Coming Soon: The Best of LA May 5-11, 2025

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Sound when promotion team House of Dreams presents a special Monday night event headlined by Mexico’s Michael BM. Local Redtape will be on the decks as well for a special Latin house set. Also on the bill are Gabriel Rojaz and Ricky Bobi, who will be playing a back-to-back set, and Alexa Gaxi. Tickets at Dice.

Swing Kids’ initial run lasted for an all-too-brief moment in the 1990s, but their legacy has persisted as members of the San Diego hardcore band went on to projects like The Locust and The Album Leaf. The recently reunited group plays the Lodge Room on Monday, May 15.

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning play Life of Pi heads to Los Angeles this May with performances at the Ahmanson Theatre beginning on Tuesday, May 6. The stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel, written by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Max Webster, runs through June 1, with matinees in addition to evening performances on the weekends. Check Center Theatre Group’s website for the full schedule, including special events like KCRW Members Night and Senior Day. Life of Pi is recommended for ages 10 and up.

On his latest tour, British singer-songwriter Puma Blue is playing intimate shows centered around his latest, minimalist avant-folk album, antichamber. Tuesday night’s late show at Hollywood Masonic Lodge is sold out, but tickets are still available at Ticketweb for the 7pm performance on May 6.

Beyoncé continues her run of Cowboy Carter concerts at SoFi Stadium with performances on Wednesday, May 7 and Friday, May 9. Tickets are still available for both nights of this hotly-anticipated tour.

On her most recent album, Girl With No Face, singer Allie X flashed back to the ‘80s via the aughts with a collection of songs that are equal parts new wave and electroclash. She’ll be headlining The Bellwether in Downtown LA on Wednesday, May 7, with support from local Mariah Manser.

Throughout the spring, the Philosophy of Design series at Philosophical Research Society explores local history through architecture with events highlighting the trailblazers who helped shape the look of Los Angeles. On May 7, the focus will be on Paul R. Williams, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, whose legacy includes the Theme Building at LAX. Janna Ireland, who has spent years documenting Williams’ works throughout Southern California and Nevada, leads this discussion. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Indie rock titans Yo La Tengo play The Novo at L.A. LIVE on Thursday, May 8. The band has already sold out a number of dates on its current U.S. tour, so act fast if you’re hoping to see them this time around. Tickets at AXS.

Atlanta-based singer-songwriter, Becca Harvey aka girlpuppy, veers towards 1990s-style indie rock on her latest album, Sweetness. Her show at the Moroccan Lounge on Thursday, May 8 is the last of a handful of U.S. dates this spring. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

On Adonai, his fifth album as Big Black Delta, Jonathan Bates blends synthpop, rock and dance music into a captivating, eclectic sound. He’ll headline Lodge Room on Thursday, May 8, with a full band. Double Wish opens the show.

Fans of classic country music will want to head to The Autry on Thursday night for The Soda Crackers, who champion the Bakersfield sound of the mid-20th century. The band will play two performances during the evening and the bar will be serving an exclusive drink from Andre Darlington’s book Cowboy Cocktails.

USC’s student-run campus radio station KXSC celebrates its 50th anniversary with the KXSC Fest on Friday, May 9 at The Echo. Electronic artist 313d3p headlines a lineup that also includes After, Amai, indigo forever, Jordan Patterson, Marguerite, Miya Lowe, Mo Dotti and Teal Pop. Tickets at Live Nation.

The film adaptation of David Mamet’s play Henry Johnson makes its West Coast premiere on Friday, May 9 at The Aero in Santa Monica. Presented by American Cinematheque, the 7pm screening includes a Q&A session with Mamet, who also directed the film, as well as actors Evan Jonigkeit, Chris Bauer, Dominic Hoffman and Shia LaBeouf.

Celebrate Mother’s Day on Friday night when Angel City FC plays Utah Royals at BMO Stadium. It’s Superhero Night for LA’s National Women’s Soccer League club and capes will be available for the first 10,000 fans. In addition to standard tickets, there’s a Moms of ACFC Pack, which includes a rose, Archer Roose wine and other goodies.

