Club Underground x Synthwaves is back with a full-venue takeover at Grand Star Jazz Club in LA’s Chinatown on Friday, February 20. I’ll be in the Synthwaves room (upstairs) playing synthpop, darkwave, post-punk and ‘80s. Tickets are available now on Dice and Eventbrite, so get yours and join the party on Friday night. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. and it’s 21+.
Saturday is the 127th annual Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown. The parade, celebrating Lunar New Year, starts around 1 p.m. and runs down Hill and Broadway between Temple and Bernard. It’s a really fun event and free to attend, so definitely check it out if you’re in the area.
As for the rest of the weekend and early next week, keep reading for my recommendations.
Concerts
Know Your Rights, a mutual aid fundraiser for those impacted by ICE, is happening on Thursday, February 19 at Alex’s Bar with performances from Stacey Dee and Linh Le (Bad Cop Bad Cop), Loch and Stormhouse. There will be another fun show at Alex’s Bar on Saturday night when The Bomboras take to the stage on a bill that also features Deadbolt, Los Pakalolos and The Thingz. In L.A. the same night, Playboy Manbaby brings the Corporations are People tour to Zebulon. On Sunday, February 22, there’s A Benefit for Non Plus Ultra at the Lodge Room with Vinyl Williams, Gylt, Molly Horses, Valley Porno People and more.
During the week, you can catch The Joy Formidable at Hollywood Forever’s Masonic Lodge on Tuesday, February 25, or head over to Oblivion to see Lord Friday the 13th, System Exclusive and Jangus Kangus. If you’re wondering why I didn’t mention Gorillaz at the Palladium, it’s because tickets sold out pretty much as soon as they went on sale. That’s similar to situation for the Pains of Being Pure at Heart on Saturday, except that technically there are “verified resale tickets,” but I can’t recommend paying over $100 for Ticketmaster-endorsed scalper tickets to see a show at the Echoplex.
Dance Clubs/DJ Events
Seminal Italian disco DJ Beppe Loda is playing at Bar Franca on Saturday, February 20, with Dirtie B. For discoheads, this should be a truly memorable night. Definitely try to get downtown for this.
Movies
Takahashi Murakami’s 2013 film Jellyfish Eyes screens at The Broad alongside his Billie Eilish music video “you should see me in a crown” on Thursday, February 19. It’s free, but you need to RSVP. For Orange County pals, The Frida is hosting a secret ‘70s vampire movie screening on Thursday. Harold and Maude (RIP Bud Court) is playing at Alamo on Monday, February 23, and it looks like there are still a few tickets, unlike the Brewster McCloud screening at Los Feliz Theatre the same night (again, RIP Bud Court), which is sold out. Then, on Wednesday, February 25, Philosophical Research Society is hosting an evening with Hazel Hill McCarthy III and Alejandro García Contreras featuring the documentaries Bight of the Twin, featuring Genesis P-Orridge, Via Cruxis and Breadwoman Tales & Trails.
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 Beatique, February 2026, featuring music from ADULT., Kneecap, The Clash, The Cramps and more.
Keep Reading:
Sextile, Pixel Grip + More of What You Heard at Synthwaves 1/23/26