Kool & The Gang To Headline Hollywood Bowl July 4th Kickoff Show

HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced the summer Hollywood Bowl concert bowl lineup Tuesday, featuring performances ranging from Kamasi Washington and Earl Sweatshirt to 'The Princess Bride' in concert. The season will start with the traditional July 4th Fireworks Spectacular starring Kool & the Gang, which will take place both July 3rd and on the 4th.

The Hollywood Bowl will also welcome H.E.R., Christina Aguilera, Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Vives among many others. Preceding the July 4th kickoff show are several free concerts for frontline and essential workers, featuring artists such as P!nk and Thundercat.

"It's not possible to overemphasize the incredible support we've seen across our community during this unprecedented crisis," said LA Phil CEO Chad Smith about reopening with concerts for frontline workers. "We're looking forward to bringing our audiences back together with one another and with live music."

The full lineup is available here.

"Music-making is ultimately about the shared experience of people coming together and being united in a communion of sound," said Gustavo Dudamel, the philharmonic's music and artistic director. "For musicians, there is no greater joy than feeling our instruments resonate in harmony with those around, and that is why this return to in-person performances at the Hollywood Bowl is such a powerfully important moment. After the many challenges of this past year, we all feel a profound sense of joy and gratitude to be able to once again share music with you, and especially to be able to offer these opening concerts to our heroes on the front lines, who have given their all to keep us safe this past year."

The L.A. Phil said the Bowl will be a "majority vaccinated venue," although two sections will be reserved for non-vaccinated people who must show a negative coronavirus test for admission. All guests must wear masks while inside the venue.

Three-concert packages will go on sale May 27. Tickets for the July 3- 4 opening fireworks performances will go on sale May 18, while other individual concerts will go on sale June 1. All ticketing will be done digitally.

"I cannot describe the joy and hope that I feel at the thought of returning to the stage with our musicians, in front of a live audience," Dudamel said. "We have found so many extraordinary and creative ways to share music together over the course of this pandemic, but truly nothing can take the place of performing in person. And nothing can compare to the magic of making music at the Hollywood Bowl, where the sound waves mingle with the soft breeze of a Southern California evening. My friends, we have missed you, and we cannot wait to share music in person again."

READ MORE: Hollywood Bowl To Reopen With Free Concerts For Essential Workers

Hollywood Bowl Cancels Summer Season For First Time In 98 Years

City News Service contributed to this report.