Jonathan Richman officially opened the Siesta Vally Bowl June 7 as organizers managed to put all the pieces in place during a last-minute rush. The shows are just beginning, and president Michael Karp expects the experience to only get better as he and his team settle in for their first concert season.
Orinda’s Siesta Valley is waking from its slumber.
Since the 2025 financially driven closure of its former occupant, the California Shakespeare Theater, the Bruns Amphitheater has remained dark.
Now, however, the freshly rebranded Siesta Valley Bowl (SVB) is up and rocking after the launch of its first season of music acts as an outdoor entertainment venue nestled amid the pines and under the stars just east of the Caldecott Tunnel off Wilder Rd. exit.
After a “soft” trial opening in late May featuring a Talking Heads tribute band, the East Bay bowl venue officially debuted with a show headlined by punk-pioneer Jonathan Richman on June 7.
Considering the daunting task of converting the quaint outdoor theater into a full-functioning live music venue in a relatively short span, Siesta Valley Bowl President Michael Karp was pleased with how his inexperienced team executed the “many moving parts” during SVB’s soft trial opening.
“I totally could not have been happier with the attendance (on short notice and little marketing), the venue and how we performed as a team,” Karp said, noting that it takes 80-100 employees to pull off a show, from transportation to ushering to food service.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the number of people who attended,” he added, about the soft opening, placing turnout at about 350 people. The amphitheater currently holds 1,000 people, but Karp hopes to expand that to as much as 2,000 in coming seasons.
Karp was also equally grateful for experiencing “no major glitches,” especially from the new and previously untested sound system. “The sound was perfect,” he said, with a dual sense of relief and pride in his voice.
At press time, SVB had successfully presented two concerts with about a dozen so far on the released schedule for the season, including legendary jazz bassist Stanley Clarke and electric guitar impresario Al Di Meola, with several more to come.
SVB has contracted Blue Note Entertainment Group, a talent promoter with ties to the Greenwich Village jazz club by the same name, to book its bands, which has been a work in progress after a late start for the 2026 inaugural season.
Official tickets are being sold through Ticketmaster, which has a list of scheduled concerts at Ticketmaster.com.
What you need to know is that this isn’t your father’s Bruns Amphitheater. For Orindans looking to check out their new backyard concert venue, they should consider the following:
Getting there: There are more than 200 parking spaces, which, in most cases can be procured online in advance at Ticketmaster or can be paid for at the venue. Another method of transportation is by shuttle from Orinda BART to SVB and back. The cost is still a work in progress, but so far has been free during the trial stages. Check with the venue for shuttle updates. Ride services are a viable option with dedicated traffic lanes for ride haulers Uber and Lyft.
Food and drink: Pre-mixed cocktails were a big hit during opening shows, plus a wide variety of canned beer, wine and mixed drinks at multiple bars. Early food offerings are limited but growing as the venture gets its footing. Fresh-baked pretzels, upscale burgers featuring upstate New York ranch-bred beef, sausages and salads round out the early menu.
Karp, who owns several restaurants, including the Fourth Bore at Theatre Square, plans to expand the food offerings, but is currently hamstrung by no kitchen on location, he said. Outside food and beverages are not allowed inside the bowl area, but there still is a picnic area outside the gates of the theater itself.
Seating: Depending on the performers and their contractual requirements, seating situations will vary from show to show. Some will provide limited reserved seating with arena-quality folding chairs similar to those used at other entertainment venues. Most events will include general admission standing room or a combination of both. Unlike the Cal Shakes days, patrons are not allowed to bring their own chairs inside the concert bowl.
Security: Expect standard concert security procedures replete with metal detectors and bans on coolers, backpacks and bottles. Clear stadium-approved plastic tote bags are required, similar to other concert venues, such as the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The breathtaking property, which is owned and controlled by the East Bay Metropolitan District Utility (EBMUD), was transformed into a live entertainment and educational venue by the Siesta Valley Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that holds the primary 15-year lease from EBMUD. Siesta Valley Bowl Inc. is its for-profit operational partner that manages the concert venue and coordinates event programming.
Until seating expansion becomes a reality, Karp is confident that diverse music in a natural setting, fresh air, great sound and craft cocktails will provide plenty of incentive for lovers of live entertainment to partake in the haunts of the old Cal Shakes.
“It’s a beautiful place to see a show,” said Karp.
