ALTERNATIVES TO THE BOWL

Bowl fatigue? These places also mix sounds and scenery.

The Greek Theatre in Griffith Park (greektheatrela.com) seats 5,841 people and presents performers such as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (Mon.-Tue.), Mark Knopfler (June 27) and, on the True Colors tour, Cyndi Lauper and the B-52’s (June 28). Louise’s Trattoria (louises.com) in Los Feliz offers a Park & Dine Greek Theatre Shuttle to go with a three-course meal.

There’s the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre (fordamphitheater .org), just north of the Bowl on the 101, featuring jazz, country, children’s programs and drama. Free shuttle service is available from the Universal City Metro station. If you drive, arrive early. Plus, we’ve heard that if you tip the parking attendant in the main lot, they will let you park in the front row for a quick exit after the show.

It’s a bit of a schlep from L.A., but the Santa Barbara Bowl (sbbowl.com) offers gorgeous scenery along with Plant and Krauss’ tour (Wednesday), 311 & Snoop Dogg (next Thursday), and John Mellencamp (July 30). Unfortunately, this bowl prohibits outside food or beverages.

If you’re in the mood for classical music, the Southwest Chamber Music Summer Festival at the Huntington (swmusic.org) presents concerts on the restored Huntington Art Gallery Loggia. California Philharmonic’s Festival on the Green at the Arboretum in Arcadia (calphil.org) runs June 28 through Sept. 6.

For serious music fans, Times music critic Mark Swed suggests two alternatives that don’t compromise music or nature: the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara (Monday-Aug. 16; musicacademy.org) and the La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest (Aug. 1-24; la-jolla-music- society.com). Picnic by the sea, and then head indoor for interesting concerts.