Claude VonStroke to Headline Open-Air Day Party at Circle of Palms Plaza in Downtown San Jose

Music fans throughout the Bay Area can circle June 13 on their calendars when Claude VonStroke headlines a day-to-night open-air gathering at Circle of Palms Plaza. The event stretches from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and places one of house music’s most recognizable names inside one of Downtown San Jose’s most recognizable public spaces.

It’s a Journey, the team behind the production, has shaped the afternoon and evening around strong sound, thoughtful lighting, and quiet references to the plaza’s own story. Food trucks and a full bar will keep everyone fueled while support artists Mike Kerrigan, N808, JLittle, Santino b2b Logan Conners, and Jasper Crenshaw warm the crowd for the headliner.

Claude VonStroke has spent more than ten years shaping modern tech house both behind the decks and as an A&R force who helped launch careers for artists such as Fisher and Eats Everything. His set will serve as the centerpiece of an experience built for movement and memory rather than spectacle alone.

Adding another dimension, acclaimed artist Brooke Einbender will have her suspended Gaiascope sculptures on site through mid-August. Each interactive steel installation invites passersby to change colors, lighting sequences, and video playback from nearby pedestals, turning the plaza into a living canvas that rewards curiosity.

The entire afternoon-to-evening program will spotlight Downtown San Jose’s rising energy by folding live music, hospitality, public art, and open civic space into one seamless afternoon.

For more info and tickets, head over here.

San Jose's Symphony of Sounds: Make Music Day 2025

On Saturday, June 21st, San Jose transforms into a vibrant stage for Make Music San Jose. This annual celebration of free music brings over 100 performances to 37 venues across the city. Part of a global event spanning more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries, it showcases music’s ability to unite people and fill the streets with sound.

Diversity defines this day. At the Cypress Center near Valley Fair, the Bay Area Showcase Chorus delivers barbershop harmonies alongside rock and Celtic folk from the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association, running from 11am to 5pm. Over in West San Jose, Writers Bench Alley hosts indie rock and hip hop from 3pm to 7:30pm, its graffiti-covered walls setting the scene for a younger crowd. The San Jose Museum of Art offers blues, bluegrass, and circle singing from noon to 5pm, while Japantown’s Ukulele Source features the Ukoolladies and Wesley Ukulele Club from 11am to 1pm. For a cultural twist, Cunningham Lake Park presents mariachi music from 1:30pm to 2:45pm, organized by local influencer Hanny.

Want a taste of the action early? Head to the Pobladores Night Market in Downtown San Jose’s SoFA district on Thursday, June 19, from 5:30pm to 9pm. Organized by Filco Presents, this preview event features live music and sets the tone for Saturday’s citywide celebration.

Make Music San Jose goes beyond performances. It’s a chance for the community to connect through creativity and shared experiences. Musicians of all levels and music lovers alike can dive into the city’s rich soundscape.