Go to Pollstar.com and enter an artist, venue or Bay Area city in the search box, then click "Search." You will get a list of links for upcoming events to explore. Pollstar is the leading concert industry trade magazine and its website offers comprehensive information on upcoming shows.
Visit Ticketmaster.com and enter an artist or Bay Area venue, then click "Search." You will get a listing of upcoming events in the area from which to choose. Ticketmaster is owned by LiveNation, a major concert promoter of Bay Area shows.
Read local publications that cover entertainment and offer calendars, reviews and nightclub advertisements. The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly and the San Jose Mercury News are reliable sources for up-to-date coverage of the local music and concert scene.
Listen to San Francisco radio stations that play artists you want to see live. Radio stations, such as KMEL (106.1 FM), KYLD (94.9 FM), KFOG (104.5 FM) and Live 105, have developed reputations for keeping listeners informed of upcoming concerts, as well as throwing popular summer and winter music festivals in the area.
Visit the Bay Area Music Foundation website for information on upcoming educational music shows. The organization raises funds and presents symphonies.