OUR HISTORY
Since 1957, the Troubadour has been at the heart of Los Angeles music and culture—a place where careers began, legends took shape, and artists found a room to take risks. From its beginnings as a small coffeehouse in 1957 to its role as one of the world’s most influential live music venues, the Troubadour has been a gathering place for discovery, creativity, and community.
For generations, the Troubadour has stood at the center of music culture, welcoming artists from every corner of the creative world—from folk pioneers and rock legends to singer-songwriters, comedians, pop icons, boundary-pushing punk and metal upstarts, and the artists redefining music today. The stories that unfolded on our stage became part of the fabric of Los Angeles—and, in many cases, part of music history itself.
What follows is an incomplete and ever-evolving chronicle of the moments, performances, discoveries, debuts and ulikely encounters that have transformed the Troubadour into the hallowed ground it remains today.
Photo: Troubadour February 1985, Courtesy of Henry DiltzJUMP TO ERA
1957
THE BEGINNING
The Troubadour opened its doors for the first time as a small 65-seat coffeehouse on La Cienega Blvd.
1960
Inspired by visits to bohemian clubs in London, founder Doug Weston shifted the Troubaodour's core programming from underground jazz to traditional American folk singers and blues acts.
The venue solidified its legendary Monday night Hootenanny open-mic audition system, locally known as "The Hoot."
1961
Move to Santa Monica Blvd
The venue moved from its original location on La Cienega to Santa Monica Boulevard and hosted its official Grand Opening. This shift permanently established the Troubadour as a premier live music nightclub rather than a simple bohemian coffee shop.
September 3
Greenwich Village folk duo Art and Paul (Art Podell and Paul Potash) played a historic 14 consecutive weeks at the club. Arriving in a beat-up '49 Chevy, their unprecedented summer residency completely changed the local Los Angeles folk scene, drawing sell-out crowds every night and transforming the venue into an industry hub.
1962
October
Legendary stand-up comic Lenny Bruce was arrested on obscenity charges right on the Troubadour stage. He was handcuffed by West Hollywood officers for using the Yiddish word "schmuck" during his performance.
1963
Under owner Doug Weston's direction, the club's Monday night Hootenannany became so populat that major label executives began regularly sitting in the front rows scouting talent, establishing the venue as the absolute center of the West Coast folk scene.
1964
The Byrds Meet
In early 1964, Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby met in the front bar area of the venue. Originally forming a Peter and Gordon-style folk harmony trio called The Jet Set, their chance encounters at the club’s famous Monday open-mic "Hootenanny" nights directly established the group that would soon change music history as The Byrds.
Dylan Drops In
Following a headline concert by the venue's resident band, The Men, Bob Dylan famously walked onto the stage. He initiated a completely impromptu, private "folk-twist" jam session attended strictly by Troubadour staff members. Rock historians cite this loose, rhythmic experiment as a core catalyst for Dylan's historic decision to switch from acoustic folk to plugged-in electric folk-rock shortly after.
1965
April 27–29
The Byrds, who met at a Monday open mic, performed their classic take on Bob Dylan’s “Tambourine Man” for the first time.
October 12–24
Comedian Richard Pryor opened for Nina Simone.
A pre-Monkees Michael Nesmith went to the venue hoping to get his old job back as the Monday night "Hootmaster" the job was filled, but Nesmith was given an evening slot where he sang four original songs - a performance he later creditied as a massive turning point that kept him in the music business.
1966
April 11
In one of the most legendary milestones in West Coast rock history, Buffalo Springfield made their unbilled public live debut. Only five days after a chance traffic-jam meeting on Sunset Boulevard reunited Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay, the newly minted group took the stage to unveil a legendary sound that would completely bridge the gap between folk and psychedelic rock.
1967
June 6-18
In a legendary, massive two-week residency pairing, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band headlined the club while sharing the nightly bill with rising avant-garde folk legend Tim Buckley.
September 19
Local country-folk-rock group Hearts and Flowers played a prominent live set, right as the "L.A. country-rock" scene began to take definitive shape at the club.
December 19 - 26
Emerging blues-rock giants Canned Heat played a heavily attended multi-night showcase.
1968
April 2-7
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot made his first-ever United States live performance appearance on the Troubadour stage, launching his legendary American concert career.
June 4-9
Joni Mitchell made her highly anticipated Los Angeles debut. Her multi-night run quickly became the hottest ticket in town, introducing her seminal songwriting to the Southern California music elite.
September
Comedian Richard Pryor returned to the venue to record his landmark, self-titled debut live album. Capturing his raw, transformative stand-up style in front of an intimate club audience, the record fundamentally altered the landscape of American comedy.
