If you love live music—especially in the great outdoors—you’ll want to be sure and check out this year’s Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series. Running from June 16-Oct. 13 at the hotel’s beautiful Back Bay Amphitheater, situated on 26 landscaped acres overlooking the Back Bay Nature Preserve (at Jamboree and Pacific Coast Highway), the series includes 14 shows with popular performers sure to please all tastes—including Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer (who kicks off the series with opener Kelly Grace), along with Chris Isaak, Peter White, Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, Gerald Albright & Jonathan Butler, Brian McKnight, Jeffrey Osborne, Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers, Richard Marx and many others.

You’ll be especially impressed by the intimate nature of this one-of-a-kind venue highlighted by grass-carpeted steps and seating for just 1,000 in a lush coastal garden setting…not to mention the comfortably breezy summer nights and view of the sun setting over the bay. Show times vary by concert, but guests can arrive as soon as the doors open at 6 p.m. to roam the venue, enjoy beverages and experience plenty of vendors. There’s also a VIP Hospitality Suite set up exclusively for season ticket holders, complete with hors d’oeuvres, charcuterie and select wines. Concert-goers also can opt to arrive even earlier and head to the Hyatt’s signature SHOR restaurant for a gourmet dinner buffet with fresh, local ingredients, or enjoy cocktails and small menu items in the hotel’s Lobby Lounge.

Individual tickets vary for each concert, depending on the artist, with self-parking for $25 ($20 in advance) and valet for $35 ($30 in advance). Season passes also are available and include assigned premium seating for all 15 shows in the series, complimentary valet service, exclusive access to the VIP Hospitality Suite, and an invitation-only reception at the end of the series highlighted by an artist meet-and-greet and grand prize giveaway. For additional details on the Summer Concert Series and to purchase tickets, call 949. 360.7800 or visit series.hyattconcerts.com.

Written By: Wendy Bowman