Photo: Monique Hernandez
The weather isn’t the only thing that’s sizzling hot in August. Get ready for a steamy calendar of hot shows and music festivals as August in Los Angeles is jam-packed with great music. From the all femme Burger A-Go-Go! to the sold out FYF Fest, August is rippin’ with great music. Underground acts like The Coathangers, Benjamin Booker and Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire are must-attends, while better known acts such as John Legend, Spoon and Giorgio Moroder also have shows this month. I don’t know about you, but August has us happily overwhelmed!
1. Echo & The Bunnymen — Aug. 1 — The Orpheum Theatre
English new wave, post-punk icons Echo & The Bunnymen return to Los Angeles for a magical live performance, in support of their 2014 album release, Meteroites. Opening up this special evening is Bart Davenport.
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2. Burger a-Go-Go! — Aug. 2 — The Observatory
Burger Records presents a female driven line-up for their Burger-a-Go!-Go! festival which promises to be nothing short of badass. Headliners include Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls, Shannon & the Clams, Bleached and more. Prepare to party!
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3. Blue Oyster Cult — Aug. 2 — Marina Del Rey Summer Concerts
Marina Del Rey just got a whole lot cooler because the beach town is set to host a free summer concert with legendary ’70s hard rockers Blue Oyster Cult, best known for classic hits such as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and “Burnin’ For You.” (free show)
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4. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire — Aug. 5 — Los Globos
Just like the honey badger, Brooklyn experimental rapper Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire don’t give a fuck. Get ready to get down to some dirty dance floor hip hop jams. Stones Throw Records’ Jonwayne supports.
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5. The Coathangers — Aug. 6 — The Echo
Atlanta’s all female garage-punk trio The Coathangers were one of the best acts at Burgerama III, killed it live opening up for The Black Lips on tour and put out a sick, new album Suck My Shirt earlier this year. The Bots, White Fang and Cobalt Cranes support.
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The Coathangers — Photo: Monique Hernandez
6. Arctic Monkeys — Aug. 7 — STAPLES Center
One of the U.K.’s best indie music exports, Arctic Monkeys are coming to Los Angeles! The band is on tour in support of their critically acclaimed fifth album AM. Special guests Black Rebel Motorcycle Club support, so don’t miss out on this show.
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7. Jagwar Ma — Aug. 7 — Twilight Concerts Santa Monica Pier
Australian psychedelic, electronic group Jagwar Ma will be rockin’ out with their infectious grooves down at the Santa Monica Pier – a perfect setting for a Summer night of dancing and catching some ocean breeze. Fascinator and KCRW DJ Jason Bentley support. (free show)
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8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — Aug. 7 — The Troubadour
Indie rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are on tour now in support of their independently released fourth studio album, Only Run – rock out to the new tunes live! Stagnant Pools open.
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9. Deer Tick — Aug. 7 — Echoplex
Deer Tick are hitting the road with their Summer Slammer tour and Negativity, their newest album release on Partisan Records is out now. Bask in their timeless alt-rock-country glory! T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks support.
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10. The Kooks — Aug. 8 — The Roxy
U.K. heartthrobs The Kooks are back from across the pond, on tour in support of their upcoming Sept. 1 release, Listen – their first album featuring new drummer Alexis Nunez. Hear the new songs up close and personal before everyone else and earn some major humblebrag points.
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The Kooks — Photo: Wei Shi
11. Gladys Knight and Kool and The Gang — Aug. 8 — Hollywood Bowl
Gladys Knight aka the Empress of Soul music has been sending shivers down people’s spines with her jaw-dropping vocals since the ’60s. Now the living legend is back at it again with a little help from her friends, fellow soul/jazz/r&b era icons Kool and The Gang – time to get funky!
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12. Flume — Aug. 8, 9 & 11 — Club Nokia
Sydney, Australia’s buzz-worthy beatmaker, Flume has opened for the likes of the XX and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Now the 22-year-old electronic wunderkind headlines three shows at Club Nokia with support from Goldlink.
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13. Spoon — Aug. 8 — Hollywood Forever
Spoon’s new album They Want My Soul (out August 5) features some seriously addictive teaser tracks such as “Rent I Pay,” “Do You,” and “Inside Out.” We are psyched to have them back in Los Angeles with Austin’s reigning king of country Dale Watson supporting.
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14. Those Darlins / Diarrhea Planet — Aug. 9 — The Echo
Get ready for what may easily shape up to be the wildest night of your life as Nashville rock n’ roll rebels Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet co-headline The Echo this month. Huntington Beach surf-rockers Hindu Pirates support.
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15. Jenny Lewis — Aug. 9 — The Wiltern
Indie rock royalty Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) is on tour now in support of her new album, Voyager. She’s known for putting on captivating concerts and her quirky music video for single “Just One Of The Guys” featuring actresses Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson dressed in drag, leaves us wanting more.
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Foxygen — Photo: Dominoe Farris-Gilbert
16. Foxygen — Aug. 14 — Fonda Theatre
The young, indie rock savant duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado aka Foxygen rocked a jam-packed, sold-out show at the Echoplex last year and now they’re ready to blow your musical mind with a high energy, headlining set at the Fonda Theatre. Gary Wilson supports.
