10 Los Angeles Music Venues Worth a Visit

Los Angeles is a hotbed of creative juices, and that includes the music scene.  Nearly every national act will book at least one play date in LA, and the local music scene is equally vibrant and exciting, so including a live music venue in your LA vacations plans is easy to do.  Whether you buy tickets and plan your vacation around the concert, or just add on a music event because you happen to be in town, here are some live music venues that you’ll want to know about:

The Ford Amphitheatre – This outdoor venue in the hills north of Hollywood features a calendar of diverse music, from world music to jazz and blue grass.  It’s owned by the County of LA, and has 1,200 seats, providing an intimate outdoor music setting.

Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk Hollywood – Originally an outdoor amphitheater, this venue, located at Universal Studios, was converted to an indoor one back in 1982.  It seats 6,000, and hosts national acts.  It’s known for its spectacular acoustics, giving you quality listening whether your in the front row or the last.

Grand Performances at California Plaza – Nothing is better than FREE musical performances, and that’s what’s offered up here throughout the summer.  It’s a favorite for local residents who come to watch up and coming local acts during the lunch hour and on weekends.  Located right downtown in the heart of things, crowds of nearly 6,500 people can be accommodates in this urban garden setting.

The Greek Theatre – Located in Griffin Park, this venue goes back to the 1920’s.  Lots of famous acts have appeared in this outdoor amphitheatre that will seat nearly 6,000.  Performances offered April through October.

Hollywood Bowl – This place is legendary (in photo), and your concert experience can include a picnic dinner, bottle of wine, and a spectacular sunset.  The venue is laid back, family-friendly, and can accommodate more than 17,000 people.  Despite its size, concerts here generally sell out, so if you want to catch a performance, be sure to plan ahead and get tickets in advance.  During the summer, the LA Philharmonic calls this spot home.

House of Blues Sunset Strip – You can catch nearly every genre of live music at House of Blues, from hip hop to gospel.  The iconic club looks like something transplanted from the south, with its rusty corrugated roof and factory-like look, but inside its all plush LA.  The Sunday Gospel Brunch is a big favorite.

Knitting Factory Hollywood – Related to the east coast indie-hip Knitting Factory, this location offers some of the most eclectic music you can imagine.  Mexican ska, Cambodian rock, and metalcore join emo, indie and classic rock.  The venue has 3 stages, often blending a diverse audience of music lovers.  Come back often, and you may discover the next greatest act.

Nokia Theatre at LA Live – The newest and glitziest of the live music venues, the Nokia Theatre boast 7,100 seats, none of which are more than 210 feet from the stage.  It’s a big venue, still trying to bring you that intimate music experience.

Walt Disney Concert Hall – Audiophiles will love this venue, with its expert acoustics.  The architecture is also great, and the seats have unobstructed views.  Primarily a venue for classic music, the LA Philharmonic plays here from October through June (after which they move to the Hollywood Bowl for summer performances).

The Wiltern – This venue gets its name from combining the two streets where it’s located – Wilshire and Western, and its Art Deco building can seat up to 2,300 on tiered floors.  Boasting good acoustics, this venue is often used for acts to tape a live concert album.

Photo credit:  SXC