Summer Concert Seasons at Hollywood Bowl, Gibson, Greek Get Under Way

If you don't want to miss any big concerts this summer, or do want to miss big traffic jams in the Cahuenga Pass and Hollywood areas, read on.

Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer-musician-actor Harry Connick Jr. and Grammy-winning singer Gloria Estefan were to be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame last night and then perform for Opening Night.

Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank was Connick's presenter as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was established in 2000.

Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Helen Mirren was the host of Opening Night at the Bowl.

The evening will also was to include a preview of Cirque du Soleil's first resident production in Los Angeles, IRIS—A Journey Through the World of Cinema, which is scheduled to open July 21 at the Kodak Theatre. Proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education programs.

Highlights this summer include:

Hall and Oats (July 2-4)

Sarah McLachlan ( July 15 and 16)

Dolly Parton (July 22 and 23)

Gladys Knight (July 27)

Film composer John Williams (Aug. 26 and 27)

The Quincy Jones Band featuring The Global Gumbo All-Stars & Friends Patti Austin, Nikki Yanofsky (Sept. 7)

Check the Hollywood Bowl website for the full 2011 lineup.

Gibson Amphitheatre and Greek Theatre

The Gibson Amphitheater at Universal City and Greek Theatre in Griffith Park also have a full slate of big summer concerts lined up. In March, the two venues announced their annual joint subscription program.

Highights this summer include:

Greek Theatre

Steely Dan (July 8-9)

Peter Frampton–Frampton Comes Alive 35 Tour (July 30)

Death Cab for Cutie plus special guest (Aug. 18-19)

Gibson Amphitheatre

Rush (June 20-22)

Def Leppard with Heart (Sept. 7)

2011 Teen Choice Awards (Aug. 7)

Check the Greek and Gibson websites for the full 2011 schedules.

City News Service contributed to this report.