1969
The Birth of The Eagles
Though the exact calendar dates are lost to history, Linda Ronstadt met future Eagles legends Don Henley and Glenn Frey at the Troubadour front bar in late 1969. She later hired them both as her backing band in early 1971, directly paving the way for them to spin off and form the Eagles.
February 4-9
Pioneering country-rock band Pogo (who later changed their name to Poco just after this run to avoid a lawsuit) played a historic six-night residency. This run was famously remembered as bassist Randy Meisner’s final appearance with the group before he departed and eventually co-founded the Eagles.
March 11-16
Fresh off releasing Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young and Crazy Horse held down a raucous, highly packed residency. The shows were notable for massive, legendary guitar jams and spontaneous drop-ins from the local Laurel Canyon elite, including Stephen Stills.
May 5-10
Former 1950s teen idol Rick Nelson shed his "Ricky" persona and debuted his brilliant country-rock outfit, The Stone Canyon Band (featuring Randy Meisner on bass). Over a four-night stand, they recorded the landmark comeback album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969, reinventing his career with electrified covers of Bob Dylan and Tim Hardin.
May 22
Following up her monumental debut the previous year, Joni Mitchell performed a stunning live set featuring early live iterations of classics like "Chelsea Morning," "Both Sides, Now," and "Cactus Tree".
June 17-22
Neil Young returned to Troubadour for a second run of sold out shows in 1969.
July
James Taylor made his official solo performance debut. Having recently signed with the Beatles' Apple Records, these intimate acoustic sets provided the very first American showcase for tracks that later defined the 1970s singer-songwriter genre.
September 3-4
Over the course of two days, avant-garde folk-jazz icon Tim Buckley played four highly improvisational sets accompanied by Frank Zappa/Captain Beefheart drummer Art Tripp. These shows were captured entirely on tape and released posthumously as the acclaimed Live at the Troubadour 1969.
September 16-21
Linda Ronstadt played a week-long residency with opener Jackson Browne.
1970
Cheech and Chong were discovered by Lou Adler at a Monday Hoot Night.
March
Elektra Records recorded two high-energy nights of The Butterfield Blues Band live on stage, yielding their acclaimed double live album Live at the Troubadour.
July 1, 2 & 5
Country pioneer Kris Kristofferson made his highly anticipated Los Angeles live debut, performing as the opening act for Linda Ronstadt.
July 15
Neil Diamond took over the venue to record his iconic live album, Gold, capturing the peak of his energetic early-70s live era.
July 27-August 01
Linda Ronstadt played a week long residency with opener Steve Martin.
August 25 - 30
A 23-year-old Elton John made his historic US live debut. He was introduced on stage by Neil Diamond to a packed, celebrity-filled audience that included Quincy Jones, Leon Russell, Gordon Lightfoot, and future members of the Beach Boys and the Eagles. This kicked off a historic 6-night, 8-show run that catapulted him into global stardom overnight.
September 4
After playing the L.A. Forum, Led Zeppelin appeared with Fairport Convention at the Troubadour and played an almost three-hour jam session. The setlist included songs such as “Hey Joe” and “Mystery Train.”
October 3
Janis Joplin partied at the Troubadour and was found dead the following day at the Landmark Hotel from a heroin overdose.
November 24–29
When James Taylor and opening act Carole King played the Troubadour together, they shared a song that would become a defining moment: Taylor performed “You’ve Got a Friend” for the first time, after hearing King play it during soundcheck.
1971
Waylon Jennings appeared in the cult classic Cisco Pike, with his name prominently featured on the Troubadour marquee and a promotional poster in a scene filmed at the club, reflecting his real-life booking there during the film’s production.
Tom Waits was discovered by rock Manger Herb Cohen during a Monday Night Hoot.
April 6
Carly Simon was performing as the opening act for Cat Stevens when she first met James Taylor backstage. Their encounter sparked a high-profile relationship, culminating in their marriage the following year.
August 25-27
Soul icon Donny Hathaway played a historic, high-energy three-night stand. The performances were tracked live, comprising the entirety of Side 1 of his foundational 1972 release, Donny Hathaway Live, widely considered one of the greatest live albums ever recorded.
The Inspiration for "Killing Me Softly"
During a late-1971 residency, folk singer Don McLean performed his song "Empty Chairs" on the Troubadour stage. In the audience was young singer-songwriter Lori Lieberman, who was so profoundly moved by his performance that she penned the poem that directly became the lyrics for the timeless classic "Killing Me Softly with His Song."
September 1
Fresh off the massive success of "Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver performed an intimate, celebrated set. The entire concert was captured via a live FM radio broadcast and was later preserved as a beloved archival live album release.
November 21
Carly Simon headlines Troubadour with support form Don McLean.
1972
February 1
Billy Joel made his official Los Angeles live debut on the Troubadour stage. Performing as the opening act for the rock band Ballin' Jack, his intimate piano sets caught the immediate attention of West Coast music executives.
