1. Overview of Los Angeles Music Festivals
Los Angeles hosts a variety of music festivals throughout the year, showcasing genres like jazz, blues, folk, and more. Below are the top music festivals organized by month.
There is great music going on in Los Angeles all the time, so it’s no surprise that Los Angeles and surrounding cities also host some great music festivals. Jazz dominates, but blues, folk, cajun, reggae, and experimental music all receive their share of recognition. Here are the top Los Angeles festivals with music as their primary focus listed by month.
Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest
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Over 100 instrumental and singing contestants compete on three stages at the annual Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest. The event takes place in May at the Paramount Ranch near Agoura Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. In addition to music competitions, there are folk performances, jam sessions under the trees, a Dance Barn, and a children’s craft area.
Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival
The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival takes place annually on Memorial Day weekend in May. The 2-day event features Blues, Cajun, and Creole stages as well as food and craft vendors and a Kids Zone.
UCLA JazzReggae Festival
The UCLA JazzReggae Festival occurs each year over Memorial Day Weekend in May. This two-day outdoor event on the UCLA campus features a line-up of top reggae artists.
Dog Star Orchestra Festival of Experimental Music
The annual Dog Star Orchestra is a two-week celebration of contemporary orchestral and experimental composers, taking place in locations in Los Angeles, Valencia, Lancaster, and Vasquez Rocks in Santa Clarita. Dozens of new works and rarely performed pieces are presented each year in June. This event has a very organic feel, as it is organized by musicians for musicians.
Playboy Jazz Festival
The Playboy Jazz Festival is an annual 2-day event that occurs in June at the Hollywood Bowl, featuring a full day of music each day. Early discount tickets can often be found at Goldstar.com.
The Long Beach Bayou Festival
The Long Beach Bayou Festival celebrates Cajun, Zydeco, New Orleans jazz, and blues. The event takes place for two days at the end of June at the Rainbow Lagoon next to the Long Beach Convention Center.
Summerfest in Venice Beach
Summerfest is a two-day music and food festival on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Each July, around 60 bands perform across multiple stages with hundreds of vendors.
Central Avenue Jazz Festival
The Central Avenue Jazz Festival takes place annually in July in South Los Angeles. This free, family-friendly event features jazz, blues, and Latin jazz from high school bands to internationally renowned musicians.
iPalpiti Annual International Laureates Music Festival
The iPalpiti Orchestral Ensemble of International Laureates showcases musicians from 20 countries in solo, chamber, and orchestra concerts over a 10-day period at venues around Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, with a Grand Finale at the Disney Hall. The iPalpiti International Laureates Music Festival occurs during a two-week period in July or August.
Hard Summer and Day of the Dead
Hard Summer and Hard Day of the Dead are two 2-day EDM and alternative music festivals occurring around the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August and the first weekend in November, respectively.
FYF Fest
FYF Fest is a 2-day music festival showcasing a mix of punk, hardcore, indie, and EDM artists every August. The venue may vary, so refer to the link for current details.
Long Beach Jazz Festival
The Long Beach Jazz Festival takes place every year in August at the Rainbow Lagoon Park next to the Hyatt Hotel and Long Beach Convention Center. This two-day outdoor festival includes vendors and food booths.
Shoreline Jam in Long Beach
Held back-to-back with the Long Beach Funkfest at the Queen Mary Events Park during Labor Day Weekend in September, the Shoreline Jam is a relaxed event focusing on ska and white reggae bands.
Watts Towers Jazz Festival and Day of the Drum Festival
Watts Towers Day of the Drum and Watts Towers Jazz Festival occur in September, each on a Saturday and Sunday respectively at Simon Rodia’s Watts Towers in South Los Angeles.
Buskerfest
Buskerfest is a street music festival in the East Village of Long Beach, where bands perform with minimal amplification from the back of flatbed trucks, and attendees vote on their favorite street performers. This event occurs each year in early September as part of Long Beach Summer and Music.
LA Skins Music and Film Festival
The LA Skins Music Festival showcases Native American musical talent in LA, running each September in conjunction with the LA Skins Film Festival and the Skins Stand Up Comic Showcase.
Angel City Jazz Festival
The Angel City Jazz Festival takes place over several days at the end of September or beginning of October, culminating in a day-long event at the Ford Amphitheatre.
LA Bluegrass Situation
LA Bluegrass Situation is a one or two-night celebration of bluegrass music each October in LA, with varying venues.
Catalina Island JazzTrax
The Catalina Island JazzTrax festival occurs over three weekends in October at the Avalon Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island, focusing on contemporary smooth jazz.
Mariachi Plaza Festival in Boyle Heights
The annual Mariachi Festival occurs in November at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights, featuring local and international mariachi bands performing throughout the daytime.
