Best things to do in LA and SoCal: Sept. 2-9

How is it already Labor Day weekend? I’m not sure where the summer went, but looking at my camera roll, it was mostly spent at the Hollywood Bowl, at the beach and in the longest movies I could find (thank you, Christopher Nolan, for all the air conditioning).

I hope your summer was filled with fun explorations, whether they were close to home or further afield. The fall is filling up fast — we have tons to look forward to here, with new museum openings, big movies coming out and some great theater coming our way, too. Plus, the Dodgers are looking strong as baseball season closes in on the playoffs, and you have a few more chances to catch the Sparks in action.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can learn about the history of the Yamaava' casino, check out the new Melrose restaurant Pawn Shop and get your questions about the predicted upcoming El Niño season answered.

Music

Zia McCabe of The Dandy Warhols performs at The Regency Ballroom on October 08, 2025.

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Miikka Skaffari

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Getty Images

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Licorice Pizza has your music picks this week — and attention, BTS Army, the city has officially named this week “BTS Week” as the K-Pop band takes over SoFi for four nights.

Wednesday

• Experimental rock/post-punk duo the Garden rock the Hollywood Palladium
• Screeching Weasel with the Queers and Toxic Energy play Pacific Electric

Thursday

• Eagles Of Death Metal get sexy at the Bellwether
• Noah Kahan plays a rare intimate show at the Grammy Museum roof

Friday

• The Killers’ Brandon Flowers goes country at the Ford
• An awesome triple-bill featuring the Charlatans UK, the Dandy Warhols and Mercury Rev is at the Palladium

Saturday

• Industrial pioneers Nitzer Ebb play the Fonda
• A fantastic double-bill of Cheap Trick and X is at the Pacific Amphitheatre 
• Summer Mass indie festival at the Belasco with Wavves, Beach Bums, the Paranoyds and more

Sunday 

• Pacific Amphitheatre has Boy George and Culture Club with Betty Who
• Outlaw country guitarist Stephen Wilson Jr. is at the Palladium
• Nigerian Afrobeat hip-hop star Asake is at the Greek

Monday 

• J. Cole is back at the Crypto.com Arena

Tuesday

• Liz Phair with Sleater‐Kinney and Soccer Mommy at the Greek
• Dead Kennedys and Flipper at the Belasco

Events

The Armored League

Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.  
Ukrainian Cultural Center
4315 Melrose Ave., East Hollywood
COST: FROM $76; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy @laurengalluzzi

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Do you wish Medieval Times was more … interactive? Does your favorite museum have a great collection of armored knights? The Armored League might be for you. Already a hit in New York, the “full-contact armored combat organization” stages battles before your eyes, using real steel armor, swords and axes. It’s for real, and you can check it out Friday night as the tournament comes to L.A. for the first time.

“Once More, With Feeling”: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Musical Episode singalong

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
Three Clubs 
1123 Vine St., Hollywood
COST: $25; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Three Clubs

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We all know the musical episode of Buffy is the best there ever was. Wear your best Buffy, Angel or Willow costume and walk through the fire straight to Three Clubs for this live musical theater parody reenactment.

Rebel Jazz Fest

Saturday, Sept. 5, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
1 Windward Ave., Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

The L.A. Jazz Fest may have been a bust, but the Rebel Jazz Fest is celebrating its fifth year in Venice and is picking up where the city left off. Windward Plaza is where the jams are at, curated by the Nonsemble collective. The day also includes DJs, roller skating, vinyl sales and more.

Echoes of Our Ancestors II: Heroes and Saints

Thursday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m.
The Greek 
2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
COST: FROM $100; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Alexis Halejian

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For the second year running, Echoes of Our Ancestors will celebrate Armenian Heritage with a live concert at the Greek. Featuring headliner Serj Tankian of System of a Down, the night honors Armenian culture and history with award-winning musicians and performers, taking the audience through 7,000 years of Armenian history.

Newport Dunes Labor Day 

Friday to Monday, Sept. 4 to Sept. 7
101 N. Bayside Drive, Newport Beach 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort

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Take a staycation at Newport’s Newport Dunes marina, where there will be all kinds of fun, family-friendly activities all weekend long. The weekend features free live music, movies on the beach, an inflatable water park, water sports, food trucks and more.

Shitty Movie Club screening: Megalopolis 

Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Club Fais Do Do 
5257 West Adams Blvd., West Adams 
COST: FREE/$10 suggested donation; MORE INFO 

Aubrey Plaza as Wow Platinum in Megalopolis.

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Courtesy Lionsgate

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Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is maybe not the acclaimed director’s most revered film (ahem), but it is the perfect pick for the very on-the-nose-named Shitty Movie Club. Only in L.A., folks. Luckily for us, Cinema Saloon is screening this labor of love (Coppola sold his winery to finance it) at Club Fais Do Do, which has a 100-year-old ballroom. Plus, it’s free with RSVP, and there will be movie bingo, “weird clips” and chef-driven concessions.

Lord of the Rings trilogy in 35mm 

Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to late
Los Angeles Theatre 
615 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FROM $17; MORE INFO

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Courtesy New Line Cinema

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It’s still pretty hot out, so spending all nine hours of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the sweet, sweet air conditioning of the historic Los Angeles Theatre sounds like a good way to spend your Labor Day Sunday. Secret Movie Club is screening the complete trilogy — all three films on 35mm film prints — at the theater, which opened in 1931 and premiered Chaplin's City Lights. Fellowship of the Ring kicks things off at 10 a.m., followed by Two Towers at 2 p.m. and Return of the King at 6 p.m., with hour-long intermissions to explore the space, stretch your legs and grab a snack. There’s also an after-hours party at 10 p.m.

Charlatans UK, Dandy Warhols and Mercury Rev 

Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3 and 4
Santa Ana Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana (Sept. 3)
Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood (Sept. 4)
COST: FROM $46; MORE INFO (Hollywood); MORE INFO (Santa Ana)

Tim Burgess from The Charlatans performs at Victorious Festival 2023 at Southsea Common on August 25, 2023 in Portsmouth, England.

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Rob Ball

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Getty Images

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Be still, my Brit-pop-loving heart. Charlatans UK headline a triple bill with the Dandy Warhols (rewatch Dig! and thank me later) and Mercury Rev at the Santa Ana Observatory on Thursday and the Palladium in Hollywood on Friday. Charlatans UK’s latest album We Are Love — their 14th — came out last year. If you’re heading to the Hollywood show, it’s also a great opportunity to check out the new Vinyl Room that just opened for a cocktail before or after.

Dolly Parton Tribute Skate Night

Sunday, Sept. 6, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Moonlight Rollerway
5110 San Fernando Road, Glendale
COST: $23, skate rental $8; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Mato Events

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We couldn’t let the week go by without a pick for the best Dolly Parton tribute of the weekend. Strap on your skates and some sparkles and get ready to roll away the pain to Dolly’s tunes at the Midnight Rollerway. It’s the perfect way to honor the legend.

L.A. Mayoral Environmental Forum

Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
L.A. Trade Technical-College
400 W. Washington Blvd., South L.A.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

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Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters

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Eventbrite

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Join environmental justice, environmental, climate, labor, public health, and community organizations from across Los Angeles for a nonpartisan mayoral forum focused on the key issues shaping the future of our city. This forum will bring mayoral candidates together to discuss environmental justice, climate, affordability, and the everyday challenges facing Los Angeles communities. And LAist's own Erin Stone will moderate the event!