May
The club's calendar during the month of May alone featured consecutive residency blocks from a staggering lineup of future icons, including Carly Simon, Harry Chapin, Bill Withers, and Melanie.
May 16–21
Randy Newman returned to the Troubadour for a six-night run to perform his masterpiece album Sail Away.
August
Donny Hathaway recorded his Live LP at the Troubadour.
October 3, 1972
George Carlin brought his groundbreaking comedic style to the Troubadour stage.
November
Fresh off her historic sweep at the Grammy Awards for Tapestry, Carole King performed rare, private sets at the venue. Legendary photographer Neil Resnick captured a famous series of intimate portraits of her hanging out backstage and playing the venue piano during this exact stretch.
November 16-19
Folk icon Joni Mitchell returned for a legendary multi-night stand. Her early show featured the live unveiling of "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio" and "A Case Of You.”
December 19-24
Folk-rock artist Dan Fogelberg capped off his breakout year by playing a massive six consecutive nights at the venue, establishing himself as a primary fixture of the LA folk scene.
1973
Van Morrison recorded his live Album 'It's Too Late to Stop Now...'
The Byrds launched their reunion tour with a special troubadour show.
April 3
British folk innovators The Incredible String Band headlined an acclaimed, multi-instrumental set supported by legendary guitarist John Martyn.
May 15-20
In May 1973, Herbie Hancock and his experimental Mwandishi band headlined 16 shows over 6 days, with the newly signed Pointer Sisters as the opening act. The residency marked a pivotal moment for both artists and showcased the Troubadour as a vital stage for adventurous, genre-defying music.
November 6-8
Billy Joel opened for jazz singer Morgana King. These shows were held just days before the official release of Billy Joel’s career-defining album, Piano Man.
1974
During a live set by jazz-fusion guitarist Larry Coryell, Biran Wilson of the Beach Boys spontaneously jumped on the Troubadour stage wearing only a bath robe and slippers to sing an impormptu version of "Be-Bop-A-Lula."
February
Amid his legendary "Lost Weekend" in L.A., an inebriated John Lennon visited the club to see soul singer Ann Peebles. He famously ended up with a sanitary napkin attached to his forehead and was asked to leave after heckling the stage and arguing with staff over a tip.
March 12
John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were escorted out of the club for heckling the Smothers Brothers.
July 30
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played a double bill at the Troubadour with Roger McGuinn of The Byrds where Springsteen put on an iconic 90-minute set that began at 2 in the morning.
November 1
Country icon Willie Nelson brought his outlaw country movement to the West Hollywood crowd for a packed headline set.
December 1-5
Leonard Cohen, performing a five-night stand, met with Phil Spector and Bob Dylan between sets. The following year, Leonard and Phil began work on their record Death of a Ladies’ Man.
1975
Throughout 1975, the Troubadour's physical bar and sidewalk became a permanent home base for a tight-knit, bohemian crew consisting of Tom Waits, Chuck E. Weiss, and future singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones. The close friendships built with club manager Robert Marchese and doorman Paul Body during this year laid the foundation for the classic, jazzy street-poetry narratives Waits would write across the rest of the decade.
January 17–19
Jazz icon Miles Davis brought his electric, avant-garde fusion ensemble to the club for a legendary three-night stand. The sets were captured on tape and bootlegged heavily as Live at the Troubadour, cementing the venue's prestige across genres outside of traditional folk.
February 25
On the heels of breaking out as a massive solo act, Barry Manilow played an incredibly raw, intimate showcase at the club. Stripped of the massive theatrical flash of his later Vegas era, the stellar live recording from this set remained highly prized among fans.
August 25
Exactly five years to the day after making his career-launching US debut on the same stage, Elton John returned to play an incredibly exclusive, 6-show, 3-night anniversary residency. Tickets were distributed strictly via a massive postcard lottery. The high-profile opening night served as a major charity benefit raising over $150,000 for UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute, drawing an ultra-elite crowd of show-business royalty like Tony Curtis sitting in the front rows.
November 6–8
Willie Nelson performed his new album Red Headed Stranger for a live radio broadcast.
1976
January 23
Passing through town en route to a gig, Bob Dylan and his Rolling Thunder Revue entourage pulled over at the club. They surprised the audience by storming the stage to play an unannounced short set during a Roger Miller encore.
March 17
At the height of her mid-70s fame, Linda Ronstadt returned to her old stomping grounds for an intimate, highly sought-after multi-night run. Her late show on St. Patrick's Day was captured on an iconic, crystal-clear first-generation reel-to-reel audience recording that became legendary among bootleg collectors.
March 30–April 4
Barclay James Harvest played 6 nights live at the Troubadour, the final show including a cameo from sci-fi author Ray Bradbury. This stint marked the only time the band had ever toured in the United States and the only time the band had ever played in Los Angeles.
