August 2018 events calendar for Los Angeles

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the gorgeous water-encompassed California Plaza stage in DTLA. With Japanese hip-hop and a pan-African funk band, this series spans multiple genres and continents. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Gaby Morena and Buyepongo are among this year's performers on the Downtown stage. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of musical performances, live scores, films, poetry and theater.

Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like Union Station and the Hammer Museum. But the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza have become a particular favorite. Familiar KCRW personalities like Garth Trinidad, Travis Holcombe, Anne Litt and Jason Bentley spin the tunes at these food truck-fueled block parties. Participate in cultural workshops before busting a move on the dance floor to DJ sets and live bands. A craft beer garden, cooking demonstrations and a vintage market round out the fun to be had at this music-centric event.

The Skirball puts on its annual series of free summer concerts, highlighting indie, folk and world music from L.A. and beyond. Guests can arrive early and visit the museum’s galleries for free, dine under the stars and grab a seat for the show in the beautiful central courtyard. Mosey around the Jim Henson and Leonard Bernstein retrospectives, which will stay open late and also for free. Attendees are encouraged to sing along, dance in the aisles and gather at the foot of the stage to celebrate with the performers. The concert is free, but parking is $10 cash only.

San Francisco’s favorite entourage of self-proclaimed sonic missionaries, Silent Frisco, merged with promoter Sunset SF to create HUSHconcerts. The name may be different, but the concept is still the same: to bring to life wicked lineups (Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, James Brown, etc.) through a cutting-edge, technology-meets-music event. Here’s how it works: The man behind the curtain places the decibels & volume from large speakers into headphones for each concert-goer, allowing a totally immersive musical experience, without the distractions of ambient noise. Basically, you’re dancing your ass off to great music next to a bunch of other people doing the same, in a room that’s pretty much silent. All the tunes are in your headphones. Both the audio clarity and the vibes are guaranteed to be top-notch.

Say goodbye to dusty thoroughfares and violent porta-potties: Splash House takes the music festival concept off of sweltering desert land and places it poolside. Movers and shakers at this multi-location getdown are shuttled between the Renaissance, the Riviera Resort and the Saguaro to lap up big-name dance acts and DJ sets. With the added comforts of AC rooms and critically acclaimed restaurant fare just steps away from the party scenes, the experience will make you question whether to bother with more punishing locales come next year’s festival season.

Though locally born EDM juggernaut HARD Summer has hopped around Southern California in recent years, its dedication to bringing the biggest names in the hip-hop and electronic scene. This year’s headliners include Marshmello, Travis Scott, Virtual Self and back-to-back sets from Diplo and Dillon Francis as well as Zeds Dead and Jauz.

In a world of lies (and, these days, alternative facts), the only thing we can rely on is Shakira’s hips. Watch them shake with precision when the Colombian superstar returns to South Florida for two nights on her sixth world tour, El Dorado.

The Electric Light Orchestra are back in business, with symphonic pop master Jeff Lynne playing the Forum. If Lynne’s show at the Hollywood Bowl the other year was anything to go by, this one promises more of the bombastic, string-laden ’70s outfit you know and love.

The Smashing Pumpkins may never again reach the heights of its sublime run of albums in the early ’90s, but that won’t stop Billy Corgan from reassembling the seminal alt rock band again and again in one form or another. For the band’s 30th anniversary, Corgan and founding members Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha (D’arcy Wretzky is notably absent following a very public dispute between her and Corgan) are hitting the road for the Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour. 

Pop a top and drop a tailgate at this inaugural Labor Day weekend country music festival. Toby Keith is topping the lineup, with the rest of the performers still to be announced. Held on the grounds of the Forum, the event also includes cornhole championships, a truck show and honky tonk dancing.

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the gorgeous water-encompassed California Plaza stage in DTLA. With Japanese hip-hop and a pan-African funk band, this series spans multiple genres and continents. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Gaby Morena and Buyepongo are among this year's performers on the Downtown stage. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of musical performances, live scores, films, poetry and theater.

Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like Union Station and the Hammer Museum. But the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza have become a particular favorite. Familiar KCRW personalities like Garth Trinidad, Travis Holcombe, Anne Litt and Jason Bentley spin the tunes at these food truck-fueled block parties. Participate in cultural workshops before busting a move on the dance floor to DJ sets and live bands. A craft beer garden, cooking demonstrations and a vintage market round out the fun to be had at this music-centric event.

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its summer music series are some of its best. Take a load off at the end of the work week and stop by the West Patio from 7 to 9pm to hear live music during or after your shopping trip or dinner al fresco.

Silver Lake's legit little music venue offers up some of the best local music in the city every Monday night... for free. Check out LA bands that are about to make it big (acts like Fitz & the Tantrums, Superhumanoids and even Local Natives have graced the residency stage) without spending a dime—well, except on maybe a beer, or a round for the folks onstage. Check the Satellite calendar to see who's on the bill each month. Acts often have a rotating cast of openers, so you can see different bands each week while watching the main act work on material, become more comfortable onstage and find their rhythm as the month goes on. Then a few years from now, you can say "I saw them when...."

It's free music every Monday when sponsored, up-and-coming local bands call the Echo stage home for a one-month stint, honing their stage presence and giving various opening acts a chance at the spotlight as well. If you're worried a Monday night will fill up to capacity, you can RSVP on the Echo website for VIP entry. When a band is on its third or fourth Monday and killing it, this is a pretty convenient way to make sure you're in on the action.