The soundtrack of Los Angeles is eclectic, but whether your jam of choice is a Kamasi Washington jazz track, Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.,” Missing Persons’ “Walking in L.A.” or anything in between, there’s no denying that music is core to this town. So it’s fitting that as countries from around the world make their way here for the World Cup, there’s a playlist for every type of visitor. Remember the choreographed flash mobs at the Paley Center and other L.A. spots that were all the rage during the 2014 Games? Or when everyone was trying to get their hands on a vuvuzela during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? And maybe you know all the words to the now-classic England anthem “Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)” that always brings the crowd to its feet at British favorite the Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica.
Music has always been a central part of World Cup excitement, both in the stadium and beyond, so we’re getting to know some of the countries making their way to Los Angeles by seeking out music from all corners of the world without leaving the Southland.
Read on to find out more about how you can experience music from these countries while exploring different neighborhoods where you can take Metro and check out some perhaps new-to-you hot spots around L.A.
Team USA
Kicking things off (excuse the pun!) is Team USA v. Paraguay on June 12. And the match is right in time to celebrate the only truly American art form – jazz. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the Playboy Jazz Festival has morphed a few times and is now the annual Blue Note Jazz Festival – and at the most iconic of L.A. venues, the Hollywood Bowl. This year’s lineup includes performances from jazz greats like Patti LaBelle, Gregory Porter, Cimafunk, Samara Joy and many more over the two-day concert. Take Metro B Line to Hollywood and Highland and walk up the hill to the venue or hop on the free shuttle from the station to beat the heat.
July 4 in L.A. is always full of choices and this year with the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations *and* Team USA playing in the group round, there’s lots to celebrate. Spend some time planning your music extravaganza for Independence Day with events around the area. Downtown’s annual Grand Park celebration is the big event, which always has great international beats ahead of their annual drone show (TBA). Forget about driving and take Metro B or D Line to Civic Center/Grand Park Station or ride the Metro B Line to catch The Beach Boys at the Hollywood Bowl (with fireworks afterwards).
The new David Geffen Galleries just opened at LACMA and the new outdoor spaces (especially the serene water feature with the Alexander Calder sculpture) are the perfect vantage point for Jazz at LACMA, going on every Friday night on the plaza through October with local favorites like the Paul Cornish Trio on June 5.
Blue Note Jazz Festival
Hollywood Bowl
June 13-14
Closest Metro: Hollywood/Highland Station
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Jazz at LACMA
LACMA
May - October
Closest Metro: (from May 8) Wilshire/Fairfax Station
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Beach Boys
Hollywood Bowl
July 4
Closest Metro: Hollywood/Highland Station
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Grand Park Celebration
Grand Park
July 4
Closest Metro: Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill Station
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Paraguay
Paraguay is famous for the sounds of the Paraguayan Harp and given that L.A. is such an international city, we’re lucky to have access to this unique instrument throughout the year. Seek out regular local performances from harpists like Orange County’s Sonia Marie Olivas, who trained under famed Paraguayan harpist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz. Beyond the harp, plenty of Latin music dance bars in L.A. feature live acts regularly that include Paraguayan performers. Head to La Cita Bar downtown (just a block from the Pershing Square Metro station) for DJ nights and Latin bands or zip to Zebulon in Frogtown on the Metro Bus Line 93 for its renowned global music nights with South American jazz and folk musicians. Plus, every spring, L.A. hosts the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the country, Fiesta Broadway, which has expanded to include music and cultural performances from across Latin America. This year it’s happening downtown on April 26 and the closest Metro Rail stop is Historic Broadway station off the A & E Lines.
LACMA also hosts free Latin music performances on Saturday nights throughout the summer, including performances by Mayeya and Bomba Borken on June 27.
Paraguay in L.A.
La Cita Bar
Closest Metro: Pershing Square Station
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Zebulon
Closest Metro: Bus Line 93
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LACMA: Latin Sounds
May-June
Closest Metro: Wilshire/ Fairfax Station
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Iran
Westwood – aka Tehrangeles – has the biggest Persian and Iranian population in America, and it’s no surprise that you can find everything from delicious tahdig to a great hookah spot, to thumping dance music with a Persian flair without searching too hard. Access Westwood by Metro Bus and head to events like Persian music concerts at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music and regular concerts hosted by the Farhang Foundation, often featuring renowned Iranian artists like Sima Bina and Mahdieh Mohammadkhani. If you’re inclined to learn more about Arabic and Persian dance, seek out events held by the Qabila Foundation, including their Spring Hafla in Long Beach accessible via the Metro A Line.
Iranian music in L.A.
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Closest Metro: Bus Line 1
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Farhang Foundation
Closest Metro: Bus Line 152
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Qabila Foundation
Closest Metro: Downtown Long Beach Station
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New Zealand
The third-wave coffee scene in L.A. has made the flat white – a New Zealand favorite – a household word, alongside the kiwi bird, and of course, Lorde, who set off a trend of New Zealand indie pop that hasn’t let up since her hit “Royals” took over the airwaves in 2013. Lorde brings her new album Virgin to the Kia Forum (accessible by Metro Bus Line 115 or 211/212) May 14 and 15.
The next big Kiwi artist to check out? That would be Benee, who has made L.A. her home since 2025. Benee performed at the Fonda in April (with more dates likely to be announced soon).
Lorde
Kia Forum
May 14-15
Inglewood
Closest Metro: Bus Line 115
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Belgium
Belgium is more than moules frites – it’s also a hub of electronic and indie dance music. The Tomorrowland festival in Antwerp has been part of Belgium’s summer festival scene for over 20 years. Belgian music and culture recently took center stage at downtown’s L.A. State Historic Park during CORE, a dance festival and celebration on May 2 and 3 that marked the U.S. debut of the event. Fingers crossed that CORE returns to L.A. next year, but until then, check out some of the artists from this year's lineup like Annika Wolf, Artbat, and Simone.
Turkey
Turkey plays the U.S. at the World Cup on June 25, but before then you can check out Turkish music at Flame International in West L.A., a longstanding hub for excellent Mediterranean food that often hosts traditional Turkish music and entertainment nights. You’ll have to wait until September for the annual California Turkish Festival in Long Beach, the largest event in the area celebrating all things music, food and culture from Turkey. And keep an eye on shows from local band ÖLÜM, who often play around the area, bringing 80s-era Anatolian psychedelic rock to Los Angeles on the regular.
Flame International
West L.A.
Closest Metro: Bus Lines 1 and 4
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California Turkish Festival
Sept. 13
Long Beach
Closest Metro: Downtown Long Beach Station
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