Photo Credit and Rights to Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation and @AFisherphoto
It was a long anticipated Friday, as most Friday’s are. The heat wave from this month had almost drained all of my energy. Yet, my excitement to enjoy an amazing weekend visiting Santa Barbara County gave me the push I needed to get by. First order of business for my visit with one of my very best friends was to watch Lana Del Rey at the Santa Barbara Bowl which was quoted via her social media platforms to be one of her favorite venues in the nation and after attending her show we couldn’t have agreed more! Everything from attending the venue to just driving there is a beautiful experience. Whether you’re coming in south or north bound on the 101 you are guaranteed to have an amazing scenic drive.
Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara is full of historic landmarks like the Santa Barbara Mission and all its beautiful state beaches. Though the Santa Barbara Bowl is a landmark within itself, it was built in 1936 with WPA funding. It was built as a community venue to house the Fiesta pageants for 4 nights. The Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation later took over management and invested about $40 million dollars in renovations. The property is visibly well maintained and sits on a hill top overseeing many different views of Santa Barbara. My favorite thing about this venue is that almost every seat is an enjoyable seat to be in. The venue size is perfect for an intimate outdoor concert experience.
Tips and Good Eats
If you are attending a show I highly recommend the locals only bar called Jerry Garcia Glen on your way up the hill. It features a rotating selection of locally produced beer and wine from micro-brews and small wineries.Then it is worth the hike to the Scranton Overlook to enjoy the breath taking views from Carpinteria to Hope Ranch and downtown Santa Barbara at your feet. Be sure to visit the Dreier Bar while you are there. All the yummy snacks and quick bites are located in the Main Plaza where they offer local favorites like Rusty’s Pizza and El Zarape burritos. Check out there full menu here! The parking was easy and just $15 at Santa Barbara High School located about 2 blocks away on Anapamu St.
The Show
We were all shocked on how amazing the opening performance was for this show. Zella Day did a phenomenal job and immediately winning over the audience with one of her hits from her latest album “Jameson” her acoustic playlist allowed for her vocal talent to shine. After Zella Day finished her amazing performance it was time for main performer of the night, Lana Del Rey. Her band members approached the stage starting the night with instrumentals from her hit song Shades of Cool from her Ultraviolence album. As the instrumentals progress she humbly approached the stage and the crowd cheered immediately. Many hits songs from her Born to Die, Ultraviolence, and much anticipated Lust for Life album were performed.
All in all it was an amazing night at a great venue, amazing show, and delicious wine! To see what upcoming shows Santa Barbra Bowl has coming up check out their website https://sbbowl.com/concerts .
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