The Bucket List | August 2016

Matt Matasci

Now in the heart of Los Angeles’ Summer season, the events around the city are getting as hot as the weather. This month kicks off with a rare performance by Barbra Streisand and the opening of “Suicide Squad,” which is then followed up by an unprecedented run of eight shows by British songwriter and singer Adele. Sundance NEXT FEST takes over the Ace Hotel during the middle of the month while Cinespia hosts its Movies All Night event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Rounding out the month are performances at Dodger Stadium by Guns ‘N Roses, Ohana Festival in Orange County and of course, FYF Fest at Exposition Park.

Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters at LACMA | Aug. 1-Nov. 27
While you never really need an excuse to visit the incredible campus of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Guillermo del Toro just provided one. Hosted at the Art of the Americas Building, the exhibit will detail and explore the filmmaker’s creative process while displaying artifacts from throughout his filmography. His first museum retrospective, “At Home with Monsters,” will showcase notebook drawings, sculptures, paintings, prints, photos, books and film, totaling 500 objects that reflect the director’s inspirations.

Barbra Streisand at Staples Center | Aug. 2
Barbra Streisand can make one incredible claim that no other recording artist in history can: she has reached #1 on the albums charts in six different decades. With a short run of tours this month, Los Angeles’ Staples Center plays host to one of the concerts. Streisand is touring in support of her most recent album, “ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway,” the third such Broadway album in her discography. This is a rare opportunity to see Streisand perform live, and music fans should definitely take advantage of it.

Suicide Squad | Aug. 5
The heavily anticipated “Suicide Squad” is finally here with a star-studded cast, an action-packed plot and a hit-laden soundtrack. Deadshot (Will Smith), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) lead a group of united criminals labeled the Suicide Squad. These misfits are given a seemingly impossible task of defeating a powerful and mysterious enemy all the while dealing with Jared Leto’s maniacal Joker.

Adele at Staples Center | Aug. 5-6, 9-10, 12-13 & 20-21
Already a modern musical superstar, Adele announced an incredible run of Los Angeles six shows earlier this year, but after all of them sold out, the British songstress upped the ante by announcing another pair of concerts bringing the total to eight. A gifted vocalist, Adele is known for her powerhouse performances that put her among the greatest active live performers.

The Comedy Get Down w/ Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, DL Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy at The Forum | Aug. 6
The Forum will play host to some of the biggest names in the comedy game when The Comedy Get Down tour comes to Los Angeles. The show will feature five performances from Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, DL Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy, a few of the most hilarious performers to ever grace the stage.

Moves After Dark at The Music Center | Aug. 8-17
Back for a second season, Moves After Dark brings four contemporary dance companies to the Downtown Los Angeles based campus of The Music Center. Audiences at Moves After Dark are allowed to move about The Music Center in order to view the dance company from unique vantage points. The audience will be rotated about the campus to watch separate performances at the same time, culminating in one final thrilling conclusion.

50 Years of Jeff Beck w/ Buddy Guy, Steven Tyler and Beth Hart at Hollywood Bowl | Aug. 10
Despite never quite reaching the level of commercial recognition that his peers experienced, there is no denying the reverberating influence that Jeff Beck has had on the world of rock music. A founding member of The Yardbirds, he went on to push the envelope of guitar-based music with his own Jeff Beck Group. Joining him on stage will be Buddy Guy, Steven Tyler and Beth Hart.

Sundance NEXT FEST 2016 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel | Aug. 12-14
The three day Sundance NEXT FEST 2016 celebrates independent artists in the fields of film, music and visual art. The fourth year of this festival will feature the premiere of six exciting new independent films. Following each screening will either be a musical performance that fits with the artistic sensibilities of the film which preceded it or the film’s creators will sit down for a conversation with some of their biggest inspirations.

Lucent Dossier Experience at the Avalon | Aug. 13
The Lucent Dossier Experience describes itself as embodying “an ancient futuristic turn towards high-art.” For their appearance at the Avalon, the traveling cirque style experience that is based in Los Angeles will include a DJ set by Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation and a performance by Psychemagik.

Cinespia presents 6th Annual Movies All Night Featuring “Heathers,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Cry Baby” at Hollywood Forever Cemetery | Aug. 13
Cinespia’s Movies All Night program returns with three films that capture the quirky spirit of their stars, Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp. These three films were sleepover favorites of the 80’s and now Angelenos can gather their blankets on Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s comfy lawn for an all-night screen of these three classics.

Guns N Roses at Dodger Stadium | Aug. 18-19
The “Not in This Lifetime” tour finally arrives in Los Angeles this month after touring much of the country! 2016 has been a wild ride for Guns ‘N Roses fans in Southern California, with the band first announcing a surprise club show at the Troubadour followed by two performances at Coachella. With Axl off his doctor-ordered throne and back in action following a foot injury, the 80s heavy metal gods are set to deliver two incredible shows.

Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival | Aug. 27-28
The Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival is now in its fifth year as a showcase of the best food and drink from across the Los Angeles area. The Grand Avenue based event allows guests to sample from renowned chefs like Alex Guamascehlli, Tyler Florence, Curtis Stone, Michelle Bernstien, Michael Chiarello, Elizabeth Falkner, Thomas Keller and many others.

Ohana Festival | Aug. 27-28
The two-day Ohana Festival is the newest music festival to hit Southern California. This beachside music event at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA features an eclectic lineup that is topped by big names like Lana Del Rey and Eddie Vedder. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the San Onofre Parks Foundation.

FYF Fest | Aug. 27-28
Starting from humble beginnings as a multi-venue music gathering on Sunset Blvd in Echo Park, FYF Fest has grown into one of the nation’s premier music festivals. This year features an even more eclectic lineup than ever before, topped by huge acts such as Kendrick Lamar and the reformed LCD Soundsystem, plus Grace Jones, Beach House, Grimes, AIR, Tame Impala and much more.

MTV Video Music Awards | Aug. 28
One of the most important awards shows, the MTV Music Video Awards celebrates the biggest and brightest stars in the music industry. This year’s nominees include Drake, Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and Kanye West for Video of the Year and Bryson Tiller, Desiigner, DNCE, Lukas Graham and Zara Larsson for Best New Artist. Catch these artists and many more at the VMAs!