) and creative studio Obscura Digital. Together, the three organizations developed gobo projectors that beam rare, tropical flower-inspired images onto the front of the white landmark building in the forest. The Summer Solstice Concert itself is produced by Dawn Holliday, with the musical direction of Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz.

Conservatory Lighting & Summer Solstice Concert
June 20, 2018 from 6:00-10:00pm
Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park (100 John F. Kennedy Drive)

Band Lineup:
ALO
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Brothers Comatose
Con Brio
Cosmic Twang
It’s A Beautiful Day
Jerry Garcia Band
Midnight North
Moonalice
Mother Hips
Rat Dog
New Riders of the Purple Sage
Sly & The Family Stone
Sons of Champlin
The New Chambers Brothers
Terrapin Family Band

Musicians Performing:
Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (Musical director)
Michael Bello
Tim Caine
Lester & Dylan Chambers
Greg Errico
Darby Gould
Norman Greenbaum
Ross James
Alex Jordan
Mark Karan
David & Linda LaFlamme
Scott Law
Greg Loiacono
Ziek McCarter
Roger McNamee
John Molo
Ben & Alex Morrison
David Nelson
Melvin Seals
Pete Sears
Barry Sless

Written by Carlos Olin Montalvo

Follow me @carlosolin