Ambient music events have been described as “a stew of a psychedelic collage.” They have a rich history going back to the 1960s and are again having a moment in Los Angeles.
The How to LA team recently attended Tonalism at Descano Gardens, which was so otherworldly and cool, we wanted to shared about it. There's a whole whimsical podcast episode about it but, if you missed that, there’s plenty of opportunities for you to go on a music-enriched, dream-like journey this summer and fall. Here's a list of events in and around L.A.
Why it matters: “Life is so fast paced and it's a hustle out here in the city,” says Rachel Day, program director for the music collective Dublab, which puts on Tonalism. “Being able to gather with calming music is a reprieve for a lot of people.”
Hours-long tones of lingering drones. Chords shifting nearly imperceptibly over time. The lilt of a dream-like soundscape, from dusk till the first hint of morning light.
“A stew of a psychedelic collage,” as Mark “Frosty” McNeil puts it. He’s the co-founder of the music collective Dublab, which puts on an ambient event called Tonalism, among other music and art events.
“The edges blur into greater infinity,” he adds.
Chill-out music
This is what one might experience attending a drawn-out night of ambient music. Not exactly a concert, these unique events are often referred to as “happenings,” a term that came to be in the 1960s, when artists like Yoko Ono, La Monte Young and John Cale from Velvet Underground put together experimental music and art events that combined elements of of music, theater, dance, live visual art and poetry to create an immersive, sonic experience.
“It's not about one person. It's about many people, there's not really a focal point,” McNeil says. “People coming together and communing through sound is really powerful.”
Later, in the '90s, these happenings paved the way for a new genre of music called ambient house, also known as “chill-out music.” Pioneered by the British electronic duo The KLF with a record called Chill Outin 1989, the album insert included a note that read: “Don’t bother trying to listen to this LP if you have neither first switched off the lights and then laid your body to rest on the floor. Hopefully then the trip will be complete.”
Two DJs at Tonalism in Descanso Gardens.
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Robert Nuñez
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Descanso Gardens
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“It’s slower tempo, but even more sort of extreme in the variety of sonic palettes that were represented,” McNeil said of chill-out music. “They were really pushing the boundaries of how people experienced music in a public setting.”
Ambient music happenings like these have a rich history, and have recently become more popular in Los Angeles.
“Life is so fast paced and it's a hustle out here in the city,” says Rachel Day, Dublab’s program director. “Being able to gather with calming music is a reprieve for a lot of people.”
People wait for the ambient music event Tonalism to begin at Descanso Gardens.
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Robert Nuñez
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Descanso Gardens
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Some people attend these events to sway to the soundscape all night long, like an endless moving meditation. Others come with pillows and blankets in tow to sleep or rest, allowing the sound to wash over them. Whichever style you choose, if an all-night, “psychedelic collage” piques your interest, there are a lot of “happenings” going on in and around L.A.
Life is so fast paced and it's a hustle out here in the city. Being able to gather with calming music is a reprieve for a lot of people.
— Rachel Day, Dublab program director
We recently attended Tonalism at Descanso Gardens, which is where we met the folks at DubLab. How to LA has a whole whimsical podcast episode about it, too. But if you missed this, check out the list below — there’s plenty of opportunities for you, too, to go on this dream-like journey this summer and fall.
Listen to the episode
Listen
18:23
Inside LA's All-Night Ambient Music Scene
Events around L.A.
Friday Night Moonlight Hike
What: A guided moonlight hike along a ridge trail of the Santa Monica mountains, put on by Floating, a collective presenting experimental sound experiences in nature.
When: Friday, July 28 at 6:30 - 8 p.m. (text a cloud emoji to 833-406-0681 for details, or check the schedule here for this event and others).
Where: Studio City, exact location provided upon ticket purchase.
Cost: $22 or free with a Floating membership.
The Listening Garden
What: A “sonic salon” with live ambient, international and new age music
When: Saturday, July 29 at 7 - 11 p.m.
Where: Ojai — exact location provided upon ticket purchase.
Cost: $44 per person or $33 with membership.
Ecstatic Dance
What: A weekly experimental outdoor silent disco experience on Venice Beach with a different live DJ each week. Get details here.
When: Sundays, 3:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Where: Venice Beach
Cost: Super Early Bird: $25, Early Bird $30; Door: $35.
Otay:onii at El Cid
What: Night of music and dancing with experimental musician, sound designer, film composer and installation artist Otay:onii
Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK event, "A Line in the Sand A Rally for Parental Rights" at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
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Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
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Los Angeles Times
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Topline:
Republican Sonja Shaw conceded the race for California Superintendent of Public Instruction to Democrat Richard Barrera late Wednesday evening. “Last night voters made their choice. I would be lying if I said my heart wasn’t heavy,” Shaw said in a statement shared on social media. “As a mother and a protector of children, I feel deeply saddened for the kids. They are the ones who deserve so much better.”
