Broward County has a steady supply of free live music if you know which nights to hold. Some of it happens on the sand. Some of it happens downtown with a beer in your hand, and none of it costs a thing. This guide covers the recurring outdoor concerts worth putting on repeat, from Fort Lauderdale Beach up to Pompano Beach and west to Hollywood. If you are stacking a whole weekend of low-cost plans, the best free things to do in Fort Lauderdale every weekend slots in around these nicely.
Friday Night Sound Waves, Fort Lauderdale Beach
The longest-running of the bunch. Friday Night Sound Waves takes over Las Olas Oceanside Park, the green space across from Fort Lauderdale Beach known as The Loop, every Friday from 7 to 9:30pm. It is free, and 2026 marks ten years of it. The lineup rotates through South Florida acts across reggae, soul, classic rock, and jazz, so two Fridays rarely sound alike. Come early for the lawn games and the local vendor setup. Bring a chair. Food and drink rotate week to week, so you can show up empty-handed and still eat well. Parking near the beach fills fast, so the garage on the strip is your friend.
Sunday Jazz Brunch on the Riverwalk
On the first Sunday of each month, the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale turns into a free jazz crawl from 11am to 2pm. Three stages, all local talent, all strung along the New River downtown. You can wander between them with a coffee or post up at one and stay put. It pairs well with a late breakfast on Las Olas a few blocks east. If you want more of this the other Sundays of the month, our guide to live jazz in Fort Lauderdale every week has the bar and restaurant sets covered.
Old Town Untapped, Pompano Beach
Pompano's best-kept standing date. Old Town Untapped runs the first Friday of the month, October through May, from 6 to 10pm in downtown Pompano Beach near the Bailey Contemporary Arts Center. A live band, a DJ, craft beer, food trucks, and local art vendors fill NE 1st Street. The galleries stay open with docent tours later in the night. It is free and family-friendly, and it pulls a real cross-section of the city rather than just one crowd. Street parking is easy a block or two off Flagler.
ArtsPark at Young Circle, Hollywood
Downtown Hollywood's amphitheater runs free programming under the palms year-round, from concerts to Friday movie nights. The anchor for music lovers is the first-Monday food truck rally at Young Circle, 5:30 to 9:30pm, with live sets while you eat. The splash pad and playground make it an easy call if you are bringing kids. We broke down the whole park in our complete ArtsPark at Young Circle guide, including where to park and what else is walkable in downtown Hollywood.
A Few Notes Before You Go
South Florida weather has opinions. Most of these series move or cancel for heavy rain, so check the official page that afternoon if the sky looks unsure. Summer sets sometimes start a touch later to dodge the worst of the heat. And if a storm does wash out your Friday, the best live music venues in Broward County have you covered indoors with the AC running.
Want the free outdoor concerts worth your week dropped in your inbox every Friday morning? The Weekender FLL rounds up the best events across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Free, always, and no fluff.