a tribute to murder ballads
Murder ballads and songs of despair lie at the foundation of American folk music. Murder ballads give voice to our fears, our innate violence, and our terrible inclinations, while also capturing a period in history rife with these extremes. Just in time for Halloween, we celebrate this accidental tradition with specially selected bands performing songs from pages of murder ballad history. Presented by The New Los Angeles Folk Festival + The Echo.

Random Patterns plays its last show for a few months
Random Patterns wraps up a summer of great shows at their favorite spot, Echo Curio. They're joined by City of Progress and Whqles for a night of explorative post-pop.

fridays all month with Spirit Vine
The Hear Gallery, LA Underground, and IPromoteGoodBands present a September residency with fiery indie rock band Spirit Vine. They'll converge between the Mexican gay bars at Five Stars Bar downtown every Friday night. Sept 3, with Pity Party, Useless Keys, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound and DJ Kevin Bronson. Sept 10, with Robotanists, Wet and Reckless, Black Flamingo and DJ Scarlett Cassanova. Sept 17, with Cigarette Bums, Seasons, Run River Run and DJ Chris Ziegler ( LA RECORD). Sept 24, with Spider Problem, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Hexham Heads and a surprise DJ. Often drawing comparisons to Jefferson Airplane, Shocking Blue, and the Paisley Underground that happene

celebrating the release of Swimming To Cambodia
Giant Robot, Annie Hall Records, and Cubtrina present Michael Nhat's record release show for Swimming To Cambodia. Michael Nhat is joined by local favorites Halloween Swim Team, Pizza!, and Tik Tik. DJ Amy Wolkins (Garden Hour on KSPC) will spin records between bands and vegan goodies will be served. Special guests to be announced. ...This is some totally effed-up, avant-garde rap shit that vacillates between hard poetry and loopy sing-song abstractions. And if you like Busdriver (as we hope you do), you'll dig this.... (L.A. Weekly)

fridays all month with Spirit Vine
The Hear Gallery, LA Underground, and IPromoteGoodBands present a September residency with fiery indie rock band Spirit Vine. They'll converge between the Mexican gay bars at Five Stars Bar downtown every Friday night. Sept 3, with Pity Party, Useless Keys, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound and DJ Kevin Bronson. Sept 10, with Robotanists, Wet and Reckless, Black Flamingo and DJ Scarlett Cassanova. Sept 17, with Cigarette Bums, Seasons, Run River Run and DJ Chris Ziegler ( LA RECORD). Sept 24, with Spider Problem, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Hexham Heads and a surprise DJ. Often drawing comparisons to Jefferson Airplane, Shocking Blue, and the Paisley Underground that happene

fridays all month with Spirit Vine
The Hear Gallery, LA Underground, and IPromoteGoodBands present a September residency with fiery indie rock band Spirit Vine. They'll converge between the Mexican gay bars at Five Stars Bar downtown every Friday night. Sept 3, with Pity Party, Useless Keys, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound and DJ Kevin Bronson. Sept 10, with Robotanists, Wet and Reckless, Black Flamingo and DJ Scarlett Cassanova. Sept 17, with Cigarette Bums, Seasons, Run River Run and DJ Chris Ziegler ( LA RECORD). Sept 24, with Spider Problem, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Hexham Heads and a surprise DJ. Often drawing comparisons to Jefferson Airplane, Shocking Blue, and the Paisley Underground that happene

fridays all month with Spirit Vine
The Hear Gallery, LA Underground, and IPromoteGoodBands present a September residency with fiery indie rock band Spirit Vine. They'll converge between the Mexican gay bars at Five Stars Bar downtown every Friday night. Sept 3, with Pity Party, Useless Keys, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound and DJ Kevin Bronson. Sept 10, with Robotanists, Wet and Reckless, Black Flamingo and DJ Scarlett Cassanova. Sept 17, with Cigarette Bums, Seasons, Run River Run and DJ Chris Ziegler ( LA RECORD). Sept 24, with Spider Problem, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Hexham Heads and a surprise DJ. Often drawing comparisons to Jefferson Airplane, Shocking Blue, and the Paisley Underground that happene

NLAF presents local favorite folk bands at a favorite folky locale

Celebrating the emergence of NEW FOLK in Los Angeles
Folk recently re-rooted itself in Los Angeles, re-awakening to what Gram Parsons called "cosmic American music." Although LA has long been custodian to folk music, a greater interest in innovation has appeared over the last few years. LA folk is defined by an expanding spectrum of styles and influences. It's traditional and experimental, acoustic and electronic, throwbacks and progressive ideas. Let the West Coast seep into your idea of what "folk music" can be. Read interviews with the artists on "what is folk?": http://lafolkfest.com twitter: http://twitter.com/LAfolkfest follow us on twitter for updates and giveaways And on Aug 1 at Echo Country Outpost we

L.A. Record + White Noise + Metl Reserva Especial present a hoe down for Amanda Jo Williams' record release

Music that swirls and gurgles in post-pop epicness and cerebral jams. You don't know whether to dissect the wall of sound or just rock back and forth on a meditative sea cruise.