Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement earlier this week that California would lift COVID restrictions on industries and end the state’s tier system for regulating operation and capacity of businesses, the L.A. Phil is announcing its return with the news that it will reopen The Hollywood Bowl and The Ford will reopen for live music events this year. The Bowl will resume concerts in May with audience capacity limited to 4,000 people, though they say they expect to increase capacity through the summer. They’ll begin with a series of free shows for frontline health workers, first responders and other essential personnel who have worked through the pandemic followed by some more traditional summer events, including their Fourth of July Fireworks. The Ford’s season will start in late July and the L.A. Phil says it plans to make 20 percent of those performances free to the public.

Today on AirTalk, L.A. Phi CEO Chad Smith joins Larry to talk about the return of live music to the L.A. Phil’s outdoor venues and what concert-goers can expect at the shows.

Guest:

Chad Smith, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association