Long Beach has a brand-new stage, and it’s already turning into one of Southern California’s busiest concert destinations. The F&M Bank Amphitheater, the city’s first large-scale outdoor music venue, opened this summer along the waterfront near the Queen Mary, and tomorrow, Lil Wayne takes the stage as part of its packed inaugural season.
🏟️ A new waterfront venue
The $21 million, city-owned amphitheater seats 11,000 people, with sweeping views of the harbor and downtown skyline. Located right along the water near Harry Bridges Memorial Park, the venue officially opened its doors on June 6 with a hometown headliner: Snoop Dogg, whose set was billed as a full-circle moment for a city deeply tied to his rise and West Coast hip-hop’s legacy.
🎤 Lil Wayne takes the stage tomorrow
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 1, Lil Wayne brings his “20 Years of Carter Classics” tour to Long Beach, joined by special guests 2 Chainz and The Game. The show celebrates two decades of Wayne’s “Carter” album series, which began in 2004, and follows a run of Grammy nominations and wins across his career. It’s shaping up to be one of the summer’s most anticipated nights at the new venue.
🎶 The full inaugural summer lineup
Lil Wayne is just one stop in a stacked first season, which spans hip-hop, rock, country, and reggae acts across the summer:
- 🎤 Snoop Dogg — June 6 (grand opening)
- 🎸 Primus, Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade & The Claypool Lennon Delirium — July 3
- 🎤 Ice Cube & Mike Epps, with Warren G and Scarface — July 17
- 🎤 Lil Wayne, with 2 Chainz and The Game — August 1
- 🎹 Toto, Christopher Cross & The Romantics, with Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, Randall King, and DJ Rock — August 14
- 🤠 Luke Bryan, with Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, and Randall King — August 15
- 🏝️ Dirty Heads & 311, with Atmosphere and ROME — August 18
- 🎻 Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl – Live In Concert — August 20
- 🎤 Nas & The Roots — August 28
Beyond the summer run, the venue’s calendar is already extending well into fall, with shows including Miguel and Big Sean in September and Riley Green in late September.
🎯 Key details
- 📍 Location: 1051 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802
- 🎟️ Capacity: 11,000
- 🅿️ Parking: Official parking is downtown with a shuttle to the venue; walking via the Queensway Bridge takes about 20 minutes
