There are a few big events happening over Fourth of July weekend in Los Angeles, including Anime Expo and the America 250 Concert with Smashing Pumpkins and Chaka Khan. But, there are a lot of smaller events happening around town this weekend too and I wanted to highlight a few of those. Keep reading for the details.
Concerts
Let’s start with Thursday night, when Devlin and the Harm play their record release show at Permanent Records Roadhouse. If you listened to the June Beatique Mix, then you probably caught wind of “Kingdom Comes,” which is my favorite song on the self-titled album. You may have also read about Devlin and the Harm here back in May. All that is to say I would do my best to try and catch this show. It’s free and it’s early. Doors are at 6 p.m. and it’s only scheduled to go until 9 p.m.
For the darkwave crowd, The Roxy has a solid lineup on Thursday night with Dark Chisme, Spike Hellis, Meldamor and Pride Month Barbie. If you’re going to this show, I’d plan to get there early enough to catch Pride Month Barbie. I saw them last year at Whammy’s third anniversary party and really dig their sound, which has a little more of a techno influence than you usually hear in darkwave bands.
Saturday is Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party and this year’s performers include Tatiana Tate, L.A. Tropifunk Collective and DJs Anthony Valadez and Pangea Sound. It’s a free, afternoon-to-evening, all ages event that ends with a drone show. I went the year that Grupo Soñador, Tropa Magica and Healing Gems played and it’s really one of the best Fourth of July parties around.
If you’re going to splurge on a concert this holiday weekend, I would suggest Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass & Other Delights at the Hollywood Bowl. Herb Alpert, the 91-year-old trumpeter behind the jam “Rise” as well as the album with, possibly, the most memorable cover of the 20th century, hasn’t played Hollywood Bowl since 1968, so this is a rare music experience.
Dance Clubs/DJ Nights
I’m not DJing this week, but shout out to Club Underground, which is, as always, Friday night at the Grand Star with Larry G. playing indie, post-punk, Britpop, etc. from open to close.
Also happening on Friday night is the Anime edition of Tokyo Love Song with resident DJs XL Middleton and Kaistar, plus guest DJ Moniquea, at Hello Stranger in Little Tokyo. I know there are a lot of Anime Expo-related afterparties happening this weekend, but Tokyo Love Song is the one that I highly recommend attending. The DJs play Japanese funk, soul, disco and synthpop on vinyl. Not only that, but Salt Box Records, which is located inside Hello Stranger, will be open, so you can dig for vinyl when you aren’t on the dance floor.
Earlier on Friday, for those of you looking for a place to watch the Colombia vs. Ghana match, Copa del Rave will be throwing a watch/dance party at Exchange. It starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free with an RSVP.
On Saturday night, Boombox at the Grand Star is throwing a vinyl edition of the party with guest DJs from Motown on Mondays and Milk Crate Mondays. This should be a fun one and, if you’re going to be at Grand Park’s Fourth of July party, you can basically walk to Chinatown to hit up Boombox after that.
Movies
It’s a good weekend to catch a movie too, and I’m not just talking about Jaws or Independence Day. On Thursday, July 2, the Academy Museum is screening Tokyo Drifter, which is this hyper stylized 1966 yakuza movie from Seijun Suzuki. It’s awesome. If you have an affinity for mid-20th century design, you need to see it. The Academy Museum is also screening Some Like It Hot on Thursday, which I have a feel a lot of people reading this have seen, but it is a fantastic movie and the July 2 presentation will be hosted by Pickle the Drag Queen.
On Sunday, Brain Dead is hosting a premiere for the new episode of Ghost in the Shell, plus a panel with the creators. There’s a waiting list for this, but I figured I would mention it here in case you want to take a chance at getting a ticket. Also on Sunday, Zebulon is screening Lucky, the 2017 film that was one of the final appearances of Harry Dean Stanton, in honor of the late actor’s centennial. There’s no cover for this screening.
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Follow on Instagram or sign up for the weekly, Beatique newsletter for updates on new stories and gigs.
Listen to the Beatique Mix for June, 2026, featuring music from Yoko Ono, Scott Walker, Slayyyter, Purple Disco Machine , Madonna and more.
Keep Reading:
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Salt Box Records Is Now Open in Little Tokyo
Fourth of July in L.A. with Grupo Soñador, DJ Nu-Mark, Tropa Magica and Healing Gems
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