Get Into the LA Groove: Jul. 29 - Aug. 4, 2024

From their first single “Bucktown,” released back in 1994, to their most recent release, “Fifty Fifty,” Smif-N-Wessun has cultivated a following for their reggae-influenced approach to hip-hop. The Brooklyn-raised duo celebrates their 30th anniversary with the Still Shinin Tour, which hits Highland Park’s Lodge Room on Monday, July 29.

On the last Tuesday of the month, local collective Wicked Woman brings film and live performance to El Cid. On July 30, their troupe of pole dancers and aerial artists will perform alongside the 1999 teen classic, 10 Things I Hate About You. Doors open at 6:45pm, making it an ideal night to order dinner from El Cid’s restaurant before showtime. Tickets at Dice.

Giacomo Turra, the Italian funk guitarist whose popularity exploded on Instagram in 2020, plays the Lodge Room on Tuesday night. Ticket options include a Soundcheck Experience add-on, which will allow fans to see part of Turra’s soundcheck and attend a pre-show meet-and-greet with the musician.

Guest conductor Kevin John Edusei and the LA Phil bring the greats of Armenian and Russian music to the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night with a program focusing on the works of Aram Khachaturian and Igor Stravinsky.

The concert begins with Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 46 and Spartacus Suite No. 2. The evening culminates with Stravinsky’s 1919 version of The Firebird Suite.

The Outlaw Music Festival is "on the road again" this summer and its tour stop at the landmark Hollywood Bowl features a lineup as iconic as the venue itself. Willie Nelson & Family headlines a roster that includes Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp, with Brittney Spencer - who released her debut full-length, My Stupid Life, earlier this year, opening the night. Gates open at 3:30pm, performances start at 5pm.

Warpaint bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg returns to the stage as solo artist Jennylee on Thursday night at Zebulon for her birthday! Joining her for the celebration is Audio, who recently released his debut album, Positive Feelings Pretty Much. Lindberg’s Warpaint bandmate Stella Mozgawa will DJ the event. Tickets at Dice.

With a new album, Milton + esperanza, about to drop, multi-GRAMMY Award-winning musician esperanza spalding launches her tour in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 1, with a performance at The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA. The university venue offers discounts for students, veterans, seniors and large groups, so check out The Luckman’s website or call the box office for more info.

Few musicians have had a career as eclectic as Dan Deacon. As a solo artist, he has pushed the boundaries of synthpop on albums like Gliss Riffer and Mystic Familiar. He has also collaborated with the LA Phil and scored for films and TV series. Deacon’s Saturday night show is sold out, but tickets are still available at Dice for his performance at Zebulon on Friday, August 2.

In May, locals Las Cafeteras released their third album, A Night in Nepantla, a modern exploration and interpretation of Latin American folk sounds. Now on tour through the southwestern U.S., the band makes a hometown stop in Boyle Heights at The Paramount on Friday, August 2. Tickets at Dice.

With inspiration that includes classical Hindustani ragas and tools like modular synthesizers, Arushi Jain merges the past and the present in exquisite fashion. Her most recent album, Delight, has been garnering acclaim since its release in March. See her on stage at Highland Park’s Lodge Room on Friday, August 2.

The skies above the Hollywood Bowl will light up on Friday and Saturday night for the historic venue’s traditional Tchaikovsky Spectacular. Conducted by Otto Tausk, the LA Phil will perform a selection of the beloved composer’s works with special guests, including the Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring pianist Behzod Abduraimov; and the 1812 Overture with the USC Trojan Marching Band. And yes, there will be fireworks!

John Legend brings his “An Evening with…” concerts back to Los Angeles for two shows at The Greek Theatre on August 2 and 3. The piano-centric performances have been a hit - last year's “An Evening with John Legend” at Walt Disney Concert Hall were sellouts, so fans will not want to miss out on these shows.

This year’s HARD Summer kicks off with a stellar lineup on Saturday night that includes Disclosure, Jamie XX and Channel Tres alongside must-see festival scene up-and-comers like LA’s own Bianca Oblivion and special guest Nelly Furtado. It all goes down at Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, from 2pm until 11pm.

Single day tickets are available, as well as weekend passes. Splurge on the VIP tickets if you want access to exclusive viewing areas, complimentary wifi and other perks. Locker rentals are also available.

Darkwave fans looking for live music should head to Boyle Heights on August 3, when New York-based Bootblacks headlines a lineup at The Paramount that also includes Phoenix’s Corbeau Hangs and locals Second Divine and Lovers Guild. DJ Eser, who helms the weekly, Wednesday bash The Breakfast Klub, will be on the decks. Tickets at Dice.

1tbsp, the indie house/dance alias of Australian songwriter and producer Maxwell Byrne (aka Golden Vessel) headlines A Club Called Rhonda at Los Globos on Saturday. Rounding out the lineup are British DJ/producers Anz and Anish Kumar as well as Goddollars and Paradise. Be prepared for a late night, the party goes until 4am! Tickets at Resident Advisor.

On August 3 and 4, GRAMMY-winning guitarist José Feliciano and Boyle Heights-based band Los Caramelos will pay homage to the Golden Age of Boleros for the 8th Annual Boleros de Noche at The Ford. Celebrate love this weekend with the sweet sounds of romance under the stars at the historic outdoor venue. Gates open 90 minutes before the show, giving you time to picnic with your sweetheart. Showtime is 8pm on Saturday and 7:30pm for Sunday night’s concert.

Be ready to go harder at Hollywood Park on Sunday for the second night of HARD Summer, featuring a lineup that ranges from Major Lazer and Sofi Tukker to house legend Kerri Chandler and special guests Chase & Status. Both single day and weekend passes are available. Rent a locker if you and your friends don’t want to risk losing your necessities on the dance floor. Upgrade to VIP tickets if you’re looking for faster lines and other perks.

With two dance floors, a saltwater pool and a stacked DJ lineup, the Solid Gold Pool Party at Hotel Ziggy will revive you after a long Saturday night. The party starts at 1pm on Sunday, but will run late into the night for those who don’t venture outside until the sun sets. Tickets at Resident Advisor.

The Hollywood Bowl’s immensely popular Reggae Night is back on August 4 with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen Marley, Mykal Rose + Subatomic Sound System and KCRW DJ Roe Wyldeflower Contreras. Experience what’s become an annual celebration of Jamaican music as the sun sets over the Bowl on Sunday night.

Multi-GRAMMY winning singer Norah Jones is back in Los Angeles when her current tour hits The Greek Theatre on Sunday, August 4. With her latest album, Visions, drawing from the sounds of the 1960s and 1970s, it’s fitting that Mavis Staples, herself an icon of the era as part of The Staple Singers, will be opening. Tickets at Ticketmaster.