A new summer concert series comes to former Cal Shakes amphitheater
A new summer concert series, in an old location familiar to many, is coming to Orinda.
The Siesta Valley Foundation has announced a lineup of more than a dozen acts from May to October at the Siesta Valley Bowl, a 1,000-person amphitheater in the East Bay Hills. The shows kick off June 5 with Jonathan Richman, founder of proto-punk group Modern Lovers, and continue with the Rebirth Brass Band and Grammy winners Steep Canyon Rangers.
The Siesta Valley Bowl is the rebranded name of the Bruns Amphitheater, which for decades was the home of the California Shakespeare Theatre, or just Cal Shakes. When the theater group declared bankruptcy in 2025 – despite a fundraising campaign and donations from Cal Shakes alumni like Zendaya – the nonprofit Siesta Valley Foundation took over operations, resulting in this year’s reborn festivities.
The Siesta Valley Foundation is an East Bay nonprofit that now has a 15-year lease for the amphitheater, which is surrounded by forests and sitting on land owned by the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
"With over a dozen national touring artists already booked across a wide range of musical styles and genres, Siesta Valley Bowl is poised to become the East Bay's defining outdoor music destination," the nonprofit said in a recent press release.
Tickets for shows are available at SiestaValleyBowl.com and Ticketmaster. Here is the announced lineup for 2026:
May 30 - Soft Launch featuring three Bay Area bands, including Burning Down the House (Benefit for Siesta Valley Foundation 501(c)(3) - $25 tickets; all proceeds donated)
June 5 - Jonathan Richman (opening night)
July 2 - Eddie Robers, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter (The Breaks) and The Headhunters
July 23 - DakhaBrakha
July 25 - Stanley Clarke
August 7 - Jake Shimabukuro
August 8 - Rebirth Brass Band and The Soul Rebels
August 21 - Earthless and Primitive Ring
September 12 - Beats Antique
September 19 - Jerry's Middle Finger
September 22 - Cécile McLorin Salvant
October 16 - Steep Canyon Rangers
October 24 - Super Diamond
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 8:17 AM.