Coming Soon: The Best of LA Apr 28 - May 4, 2025

Beyoncé launches the Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit tour at SoFi Stadium on April 28. The Monday night show is the first of five that she will be playing at the Inglewood venue through May 9 - for the Beyhive, these concerts are not to be missed! Tickets at Ticketmaster.

It’s Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium on Monday April 28. Catch live performances in Centerfield Plaza and order from the special food and drink menu at this special event presented by Daiso. Ticket packages for the first game in the Dodgers series against the Marlins include the exclusive Japanese Heritage Night 2025 jersey.

As part of American Cinematheque’s “Directed by David Lynch” series, the Los Feliz 3 is screening the late director’s 1980 film, The Elephant Man. Lynch received a Best Director Oscar nomination for the film and its critical success helped set the stage for his iconoclastic career.

Mogwai dropped their eleventh studio album, The Bad Fire, earlier this year and it’s some of the long-running Scottish band’s finest work to date. Catch them on Tuesday, April 29 at The Bellwether with support from Papa M (aka David Pajo), the former guitarist for seminal post-rock outfit Slint. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

With conductor and curator Daníel Bjarnason at the helm, the LA Phil New Music Group will premiere the Icelandic musician’s new cycle Hands on Me at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday night. The night’s performance will also include the world premiere of composer Chaya Czernowin’s NO!

One of the most enigmatic bands of the past 30 years, Godspeed You! Black Emperor eschews traditional press and modern social media, but has amassed a large cult following thanks to their experimental rock albums and not-to-be-missed live shows. They’ll be playing at The Bellwether on Wednesday, April 30. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

For fans of LA’s architectural history, the Philosophical Research Society has teamed up with the John Lautner Foundation for a screening of the 1990 documentary The Spirit in Architecture. Bette Jane Cohen’s documentary on the famed architect behind local icons like the Chemosphere is rarely screened and this event will also include an introduction from architectural historian John English, as well as a panel discussion following the film. Tickets at Eventbrite.

With their blend of psychedelic cumbia and punk rock, locals Tropa Magica know how to get a party started. They’ll be celebrating the release of new album Para Bailar y Tripiar, as well as the start of their U.S. tour on Thursday, May 1 at The Paramount. Sgt. Papers opens the show. Tickets at Dice.

Best known for his work with the experimental rock outfit black midi, singer and guitarist Geordie Greep released his first solo album, The New Sound, to critical acclaim last fall. His current U.S. tour hits The Wiltern on Thursday, May 1. Tickets at Live Nation.

Lucha VaVoom de la Liz returns to The Mayan for two nights this May. Taya Valkyrie leads the lineup of wrestlers in the extravaganza that brings together lucha libre, comedy and burlesque. Performances are on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2.

During his all-too-brief career, Arthur Russell bridged musical genres in a way that is perhaps more influential now than it was during his lifetime. 24 to 24 Music is the late cellist and composer’s seminal avant-garde disco work and ensemble Wild Up will perform it at REDCAT for three nights, beginning on Thursday, May 1.

Critically acclaimed rapper Smino closed out last year with the release of his fourth album, Maybe in Nirvana. He’s spending this spring on the road for the Kountry Kousins tour with support from Samara Cyn. Their North American jaunt will hit The Shrine on Thursday, May 3. Tickets at AXS.

With a cross-generational lineup that includes Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, The Pretenders, Alanis Morisette, The Beach Boys and Jackson Brown, the BeachLife Festival is one of this week’s hottest concert tickets. General admission tickets for the three-day festival in Redondo Beach are already sold out and VIP single day tickets are running low. BeachLife takes place between May 2 and May 4.

Amplified: Experiencing Sound is the title of Natural History Museum’s First Fridays event for May. In addition to live music from Automatic and Doris Anahi, the night will include DJ sets from January and Wyldeflower. The May discussion will be with DJ Kurs, who is the artistic director of Deaf West Theatre. A sound lounge, art activity and more talks are also part of the program.

Barry Can’t Swim, the Scottish DJ/producer who was a breakout star at the 2024 Coachella Festival, is about a month away from the release of Loner, the follow-up to his acclaimed debut album, When Will We Land? He touches down in LA for shows at The Shrine on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3. Tickets at AXS.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of The 40 Year Old Virgin, Judd Apatow and Steve Carell will appear at the Academy Museum on Friday, May 2, for this special 35 millimeter screening of the 2005 comedy classic. Online tickets have sold out, but standby tickets will be available at the museum on a first come, first served basis.

You might know Patrice Rushen best from her 1982 dance floor classic “Forget Me Nots,” but the singer is also a renowned jazz pianist, composer and music director. Rushen’s turn at the Walt Disney Concert Hall piano on Friday night is not to be missed.

Bringing together young artists from across the city, the LAUSD Arts Fest will take place this year on Saturday, May 3 at Gloria Molina Grand Park. Students from across the school district with be amongst the performers for the day-long event, which also includes a film festival and art exhibitions and demonstrations. The park is right across from the Music Center, so families interested in a Saturday art day for the kids should consider going to both LAUSD Arts Fest and the Very Special Arts Festival.

Saturday’s Very Special Arts Festival at The Music Center is designed for children of all abilities and their families. The free event includes performances and workshops from AbilityFirst, Ballet Folclorico do Brasil, Down for Dance and many more. The event starts at 11am and runs until 2:30pm.

Dance as the sun sets over Chinatown’s Central Plaza when Guy Gerber brings his Rumors party back to the neighborhood on Saturday, May 3. The outdoor event gets underway at 6pm and goes until midnight. Note that Gin Ling Way is a pedestrian street. You’ll find the Plaza between Broadway and Hill and College Street.

Celebrate Star Wars Day at the Academy Museum on May the 4th, with a day full of activities, including a meet-and-greet with R2-D2 and screenings of The Phantom Menace, The Empire Strikes Back and The Rise of Skywalker. The adventures begin at 10:30am.

Singer Yukimi Nagano has spent much of her career fronting the Swedish electronic pop outfit Little Dragon. In late March, she released her first solo album, For You, where the singer delves deeper into Neo-Soul and alt R&B. Catch Yukimi at The Fonda on Sunday, May 4. Tickets at AXS.