Experience the West Coast Music Scene at the All-New California Festival

The California music scene is one of legend. From the Haight-Ashbury movement of the ’60s to the hair band scene on the Sunset Strip in the’80s, some of the world’s most iconic musicians made their name in the Golden State. This month, California welcomes an all-new way to celebrate its music with a 17-day festival showcasing all types of music from classical to cutting-edge jazz fusion.

The festival, known as California Festival: A Celebration of New Music, will take place in cities around the state, allowing attendees to enjoy different parts of the state that are as varied as its musical heritage. From Nov. 3 to Nov. 19, more than 180 unique works, 140 talented composers and 100 musical organizations will be represented. While some performances come with free admission, tickets to each performance must be booked separately rather than purchasing a single festival ticket.

The event, created by Gustavo Dudamel of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen of the San Francisco Symphony and Rafael Payare of the San Diego Symphony — all three extraordinary musical directors in their own right — represents a coming together of Northern and Southern California to showcase the diverse talent of the state’s musicians.

The festival’s website has a full listing of events that are part of the festival, and you can choose based on date or location. The variety of venues and performance options lets you completely customize your festival experience to your musical interest or destination preferences.