Hollywood Bowl is one of the best live music venues in Los Angeles. This gorgeous outdoor amphitheater has been hosting concerts since the LA Philharmonic first played here in 1922. Nestled in an aesthetically blessed fold in the Hollywood Hills, the 18,000-seat venue can bring out the romantic in the terminally cynical. It’s the summer home of the LA Phil (and boozy picnics). Since its opening in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been the premier destination for live music in Southern California, hosting everyone from Billie Holiday to The Beatles to Yo-Yo Ma under the iconic silhouette of its concentric-arched band shell. As long as there’s no performance, it also doubles as a public park.

Each year, the LA Phil presents over 250 concerts at its three renowned venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford. Each location is an iconic part of the Southern California landscape - tributes to the region’s rich cultural history and Los Angeles’ enduring commitment to fostering artistic excellence.

• Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, California 90068
• Website: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (323) 850-2000
• Price: $25-500

Teragram Ballroom is a brand-spanking new, 600-person live music venue on the border of Westlake and Downtown, just down the street from Monty bar. Shown here are pretty consistently indie rock, which makes sense: owner Michael Swier is the man behind New York City's Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, and Music Hall of Williamsburg (some of the best live music staples on the east coast).

Shows are priced between $15-45, and you can grab a bite beforehand at the venue's built-in bar and restaurant - one that may eventually be open during regular daytime hours. And if you're wondering where the name Teragram comes from, it's "Margaret" spelled backward. Margaret is Swier's late wife who helped him open his original venues back in New York. Quite the tribute. And Teragram Ballroom is always full of performances, so pick your perfect one on the official Teragram Ballroom website.

• Address: 1234 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California 90017
• Website: https://teragramballroom.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Price: $35

When the new Ace Hotel opened in early 2014, it didn't just gain a super hip hotel in an up-and-coming part of DTLA. It also got a jaw-droppingly beautiful 1920s movie house-turned-performing arts space, which has since billed an impressive lineup of performances, concerts, movie nights, lectures, and more. Retrofitted with a state-of-the-art digital projection system and cinema sound, an independent, ultramodern live sound system, plus an elaborate contemporary stage lighting system, The Theatre at Ace Hotel is a radically inclusive stage fit for the heart’s royalty - artists, musicians, visionaries and cultural igniters.

The former flagship United Artists Theater is a 1,600-seat cathedral to the arts, with a three-story, 2,300 square foot grand lobby, an ornate open balcony, and a vaulted ceiling dotted with thousands of mirrors that glimmer like tiny stars. When you visit, make sure to step out from under the balcony to admire the vaulted ceiling with thousands of shimmering mirrors.

• Address: 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles
• Website: https://acehotel.com/los-angeles/theatre/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (213) 623-3233
• Price: $50

Troubadour is a club and is also among the best live music venues in Los Angeles that you should try once. This storied club has a rich musical history. Since opening in 1957, the legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood has helped launch some of contemporary music’s most talented performers. Randy Newman got his start here, and Elton John made his US debut on its stage in 1970. It hasn't lapsed into irrelevance in the time since, often showcasing bands on the rise: Interpol, Joss Stone, and Franz Ferdinand all played the early US shows here. The sound is great and the views are decent from almost anywhere in the room—just stay out from under the balcony.

The Troubadour continues to be a destination for cutting-edge acts from around the world. It also remains a popular venue among serious music fans who enjoy listening to live music in an intimate and historically rich setting.

• Address: 9081 Santa Monica Blvd, at N Doheny Dr, Los Angeles
• Website: https://troubadour.com/
• TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Contact: (310) 276-1158
• Price: $35

Greek Theatre is an open-air theater, located at Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. It was built in 1929, opening on September 29 of that year. The Greek Theatre is owned by the city of Los Angeles and is operated by SMG. Greek Theatre is a 5,900-seat music venue theatre stages big summer shows by acts both national and local. The Greek Theatre will also provide full wheelchair-accessible seating in spaces or locations designated as such and no permanent fixed chair will be provided for these locations.

When you watch live music in Greek Theater, it’s a bit like seeing a concert in the woods, and rivals the Hollywood Bowl in terms of Los Angeles’s most magical outdoor music venue. The only downside: The “stacked” parking means getting out of the parking lot often takes longer than the show, and VIP “Quick Parking” is a pricey $75.

• Address: 2700 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90027
• Website: https://www.lagreektheatre.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (844) 524-7335
• Price: $20-773

The Roxy Theatre is a legendary music venue located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. Regardless of its West Coast locale, it is known by music lovers all over the world. The Roxy was not only a stage for musicians but for comedians and actors alike. During the first few years, the opening acts mainly consisted of emerging comedians. These fresh-faced performers included Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Arsenio Hall. Several stage shows began on this famous stage. In 1974, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was produced by Lou Adler, had its first American run at The Roxy. This allowed the musical to become one of the most recognized and loved performance features of all time.

Before artists can become household names and produce Top 100 albums they need a beginning, a big break. A handful of the world’s most talented musicians have kick-started their careers with an epic performance on The Roxy stage.

