DOWNTOWN’S LEGENDARY MUSIC SERIES IS BACK!
We are thrilled to return for our 36th season of curated live music in downtown San Jose.
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Friday, July 24, 2026 | 5-10pm
Freestyle Explosion:
with Stevie B
& The Cover Girls
Featuring Angel OCG, Trinere, Johnny O, George Lamond, Rockell, Seduction and NYAISA
- Don’t Miss the United Lowrider Council & Highside NorCal Car Club Car Show!
Get ready for an unforgettable night of freestyle as the Freestyle Explosion takes over the park with a stacked lineup of legendary artists and nonstop throwback energy.
Headlining the night is Stevie B, the undisputed King of Freestyle and one of the defining voices of the late-’80s dance explosion. His set features timeless No. 1 hits including Because I Love You (The Postman Song), alongside crowd favorites like Spring Love, Party Your Body, and I Wanna Be The One.
Also taking the stage are The Cover Girls, whose breakout hit Show Me helped launch freestyle into the mainstream. Their performance brings more dance-floor classics including Because of You, My Heart Skips a Beat, and Wishing on a Star.
Joining them is Trinere, the Miami-born Queen of Freestyle, known for signature tracks like All Night and I’ll Be All You Ever Need that helped define an era of club anthems and soulful vocals.
The lineup continues with freestyle favorites Johnny O, Seduction, Rockell, George Lamond and Nyasia—delivering hit after hit on one outdoor stage for one massive night of classic freestyle energy.
This is a live outdoor concert experience built for true freestyle fans—high energy, unforgettable performances, and a full night of iconic music under the open sky.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the sound of freestyle, this is your chance to experience the electrifying performance of an ’80s and ’90s icon. With his smooth vocals and infectious beats, Stevie B will have the whole park dancing and singing along all night long.
Stevie B will be joined by Jaya and Shannon. Known as the “Queen of Soul” in the Philippines, Jaya has captivated audiences with hits like “Dahil Tanging Ikaw,” “Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig” and “If You Leave Me Now.” With her exceptional vocal range, heartfelt performances and commanding stage presence, Jaya bridges classic soul influences with contemporary music.
A true icon of the freestyle movement, Shannon burst onto the scene with her smash hit “Let the Music Play,” a track that helped define the sound of ’80s dance-pop and continues to fire up dance floors today. With her distinctive voice, synth-driven beats and timeless hooks, Shannon is a pioneer of the genre and a fixture in the era’s club and radio milieu—and beyond.
Her performances are an energetic mix of high-octane rhythm and emotional flair. From the first beat to the last chorus, Shannon will have fans moving and grooving.
Stevie B., Jaya and Shannon will be supported by an all-star roster of Bay Area DJs: Hugo & Chuy Gomez, DJ Looney Tunes & DJ Cris Campos, Brotha Reese and local legend Cutso, of The Bangerz.
S. Market St. btw. W. San Carlos & W. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Saturday, July 25, 2026 | Doors open at 3pm
BASSNECTAR
+ special guest dead prez
Get ready for an exclusive experience with the legendary DJ and electronic music producer BASSNECTAR. He’s returns to his hometown, San Jose, California, as a prelude to an upcoming global tour.
BASSNECTAR has appeared at major festivals around the world, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Electric Daisy Carnival and has been streamed more than 1 billion times. His appearance at San Jose’s favorite music series signals his return to the world stage.
dead prez, the hip-hop duo of Stic.man and M-1, emerged in 2000 with a powerful blend of hard-hitting beats, sharp lyricism and socially conscious storytelling. Known for their critiques of racism, capitalism, media control and systemic injustice, the pair built a reputation as one of rap’s most outspoken and influential voices.
This is a live outdoor concert experience built for true music fans—high energy, unforgettable performances and a full night of iconic music under the open sky.
S. Market St. btw. W. San Carlos & W. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Sunday, July 26, 2026 | 5-11pm
WAR
with MALO & Los Yesterdays
In addition to live music, join us for:
- United Lowrider Council & Highside NorCal Car Club Car Show
- Lucha Libre Wrestling
- Salute to Ray Rodriguez
WAR’s signature fusion of funk, soul, jazz, Latin, rock and street music is what first propelled them to prominence 55 years ago, but it was their ability to craft songs of social consciousness that further cemented their place in the modern American songbook. The immediate global impact of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” was so profound that NASA transmitted the title track into space during the historic Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. Since then, WAR have continued to sing out against racism, hunger, crime and conflict, while their music has been sampled by Janet Jackson, Tupac, Beastie Boys, Method Man, Sublime, Redman, Cypress Hill, Shaggy, A$AP Mob, Scarface, The Geto Boys, De La Soul, Flo Rida, Liam Payne, Thomas Rhett and more, and covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to The Muppets, George Clinton, Phish, ZZ Top and The Isley Brothers.
