Have you already planned your Independence Day? If not, and if you can get to the Pacific Amphitheatre in Orange County, the Pacific Symphony is celebrating AMERICA with “Symphonic Springsteen.”

The Symphony’s annual 4th of July extravaganza is usually held at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, but the Irvine Company is developing that fabled venue into condos, so this year the Symphony will be delighting folks in their new summer home in Costa Mesa. This is the venue where I saw my first-ever concert, The Beach Boys, with my parents and siblings, so it holds a special place in my heart– and I haven’t been there since they did a massive renovation, so I’m excited to eat al fresco while patriotic rock-meets-orchestral music revs up my love of country, culminating in a dazzling fireworks display. 

Here’s what the Pacific Symphony says you can expect if you make it out:

Matt Ryan & The American Dream will recreate Bruce Springsteen’s marathon, party-like performances and bring one of America’s most popular singers vividly to life, as headliner Ryan delivers a riveting, authentic Springsteen experience. Matt Ryan & The American Dream is a note-for-note, dead-on and visually accurate recreation of Springsteen and his E Street Band in concert. The audience will be on its feet cheering for such Springsteen hits as “Born in the USA,” “My Hometown,” “We Take Care of Our Own,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Hungry Heart” and “Born to Run.”

The evening’s grand array of music also includes the Symphony performing John Williams’ selections from “Star Wars,” John Phillip Sousa’s ‘March King,’ Henry Mancini’s “The Great Race March” from “The Great Race,” Richard Rodgers’ “Carousel Waltz” from “Carousel” and Dmitri Tiomkin’s “The Fair” from “Friendly Persuasion.” And no July 4th evening is complete without the holiday traditions of a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces and patriotic favorites, before closing with a brilliant fireworks finale!

They aren’t promising “I’m On Fire,” but that’s my favorite Springsteen song, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. 

Catch Symphonic Springsteen Tuesday, July 4, at 8 p.m., at Costa Mesa’s Pacific Amphitheatre. The concert will be led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman and will kick off the orchestra’s SummerFest at the OC Fair & Event Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

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