Part of the corporate regeneration of Downtown, this slick, 7,100-capacity hall opened in late 2007. The sound system is fantastic and the seating is plush; offerings range...

Judy Garland once graced the stage of this landmark, which opened in 1926. Nowadays, it prefers more rock and pop acts such as Ben Harper, Joe Jackson and Ani DiFranco,...

Musicians and teachers help under-10s discover the joy of music-making at these monthly Saturday-morning sessions. After a musical petting zoo (8.30am), where children get a...

In its 30-plus years as a Sunset Strip stalwart, the Roxy has been both a major player (hosting early Springsteen and Guns n' Roses shows) and a disappointing has-been (insert...

A 1980s Huntington Beach punk institution, Safari Sam's moved to Hollywood in 2006. It's retained its old-school punk streak, but it also features touring acts (Black Francis,...

Depending on the night, this hangout is either a grungy watering hole favoured by transvestites or a grungy rock club favoured by indie bands. The sound is dire, the sightlines...

The closest thing to a European squat-style venue in Los Angeles, this stark, hard-to-find warehouse-like space near Skid Row hosts the latest in indie-noise, political...

This sprawling dive celebrated its 13th anniversary in 2008, and it remains the leading LA shrine to all things indie. The sound isn't great and parking is a combat sport, but...

Downtown's sports shrine also hosts big musical acts, such as Kanye West, U2 and the reunited Spice Girls. Though it's plush and modern, the sound quality in the...

Despite the North African name, this intimate boîte in Los Feliz area favours genre-defying chamber-indie sounds such as Colorforms, Quazar and the Bamboozled and local...

Still one of LA's best clubs, the Troubadour has a rich musical history: Randy Newman got his start here, and Elton John made his US debut on its stage in 1970. Still, the...

Co-owned by Herb Alpert, this high-end steakhouse books better talent; and, while the food and drinks are very expensive, there's rarely a cover charge or a drinks minimum. The...

Clumsy punk acts, actors' bands and Hollywood detritus of varying vintages play this faux-deco hole on the Sunset Strip. It also offers the occasional solid singer-songwriter,...

The $274-million crown jewel of the LA Music Center, Disney Hall opened in 2003 to rave reviews. The novelty hasn't yet worn off: both inside and out, this is a terrific venue....