One of the most prominent aspects of Wes Anderson’s movies is their precise symmetrical aesthetic. Yet not far behind, and equally as fundamental, is the music that the filmmaker uses to add to the atmospheres of the worlds he creates. Whether that’s through perfectly crafted scores by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh or composer Alexandre Desplat, expertly selected pop songs (both well- and little-known), or by acoustic reimaginings of David Bowie’s well-known hits in Portuguese to create an entirely different context for them, a Wes Anderson movie wouldn’t be a Wes Anderson movie without their soundtracks.
Over three days this weekend—July 10, 11, and 12—at the Hollywood Bowl, the LA Philharmonic are paying tribute to them with Music From the Films of Wes Anderson. A star-studded celebration of the director’s 30-year filmography and the music behind it, the event will showcase the integral connection between what you hear and what you see. Hosted by—who else—Bill Murray, the immersive concert experience will transform the Hollywood Bowl into a stylized vision right out of Anderson’s imagination and will feature performances from some of the director’s friends and closest musical collaborators alongside clips from his movies. Some of the guests slated to appear include Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, Beck, Jeff Goldblum, Karen O, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, and Devo (in addition to a solo performance from Mothersbaugh).
FLOOD caught up with Johanna Rees, Vice President for Programming and Creative Partnerships at the Hollywood Bowl, to find out more about the celebration and what people can expect to see, hear, and experience this weekend.
This is such a cool idea for an event! How did it come about?
At the LA Phil we love to partner with collaborators who have forged creatively independent paths, and since we also have celebrated film music for decades, the idea of concerts celebrating Wes and his brilliant, evocative use of music in his films had been simmering in our minds for years. A few years ago we were able to connect with Wes’ team and had some exciting discussions about what a Wes Anderson concert experience could be—and about a year ago, we decided that we would all work together in putting it together for summer 2026 at the Bowl.
It’s taking place over three nights. How much will each evening vary?
The first two nights, July 10 and 11, will be with the LA Phil. July 12 will be with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. A few of our guest vocalists aren’t available all three nights (Karen O only on Friday; Rufus [Wainwright] and Jeff Goldblum on Saturday and Sunday), but with the exception of a couple songs the program will be the same each night.
There are some incredible names taking part. How easy was it to get them involved?
We’re thrilled with the amazing lineup; in addition to those already mentioned, we also have Jackson Browne, Jason Schwartzman, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Rogê, Karen Elson, a balalaika ensemble, and a stellar house band led by Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The idea of a show centered around music from the films of Wes Anderson—from the scores to the dozens and dozens of eclectic songs on the soundtracks—was something that the guest artists were very excited about. If they were available, they said yes!
The soundtracks to Wes Anderson’s films are phenomenal, but so ingrained into the identity of the individual films. Is the idea to craft some kind of narrative, or just celebrate the work as a whole?
The catalog of songs from Wes’ film soundtracks is so deep and eclectic that we’re really celebrating the diversity of styles and the beloved needle drops that populate his work.
How difficult was this logistically? Presumably it involved a lot of preparation and rehearsal.
It’s been like putting together a 5,000-piece 3D puzzle! With the guest artists mentioned earlier, the orchestra, two choirs, eleven balalaikas, a taiko drummer, a sitar player, a house band of five people, several weeks of rehearsals, and a year of planning, it’s definitely one of the most logistically complex projects we’ve worked on. But when it all comes together, all of those puzzle pieces are going to produce the kind of spectacular and unique result that can only be seen at the Hollywood Bowl!
