What it was like
The most underused space on the Westside might be a museum courtyard on a summer evening — an institution built on free admission, sitting quiet when it could be where the city's most interesting music converges.
On July 17, the Hammer Summer Concerts series opens its 2026 season with Dummy, the Los Angeles rock band whose catalog crosses dream pop and guitar noise in a way that sounds exactly like it was made for a museum courtyard at dusk. The evening begins with a happy hour from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, with cocktails available and discounted drinks before the concert. The main set begins at 7:30 PM.
After-hours gallery access runs through the evening — the Hammer's current exhibitions stay open, which means you can move between the music outside and the art inside. This is what free admission actually enables when the programming is committed.
Free. First-come, first-served. RSVP encouraged but not required. Arrive by 7 PM to secure a good spot in the courtyard.
July 17, 2026 — 6:30 PM. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024.