With more than 50 million albums sold, 20 gold, platinum and multi-platinum records, three Rock & Roll Hall of Fame noms, a GRAMMY Hall of Fame entry, four #1 LPs, nine Top 10s and twenty Top 40 songs, WAR didn’t just define the sound of the 1970s—they became a lasting voice for creative collaboration and social change, with a mission of love and harmony that resonates now more than ever. From the prophetic message of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” to the timeless groove of “Low Rider,” this collection captures WAR at their most innovative and socially impactful. More than just a musical milestone, Why Can’t We Be Friends? (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) reaffirms the album’s relevance—both as a reflection of the polarizing era that inspired it, and as a beacon of hope for our present and future.
As WAR enters its sixth decade, their influence remains undeniable. Recent honors—including their inductions/presentation of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—further cement WAR’s status as musical and cultural giants. Meanwhile, WAR will hit the road for dozens of tour dates across the US and abroad, including a hometown, headline performance at the LA County Fair, and many more you can find at https://war.com/tour.
S. Market St. btw. W. San Carlos & W. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA 95113
SATURday, Sept 19, 2026 | 5-11pm
ICE-T
DJ EVIL E
Ice-T (born Tracy Lauren Marrow) is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of West Coast gangsta rap. Emerging in the early 1980s, he helped shape the sound and storytelling style that would later influence many artists in hip-hop. His debut album Rhyme Pays, released in 1987, is considered one of the first gangsta rap albums released by a major label, helping bring street-level narratives into mainstream hip-hop.
- “6 in the Mornin’” (1986) – One of the earliest gangsta rap records, telling stories of street life and police encounters.
- “Colors” (1988) – Theme song for the film Colors, reflecting gang culture in Los Angeles.
- The Iceberg (Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say) (1989) – A politically charged album addressing censorship and social issues.
- “New Jack Hustler” (1991) – Featured in the film New Jack City and became one of his signature songs.
Ice-T also formed the band Body Count, blending hip-hop with heavy metal. Through his music and storytelling, he helped define early gangsta rap and influence future generations of hip-hop artists.
Acting Career
Ice-T transitioned into acting in the late 1980s and appeared in numerous films and television productions. He is best known for playing Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He joined the show in 2000 and has remained one of its longest-serving cast members, appearing in hundreds of episodes. The role established him as a major television actor while he continued to be recognized as a pioneer in hip-hop culture.
DJ Evil E’s career and passion for hip-hop began at just 16 years old alongside his younger brother, Hen Gee, in Brooklyn’s Weeksville Garden Projects in Crown Heights. In the early 1980s, their bilingual Afro-Latino Honduran parents relocated the family to Los Angeles in pursuit of a better life—an opportunity that would help shape hip-hop history.
After arriving in L.A., Evil E and Hen Gee became known as The NYC Spinmasters, quickly earning respect throughout the city, particularly within the Latino communities while still in high school. Their journey took a pivotal turn after hearing on the radio that Uncle Jam’s Army was hosting an event featuring one of the only rappers they recognized at the time—Ice-T. The brothers attended, introduced themselves, and soon began performing shows together.
That connection led to the formation of The Rhyme Syndicate, recognized as the first West Coast hip-hop movement. Now in his fourth decade in the culture, DJ Evil E remains a loyal and integral part of Ice-T’s touring and rap show schedule—an enduring symbol of trust, consistency, and loyalty.
Through decades of scratching, chanting, and rocking crowds on Ice-T’s albums and tours, DJ Evil E became part of an elite circle of hip-hop DJ royalty, sharing stages and respect with many of the genre’s most influential DJs and artists.
This legacy defines DJ Evil E The Great as one of the most respected, certified, and enduring hip-hop DJs in the culture today.
Social Media
Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)
S. Market St. btw. W. San Carlos & W. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Vendor Application
Music in the Park is accepting exhibitor applications for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 24-26. Spots are limited to enable vendor success. Early application improves your chances of acceptance.
Food Truck Application
Music in the Park is currently accepting food truck applications for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 24-26. We can only accept FOOD TRUCKS with Santa Clara County Health Certificates.