LA's club and concert scene will slow down the week of December 23 - many local haunts will be closed for Christmas on December 24 and 25. Be sure to check the socials of your favorite spots for their holiday hours. Expect the vibe to pick up over the weekend as LA prepares for New Year’s Eve.
Over at Sound, the party starts with Massano headlining on Friday night and continues with Chromeo on Saturday, plus Enrico Sangiuliano on Monday and New Year’s Eve with Poolside. A four-day pass is available for those who don’t want to miss a night. Meanwhile, local party faves Minimal Effort are throwing a special two-night event of live 360 sets at 1720 with Two Lanes on Friday and Christian Löffler on Saturday.
On the rock side of the concert scene, Morrissey plays two shows at The United Theater on Broadway ahead of his New Year’s Eve concert at the Hollywood Palladium. Seminal synth-punks Microwave Buddha and Nervous Gender Reloaded head to Zebulon. For info on these events and more, keep reading.
Arturo Sandoval Swinging Holiday - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 23)
Famed trumpeter Arturo Sandoval has brought a Latin jazz swing to Christmas classics like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” On Monday, December 23, the ten-time GRAMMY winner will be bringing a Swinging Holiday to Walt Disney Concert Hall. For an extra dose of holiday cheer, arrive early and head to the Winter Wonderland in BP Hall for a pre-show hot cocoa.
Wicked Xmas Vol. 3: Ookay - Academy LA (Dec. 24)
Hollywood is where the party is at on December 24, when HFE Events brings Wicked Xmas Vol. 3 to Academy LA. DJ/producer Ookay, whose most recent single, “Something 2 Believe In,” is out on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records, headlines this Christmas Eve bash. RSVP for free entry before 11pm. If you want to make this a holiday to remember, inquire about VIP table reservations.
Karaoke Merry Mic Night & Ugly Sweater Party - The Mermaid (Dec. 24)
Looking for a Christmas Eve cocktail? Throughout December, underwater-themed bar The Mermaid will be running their seasonal pop-up The Siren Who Stole Christmas, with a specialty drink menu where a portion of the proceeds benefits local non-profit Adopt a Family. One of the few Downtown LA venues open late on December 24, The Mermaid will be hosting a karaoke night and ugly sweater party. There’s no cover, but Christmas Eve gets busy here, so if you’re set on singing, sign up as soon as you arrive. Karaoke starts at 9pm.
Lunar State - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Dec. 26)
Barcelona-based Bastian Bux brings his extra-funky brand of house to Los Angeles on December 26 for Lunar State’s final party of 2024. Joining him are Overworked, Bad Taste and British playing a B2B set with Miller. Reach out by email or phone to find out about table reservations. Tickets at Dice.
Massano - Sound (Dec. 27)
Sound kicks off the countdown to 2025 on Friday, December 27, with Massano, the U.K. DJ/producer behind 2020 banger “The Feeling,” in the headlining slot with support from local Randy Seidman. For those who plan on spending the last weekend of the year at Sound, consider the NYE 4 Day Pass, which includes entrance to Chromeo’s set on Saturday night, plus Enrico Sangiuliano on Monday and New Year’s Eve with Poolside.
Minimal Effort 360 Night 1: Two Lanes & Natascha Polké - 1720 (Dec. 27)
German sibling duo Two Lanes brings their brand of melodic techno to 1720 for the first of Minimal Effort’s two 360 Live events this weekend. Joining them will be Natascha Polké, who incorporates her background as an indie singer-songwriter into her ethereal, techno sound. Jackson Englund opens the night.
Corporate Culture - Catch One (Dec. 27)
Subculture and Illumitati take over four rooms at Catch One for Corporate Culture on Friday, December 27. Get ready to serve your best Office Siren and Business Exec looks for this pre-New Year’s Eve event, where DJs will be dropping a mix of electroclash, glitchcore, Y2K bops and more.
Minimal Effort 360 Live Night 2: Christian Löffler - 1720 (Dec. 28)
Christian Löffler, the acclaimed German electronic musician whose latest album, A Life, was released earlier this year, returns to Los Angeles to headline the second night of Minimal Effort’s 360 Live event at 1720 on Saturday, December 28. Parra for Cuva, the German multi-instrumentalist who recently dropped the sublime single “Chaos in Calm,” is also set to play and Off in LaLa will open.
Dolphin Hyperspace - Gold-Diggers (Dec. 28-29)
LA-based electro jazz duo, Dolphin Hyperspace, does not shy away from high energy dance beats and a sharp sense of humor on their latest full-length album, What Is My Porpoise? They’ll be closing out the year with a two-night residency with drummer Justin Brown at Gold-Diggers beginning on Saturday, December 28. Salami Rose Joe Louis will be their guest on Saturday night, while Ohma joins Dolphin Hyperspace for Sunday’s show. Tickets at Dice.
Blu & Exile - Lodge Room (Dec. 28)
Blu & Exile open their latest album, Love (the) Ominous World, with the hometown love letter, “Hello LA,” so it’s fitting that the hip-hop duo are closing out the year with a West Coast celebration at Highland Park’s Lodge Room on Saturday, December 28. Rounding out the lineup are Fashawn, Pac Div, DJs Babu and Rhettmatic, Cashus King, Sirplus and Inka One.
Microwave Buddha - Zebulon (Dec. 29)
Synth-punk is the vibe at Zebulon on Sunday, December 29, when Microwave Buddha, featuring David Javelosa of seminal Bay Area synth bands Los Microwaves and Baby Buddha, and LA’s own Nervous Gender Reloaded take the stage. Joining them are new wave-influenced new school artists Pink Stiletto and El Colmo. Tickets at Dice.
Luna - Teragram Ballroom (Dec. 29)
It’s been a year since Luna released new music, although core members Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips recently teamed up with Sonic Boom for the holiday album, A Peace of Us. You can catch the long-running indie band live on Sunday, December 29 at Teragram Ballroom. Stellar LA-based artist Jess Cornelius opens the show.
Little Willie G - Venice West (Dec. 29)
Best known as the lead singer of East LA’s trailblazing 1960s Chicano rock outfit Thee Midniters, Little Willie G heads to the Westside on December 29. Catch the soulful singer on stage at Venice West for this intimate, Sunday evening show. Showtime is 7:30pm, tickets at Ticketweb.