• Address: 9009 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
• Website: https://www.theroxy.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: +1 310-278-9457
• Price: $20

As the $274-million crown jewel of the Los Angeles Music Center, Disney Hall opened in 2003 to rave reviews. The novelty hasn't yet worn off: both inside and out, this is a terrific venue. Designed by Frank Gehry, the hall features a 2,265-capacity auditorium with an open platform stage. Chief acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota combined the best aspects of orchestral halls in Tokyo, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Boston in a bid to provide aural warmth and clarity; the result of his endeavors is a virtually perfect acoustic that works almost as well for amplified events as for orchestral performances.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is the home of the LA Philharmonic and the LA Master Chorale, but the schedule is surprisingly varied throughout the year. The complex also includes the 250-seat Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theatre, a gallery, and a roof garden. For tours of the building, call 213-972-4399, or see online for a schedule.

• Address: 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA
• Website: https://www.laphil.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (323) 850-2000
• Price: $25-100

Another best live music venue in Los Angeles is El Rey Theatre. The El Rey Theatre is an original art deco theater in the heart of the Miracle Mile, one of Los Angeles' preserved art deco districts. The El Rey was built in 1936 and designed by Clifford Balch. After over 50 years as a first-run movie house, the El Rey was converted into a live music venue in 1994. A registered Historic-Cultural Monument, the El Rey has sweeping staircases, an art deco lobby, a VIP balcony lounge, and a grand ballroom equipped with a full stage.

El Rey has the 800-capacity and runs a roster that's decidedly dust-free. From Fuzz to the Raveonettes, Dizzee Rascal to Autolux, the schedule is full of acts du jour, with the older but still-interesting likes of Roky Erickson and Nick Lowe also appearing. The sound and sightlines are both excellent.

• Address: 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
• Website: https://www.theelrey.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (323) 936-6400
  
• Price: $20-50

The Echo & Echoplex has solidified its stance as the go-to destination for major local music events, dance nights, and a wide spectrum of touring acts while introducing some of the hottest bands to the Los Angeles music scene, voted top 5 music venues in Los Angeles by Filter Magazine. Both venues are known for their adventurous booking policy that embraces talent from around the world and down the block.

The coveted free Monday Night Music residency has helped launch the careers of The Airborne Toxic Event, Hanni El Khatib, War Paint, Active Child, and Foster the People. Notable bands that have graced the venue: Beck, Green Day, Skrillex, Nine Inch Nails, Atoms for Peace, Incubus, LCD Soundsystem, Kendrick Lamar, Run The Jewels, Steve Aoki, Thundercat, Lorde, HAIM, Tov Lo, Future Islands, Jamie XX & The Rolling Stones.

• Address: 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
• Website: https://theecho.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (213) 413-8200
• Price: $40

Built-in 1926, the Shrine Auditorium is the perfect balance of old-school architecture and design with modern technology and functionality. Designed in the Moorish Revival Style of the 1920s, the building itself is a work of art, complementing the performances and events that take place within its walls. The Shrine Auditorium has a 6,300 capacity. Besides, it also has an orchestra pit and 4 opera boxes. This huge Moorish structure is most famous for its role as the host of several of Hollywood's major annual awards shows, including the annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards in January - no surprise, given the record it holds as the single largest proscenium style stage with a freestanding balcony in all of North America.

The Shrine Expo Hall is one of the most versatile venues in Los Angeles. Directly adjacent to the auditorium, the multi-use facility has 54,000 square feet of space split between 2 floors. The Expo Hall is also directly connected with our large parking lot, providing additional event space, easy load-ins, and more for your event.

• Address: 665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
• Website: https://www.shrineauditorium.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (213) 748-5116
• Price: $20-100

Originally opened in 1914 as The National. Three years later, the name was changed to The Regent, as it is still known today. After decades as a grindhouse and adult movie venue, the theater was closed in 2000, only to lay dormant for several years. Six years later, developer Tom Gilmore acquired the property, using it as an occasional art and performance space for the monthly Thursday night Downtown Art Walk.

Known for its sloped floor, proscenium archway, and gothic-inspired ceiling, The Regent is a true relic and the last remaining historic movie theater on Downtown LA’s Main Street. Music promoter Mitchell Frank, along with Artist and Recreation, LLC, and Knitting Factory Entertainment Inc., took over the lease in 2012 and has restored the theatre to its former glory. Improvements include an update on all interiors, a second-story mezzanine for killer viewing as well as a pizzeria (Prufrock Pizzeria) and bar (The Love Song). The Regent Theater hosts concerts, themed dance nights, theater performances, movie screenings, special events, parties, and festivals.

• Address: 448 S Main St, Los Angeles
• Website: https://regentdtla.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (323) 284-5727
• Price: $10-55

The Kia Forum, located in Inglewood, California, is the only arena-sized venue in the country dedicated to music and entertainment, delivering a superior experience for artists and fans alike. The iconic venue attracts a wide variety of premier events including the biggest names in music and entertainment, award shows, mixed martial arts, boxing, and more. Fans at the Kia Forum enjoy approximately 8,000 square feet of event-level hospitality offerings, including merchandise and food and beverage options.

A tinted glass wall separates this concession area from the arena, ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the show. A 40,000-square-foot outdoor terrace wraps around the perimeter of the building and offers comfortable furnishings and food and beverage options from some of SoCal’s most celebrated brands. Designed with entertainers and performers in mind, Kia Forum Backstage includes star-caliber dressing rooms that provide unparalleled comfort. The Kia Forum was honored at the 2021 Pollstar Awards as the recipient of the Arena of the Decade award.

• Address: 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Los Angeles
• Website: https://thekiaforum.com/
• Yelp Rating: 4/5
• Contact: (310) 862-6200
• Price: $50-350