Santa Barbara Bowl set for Full Season and a Variety of Music Styles starting Friday

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The iconic Santa Barbara Bowl heats up its lights for the new season starting this Friday.

The bowl opens its schedule with the American folk rock band, the Avett Brothers on Friday night during the bands national tour.

Other shows on the schedule include Dwight Yoakam, James Taylor, Jack White, Modest Mouse, Goo Goo Dolls, and Darius Rucker. During Old Spanish Days the bowl hosts the annual Mariachi Festival. Already more than 25 nights of shows are set, with room for up to 37 shows.

"There was a time when the Santa Barbara Bowl was an afterthought and now 20 years later with all the renovations and restorations we are considered when they go on  tour of the West Coast, " said Bowl CEO Rick Boller.

The Santa Barbara Bowl was built in 1936. It has 4,500 to 5,000 seats depending on the show and whether the front section is open as a General Admission, standing only section or if it is tickets for seats. It is the largest amphitheater of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This year guests in the very front floor seating area will be in new padded chairs, just purchased and installed.

The bowl management recently reported to the County Board of Supervisors an update on the facility including information about the community outreach foundation, environmental and sustainable vendor materials, and solar power for the power grid.

The bowl also does an annual open house for its neighbors to have them come on site and see the facility up close. They are also able to ask questions and provide input on any issues in the bowl's location on upper Milpas Street nestled into a canyon.

Economically many people attending the bowl also go elsewhere for pre or post show food or an overnight stay. "We are able to track the fact that people are coming largely from within Santa Barbara County but they are traveling to Santa Barbara going to a show, going out to dinner and often staying in a hotel and leaving the next day," said Boller.

There is also a foundation program to give back to the arts in the community, especially for the youth. Boller says, "every time you buy a ticket for a performance here at the bowl, the bowl foundation allocates a dollar of that ticket individually to support these programs." About 100 organizations received assistance last year.

During Old Spanish Days annually the bowl joins the Fiesta lineup with an annual Mariachi Festival.

All tickets for the Bowl 2025 Season can be purchased at the Bowl Box Office or online: www.sbbowl.com

The bowl shows are booked by Goldenvoice.

(More details, photos and videos will be added later today.)