The backstory: The office of California superintendent of public instruction is nonpartisan, with no party affiliation listed on the ballot. In past races, it was not unusual for two Democrats to advance to the November election. But this year, endorsements, campaign funding and campaigning broke largely along partisan lines. Shaw, a Republican and board president of Chino Valley Unified, emerged as the top vote getter in a crowded June primary that featured several Democratic state lawmakers. But she contended in her statement that her race didn’t have the “money or machinery” that her opponent did in the November election.
What to know: Shaw trailed Barrera by nearly 15 percentage points, according to the latest election results Thursday morning. Shaw’s campaign raised about $595,000 compared to Barrera’s $812,000. However, the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union and a heavy spender in state superintendent races, also spent $8.4 million to support Barrera, the board president of San Diego Unified.
Republican Sonja Shaw conceded the race for California Superintendent of Public Instruction to Democrat Richard Barrera late Wednesday evening.
“Last night voters made their choice. I would be lying if I said my heart wasn’t heavy,” Shaw said in a statement shared on social media. “As a mother and a protector of children, I feel deeply saddened for the kids. They are the ones who deserve so much better.”
In her social media post, which included a photo of Shaw locking hands with her husband and two daughters, Shaw said her kids had motivated her to run for state superintendent. Shaw won election to the Chino Valley Unified school board in 2022, fueled by support from conservative parents.
“The problem is that for decades, the same people have had their hands on our education system while our children have continued to fall behind,” Shaw said. “I believe we had an opportunity to change that.”
The office of California superintendent of public instruction is nonpartisan, with no party affiliation listed on the ballot. In past races, it was not unusual for two Democrats to advance to the November election. But this year, endorsements, campaign funding and campaigning broke largely along partisan lines.
Shaw, a Republican and board president of Chino Valley Unified, emerged as the top vote getter in a crowded June primary that featured several Democratic state lawmakers. But she contended in her statement that her race didn’t have the “money or machinery” that her opponent did in the November election.
Shaw trailed Barrera by nearly 15 percentage points, according to the latest election results Thursday morning. Shaw’s campaign raised about $595,000 compared to Barrera’s $812,000. However, the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union and a heavy spender in state superintendent races, also spent $8.4 million to support Barrera, the board president of San Diego Unified.
That pales in comparison to the combined $50 million raised in the 2018 state superintendent race Tony Thurmond won against Marshall Tuck in 2018. The 2026 state superintendent race had the distinction of featuring two local school board members.
Shaw said she’s not sure what her next steps will be.
“I don’t know exactly what God has next, but I know He isn’t finished,” she said.
Shaw will not be returning to the Chino Valley Unified school board where she began her political career. Her husband, Chris Shaw, ran for her open seat and is trailing his challenger by 11 points, according to the San Bernardino County Register of Voters.
EdSource is an independent nonprofit organization that provides analysis on key education issues facing California and the nation. LAist republishes articles from EdSource with permission.
Elly Yu
reports on early childhood. From housing to health, she covers issues facing the youngest Angelenos and their families.
Published November 5, 2026 4:57 PM
A coyote is seen early Thursday morning, the second sighting of the mammal using the wildlife crossing.
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Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing via Facebook
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Topline:
A coyote has become the first large animal to be seen using the wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway ahead of its opening next month.
The backstory: The expansive bridge, on which construction began in 2022, is aimed at giving animals a way to safely cross the freeway in Agoura Hills.
Why it matters: The crossing took years of planning and research, and footage of a coyote using it has encouraged those behind the bridge. “The animals are already blessing this crossing and saying, ‘Yep, you got it right,’” said Beth Pratt, president of the Wildlife Crossing Fund.
What’s next: The crossing officially opens on Dec. 2 in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Read on… to learn more about the sighting.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills is set to officially open next month, but that hasn’t stopped some wildlife from already using it.
Cameras captured coyote footage twice — once last week and again on Thursday morning — making the mammal the first large animal species seen using the crossing.
“This is amazing — obviously, the wildlife are not waiting for our opening date,” said Beth Pratt, president of the Wildlife Crossing Fund. “The animals are already blessing this crossing and saying, ‘Yep, you got it right.’”
Construction of the expansive bridge began in 2022, aimed at giving wildlife safe passage between the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills after years of research.
Pratt said it’s unclear whether the images of the coyote are of the same animal. The coyote in the most recent image from Thursday morning can be seen on the 101 structure holding a bone or a stick in its mouth.
“The coyote is validating that we got this designed right, and I think that there's something also about a coyote being first — kind of the L.A. mascot next to P-22,” Pratt said.
The National Park Service is installing more cameras along the crossing to document and study how animals use it. While images will be made publicly available, there will not be a livestream.
“We can't, for security reasons, because this is L.A., and if there's a mountain lion going across, somebody's gonna go try to pet it,” Pratt said.
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Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published November 5, 2026 3:53 PM
Marissa Roy has won the race for Los Angeles city attorney.
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Courtesy of the Marissa Roy campaign
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Topline:
Marissa Roywill be the next L.A. city attorney. Her opponent, John McKinney, appeared to concede Thursday.
How we got here: Roy held on to a strong lead over McKinney ever since polls closed and is currently ahead by more than twice as many votes. Roy will be a fresh face in the role after incumbent city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto was ousted in the June primary in a rare defeat of an elected city official.
