Jon Batiste at the Hollywood Bowl

Jon Batiste is bringing his band to the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, September 27, and if you're sorting through LA events this weekend, this is the one I'd put at the top of the list. The show is set for 7:30 PM, which means you'll catch the last light fading over the hills before he really gets going.

Most people still picture Batiste behind the piano on late-night TV, where he led the house band for years. That was a warm-up. Since then he's put out nine studio albums, won an Oscar for the score he co-wrote for Pixar's Soul, and written a symphony. His 2025 record, Big Money, swings hard toward roots music. Rolling Stone called it a "deeply enjoyable left turn." A year earlier he released Beethoven Blues, a solo piano album that rewires classical pieces through New Orleans ears.

So you won't get a single mode. Expect gospel shouts sitting next to quiet piano passages, brass-band energy, and at least one moment where he wanders off the stage and into the crowd with a melodica. He does it often, and the Bowl's long aisles are built for it.

Know before you go

The Hollywood Bowl sits at 2301 N Highland Ave, tucked into Cahuenga Pass just north of the Hollywood and Highland intersection. Parking on site is stacked and slow to empty. The Bowl's Park & Ride shuttles and the walk up Highland from the Metro B Line are both easier than you'd think. Give yourself extra time either way, since Sunday concert traffic on Highland backs up fast.

Picnicking before the show is a Bowl tradition. Show up early, grab a spot at one of the picnic areas, and eat under the trees before the gates to your section open.

Ticket prices weren't listed on the calendar entry we pulled this from, so check the Hollywood Bowl box office or its authorized sellers for current seats. Skip secondhand listings with no clear refund policy.

This is easily one of the better things to do in Los Angeles this month for anyone who likes musicians who can play just about anything. For more Things Happening In Hollywood, browse our Hollywood neighborhood guide, or dig into the full arts and culture calendar.