Get Into the LA Groove: Oct. 7-13, 2024

The National, who dropped both their ninth and tenth albums last year, have joined forces with The War on Drugs, who recently released Live Drugs Again, for a run across the U.S. They hit the Hollywood Bowl on Monday, October 7. Be sure to arrive early to catch local indie band Lucius in the opening spot.

A true pop icon, Tom Jones has wowed audiences across generations, from his 1960s hit singles to his 1990s collaborations with bands like The Cardigans and Portishead to his current turn as a coach on The Voice UK. Catch him at The Greek Theatre on Monday, October 7. Tickets to the all-ages show at Ticketmaster.

Desert Daze teams up with Teragram Ballroom to present Slift, the French psychedelic metal band who released their third album, the critically acclaimed Ilion, earlier this year. LA-based shoegaze outfit, Meatbodies will open the show, making this an eclectic night for music fans with discerning tastes. Tickets to the all-ages show at Ticketmaster.

As the band nears its 50th anniversary, Iron Maiden brings The Future Past World Tour to Inglewood’s Kia Forum on Tuesday, October 8. The tour, which began last year, brings together music from their 2021 album Senjutsu and the 1986 platinum-selling hit Somewhere in Time. Mongolian band The Hu are opening, so be sure to arrive early. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Big Star’s profoundly influential album, Radio City, the album that includes fan-favorite songs like “September Gurls,” Jody Stephens - the only surviving original member of the band - will play alongside Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Chris Stamey (The DB’s) and Pat Sansone (Wilco). The first night of this special live event has already sold out, so get your tickets for the show on Tuesday, October 8 ASAP!

This month’s edition of Desert Daze Nights at Gold-Diggers puts the spotlight on Sandy Legs, the sophomore album from exotica-influenced keyboardist and composer Kolumbo. The Brooklyn-based musician celebrates his album release with a headlining slot on the East Hollywood stage. Opening the show is LA-based Adron, whose Bossa Nova-infused indie pop will surely charm you. Tickets at Dice.

Later this month, LA-based label Jazz is Dead will release new recordings from celebrated Ghanaian musician Ebo Taylor, made in collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammed. Before that, you can catch the Afrobeat legend at The Ford, where he’ll be playing as part of the Jazz Is Dead event series with Ghanaian vocalist Pat Thomas.

Earlier this year, Ganavya released her latest full-length, Like the Sky I’ve Been Too Quiet, which brings together Carnatic music influences with elements of jazz and ambient electronic production. The acclaimed vocalist, who has collaborated with Esperanza Spalding, Sault, Kofi Flexxx and others, will perform at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever on Wednesday, October 9.

Last summer, Montreal-based duo Blue Hawaii followed up their 2020 cult favorite album, Under 1 House, with Diamond Shovel, a hypnotic collection of Eurobeat-influenced indie dance. On Thursday, October 10, they’ll be playing two shows at Silver Lake venue El Cid. Choose from 7pm or 11pm performances. Tickets at Dice.

Juno Award-winning First Nations hip-hop outfit Snotty Nose Rez Kids recently dropped their new album Red Future to critical praise. Catch the Vancouver-based duo at The Echo on Thursday, October 10. Tickets at Live Nation.

On Dissonance is an evening of orchestral and operatic works composed by Black women, led by conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson and featuring soprano Zoie Reams. Curated by Solange Knowles, the program will include her U.S. compositional debut, “Not Necessarily in Arms Reach,” Patrice Rushen's symphonic composition Sinfonia and works by Julia Perry. On Dissonance will take place in the Eldorado Ballroom at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Thursday, October 10.

On his latest album, Smile! :D, Porter Robinson taps into early ‘00s pop-punk and emo for a meditation on fame and online life. His current world tour will feature both a healthy dose of tunes from the new album and a helping of fan favorites from the DJ/producer’s decade-plus career. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

In the month since Buzz hit streaming platforms, the latest album from LA-based Indonesian singer-songwriter Niki has racked up millions of plays. Undoubtedly, you can expect fans to be singing along with tunes both new and old when she headlines The Greek Theatre on Friday, October 11, the first show of her two-night stint at the Griffith Park venue. Country-tinged pop singer Allison Ponthier opens for both nights. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

When Elf Freedom played a live score for Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, the screening sold out. The local psychedelic band is returning to Philosophical Research Society on Friday, October 11, to play along to seminal horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. If you’re looking for a Halloween event with an only-in-LA twist, this screening at the historic PRS campus in Los Feliz is it. Tickets at Eventbrite.