What the candidates had to say:
Roy said on social media Wednesday that election night was “a really good night for the people who believe that we should take care of one another, that we can stand up for our rights — even in what feels like an increasingly lawless world — and that we will achieve justice when we fight for it.”
McKinney posted on social media Thursday that he’s back in his old office at the Hall of Justice. “The run for City Attorney was an incredible journey, and I’m truly grateful for everyone who believed in me, supported me, and stood by my side,” McKinney wrote. "While I’m disappointed things didn’t turn out the way we hoped, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything." He acknowledged Roy in a social media video earlier this week, describing her as a “hard worker” who put together a strong coalition of support. McKinney added that he would be “rooting for her.”
Neither campaign immediately responded to LAist’s request for additional comment.
What’s at stake: The city attorney runs an office of more than 550 lawyers representing L.A. in all legal matters, including filing lawsuits and defending against them. Roy, backed by powerful progressives like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, has vowed to take on the Trump administration in court.
Marissa Roywill be the next L.A. city attorney. Her opponent, John McKinney, appeared to concede Thursday.
How we got here: Roy held on to a strong lead over McKinney ever since polls closed and is currently ahead by more than twice as many votes. Roy will be a fresh face to the role after the incumbent city attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, was ousted in the June primary in a rare defeat of an elected city official.
What the candidates had to say:
Roy said on social media Wednesday that election night was “a really good night for the people who believe that we should take care of one another, that we can stand up for our rights — even in what feels like an increasingly lawless world — and that we will achieve justice when we fight for it.”
McKinney posted on social media Thursday that he’s back in his old office at the Hall of Justice. “The run for City Attorney was an incredible journey, and I’m truly grateful for everyone who believed in me, supported me, and stood by my side,” McKinney wrote. "While I’m disappointed things didn’t turn out the way we hoped, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything." He acknowledged Roy in a social media video earlier this week, describing her as a “hard worker” who put together a strong coalition of support. McKinney added that he would be “rooting for her.”
Neither campaign immediately responded to LAist’s requests for additional comment.
What’s at stake: The city attorney runs an office of more than 550 lawyers representing L.A. in all legal matters, including filing lawsuits and defending against them. Roy, backed by powerful progressives like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, has vowed to take on the Trump administration in court.
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.
Topline:
Construction of the green metal fence around MacArthur Park will begin Monday, Nov. 16, with work scheduled to continue through fall 2027. The city announced the start date on Thursday, saying crews will install an 8-foot fence around the park’s perimeter. Nearby residents and businesses can expect some noise, dust and vibration during construction, although the city said mitigation measures will be in place.
Why it matters:
The backstory: Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the park will remain open while crews are working. The fence is the city’s latest attempt to tackle longstanding problems at MacArthur Park, including drug use, homelessness and crime. The city first approved plans for the fence in October 2025, and the proposal has since drawn both support and criticism from residents and community groups.
Go deeper: for more details on the fence roll out.
Construction of the green metal fence around MacArthur Park will begin Monday, Nov. 16, with work scheduled to continue through fall 2027.
The city announced the start date Nov. 4, saying crews will install an 8-foot fence around the park’s perimeter. Nearby residents and businesses can expect some noise, dust and vibration during construction, although the city said mitigation measures will be in place.
Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the park will remain open while crews are working.
Some say they hope the fence will make the park safer, while others question whether it will actually improve conditions there. Police and city officials say the fence will give them more control over the space and make it easier to enforce the law.
Ana Luz Vazquez, a street vendor near MacArthur Park, said her main concern about the fence is what will happen to the unhoused people who stay in the park throughout the day and whether the city plans to address that issue directly.
She is also concerned that construction during the day could affect her ability to work because of traffic, less parking availability and loud noise.
Vazquez said she would prefer construction to take place at night so it would have less of an impact on street vendors.
“If they’re working in the day then how are we supposed to come here and who is going to help us survive,” Vazquez said.
Construction will happen in two phases
Phase 1
Alvarado St. from W. 6th St. to Wilshire Blvd.
S. Park View St. from Wilshire Blvd. to W. 6th St.
Wilshire Blvd. from Alvarado St. to S. Park View St.
Phase 2
Alvarado St. from Wilshire Blvd. to W. 7th St.
S. Park View St. from W. 7th St. to Wilshire Blvd.
Wilshire Blvd. from S. Park View St. to Alvarado St.
W. 7th St. from Alvarado St. to S. Park View St.
Existing trees will be protected and monitored during the work, according to the Department of Recreation and Parks. Traffic control measures will be in place during work hours, and crews will post temporary “No Parking” signs near active work areas in advance.
Services at the park are expected to remain the same throughout construction. The schedule could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances, according to the city.
The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.
After the fence is installed, the city plans a second phase focused on adding decorative elements. Officials have said residents will have an opportunity to provide input on the design.
Residents with questions or concerns about the project can contact Recreation and Parks at RAP.PublicInfo@lacity.org or 213-202-2700.
