observatory
Photo courtesy of Neon Indian

Electrifying Acts of All Genres Perform at the Observatory Orange County

The once forgotten Santa Ana concert venue re-materializes as one of Orange County’s hottest stages.

The Observatory Orange County has quite the storied past. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, it went by Harlequin Dinner Playhouse, a popular dinner theater. In the ‘90s it endured brief stints as the Hamptons, a restaurant and concert venue, and Rhythm Café, which was supposed to be the House of Blues of its time, before becoming the Galaxy Concert Theatre through 2008. After a failed attempt to turn the space into a high-end restaurant/nightclub, the Galaxy Concert Theatre reemerges in its latest incarnation as the Observatory, Orange County’s go-to music venue. Since it’s re-launch in 2011, the Observatory has hosted some of the hottest shows in Orange County such as Crystal Castles, The Cults and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Over a hundred miles away in the city of Indio, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival draws the biggest names in music and their most ardent fans from around the world. The festival’s recent expansion to two weekends (Apr. 13-15, Apr. 20-22) means many Coachella acts are touring Southern California in the interim. Head to the Observatory to catch shows from Neon Indian (Apr. 16), Grouplove (Apr. 17) and Yuck (Apr. 18). Other “can’t miss” acts coming up: Tennis (May 1), Washed Out (May 6), Devo (May 13) and Maps & Atlases (June 7). 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, 714.957.0600. observatoryoc.com

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