The 25 Best Live Music Venues in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is home to some of the most iconic live music venues in the world. The city has a long and storied history when it comes to music. From Woody Guthrie’s rambling folk roots to the raunchy rock ‘n’ roll of the Doors, the Van Halen of Van Halen, and the raucous rock and roll of Motley Cribs, L.A.
Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
1. Hollywood Bowl
Contact: +1 323-850-2000
The Hollywood Bowl is stunning even when it’s empty. But when it’s full of picnic basket-carrying concert-goers streaming up the hill toward the amphitheater’s seats, it’s magical. The summer home of the L.A. Philharmonic, the Bowl is like no other concert venue in Los Angeles; seeing a show here is more than just a show; it’s an experience. The gates usually open two hours before showtime, when people pour in and claim the picnic areas. Yes, you can bring food and even bottles of beer or wine for LA Phil productions.
Being inside the Bowl feels electrifying, but where you sit does matter. If you’re willing to shell out a few bucks for box seats, you’ll be rewarded with four foldable chairs and two tables that open up for the ultimate post-show picnic. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on seats but still want a premium experience, book a reservation at The Backyard, an outdoor restaurant next door to one of the giant screens that screen the show. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
2. Teragram Ballroom
Contact: +1 213-689-9100
A brand-new, one-person live music venue, Teragram Ballroom sits on the Westlake-Downtown border, across from Monty’s bar. The venue’s shows are mostly indie rock, and it’s fitting that the venue’s owner, Michael Swier, is also the proprietor of New York City’s Bowery, Mercury Lounge, and Music Hall, Williamsburg.
Shows are priced between $15 and $20, and there’s a grab-and-go bar and restaurant inside the venue — one that may eventually open during regular business hours. If you’re wondering how Teragram came to be named, it’s “Margaret” spelled backward. Swier’s late wife, Margaret, helped him open the original venues in New York, and the name is a tribute to her. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
3. The United Theater on Broadway
Contact: +1 213-235-9614
The United Theater on Broadway, our lovingly restored re-creation of the iconic United Artists movie house, serves as the growing epicenter of art and modern entertainment in Los Angeles, providing the ideal setting for a variety of events, from concerts to film premieres, conferences to seminars to symposiums and more.
Featuring a state-of-the-art digital projection and cinema sound system, an independent, ultra-modern live sound system, and a sophisticated contemporary proscenium lighting system, The Theatre can accommodate anything that fits within the boundaries of its stunning proscenium, providing a much-needed bridge to the vibrant future of Downtown LA. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
4. Troubadour
Contact: +1 310-276-1158
A troubadour is a troubadour who composed and performed ancient Occitan lyric poetry in the High Middle Ages. Because “troubadour” is masculine, a woman’s troubadour is often called “trobairitz”. The troubadour’s influence spread across Europe, leading to the rise of the Minnesota troubadours in Germany, the trovadorismo troubadour movements in Galicia, Portugal, and the trouvère troubadours in northern France.
Dante Alighieri defined the lyric of the troubadour as “Vittorio rhetoric musical points”: rhetorical, musical, or poetical fiction. After a period of popularity in the 13th century, troubadour art declined in the mid-14th century and died out around the Black Death. Most troubadour songs concern themes of chivalry, and courtly love, and are metaphysical, intellectual, or formulaic. Many are humorous, vulgar satires. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
5. Greek Theatre
Contact: +1 844-524-7335
Price:
The historic Greek Theatre, located in Griffith Park, is one of the most beloved and well-known outdoor entertainment venues in the United States. It has hosted some of the greatest musicians of all time, including Sir Elton John and Frank Sinatra, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Carlos Santana. The Greek has also been the site of many high school graduations and community events, as well as the backdrop for television shows and movies. The Greek is owned by the city of Los Angeles and is managed, operated, and bookable by SMG. This capacity outdoor venue is one of the City’s most beloved public sites. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
6. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Contact: +1 323-469-1181
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory, and Cultural Event Center in Los Angeles. Hollywood Forever Cemetery offers Cremation Services, Cremation Niches, Mausoleum Crypts and Memorial Services. Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Beth Slam Section is one of California’s oldest active Jewish Cemetery. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to hundreds of Hollywood’s founders and stars. It is also the resting place of thousands of Los Angeles residents and visitors from all over the world. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
7. Walt Disney Concert Hall
Contact: +1 323-850-2000
Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the world’s most renowned philharmonic orchestra, performing the finest in classical, modern, world, and jazz music. Constructed by the renowned Frank Gehry, this 3.6-acre complex is a symbol of the city and its orchestra, embodying the energy and creativity that Los Angeles has to offer. From its striking stainless steel exterior to the world-class acoustics of its hardwood-paneled main auditorium, Disney Concert Hall is one of the most audiovisual and architectural landmarks in the world. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
8. Largo at the Coronet
Contact: +1 310-855-0350
Largo, sometimes referred to as Café Largo or Largo, Darling!, Club Largo is a nightclub/cabaret located in West Hollywood, California. The club is well-known for its variety of musical and comedy acts, as well as its Friday night residency with the singer/songwriter John Brian.
