Article by Austin Sher

A rough week in Los Angeles has quickly turned into a sad one as the Hollywood Bowl has just confirmed that their summer shows have been officially cancelled for the first time in their nearly 100 year run.

This afternoon in Los Angeles, artists across America who had scheduled dates to play the beautiful and iconic Hollywood Bowl shared news that the venue will have to close up shop for the first time in a long, long time. Longtime fans and box owners are extremely sad at the loss of one of the best things that Los Angeles has to offer in the summertime.

If you’ve ever attended a show at the Bowl, you know exactly what kind of wonderful experience it can be. The freedom to bring in your own picnic with your own food, drinks (especially alcohol) and the sun shining down on your face while your favorite groups play arguably one of the most famous venues in music’s existence.

In an email from the Hollywood Bowl sent out to its subscribers this afternoon, one of the most difficult parts of this process has been the furloughing of nearly 25% of its staff and the economic and financial strains that have burdened the venue. They claim that they’ve reduced expenses as much as 35% but the impact it will have not only to the artists who were set to play, but the staff that’s been working there for years is near unbearable. 

Straight from the email itself is a message from the Hollywood Bowl: If you are able, please consider making a donation as part of our newly launched “Play Your Part” campaign. Your support helps us plan for the future of this beloved venue, while enabling us to continue enriching lives through our music, YOLA and other learning and community programs.

If you’re at all able to make a donation to help support the venue, let alone any Los Angeles music venue, a little can go a long way and we know as a music fan, it’s necessary for the future of attending shows.