Om Records Marks 30th Anniversary With Free Embarcadero Concert in May

Om Records, a cornerstone of San Francisco's electronic music scene since 1995, will bring its 30th anniversary celebration to Embarcadero Plaza with a free afternoon concert on May 9. The show, billed as "SF Free Concerts Presents - Om Records 30 Years," is scheduled for that date and is being produced by Another Planet Entertainment in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the event runs until 5 p.m.

The label arrives at this milestone with over 800 releases to its name, having built its reputation over three decades around deep house, downtempo, and electronic music. Om Records is considered one of the longest-running and most influential dance music labels in the United States, having weathered major industry changes over the past three decades. Among its most recognized artists is Mark Farina, the Mushroom Jazz maestro who has been central to the label's identity.

The anniversary celebration also includes a forthcoming compilation album, "Om Records - 30 Years," due out on May 8, the day before the concert. A separate, ticketed nighttime event will follow at the Great Northern in the South of Market neighborhood. Talent for both events has not yet been announced.

Mayor Daniel Lurie framed the event within the city's ongoing downtown revival effort. "From last year's Summer of Music in Golden Gate Park to free concerts across downtown and throughout our city, San Francisco is a music city," he said, adding that the free show "will bring people together, supports our artists, and activates our public spaces."

Last year's concert at Embarcadero Plaza nearly tripled foot traffic in the area relative to a typical Sunday, boosting local businesses and supporting the downtown economy. The Om Records show is part of a three-year agreement between Another Planet Entertainment and the city under which APE produces complimentary concerts each year at Civic Center Plaza, Union Square, and the Embarcadero through 2027.

The series has drawn large crowds to Civic Center Plaza, Union Square, and the Embarcadero since it launched. Previous Embarcadero editions have featured electronic music acts, putting the waterfront plaza at the center of San Francisco's push to reclaim downtown as a live-music destination.

The May 9 concert drops into a spring already dense with free cultural programming. Those who want to attend the free Embarcadero show can RSVP at laylo.com/anotherplanetentertainment/1ft0E. The ticketed night event at the Great Northern can be accessed through Om Records' Eventbrite page. The full performer lineup for both shows is expected to be released soon.