This Friday, August 14, Klub Nocturno is back at Catch One for a full venue take over. Six rooms, six themes and I’ll be DJing in the new wave vs. darkwave room. Tickets are 70% sold last I heard, so head over to Dice to get yours before they’re gone.
Late last year, I wrote about a fantastic documentary, WTO/99, that I saw at 2220 Arts + Archives. It’s a look back at the 1999 World Trade Organization protest in Seattle told entirely through archival footage. The juxtaposition of on-the-ground footage and mainstream news reports makes it a compelling story about an event that, in hindsight, had a major impact on the new century. WTO/99 is screening at the Glendale Laemmle from August 14 through August 20 and I highly recommend catching it in the theater, especially if you have an interest in protest movements.
As for the rest of the weekend, plus early next week, I have lots of recommendations and broke them down by day, just because it seemed to make more sense. Keep reading for the details.
Thursday, August 13
The Wildgrease Festival at 2220 Arts + Archives continues on Thursday with two free workshops. At 4 p.m., join the Mumia Postcard Party watercolor session facilitated by Georgia Anne Muldrow. At 6 p.m. aja monet leads the ink breath on the neck of time poetry workshop.
For live music on Thursday night, Gold Diggers has BOYO, Ramonda Hammer, Always You and Cody’s Program on the bill. Doors are 7 p.m. For DJs, catch Sylvan Esso alongside Daddy Kev and Gecki at El Cid or check out the debut of UFO Parfums’ new party, Circo Lago, at Silverlake Lounge with Mesmé, Ms. Ed and resident DJ Ambrocenide.
Saturday, August 15
There’s kind of a lot of happening on Saturday, August 15. I’m looking forward to Los Mirlos, who are playing a free show in the Jerry Moss Plaza at the Music Center. The show is at 8 p.m. Lots of options if you want to keep the party going after the show. La Cita is walking distance. So is Slipper Clutch, where Nuovo Testamento, who is playing Sound and Fury Fest (along with Sextile) this weekend, is DJing on Saturday night.
Elsewhere in L.A. on Saturday night, the Souldies From Oldies show with Mayer Hawthorne, Joey Quinones (Thee Sinseers) and others is happening at The Greek Theatre. For the househeads, the Does Your Mama Know? 35th anniversary/finale is happening at Catch One with Tony Largo, Raul Campos, special guest DJ Duke and more.
If you would rather go to the movies on Saturday night, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is playing at Vidiots. Edgar Wright is introducing the movie and online tickets are sold out for the 9:45 p.m. screening, so plan to get in line.
Sunday, August 16
Little Tokyo’s Nisei Week begins on Saturday, so expect big crowds in the neighborhood throughout the weekend, particularly on Sunday, when the Grand Parade routes through the streets at 4 p.m. If you’re in Little Tokyo on Sunday, do stop by Hello Stranger/Salt Box Records for Saltbox Sessions, where there will be a stacked lineup of DJs playing vinyl from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Also, you can get a good view of the action on 2nd Street while you’re digging for records.
If you’re planning to go to Little Tokyo on Sunday, you might want to make a downtown detour beforehand. Spaghetti Cumbia is throwing a record release show at La Cita at 2 p.m. Then, if you veer through Gloria Molina Grand Park, you can catch Sunday Sessions with TheyHouseLA bringing the vibes and DJs Terrell Brooke, NRS LNDSY, Packrat and BLKShine on the decks. Party goes from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. All these spots are walking distance if you’re wearing decent shoes.
On Sunday evening, Deradoorian is playing Zebulon with support from Mary Sea. Deradoorian’s latest album, Ready for Heaven, is a fantastic take on the Disco Not Disco sound of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s. (Hear one track from the album, sandwiched between Can and Yoko Ono, on my June mix.)
For those of you in/around Long Beach, the final Subtract on the Pier is happening at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier and house music legend Danny Tenaglia is playing. If you haven’t seen him play before, you should really consider heading out to this party on Sunday afternoon/evening. And, for the South Bay pals, Riddim ’n Brews is heading to Common Space starting at 1 p.m. with Rhygin Sound System and Crew, DJs Ted Morris and Queen of Hearts, MC Junior Francis and a record release party for Mandie Bee.
Monday, August 17
If you’re not going to see Angine de Poitrine at Teragram Ballroom on Monday night, might I suggest heading to Los Feliz Three? Cinematic Void is presenting a screening of Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, which is essential viewing. If you haven’t seen the film before, it stars teenage Diane Lane and Laura Dern as punk girls who start a band. Members of the Clash, Sex Pistols and the Tubes make appearances in it too. Aside from being a great relic of the era, and an influence on subsequent generations of musicians, it’s a solid movie.
Tuesday, August 18
There’s a lot happening on Tuesday, August 18, that’s already sold out (Angine de Poitrine at Teragram, the music of Hey Arnold! at Zebulon and 818 Day at The Midnight Hour), but there are still tickets available for Passion Pit at The Bellwether. (They’re playing on Wednesday night too.)
There’s also a documentary about Unarius Academy of Science, Welcome Space Brothers, playing at Vidiots and it looks good. Limited walk up tickets available for Tuesday, but it’s also playing on Wednesday and the following weekend.
Wednesday, August 19
TBH, it’s not that often that we have so many options on a Wednesday night. On August 19, though, you can catch Herbie Hancock playing Miles Davis at Hollywood Bowl or San Diego indie band The Black Heart Procession at Gold-Diggers. For a Lash-era darkwave throwback, you can go to Zebulon where Light Asylum is headlining and, if you’re a reggae fan, you can go to the Echoplex for Dub Club with Jah9 and Rik Jam.
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 August 2026 edition of Beatique with music from Arctic Monkeys, Divine Comedy, Boy Harsher, horsegiirL, Turnstile and more.
More:
The 1999 WTO Seattle Protests Revisited in New Archival Documentary
Little Tokyo: Where the Nerds and Jocks Converge
Nuovo Testamento Continues Their Dance Pop Experiments on Trouble