The Top 5 Things to Do in LA This Weekend

There's always something exciting happening in Los Angeles!

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Read on for the best things to do in LA this weekend.

Directed by the Goya Award-winning Mario Gas, the LA Opera's stunning production of Madame Butterfly gets a cinematic twist as all the action takes place on a 1930s film set. Making her Los Angeles debut, Korean soprano Karah Son reprises her signature role as Puccini’s tragic heroine, Cio-Cio-San, who is trying to find her way in a world dominated by men. Tenor Jonathan Tetelman is the callous Pinkerton; with Hyona Kim as Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San’s devoted maid who sees through his gentlemanly facade; and Michael Sumuel as Sharpless, the sympathetic American consul.

Superstar Simone Biles will be leaping into Crypto.com Arena on the Gold Over America Tour! The most decorated gymnast of all time, Biles will be joined on the GOAT Tour on Friday, September 20 by world-class gymnasts performing high-energy choreography along with inspirational messages. Get your tickets today!

Peter Hook, the founding member of Joy Division and New Order whose idiosyncratic bass style influenced countless bands to follow, heads to the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, September 20, with his band The Light. They’ll be performing both Substance, the Joy Division singles compilation; and Substance, New Order’s 1987 best-of album, so expect a night of bangers and fan favorites. Tickets at Live Nation.

Although perpetually associated with chillwave, the throughline of Chaz Bear’s 15 years as Toro y Moi has been a lack of throughline. This restless South Carolina songwriter/producer did indeed start out with dreamy lo-fi bedroom recordings that, alongside Neon Indian and his childhood friend Ernest Greene (aka Washed Out), came to define early chillwave. But since then, this carefree creator has irreverently veered into power pop, contemporary R&B, dancefloor synth-pop, and funky psychedelia. True to form (or the lack of it), Toro y Moi’s stripped-back, largely acoustic Sandhills EP last year, which he recorded back in his native Columbia during the 2020 COVID lockdown, found him bathing in both lyrical and musical nostalgia. Revisiting his high school years and vocalizing the sensations of returning to his hometown, Sandhills finds Bear delving into Americana, folk, and Southern motifs more than he has since his very earliest efforts. Tickets at Ticketweb.

While marrying throwback Cambodian pop and psychedelic rock might not sound like a recipe for success, LA’s Dengue Fever have made an international career out of it for close to a quarter-century (including even performing in Cambodia). Formed in the hipster Silver Lake neighborhood in 2001 by local indie luminaries Ethan and Zac Holtzman (the latter of Dieselhead), Beck saxophonist/flutist David Rallicke, Radar Bros bassist Senn Williams, and drummer Paul Smith, their crucial jewel is vocalist Chhom Nimol, a bona fide pop star in Cambodia who’d just arrived stateside. With celebrated songbird Nimol aboard, the sextet started with covers of 1960s and ‘70s Cambodian hits – many by artists who perished in the Khmer Rouge “killing fields” of the late ‘70s – but soon generated original material still sung in the Khmer language. Eight years since their previous album, Dengue Fever made a very welcome return with Ting Mong last year.

María (played by María Mercedes Coroy) has never strayed outside the confines of her village, formed around the base of Ixcanul, a volcano or, in the Kaqchikel language, “the internal force of the mountain which boils looking for eruption.” While betrothed in an arranged marriage to Ignacio (Justo Lorenzo), the local plantation foreman, María forges a secret romance with Pepe (Marvin Coroy), who has his own objective of making it to the United States.

Written and directed by Jayro Bustamante, Ixcanul has been noted for its authentic representation of Mayan culture in Guatemala, bringing awareness to the unique struggles Indigenous folk face as a marginalized group in the country.

Spend the night under the stars with KCRW in the heart of Century City. Taking place at 6pm on Friday, September 20, the penultimate Summer Nights of the 2024 season features sets from a stellar lineup of jazz pros and KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs. The all-ages event is free with RSVP at the KCRW website.

The Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies for a three-game home stand, September 20-22! Now that Shohei Ohtani has made history by becoming the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, the timing is perfect for Saturday's t-shirt giveaway:

• Sep. 20: Drone Show
• Sep. 21: Shohei Ohtani T-Shirt
• Sep. 22: Firefighter Appreciation Day (SOLD OUT)

Experience the ultimate quinceañera at The Ford as Las Colibrí mark their 15th anniversary in style! These powerful women bring the early-20th century all-string mariachi sound to life with vibrant vocal harmonies and colorful costumes paying homage to Mexican cinematic divas of the 1940s and ’50s.

The festivities include rancheras y sones, dancing, y mucho más as Las Colibrí are serenaded by their talented chambelanes Julián Torres and Mariachi Ángeles de Pepe Martínez Jr., along with their invitados de honor Los Del Momento and Ballet Folklórico Ollín.

Experience the beauty and tradition of a quinceañera, a rite of passage deeply rooted in Mexican culture. The celebration will feature several traditional aspects of a quinceañera, including a pre-concert DJ & Celebration; Religious Ceremony, The Waltz and Baile de Sorpresa.

Trinidad-born, LA-based “Queen of Rap” Nicki Minaj has lost little of her signature nasty flow in her forties, as evidenced by last year’s ambitious Pink Friday 2 album, a thematic follow-up to her 2010 breakout debut. While she’s cut back on her multiple, varied voices/alter egos and the filthy yet undeniably funny lyricism of classics like 2014’s “Anaconda” between the two releases, she remains stylistically and verbally nimble. The 22-track record is an artful balance of fan pleasing and self-pleasuring, if subtle, creative growth, tempering vivid pop with vulnerable introspection (including about her father’s passing) and inventive use of samples from Billie Eilish, Cyndi Lauper, and Waka Flocka Flame, plus features from Lil Wayne, Drake, J. Cole, and more. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

Barcelona’s Brunch Electronik party heads back to Downtown LA for an outdoor dance party at Pershing Square on Saturday, September 21. British DJ Argy headlines a bill that also includes techno star Dubfire, Sabo and Airicca. Ticket options include the VIP Backstage Village pass, which includes access to the lounge and specialty cocktail bar, plus expedited entry. Tickets at Dice.

Presented by Insomniac, EDM legends Rabbit in the Moon and The Crystal Method are teaming up for an epic night at Exchange LA, which is decidedly more sophisticated than an old school rave - VIP table reservations are available through the venue’s website.

Cumbiatón LA is back for its second Noche de Cumbia at The Ford. The program offers a musical and visual exploration of the origins of the beloved Afro-Indigenous sounds we know as Cumbia. An all-star lineup featuring Son Rompe Pera (Mexico), Reyna Tropical (U.S.), and Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto (Colombia) performs with support from Cumbiatón DJs as well as traditional and contemporary Cumbia dancers from the U.S. and Mexico. This unforgettable night welcomes Los Angeles communities to share in the diversity, beauty, and resilience embodied in Cumbia through a musical and visual experience.

Britpop icons Pulp begin their run of LA shows with a midweek, two-night stint at the Hollywood Palladium. Their performance at Hollywood Forever on Saturday, September 21 is perhaps the must-see of the three concerts. They’re playing on the Fairbanks Lawn at the historic cemetery, a setting that fits nicely with the drama packed into Pulp songs. Escape-ism opens the show at 7pm. Remember to bring a blanket, pillows and a picnic! Tickets at Ticketweb.

Love will reign as Cinespia and Questlove present the 40th Anniversary of Purple Rain at Rose Bowl Stadium! Cinespia returns to the landmark stadium for a royal celebration, featuring Questlove spinning a set that’s sure to funk and grind along with special surprise guests. Pack a picnic and gather your crew for a purple night to remember. Dress to express in Prince-inspired fashion, from raspberry berets to The Time's eternally cool style to Apollonia 6 sultry sexiness. Let's go crazy!

"Whose House? Rams House!" For their 2024 Home Opener, the Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, September 22. Whether you're a newbie or a lifelong fan, we have you covered with our Ultimate Guide to LA Rams Game Day.

For the best guide to what's happening in Los Angeles, visit the Discover LA Events Calendar and book your stay today!