San Francisco’s long-running electronic music institution Om Records will mark its 30th anniversary with a free waterfront concert, the latest installment in the city’s ongoing push to revive downtown through large-scale cultural events.
The label announced “SF Free Concerts Presents — Om Records 30 Years,” a daytime show at Embarcadero Plaza, is scheduled for May 9. The event is being produced by Another Planet Entertainment in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, organizers said Friday, March 20.
A separate, ticketed nighttime event will follow at the Great Northern in the South of Market neighborhood. Performers for both shows have not yet been announced.
City officials framed the concert as part of a broader effort to activate public spaces and draw crowds back to downtown.
“From last year’s Summer of Music in Golden Gate Park to free concerts across downtown and throughout our city, San Francisco is a music city,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement. “As Om Records celebrates 30 years, this free show at Embarcadero Plaza will bring people together, supports our artists, and activates our public spaces — continuing the energy and momentum of our city’s comeback.”
The event builds on a series of free concerts launched in recent years with Another Planet Entertainment, the Berkeley-based promoter behind the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park, which has drawn large crowds to Civic Center Plaza, Union Square and the Embarcadero.
The anniversary celebration also includes a forthcoming compilation album, “Om Records — 30 Years,” due out on May 8, and a slate of new releases, including “Deja Vu” by 40 Thieves, released Friday.
Founded in San Francisco in 1995, Om Records has released more than 800 recordings and helped define the city’s house and electronic music scene. The label has endured industry upheavals, from the rise of digital downloads to the pandemic, while continuing to produce new music.
Additional details, including artist lineups and ticket information for the evening event, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.