Lots of shows happening in Los Angeles this weekend and next week. Lots of movie screenings too. It took a while to comb through everything that’s happening, but I did and here are my recommendations for Thursday, September 17 through Wednesday, Spetember 23. They include: Ghost in the Shell 30th anniversary screenings, Haruomi Hosono at the Greek Theatre, Gummo at Los Feliz 3, An Evening with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Vidiots and lots more. Keep reading for the details.
Thursday, September 17
Soulwax is in town for their Land of the Free tour and they’ll be at The Fonda on Thursday and Friday night.
Ghost in the Shell opens on Thursday night for a 30th anniversary run. You can catch the remastered 4K anime classic at multiple theaters and you should because Ghost in the Shell is essential sci-fi, whether or not you’re into animation.
Friday, September 18
If you’re not going to see Soulwax, or to Nevgativland’s sold out show at 2220 Arts + Archives, on Friday night, maybe head over to Vidiots to see Pump Up the Volume. If you’re at all interested in alternative or indie culture, you have to see the movie. Christian Slater plays a high school student moonlighting as the host of a pirate radio show. The soundtrack includes music from Leonard Cohen and the Pixies. The costumes are extremely cool for the early 1990s, or, at least, they were to a middle schooler who snuck in to the theater to see it. And it’s one of those movies that, for whatever reason, never streams. (If you want to know more about the movie, I wrote this appreciation a while back.)
As always, Club Underground is happening at the Grand Star in Chinatown on Friday night. Larry G. will be on the decks all night and advance tickets are available now.
Saturday, September 19
If you’re into weird, experimental music, Stand By For Failure, a documentary about Negativland, the group who were at the forefront of sampling in the ‘80s and pioneered culture jamming, makes its L.A. premiere on Saturday afternoon at 2220 Arts + Archives with the group in attendance.
Also happening Saturday afternoon is Salt Box Sessions at Salt Box Records/Hello Stranger in Little Tokyo. This is a really cool hang out if you want to hear DJs playing music that probably turn up on your Spotify playlist. The lineup: XL Middleton, Moniquea, ColdBeerColdHeart, Steph, The City Pop Bassist, Vandal Society and Zaku.86. There’s no cover and it runs from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Saturday night, take your pick between Blood Club at the Echoplex or Peter Hook and the Light at the Palladium. Or, head to Philosophical Research Society to catch The Fairy Tales of Jim Henson, featuring Tales of the Tinkerdee.
Sunday, September 20
Beat Swap Meet’s Los Angeles Record Fair is happening on Sunday, September 20, at Arts District Brewing Company. Special guests include Arabian Prince, Q-Unique & DJ Rhettmatic, DJ Romes, Inka One and Boombox LA. Also on Sunday afternoon is Bob Baker Day at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Rescheduled from last spring, the puppet extravaganza will also feature music from Very Be Careful, a signing session with the artist Shag and a dog costume contest.
Haruomi Hosono, a founding member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, just released his 23rd album. It’s called Yours Sincerely and it’s a lovely collection of pop songs with psychedelic electronic production. He’ll be playing the Greek Theatre on Sunday, September 20, with support from Toro y Moi. This should be a fantastic show (and, fyi, the tickets are a pretty reasonable price given the venue and the lineup).
Monday, September 21
TBH, it’s pretty unusual when there are two high-profile shows happening on a Monday night, but that’s the cast next week, when Mike D plays The Belasco and Lily Allen heads to the Greek Theatre on September 21. If you would prefer to see a movie that definitely isn’t streaming, Gummo will is at Los Feliz 3. If you’re one of those types that’s all about the ‘90s, you must see it.
Tuesday, September 22
Australian band Pond plays the Bellwether on Tuesday, September 22. If you’re going, try to get there early and catch Josh Da Costa, who recently released a super cool album, New Wave Graveyard, on Stones Throw.
Wednesday, September 23
Robyn plays the first of two nights at Kia Forum on September 23, and, for this night, horsegiirL is opening. Wednesday night is also An Evening with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Vidiots. There are only a limited amount of walk up tickets left for this, but it might be worth the line. They’ll screen the video companion to Hidden in Pieces and the David Lynch film Eraserhead. Yes, the band is scheduled to be there in conversation following the Hidden in Pieces 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 September, 2026 edition of Beatique, which also features music from Olivia Rodrigo, ear, Purity Ring, Brigette Calls Me Baby, Slayyyter and more.
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