SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced the return of the highly successful free concert series downtown in partnership with Another Planet Entertainment and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Following the success of last year’s events, the 2025 series will once again feature renowned labels, and bring world-class headliners and vibrant local energy to the city’s most iconic public spaces: Embarcadero Plaza, Union Square, and Civic Center Plaza. The series returns with the second annual Back 2 Baysics event with San Francisco’s own Dirtybird as host on June 14 at Embarcadero Plaza.
Last year’s shows included Dirtybird: Back 2 Baysics at Embarcadero Plaza, Portugal. The Man at Civic Center Plaza, and Don Louis and Sophia Scott in Union Square, drawing tens of thousands of attendees to the heart of the city. Last year's concert in Embarcadero Plaza nearly tripled the foot traffic in the area relative to a typical Sunday, boosting local businesses and supporting the downtown economy.
“We’re excited to be running it back with our partners at Another Planet Entertainment this year with three more free concerts,” said Mayor Lurie. “Last year’s shows brought thousands of people to our downtown, and we’re building on that momentum. Our arts and culture are helping to drive San Francisco’s comeback, and this is a perfect example of that energy. I want to thank Another Planet Entertainment for continuing to invest in San Francisco and helping us make these incredible events possible.”
Mayor Lurie has made downtown revitalization a key focus of his administration, taking ambitious steps to keep the streets safe and clean, cut red tape, and transform downtown into a vibrant 24/7 neighborhood. In February, he established a permanent San Francisco Police Department Hospitality Zone Task Force to keep Union Square and Yerba Buena safe 365 days a year, while proposing new state legislation to support nightlife by creating more liquor licenses to encourage the opening of new bars and restaurants. Mayor Lurie has championed entertainment zones—signing legislation to designate a new one in the Castro District last week and advancing legislation to establish five more. Earlier this month, the mayor also announced three new pop-ups downtown through the expansion of Vacant to Vibrant, a critical public-private partnership bringing new businesses to formerly vacant properties. These new businesses follow a series of successful pop-up during NBA All-Star Weekend and the Chinese New Year Parade, which was the safest on record.
“Last year was such an incredible cross section of the San Francisco community. There were kids to seniors and everyone in between on a beautiful day,” shares Bryan Duquette, Founder of Another Planet Management and member of Another Planet Entertainment’s core executive team. “We are proud to partner again with Dirtybird Records for the second annual free daytime event on the Embarcadero. San Francisco feels alive right now!”
“Our downtown plazas are vibrant, joyful places where people can dance, connect, and experience the magic of live music together,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “Events like these remind us that our public spaces are for everyone—places to celebrate, to build community, and to feel the energy of San Francisco at its best.”
“It’s so exciting to see the return of this concert series! Last year, these concerts drew tens of thousands of people and helped make the case for downtown as a hub for arts and entertainment,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “This year, downtown IS that hub—thanks to strategic public-private partnerships and the city’s investments in street activations, we are delivering an unparalleled array of top-notch free events that will keep our streets and businesses buzzing all summer long.”
"We’re excited to see this free concert series return to San Francisco’s downtown in June,” said Anna Marie, CEO of San Francisco Travel. “These events bring so much energy to our city, provide a boost for our local businesses, and remind both locals and visitors that San Francisco remains a fun and vibrant destination."
This is the second year of free concerts produced by APE in downtown San Francisco, as part of a three-year agreement allowing two to three ticketed concerts at the Polo Field the weekend following the Outside Lands Festival. As part of the agreement, APE also produces complimentary concerts each year at Civic Center Plaza, Union Square, and the Embarcadero through 2027. The concerts bring key economic benefits to San Francisco and support city parks and recreation programming.
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