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17. The Sonics — Aug. 15 — The Roxy
We last caught iconic ’60s garage rock n’ soul group The Sonics at Ink n’ Iron in 2009 and we are so pumped that they are back in Los Angeles. Prepare to party like it’s 1965! Crystal Antlers open.
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18. Giorgio Moroder — Aug. 16 — The Observatory
Giorgio Moroder is an award winning Italian composer and producer (contributed to scores for famous films such as Top Gun, Flashdance & Midnight Express). He is also the oldest DJ in the world (proof that you can rock out at any age), known by many as the father of disco and electronic dance music. Most recently he collaborated with Daft Punk on their newest album Random Access Memories. Need we say more?
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19. Echo Park Rising — Aug. 15 – 17 — Various Venues
Echo Park Rising is the premier neighborhood music, art and food festival that is not only tons of fun but an immense celebration of creativity, diversity and support for local businesses in the area. This year’s musical lineup includes Allah-Lahs, Goldlink, De Lux, Cherry Glazerr, Dante Vs Zombies and more!
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20. Berserktown Festival — Aug. 15 – 17 — Los Globos
Prepare to be mesmerized and terrorized when the 3 day hardcore/punk/industrial rock Berserktown Festival hits Los Globos. The lineup includes Dawn of Humans, Iron Lung, Destruction Unit, Green Beret, Koward, Una Bestia Incontrolable, Survival, Blazing Eye and more!
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Future Islands — Photo: Monique Hernandez
21. Future Islands — Aug. 20 & 21 — Fonda Theatre
From The Smell to the Fonda, synth-pop trio Future Islands have been tearing it up live across stages big and small over the past couple of years and we couldn’t be more stoked to have them back in Los Angeles. The band is on tour now in support of their newest masterpiece, 2014 release, Singles.
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22. Benjamin Booker — Aug. 21 — The Echo
New Orleans based singer-songwriter Benjamin Booker is ready to show off his bluesy, indie rock chops to the world with his debut album set for release on August 19. His signature raspy vocals, badass guitar riffs and bouncy beats already have us hooked and ready to shake it up! JUNK supports.
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23. Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On with John Legend — Aug. 20 — Hollywood Bowl
R&B/pop musician John Legend will be recreating Marvin Gaye’s homage to America and the Civil Rights Movement – What’s Going On – with support from funk-soul goddess Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Brace yourselves because this is going to be one supremely epic show!
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24. Fucked Up — Aug. 22 — The Glass House
Canadian hardcore punks Fucked Up’s new album Glass Boys is out now on Matador Records and the band is well versed in the art of putting on a heavy, sweaty, high energy and highly interactive live show. With LBC garage-rockers Tijuana Panthers opening, you will not be disappointed!
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25. Lila Downs — Aug. 22 — Greek Theatre
Oaxacan powerhouse singer-songwriter Lila Downs is constantly re-inventing and re-imagining traditional and indigenous Mexican music and roots, often fusing it with a variety of other musical styles from jazz to klezmer, hip hop or blues. Don’t miss this unique artist live!
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26. FYF Fest — Aug. 23 & 24 — LA Sports Arena & Exposition Park
The annual outdoor indie music festival never lets us down and this year’s lineup is absolutely no exception. The Strokes, Phoenix, Slowdive, Against Me!, Interpol, Grimes, Haim, Angels Olsen and more lead the way for what may easily be the best FYF Fest yet – so much ear candy!
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Murder City Devils — Photo: Sergio Garcia
27. Murder City Devils — Aug. 26 — The Glass House
Fist-pumping, chanting, crowd surfing are just a few of the things you can expect when seeing a Murder City Devils performance – they kill it live time and time again. The band is on tour now in support of their forthcoming album, Our The White Ghost Has Blood on Its Hand Again – don’t miss out! Constant Lovers, Corey J. Brewer support.
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28. Lee “Scratch” Perry — Aug. 27 — Echoplex
Grammy award winner and Godfather of Dub and Reggae Lee “Scratch” Perry no doubt knows how to get people moving on the dance floor and has been doing so since the late ’50s. P.S. He also performs the following night at Twilight Concerts at Santa Monica Pier (for FREE).
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29. Ty Segall — Aug. 28 – 31 — The Echo
Raucous rock n’ roll shredder Ty Segall will be headlining four (yes, four!) back to back shows at The Echo in support of his upcoming double album release, Manipulator. With support from Meatbodies and Birth Defects you can definitely expect a manic and maniacal night of music!
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30. Terry Malts — Aug. 28 — Los Globos
Bay Area/L.A. trio Terry Malts dig tequila, horror films and kickin’ out some ferocious, high energy punk rock jams. Girl Tears, Mall Walk and Feels support for a raging night of rock n’ roll.
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31. Sleep — Aug. 31 — The Troubadour
San Jose’s stoner rock gods Sleep recently released a new song “The Clarity” via Adult Swim Singles but may be best known for their seminal album from ’92 Sleep’s Holy Mountain. Last Days of Ancient Sunlight support.
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32. Burger Presents — Aug. 31 — Los Globos
Burger is killing it on delivering shows chock-full of amazing underground acts. Look at this lineup and prepare to drool: The Garden, Jacuzzi Boys, Cherry Glazerr, Gary Wilson, The Abigails, White Fang, Lovely Bad Things, The blank tapes, Colleen Green, Adult Books, Beach Party, Wax Children, Los Craters and more!
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