If you like techno with a dark warehouse vibe, make plans to hit up Avalon Hollywood on Friday, October 11. Slovenian DJ/producer Umek, known for the driving rhythm and intense buildups of tracks like “Vibrancy” and “Amnesiac,” headlines a bill that also includes local Marie Vaunt and Berlin-based SKIY. Tickets at Ticketweb.

Your dose of 1990s alternative nostalgia comes on Friday, October 11, when Weezer closes out their Voyage to the Blue Planet tour at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s self-titled debut album (commonly known as the Blue Album), Weezer will be joined by openers The Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. There are only a few tickets left, so act fast!

DJ Stingray (aka Stingray 313), the Detroit techno artist known for boundary-pushing productions with a sci-fi edge, heads to A Club Called Rhonda at Los Globos on Saturday, October 12. Also on the decks will be Crystalmess, the Parisian DJ and producer whose eclectic style is familiar to listeners of only station NTS, where she hosts a monthly show. Tickets at Resident Advisor.

Future Primitive closes out its season of block parties in Chinatown’s Central Plaza with a heavy-hitting lineup on Saturday, October 12. Midwest superstar DJ Seth Troxler and Australian Kaz James, known for club hits like “Footprints” and “Paradise,” will both play extended sets. The party starts at 6pm, so be prepared to show up early and stay on the dance floor until midnight. Tickets at Dice.

Costumes are encouraged at The Paramount on Saturday, October 12, when Riverside indie rockers The Hayds play their Halloween show. Joining the band for this all-ages party is dreamcore outfit .com and Inland Empire pop-punks Chicano Mosh. Tickets at Dice.

São Paolo-based Sessa has drawn from Brazil’s rich musical history to craft the eclectic sounds heard on his albums Grandeza and Estrela Acesa. While his last album was released in 2022, Sessa will be performing new music on this tour. He headlines Zebulon on Saturday, October 12, along with instrumental trio BASIC. Tickets at Dice.

Taking place from October 11 to October 27, Angel City Jazz Fest will bring a global celebration of music to venues across Los Angeles. On Saturday, October 12, REDCAT will host Steve Lehman & Garden of Klōns, a new project from the saxophonist; and the Kris Davis Trio. For more info and tickets, visit the Angel City Jazz Fest website.

With high-profile festival appearances at EDC and Coachella; and the club hit “Losing Control” to his credit, Odd Mob’s appearance at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday night is one of the weekend’s hottest tickets. Tickets to the 18+ show are on sale at Live Nation and going fast.

Chicago’s industrial, synthpop and darkwave music festival, Cold Waves returns to Los Angeles on Sunday, October 13 with a lineup headlined by IAMX. Taking place at The Mayan from 7pm to 11:30pm, Cold Waves is also bringing two longtime favorites amongst LA synthpop-heads, German group Beborn Beton (which hasn’t played LA in 20 years) and Swedish outfit Kite. Rounding out the bill are Oakland’s Houses of Heaven, Portland’s Puerta Negra and locals Patriarchy and Ms. Boan. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Italian synthesist Alessandro Cortini is well-known for his work as a member of Nine Inch Nails, as well as for remixing artists like Depeche Mode and composing music for hit series The Bear. In early October, he’ll release Nati Infiniti, which is based on his sound installation and improvised live performances using the Strega that he designed in collaboration with modular synth company Make Noise. Catch Cortini on Sunday, October 13 at Teragram Ballroom.

With the release of their 2014 debut, Sun Structures, U.K. band Temples immediately earned a cult following for their 1960s throwback psychedelia. The band has released three album since then, including last year’s groovy Exotico, but Sun Structures is now a decade old and the band will be celebrating its anniversary when they hit the Lodge Room in Highland Park on Sunday, October 13. Local psych outfit Triptides opens the night.

The final installment of Solange Knowles-curated events at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Glory to Glory focuses on the intersection of spirituality and music. Dominique Johnson will play the venue’s famed organ in a performance that features Moses Sumney on vocals. The night will also feature The GMWA Women of Worship Choir and a tribute to the late composer Mary Lou Williams led by pianist Artina McCain.