Live music in Pasadena, CA

Join Kidspace Children’s Museum for the Sunset Music Series, a family-friendly evening of live music, dancing, and artmaking. The museum stays open late, with themed performances at 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM in the Stone Hollow Amphitheater. Feel free to bring your own picnic or grab food from the cafe or food trucks. General admission includes the series, and it’s free for members.

Visionarium presents a live jazz brunch with the Stephanie Barone Quintet, blending an Italian-inspired dining experience with an intimate performance of standards and contemporary songs reimagined through a jazz lens. Stephanie Barone, an actor, songwriter, and jazz vocalist who has appeared at leading Los Angeles venues since 2000, brings soulful interpretations, expressive phrasing, and engaging storytelling to both straight-ahead and modern selections, including refined takes on music by Olivia Dean and Amy Winehouse. The ensemble features Tom Rizzo on guitar, Anne King on trumpet, Adam Cohen on bass, and Sinclair Lott on drums. Guests can enjoy authentic Italian brunch dishes, handcrafted specialties, premium wines, mimosas, and signature cocktails while the quintet sets the tone. Tickets are $25 per person, applied in full to food and beverage purchases during the event, and each reservation includes a reserved table for a relaxed experience. Seating is limited.

This event takes place at Tiki B's, the tiki bar located in the basement of Barney's Beanery in Pasadena. Look for the downstairs bar to find the gathering.

Head in the Clouds 2026 is a full festival day at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Doors open at 1:00 PM, and the show will run rain or shine with all ages welcome. Food and beverages are sold separately, there are no ins or outs, and the lineup and set times can change. A curfew of 11:00 PM applies on Saturday.

A brand new second Saturday contra dance arrives at St. James' Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, returning the tradition to this neighborhood at a fresh venue with on-site parking. The evening begins with an introductory lesson, then continues with social dancing. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome, and no partner is required. Admission is offered on a sliding scale, with general entry at $20, $10 for ages 30 and under, and free for ages 18 and under. Previous gatherings at the Women's Club have ended, and first and third Saturday dances remain in Culver City.

Visionarium Live Italian hosts a rooftop night of live music with The Rayband, returning after a long break and a previous hit show. The band delivers a high-energy mix of classic favorites that suits a summer evening under the stars. Guests can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine and fine wine while taking in an open-air setting that blends Italian flair with LA style. Tickets are $25 on Eventbrite and fully redeemable toward food and drinks during the event.

Second Saturdays Jazz Night with Jason Luckett and friends presents The Songs Made Us, an evening shaped as a birthday reflection and a homecoming to the records that sparked a lifelong love of music. Imagine stepping into a living room where beloved albums rest by the turntable, hearing the tunes parents played alongside the tracks that carried a generation through its growing years, mixed with the songs that continue to inspire today. The program honors songcraft across eras and styles, with nods to writers and bands such as Burt Bacharach, the Beatles, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Elton John, Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, The Smiths, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Bill Withers, and Stevie Wonder. Most guests will offer a single selection, with Jason contributing a few of his own. Featured performers include Danette Christine with Rober Luis, Jeanne Newhall, Jami Lula, Jason Luckett, Joselyn and Don, J Ramada, Mary Scholz, Robbie McDonald, Ruthann Friedman, Sara Melson, Stefanie Naifeh with JP, Steve Key, and Willie Aron, with the possibility of additional guests. Dancers Haize Hawke and Hilary Thomas will add movement to the celebration. Hosted at Archetype Yoga, this gathering is pay what you can in support of the artists and the series, with suggested levels for general entry, supporter, patron to help sustain the music and space, and a student or low income option.

Head to a Second Sundays Old Time Americana all-ages performance and community jam with folk music from around the world. Bring an instrument or just come to sing along, strum, and clap. Guest musicians will share traditional songs and rhythms, with Natalie Brejcha leading the music, plus Tom Moose and the Scotti Old Time Family String Band.

Catch dream pop and indie-folk singer-songwriter Greg Mendez live at Sid The Cat Auditorium, with sets also featuring Maria BC and Emily Yacina. The show starts at 7:00 PM local venue time.

A weeklong summer workshop at Caltech invites adult musicians to dive into chamber music alongside Salastina’s resident artists. The experience balances artistic growth with real connection, featuring shared meals, conversations, and ensemble work that build a welcoming community. Participants read and rehearse chamber repertoire, receive coaching, attend masterclasses, enjoy social dinners and evening talks, and finish with performance opportunities that include a participant concert and a concluding public performance. Musicians play side by side with Salastina artists in informal reading sessions and coached rehearsals, gaining insight through direct collaboration. Daily small-ensemble coachings unfold in a supportive setting, and guided panels explore musical life, interpretation, and craft. The workshop is geared toward adult players with confident reading skills and a love of ensemble music making, and no professional resume is required.

Altadena Music Center hosts a monthly, free open mic night that creates a relaxed space for music, creative expression, and community. Hosted by Quazar, it is open to all ages and welcomes both performers and listeners. Anyone interested in taking the stage can sign up to share a song, poem, story, or other original work, while others can simply enjoy and support the artists.