The club has featured performances by Peter Zimmerman Colin Hay Victoria Williams Suzanne Vega Syd Straw The Love Jones Julie Christensen Hugo Largo Grant Lee Buffalo Fiona Apple Cabaret and Vaudeville Comedy and spoken word LA Weekly named Largo “Best Supper Club in LA” Newton, LA Style Los Angeles Times Buzz, Exposure Movie line The Edge Details, Village View Vogue, Interview US Magazine Luna Park Fergus O’Flynn Mark Flanagan, simply “Flanagan” – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
9. Lodge Room
Contact: +1 323-509-2861
The Lodge Room, a former Masonic lodge converted into a concert hall, is home to a mix of Eastside favorites, emerging singer-songwriters, and Dave Chappelle surprises. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
10. Kia Forum
Contact: +1 310-862-6200
The IKEA Forum is an indoor arena that opened in December of the same year. It was designed by architect Charles Luckmann and engineered by engineers Carl Johnson, and Spend Nielsen, and features a unique structure without large internal support pillars for an arena this size. It is located on West Manchester Boulevard near the Hollywood Park Casino on the north side of SoFi Stadium, and about two miles east of Los Angeles International Airport.
The Forum was once home to the Lakers of the NBA and the Kings of the NHL before both teams moved to the Staples Center. The Forum also hosted the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA until they moved to the Crypto.com Arena. It was one of the most well-known indoor sports arenas in the United States, largely due to the success of the Lakers and the presence of Hollywood celebrities. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
11. El Rey Theatre
Contact: +1 323-936-6400
The El Rey Theater is an original Art Deco theater located on the Miracle Mile of Los Angeles, one of the city’s preserved Art Deco districts. This Art Deco building features sweeping staircases throughout, an Art Deco lobby, a VIP balcony lounge, and a grand Ballroom featuring a full stage. Built in the early, the theater was designed and built in the style of Art Deco and was named after Clifford A. “Clifford” Batch. The theater was first run as a movie house for over 50 years and has since been converted into a Live Music Venue. It is a registered Historic and Cultural Monument. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
12. Echoplex
Contact: +1 213-413-8200
Echoplex is a music venue located in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, United States. It is owned by the same people who own and operate The Echo. Complex and The Echo are sister venues. Echo Below the Echo is commonly referred to as “Echo Echoplex” or “Echo below The Echo”. Some people mistakenly believe that Echoplex’s official name is Echo Below The Echo. The Echo and Echoplex are both affiliated with Space land. Space land is located in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
13. The Regent Theater
Contact: +1 323-284-5727
The Echo’s Mitchell Frank refurbished this one-of-a-kind movie theater into a sleek rock club. It’s been home to some of Montreal’s biggest names, including Run The Jewels, Montreal, and TV On the Radio. It also hosts live podcasts, comedy shows, and the city’s largest Rock ‘n’ Roll flea market. In addition to the venue, it’s home to Defrock Pizzeria and the Love Song Bar. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
14. The Fonda Theatre
Contact: +1 323-464-6269
The Fonda is a concert hall on Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles. It was designed in the Spanish colonial Revival Style and has held live events, movies, and radio shows. The first musical theater to open in Los Angeles was the Carter de Haven Music Box. It was supposed to open two days earlier but was postponed due to the illness of the principal actor, Arthur Kay.
John Barrymore was one of the first investors of the new theater. Others included John Gilbert, Reginald Denny, King Vidor, and Mrs. Murray. The music box changed from a review to a legitimate theater with a West Coast premiere of Chicago, starring Clark Gable and Nancy Carroll. Stage plays ran at the music box for almost twenty years, except for a brief period when the site served as a radio studio for Lux Radio Theater. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
15. Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center
Contact: +1 213-748-5116
Shrine Auditorium is one of Los Angeles’ most iconic large event venues. It’s also the home of the Al Malika temple, a Shriner’s’ division. It’s been recognized as a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument and added to the national register of historic places. The current shrine was built to replace the old one, which burned down in January of this year. The fire burned the structure down in 30 minutes and killed six firemen. The audience of rock concerts called the shrine “The pinnacle”.
The auditorium underwent renovations that modernized the stage with high-tech lighting and rigging. It also had a new roof and air conditioning system for both the auditorium and the Expo Center. The concession stands were modernized, additional restrooms were added, the Expo Center was repainted, and a performance plaza and a parking garage were added to the complex. The entire complex is based on a traditional Moroccan architectural style. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
16. The Wiltern
Contact: +1 213-388-1400
The Western Theatre, with its Art Deco style and Old Hollywood charm, is the perfect place to host your next company event, private show, wedding reception, product launch, or any other special occasion. Situated on Wilshire Boulevard near Western Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, the historic venue even has a marquee with your name on it, so you’ll be able to see your face in lights.
Guests will be treated to the world’s finest musical entertainment, top-notch event production, modern lighting and sound systems, custom menus, and a wide selection of mixology, all of which will exceed your expectations. The Western is conveniently located across the street from the L.A. Convention Center, and our friendly staff will take care of all your needs. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
17. The Roxy Theatre
Contact: +1 310-278-9457
The Roxy Theatre is a nightclub located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. It was opened in September by Lou Adler, the son of Lou Adler, Elmer Valentine, and David Geffen, the son of David Geffen and Elliot Roberts, and Peter Asher, the original partner of Lou Adler. They had taken over the building from Chuck Land is, who had owned the Largo, a strip club.
