Live outdoor music returns to Irvine Friday at the new Great Park Live, an amphitheater that can seat 5,000 guests.
The large grassy lawn in front of the stage will also host The Layover, a food and beverage court that will serve alcohol and that will open to the public on weekends starting July 6.
Officials say The Layover will be a great option for parents to sip on a drink or kids to get some food between sporting events on the nearby fields. Currently, families have to drive out of the park for that. On weekends, The Layover will also be home to bounce houses and lawn games for children to enjoy.
Great Park Live will host its first commercial act on Oct. 25 with country music artist Clay Walker, officials announced Thursday. On Halloween, Great Park Live will host Brooks Nielsen, the lead singer from The Growlers, an Orange County-based rock band. City officials say they are in contractual talks with more commercial acts.
But before then, summer events including symphony and tribute concerts, kick off Friday with Irvine’s night market and a performance by Journey cover band, DSB.
The amphitheater is the new summer home for the Pacific Symphony, which will first perform there on July 4 with a fireworks show, salute to the Armed Forces and the music of Chicago performed with tribute band Brass Transit.
Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Farrah N. Khan, City of Irvine Mayor and Great Park Board Director, speaks at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Private cabanas at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Seating in front of private cabanas at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Food concessions at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
John Forsyte, President and CEO of Pacific Symphony, speaks at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
John Forsyte, President and CEO of Pacific Symphony, speaks at Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Great Park Live, the new temporary amphitheater at the Great Park, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.Great Park Live opens Friday, June 14, and will be the summer home of the Pacific Symphony. It will also feature commercial musical acts, be the new home of Irvine Nights and Movies on the Lawn, and provide a space for community events. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Seating at the venue will depend on the event. Tables and chairs will be set up for symphonic concerts. Some events could be picnic-style or festival-like (standing room only). Officials say to read event descriptions ahead of time to determine what to bring.
It was only weeks ago that Irvine officials approved the development of the temporary venue and a three-year, $6.6 million contract with Irvine-based PSQ Productions, Inc., to operate it. The city has also contracted for the design and planning of a future permanent amphitheater with about 8,000 to 10,000 seats.
Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi commended staff and contractors for erecting the stage in a short time. The stage is big enough to seat 70 to 80 symphony players and outfitted with a state-of-the-art sound system and video screens.
After last year’s abrupt closure of FivePoint Amphitheatre, a private venue that had a contract with promoter Live Nation, city leaders decided to move forward with a publicly owned amphitheater. The city and Live Nation could not come to an agreement on a larger venue the company was proposing.
The municipal-run Great Park Live keeps the city in control of the venue, whether its used for concerts or events, an arrangement akin to Los Angeles’ Greek Theater or Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, officials said.
“It’s a very courageous decision to keep live music here in Irvine after so much change,” said Pacific Symphony President John Forsyte. “We all miss Irvine Meadows, but (the City Council) had the courage and conviction to keep live music for our community and we’re truly grateful.”
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