Ang Lee will be on hand at the Academy Museum for Friday night’s 35mm screening of his 2000 martial arts masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Academy president Janet Yang will lead a conversation with the Oscar-winning director at the 7:30pm screening. While online tickets are sold out, standby tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

J Balvin brings his Back to the Rayo Tour to Kia Forum on Friday, May 9. The reggaeton superstar, known for hits like “Un Dia” and “Location,” is only playing one date in Los Angeles on his current jaunt. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, with multiple VIP packages available including a meet-and-greet experience.

Brazilian DJ and producer ANNA has long been at the forefront of techno. She’s released music on esteemed record labels like Drumcode and Mute, remixed electronic music icons like Orbital and Depeche Mode, and branched out into ambient music with her 2023 album, Intentions. ANNA headlines Avalon Hollywood on Friday night with opener Layla Benitez. Tickets at Ticketweb.

Vampire Weekend tops the lineup for this year’s Just Like Heaven festival in Pasadena. The annual indie extravaganza brings together an all-star roster of artists that also includes Rilo Kiley, Empire of the Sun, Bloc Party, TV on the Radio, Perfume Genius, Hercules and Love Affair, Slowdive and more. Beyond the stages, the festival also includes A Club Called Rhonda’s dance floor with Tiga and more on the decks, Cosmic Kids Land with entertainment for families in attendance and Record Safari’s pop up vinyl shop. Tickets at AXS.

Lee Burridge brings his All Day I Dream series of events back to LA on Saturday, May 10. All Day I Dream of Love in Los Angeles kicks off at 3pm at Pershing Square where DJs Maxi Meraki, Gab Rhome, Double Touch, Anton Tumas and, of course, Burridge, will take dancers into the night. Tickets at Dice.

British tech house duo CamelPhat head to Downtown LA on Saturday, May 10. Catch the famed duo on the decks at California Plaza, where they will be playing with support from German DJ collective Le Yora. The party starts at 5pm. Tickets at Dice.

Street Food Cinema opens its 2025 season on May 10 with last year’s holiday hit, Wicked. Prior to the 8pm screening, you can catch live music from Lunar Riptide, while enjoying a picnic dinner from one of the food trucks vending at the outdoor event.

Mount Wilson Observatory’s season of Talks & Telescopes begins on Saturday, May 10. Caltech scientist Dr. Phil Korngut will start the evening with a talk about NASA’s recently launched space telescope SPHEREx. As the sun sets, guests will have the chance to stargaze across the grounds of the historic observatory and the famed 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes will be available. There will be a food truck on site, but guests may also bring their own picnic dinners to the event, which runs from 5:30pm to 11:30pm. Mount Wilson recommends using the map on their website for directions as opposed to phone apps.

Deradoorian, the singer and multi-instrumentalist known for her work with Dirty Projectors and as half of the duo Decisive Pink, celebrates the release of her latest solo album, Ready for Heaven, on Saturday, May 10 at 2220 Arts+ Archives with support from Brooklyn-based Time Wharp. Tickets at Dice.

Chaka Khan! Gladys Knight! Patti LaBelle! Stephanie Mills! It’s a rare opportunity to see all four iconic singers in one night when The Queens tour hits Kia Forum on Sunday, May 11. Tickets are running low, so if you want to go, or maybe surprise your own queen with tickets for Mother’s Day, act fast. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

For their 25th anniversary tour, The Used is playing three nights in each city with each night focused on a different album. The emo band begins their string of LA dates on Thursday, May 8, playing their 2002 self-titled debut full-length; and on Saturday they’ll play In Love and Death. While both of those shows are sold out (as are three-day passes), tickets are still available for Sunday, May 11, when The Used concludes their run with Lies for the Liars, the 2007 album that spawned the hit “The Bird and the Worm.” Tickets at Live Nation.