Music

On September 19, blues and soul powerhouse Sugaray Rayford takes the stage at BroadStage in Santa Monica, bringing his deep, commanding vocals and high-energy performance style to the venue’s Blackbox series.

Rayford’s sound draws from gospel, soul, blues and funk, reflecting a musical journey that began in church. Born in Texas, he started singing and playing drums at age 7 before eventually making his way to San Diego, where he performed with R&B/funk band Urban Gypsys and later Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz.

His career has earned him four Blues Music Awards, including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, as well as a GRAMMY nomination for Somebody Save Me. His 2020 album In Too Deep won the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Album of the Year.

For Rayford, however, the music is about more than accolades. His performances combine the emotional weight of the blues with the energy of soul and funk, creating an experience that invites audiences to move, sing and connect. His latest album, Human Decency, continues that spirit, exploring themes of unity and compassion alongside his signature sound.

The September 19 performance is part of BroadStage’s Blackbox series, which brings artists into an intimate setting designed for audiences to experience the music up close.

Sugaray Rayford performs September 19 at 8 p.m. at BroadStage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica.

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September arrives in style at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, where a sophisticated weekend of jazz, global music and classical performance sets the tone for the new season in Beverly Hills.

On September 25, acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman brings his quartet to the stage with Words Fall Short, an elegant evening of contemporary jazz filled with improvisation, intimacy and effortless musical chemistry. Rising trumpeter and composer Skylar Tang joins as special guest, adding an exciting new voice to the mix.

The mood shifts on September 26 when Cuban vocalist Daymé Arocena takes over with Alkemi. Blending Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, soul and modern Latin influences, Arocena is a charismatic performer with a powerhouse voice and undeniable stage presence. Expect a vibrant, sensual evening with plenty of energy.

The weekend closes September 27 with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Movement(s)!, conducted by Lina González-Granados and featuring celebrated countertenor John Holiday. The dance-inspired program moves from Kodály and Manuel de Falla to Gabriela Lena Frank, culminating in the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s The After Party!, celebrating Black American music and the Harlem Renaissance.

With three distinctive performances in an intimate Beverly Hills setting, September at The Wallis offers culture, glamour and a stylish start to the fall arts season.

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September is one of the loveliest times to discover Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, the legendary outdoor theater tucked beneath the oaks of Topanga Canyon. As summer softens into fall, audiences can settle into the rustic amphitheater for Shakespeare, adventure, music and intimate special events beneath the trees.

The repertory season continues with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  transforming Theatricum’s wooded setting into an enchanted forest of lovers, fairies and comic mischief. Romeo and Juliet (September 11, 18, 26) reimagined against the wealth, social divisions and restless energy of America’s Gilded Age. For something lighter, Treasure Island sails in, bringing pirates, swordplay and Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure to life. 

The People of Pompeii – a dark comedy set in the aftermath of the 2025 LA fires, plays every weekend.

Thursday nights offer another reason to make the drive into Topanga. The Under the Oaks series begins September 3 with Currents: Composers in Concert, followed by the new musical Beer! on September 10. Cabaret Theatricum celebrates Marvin Gaye September 17, and Gerald C. Rivers presents The Voice of Dr. King on September 24.

Come early, bring a picnic or purchase snacks and beverages, wander beneath the trees and let dusk settle around the stage. It’s theater with a little wilderness, romance and unmistakable Topanga magic. Bring a picnic, dress in layers, and enjoy one of Los Angeles’ most atmospheric cultural escapes.

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September at the Hollywood Bowl is Los Angeles at its most irresistible: warm nights, sunsets at 7 pm, picnic baskets, and a parade of stars under the famous shell. The month opens with the LA Phil in full cinematic mode, including Amadeus in Concert and David Newman’s Maestro of the Movies, a salute to John Williams that should make the hills feel like one enormous movie set.

Then the calendar starts sparkling. Blues legend Buddy Guy arrives September 9, followed by OneRepublic September 11 and 12. Lucy Dacus joins the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on September 13, while Andrea Bocelli turns September 15 and 16 into two unabashedly romantic evenings celebrating the 30th anniversary of Romanza.

Later in the month, Orville Peck brings his stylish country swagger, Squeeze, Adam Ant and The English Beat deliver a blast of New Wave nostalgia, and Wynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. There is also ABBA-inspired disco, the beloved Sound of Music Sing-Along, and the effortlessly magnetic Jon Batiste.

September finishes with serious star power: Erykah Badu on September 29 and a jazz-infused LA Phil finale on September 30. Whether your perfect Bowl night means a box-seat dinner, a bottle of rosé and a blanket, or dancing until the encore, September offers one last glamorous chance to stretch out summer in true Hollywood style. Really, what could feel more wonderfully LA than that?

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