Neil Young performed at the Roxy with the Santa Monica Flyers on the first three nights it was open. Just three months later, a lineup of Genesis with Peter Gabriel performed several days in a row at the Roxy in what some band members and fans consider to be one of their finest performances. Paul Reuben introduced his then-struggling comedian character, Pee-we Herman, in a raucous revue here that also featured up-and-coming comics such as Phil Hartman. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
18. Resident
Contact: +1 213-628-7503
Located in the Arts District of Downtown LA, Resident is a neighborhood bar that offers an intimate entertainment experience with live music and a lush green beer garden. With the vision and design of its owners, Tim Krehbiel, Paul Berman, Jacek Montoya, and Bridget Vagedes, the bar has become what many people call an oasis in the middle of the arts district. Enjoy local draft favorites as well as specialty cocktails served from a spartan trailer. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
19. Zebulon
Contact: +1 323-663-6927
Zebulon cafeterias concert venue, also called Zebulon café or Zebulon café concert, is a musical venue, bar, and restaurant in Los Angeles, California. It was formerly in Brooklyn, NY, where it served as a combo café/bar with live music until it closed in December. The venue was named a critic’s pick by New York Magazine. After more than four years of closure, the venue reopened in Los Angeles’ Frog Town neighborhood in February.
The venue is owned and operated by Guillaume Blessed, Joe, and JEF Sorbian, and features nightly performances of local and international artists and performers. The original Brooklyn location featured Ravi Shankar, Kim Gordon, black mass, this Heat, Oh Sees, black midi, and lingual ignore. The Los Angeles location features artists such as. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
20. AMOEBA MUSIC
Contact: +1 323-245-6400
Amoeba offers a wide variety of new and pre-owned vinyl records, CDs, movies, collector’s posters, books, recorders, speakers, band shirts, stickers, pins, and other one-of-a-kind items. Plus, Amoeba hosts weekly free, all-ages live shows. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
21. The Novo
Contact: +1 213-765-7000
The Novo, also known as Club Nokia, is an indoor nightclub located in the heart of downtown L.A., California. The capacity of the club is approximately 100 people. The venue opened its doors in November, as Club Nokia, with headlining performances from the musician Beck on the inaugural two nights. The venue changed its name to The Novo in March, a few months after neighboring Nokia Theater changed its name to Microsoft Theater, though the theater continues to receive bookings from Golden voice. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
22. AVALON Hollywood & Bardot
Contact:
Avalon is an historic nightclub located at the crossroads of Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood, California. Spanning N. Vine Street, it was formerly known as the “Hollywood Playhouse,” the “WPA Federal Theatre,” the “El Capitan Theatre,” the “Jerry Lewis Theatre,” the “Hollywood Palace,” and the “Palace.” It has a capacity of up to 1,500 people and is located across from the historic Capitol Records Building. The Hollywood Theatre was built during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Theatre Project under the Works Progress Administration. It hosted government-sponsored theatrical productions. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
23. The Satellite
Contact: +1 386-385-7077
Satellite in Silver Lake is located in one of the best hipster neighborhoods in America, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a small rock venue with two small bars, a pool table, a photo booth and an open-air smoking spot. It has a cult following among locals for its affordable drinks and wide selection of music. Friendly bartenders serve stout drinks, bathrooms are clean and stocked and the crowd is way too cool to care about anything else.
You’ll find all kinds of rock here, as well as its weird cousins. There’s a lot of indie rock, but there’s also a lot of folk, experimental, and artsy stuff. The small stage makes it feel like you’re in your living room, and the neon signs and sofas in the back room add to the party-in-your-living-room vibe. With two bars, you won’t have to wait long to get your PBR. Here’s where the fun begins. Here’s where young bands come to hone their sets and rehearse before they’re released to the world. It’s a Silver Lake staple. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
24. Vibrato Grill Jazz
Contact: +1 310-474-9400
The restaurant was designed by trumpet master Herb Alpert and features one of L.A.’s most acoustically well-tuned dining rooms. It’s a luxurious date-night spot nestled in the mountains above Bel Air, where the lights are kept low and the martinis are kept cold. The jazz factor is high, just the type of place to draw in locals, musicians, and music lovers seeking a good steak and some stardust. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
25. Staples Center
Contact: +1 213-742-7100
Downtown L.A. is a bustling city of high-rise buildings, busy streets, and rustic industrial warehouses. It is home to a wide variety of cultures, with an increasing number of business people and hipsters flocking to the area. Downtown has seen what many have termed the gentrification of the city in recent years, with new apartments, restaurants, bars, and hotels popping up regularly. Downtown has some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, leading the city’s foodie scene. It is also home to a number of cultural and sporting venues, including the Disney Concert Hall, the Staples Center, and the Coliseum. – Live Music Venues in Los Angeles
