I’m not DJing this weekend, but have a pretty good amount of recommendations for shows, dance parties, movie screenings and more. Keep reading for my top picks of events happening in L.A. between Thursday, August 14 and Wednesday, August 20.
Concerts
This weekend’s string of shows starts on Thursday, August 14, at Teragram Ballroom, where Chicago-based indie band Horsegirl is headlining. I’m digging the Stereolab vibe on their latest album, Phonetics On and On, so this should be a worthwhile show to catch.
Echo Park Rising is Saturday, August 16, which means you’ll be able to find free shows along and surrounding Sunset Blvd. throughout the day and into the evening. The Echo and Echoplex have stacked lineups with La Doña headlining The Echo and Tijuana Panthers performing alongside Bob Baker’s Marionettes at the Echoplex. Check Echo Park Rising’s Instagram for all the info, but some highlights include: Kit Major at Pitfire Pizza, Swimming Bell at Stories, Host Family at Dada, the entire lineups at Sick City Records and Bar Henry.
Saturday night, at Levitt Pavilion goes punk with La Resistencia and Lxs Cochinxs. It’s a free show, but you should probably RSVP. And, on Sunday, it’s time for Hollywood Bowl’s annual Reggae Night.
Dance Clubs/DJ Events
For your oldies fix, Thursday night is The Doors vs. Rolling Stones vs. CCR night for 96 Tears with DJ perksandkisses at Grand Star Jazz Club. Friday night is Club Underground at the Grand Star, with Larry G. playing the best indie, new wave, post-punk, Britpop and more.
On Saturday night, Deep celebrates its 25th anniversary with an early evening bash at Grand Performances. Party starts at 6 p.m. and it’s free, but be sure to RSVP. August 17 is Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Session and this month’s edition features the Soul Source crew with DJs Mantron, Mr Choc, Juliet Mendoza and Blksoap, Mark de Clive-Low and Roy Davis Jr. It’s free *and* it’s all ages. Party starts at 3 p.m.
Movie Screenings
Quadrophenia, the cult classic mod flick, heads to Gardena Cinema this Saturday. There are multiple showtimes throughout the day, but if you get tickets for the 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. show, you can catch the scooter run hosted by Planet Lambretta and the mod panel featuring the band The Question?, all which happens at 7 p.m.
Takashi Miike’s 2010 film 13 Samurai runs at Alamo Drafthouse beginning Saturday, August 16, as part of the theater’s “Way of the Samurai” series. There are plenty of screenings with tickets available and, just in case you didn’t know, Tuesdays are the day to go if you want discount tickets.
Mad God is a wild, stop-motion film that took director Phil Tippett some 30 years to make. It’s screening Saturday night at Brain Dead Studios. Also happening at Brain Dead is a screening of Polyesteron Wednesday, August 20, with Odorama cards for the first 40 people to arrive.
On Sunday, Eastwood Performing Arts Center is hosting a Twilight Zone Marathon.
For those of you near Santa Ana, The Frida has some great screenings coming up. Babylon is there on Friday, Carrie screens on Sunday, The Princess Bride plays on Monday and, on Wednesday, director Allan Moyle and producer Sandy Stern will be on hand for Pump up the Volume. Go to The Frida’s website for more info on all of these.
Arts
On Friday night, Tomata, an exhibition of multimedia art from the late frontman of The Screamers, Tomata du Plenty, opens at MutMuz Gallery in Chinatown. The opening is at 7 p.m. and the gallery is on Chung King Road, which is the plaza across Hill Street from Central Plaza. (So, you can go to the opening and then to Underground afterwards on Friday.)
Leiminspace in Chinatown is open on Saturday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., so if you haven’t seen Monday Nights (which I co-curated) yet, you can check it out then. It’s also button-making day.
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram or Bluesky for more updates.
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