A decade ago, Mitchell Frank, the impresario behind the Eastside musical renaissance, revamped a century-old movie house into one of Downtown’s most essential spots for leftfield rock, jazz, and rap. It’s where Lil B had based followers queued around the block, where Kamasi Washington launched The Epic, and where Iggy Pop’s voltage nearly caused the ceiling to crumble. Be sure to check out the cocktail lounge The Love Song Bar and its flame-keeping beat-scene club night, Scenario.

This Art Deco palace formerly known as the United Artists Theatre was cofounded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and their partners, but it fell into disrepair for decades, eventually becoming known primarily for its neon “Jesus Saves” sign. Then, in 2012, the Ace Hotel breathed new life into the theater as part of an award-winning restoration. Today the gilded auditorium is a multipurpose cultural center, hosting book talks, comics, and concerts by musicians like James Blake and Lykke Li.

When The Echo first opened in 2001, taking over the former home of a Latin music club, it quickly became the locus of Echo Park’s music scene, its fabled Monday night residencies becoming core curriculum for indie bands. In 2006, it expanded to include the roomier Echoplex downstairs, welcoming rock legends like Beck and The Rolling Stones, who came through for secret shows. Even though both spaces were bought by Live Nation in 2019, the vibe still feels surprisingly intimate and DIY.

The cool, more casual cousin of the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek is an LA institution steeped in history. The eccentric land baron Griffith J. Griffith, after gifting the acreage that became Griffith Park, insisted on leaving room for a Greek theater. Since it opened in 1931, this alchemy of nature and noise has hosted Aretha Franklin, Radiohead, and Neil Diamond, who famously sold out 10 nights in 1972 (one was turned into the double album Hot August Night).

With burgundy walls and antique chandeliers, the El Rey has long been beloved for its opulent Art Deco glamour—an aesthetic that has often stood in contrast to its edgy, hyperkinetic bookings. In the early aughts, this former movie palace was a tastemaking indie venue, presenting underground-rap luminaries (Aesop Rock, MF DOOM) and the era’s most important rock bands (The Strokes, Modest Mouse). Now it’s a cool-kid hot spot that hosts next-gen superstars like Raveena and Gracie Abrams.

If you’re a rising talent who sells out the Fonda, consider yourself LA’s most likely to succeed. It’s practically a good-luck charm: Travis Scott, Arctic Monkeys, Justice, Young Thug, and Lorde all packed this house shortly before becoming festival superstars. Located just off Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, this midsize venue checks all the boxes: crisp sound, excellent sight lines, and an elegant, black-and-white checkered dance floor. It’s where stars are born.

From its funky blue-green exterior to the sunburst skyscrapers on the ceiling, few buildings can match The Wiltern’s aesthetic splendor. Located in the heart of Koreatown, the old concert hall, now operated by Live Nation, was designated a historic landmark in 1973 and has hosted a laundry list of legendary artists, including James Brown, Prince, Lou Reed, and Blondie. Catch its cameos in Hollywood classics like Purple Rain and Barton Fink.

One could argue that The Novo doesn’t belong anywhere near a guide to must-see music venues; it’s a generic 2400-capacity barn planted inside a neon shopping district. But its bookers’ strong grasp on youth culture has made it an essential spot. At Migos’ peak in 2017, for example, the trio performed “Bad and Boujee” here with Chance the Rapper, 2 Chainz, YG, Lil Yachty, Ty Dolla $ign, and half of the Lakers. It’s also where local rap royalty 03 Greedo and Drakeo the Ruler were crowned.

El Cid can feel like a 16th-century Andalusian alcazar with secret dungeons, winding pathways, and intoxicating sangria. Famed for its weekly flamenco shows, the Spanish restaurant turned nightlife fortress on Sunset Boulevard once hosted the essential hip-hop club night The Root Down. In recent years, it’s packed thousands into its sprawling compound for Favela Worldwide, a dance party series featuring Afrobeat, dancehall, reggaetón, and more. A reminder that old Silver Lake still exists.

This colossal Downtown theater—once the largest cinema in America—has hosted dozens of Hollywood awards shows (Emmys, Oscars, and Grammys) and even a Miss Universe pageant. Now it’s a large-scale concert venue managed by Coachella promoter Goldenvoice. Over the past decade, the live-events company has smartly catered to the college crowd (the venue sits next to the University of Southern California’s campus), placing an emphasis on hip, high-energy shows from acts like Peggy Gou and 100 Gecs.