Close out 2016 With L.A.’s Essential Concert Guide • December 19 – December 31

Joseph Baura

The Holidays are in full affect and to celebrate we have extended our “Essential Weekly Concert Guide.” We are closing out 2016 with the biggest and best concerts to help you make music memories all the way into the New Year.

The Growlers at The Wiltern | Dec. 21-23
Southern California natives The Growlers have had a stellar year. With the release of the fifth studio album “City Club” earlier this year, the band is looking to close out 2016 with a three-night stay at the the Wiltern.

Dillon Francis as DJ Hanzel at Exchange LA | Dec. 22
As a warm-up to his shows at the Shrine Expo Hall, Dillon Francis will be bringing his “friend,” DJ Hanzel, to the Exchange LA stage for a night of Euro-inspired EDM. (DJ Hanzel is of course the alter-ego of Dillon Francis.) If you can’t make it to the Shrine Expo Hall, this is easily the next best thing.

Kodak Black at The Novo | Dec. 22
Hip hop has been waiting for Kodak Black’s return for the entire year since his single, “No Flockin,” has become a hit. Black will be performing his first show in Downtown LA and it is likely  that he will be bringing along some friends to join in on this special night.

Tory Lanez at The Fonda Theatre | Dec. 22-23
With the release of his debut album “I Told You” and R&B hit “Luv,” Tory Lanez is easily on the verge of breaking out as one of the biggest acts in the genre. Lanez will be at the Fonda Theatre for a two-night stay and will surely be a great gift for that special someone right before the Christmas weekend goes into full swing.

Dillon Francis w/ Flosstradamus at Shrine Expo Hall | Dec. 22-23
After performing as DJ Hanzel at Exchange LA, Dillon Francis will be back at the Shrine Expo Hall for a couple nights of some hard hitting EDM. Also back again, will be Flosstradamus, whose HDY Nation will be out in full support for the DJ duo. If there is one EDM show to catch this week, it has to be this one.

Fishbone at The Roxy Theatre | Dec. 23
If you’re looking for some ska just before the holiday season, there’s no better show to see than the legendary Fishbone. The band will be putting on an intimate show at the Roxy Theatre that will be packed with die-hard fans of their almost four-decade career.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic w/ Thundercat at The Novo | Dec. 28
As one of the titans of the funk movement, there’s no arguing that George Clinton is one of the last remaining artists from a special time in pop music history. In a show that is essentially a blending of the new and old school, Parliament Funkadelic will be joined by the ever-talented Thundercat, best known for his work with artists like Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar.

Pardon My French w/ DJ Snake at Shrine Expo Hall | Dec. 29
DJ Snake’s “Pardon My French” tour features himself along with fellow Parisian DJs Tchami, Mercer, and Malaa. Snake, known for singles such as “Turn Down for What” and “Lean On,” is set for a show of the year as the French invade the Shrine Expo Hall.

Lucent Dossier Experience at Clifton’s Republic | Dec. 29
The Lucient Dossier Experience will be bringing their latest production, “Lucent Enchantment Society,” to Clifton’s Republic. If you aren’t familiar with the Lucent Dossier Experience, think of it as Cirque Du Soleil meets burlesque.

Citizen Cope at The Regent Theater | Dec. 30
Citizen Cope will be bringing his signature soulful guitar riffs and ease-inducing voice to the Regent Theater for an intimate show. Although he often performs a blend of electric guitar and acoustic, this night will feature a full band backing his entire performance.

Straight No Chaser at Dolby Theater | Dec. 30
With the surge of acapella groups in the past few years, one of the standout acts has been Straight No Chaser. With covers of The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” and Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” getting mainstream popularity, there’s no doubt that Straight No Chaser has exceptional range. Catch the entire group performing at the Dolby Theater for a one-night stay.

Kaytranada at the Novo | Dec. 30
With the release of his album, “99.9%” Kaytranada’s rise in 2016 reached its apex. Working with musical acts such as Anderson .Paak, AlunaGeorge, GoldLink, Vic Mensa and many  others, Kaytranada’s ability to cater to a plethora of genres is unmatched. Kaytranada will be bringing his signature bounce to the Novo on the eve of New Year’s Eve.

Lil Uzi Vert w/ Roy Woods at The Novo | Dec. 31
Lil Uzi Vert has had a stellar year of music after releasing two mixtapes, “Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World” and “The Perfect Luv Tape.”  With his career skyrocketing at this very moment, it’s only right for the purple-dreadlocked rapper to get the honors of closing out the year at the Novo. Coming along to perform as well is OVO’s standout artist, Roy Woods, who is also blazing his own trail.

Downtown Long Beach New Year’s Eve w/ Citizen Cope, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Cut Copy and Big Data | Dec. 31
In traditional fashion, Downtown Long Beach will be holding its annual festival to close out the year. This year, artists Citizen Cope, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Cut Copy, and Data will be performing. Aside from the music, the streets of Downtown Long Beach will be welcoming to all ages and will be a great place to spend last night of 2016.

PartyNextDoor & Travis Scott at Observatory OC | Dec. 31
With one of the biggest performances to end the year, OVO’s PartyNextDoor and Travis Scott will be putting on back-to-back shows at the famed Observatory OC in Santa Ana. Both artists have released stellar albums, PartyNextDoor with “PND 3” and Travis Scott with “Birds in the Trap Sing Brian McKnight.” PartyNextDoor will be performing the early show, and Travis Scott will be closing out the night for the late show to bring in the new year.

Pink Martini at Walt Disney Concert Hall | Dec. 31
Pink Martini will be ushering the new year with a special performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. With pianist Thomas Lauderdale and vocalists China Forbes and Storm Large bringing a captivating fusion between Brazilian Samba and Parisian music, Pink Martini will be ringing in the new year with a light-hearted vibe to get you dancing.

Faster Pussycat w/ L.A. Guns at Whisky A Go Go |  Dec. 31
If the rock scene is more of your speed, head to the Whisky a Go Go for the New Year’s Eve Party. This year, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat will be headlining the night hosted by Riki Rachtman. Any night on Sunset is special, but this one is set to be especially memorable at the legendary Hollywood venue.

Prohibition NYE Union Station w/ Autograf & Justin Ward at Union Station | Dec. 31
Get transported back into the days when speakeasies were the prime places to find a good time with Prohibition NYE. With one of the biggest parties in Los Angeles for New Year’s Eve, the 20s-themed event will feature a memorable night with the drinks constantly flowing as Angelenos dance the night away to DJ, Autograf, and Saxophonist, Justin Ward. Take a trip back in time as we move forward into the new year.