April 8
Foundational country-rock singer-songwriter J.D. Souther played a landmark concert at the venue.
October 31
Steve Martin performed on Halloween, unleashing his iconic, high-energy comedy on the Troubadour stage. This performance was later featured in the special Steve Martin: On Location.
1977
September 19-20
Folk-pop icon Gordon Lightfoot treated fans to a highly memorable, up-close concert series at the club, performing hits like "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
September 17
Though singer-songwriter Tom Waits was originally discovered at The Troubadour's open-mic nights, 1977 was a pivotal year for him as he released his classic album Foreign Affairs and headlined the Troubadour stage. During the show, Bette Midler joined Waits on stage to duet “Never Talk To Strangers.”
November
Outside the front doors, an infamous late-night scuffle broke out when Tom Waits playfully "strangled" musician Chuck E. Weiss on the sidewalk, witnessed by Troubadour doorman Paul Body.
1978
January 23
Celebrated "L.A. poet laureate" Charles Bukowski gave a legendary, raucous poetry reading. This night became a major milestone in his personal life, as it was the event where he met his future wife, Linda Lee Beighle.
November
The Knack, who were then unsigned, headlined with special guests Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Stephen Stills, and Ray Manzarek.
1979
April 28
Rickie Lee Jones released “Chuck E.’s in Love,” a song written about musician and former Troubadour employee Chuck E. Weiss.
June 8-9
Local L.A. power-pop and rock outfit The Romeos played a highly active, consecutive multi-night residency.
May 29
Popular L.A. power-pop band Elton Duck (featuring future Bangles bassist Michael Steele) played a legendary opening stint backing up the theatrical rock band The Tubes.
September 24
The Eagles released their album The Long Run, which closed with the iconic track "Sad Cafe." The song was explicitly written as a bittersweet tribute to their early days hanging out and getting discovered at the Troubadour.
October 25
In a historic night for L.A. new wave, an early, unsigned iteration of The Go-Go's headlined the club. They were supported by seminal first-generation L.A. punk bands X and The Gears, cementing the venue's new identity as a punk-friendly room.
1980
Acclaimed folk musician and longtime Troubadour staple Tim Hardin palyed his final public Troubadour show.
April
Billy Vera and the Beaters played a highly charged, multi-night residency at the club every Monday at midnight for close to a year. The shows were recorded live and yielded their massive breakthrough hit "At This Moment"
April 20
The local electronic synth trio Moebius (featuring ambient pioneer Steve Roach, Doug Lynner, and Bryce Robbley) performed a landmark set. They made history as the first all-synthesizer band to ever take the stage at the historically acoustic venue.
1981
April 28
Early L.A. hard-rock band Target performed a notable headline set.
June 3
Local new wave rockers The Bings played a prominent early summer showcase.
October 3
Mötley Crüe played one of their first-ever shows at the Troubadour, marking an early milestone in the band’s rise.
December 31
Motley Crüe played a New Year’s Eve show at the Troubadour on the Too Fast for Love tour in their debut year.
1982
August 2
An early, unsigned Metallica took the stage, building local buzz in the L.A. scene just months after forming.
August 18
In a legendary pairing of two bands that would completely define opposite sides of 80s metal, Metallica opened for Ratt. Flyers for the gig advertised a Metallica EP that never materialized, turning the session into a sought-after demo tape instead.
September 21
Shock-rockers W.A.S.P., led by Blackie Lawless, brought their infamously aggressive, theatrical live show to the club for the first of two consecutive Tuesday nights.
November 25
Metallica returned on Thanksgiving night. They tore through a 10-song set that included early versions of "Seek & Destroy" and "Whiplash.”
1983
April 6
In a masterclass of multi-genre L.A. music history, The Bangles headlined a legendary night sharing the stage with seminal punk bands Social Distortion, White Flag, and Redd Kross.
June 23
W.A.S.P. kicked off their legendary three-night "Heavy Metal Blood Drive" residency. Frontman Blackie Lawless partnered with the American Red Cross, offering half-price admission to any fan who donated a pint of blood in mobile trucks parked right on Santa Monica Boulevard.
August 26
Speed metal pioneers Abattoir brought their intense, thunderous underground sound to the club.
October 31
Heavy metal band WITCH played a Halloween show supporting Kery Doll and Prisoner. During the show, drummer Punky Peru accidentally caught his hair on fire with a flaming drumstick, pausing only to extinguish the flames before playing on.
1984
February 17
WITCH played their first headlining gig at Troubadour.
December 6
Iconic hair-metal band Warrant played their debut show featuring their founding lineup, nearly two years before Jani Lane took over as the band’s frontman.
1985
June 6
Guns N’ Roses debuted the classic Appetite for Destruction lineup.
July 20
Guns N’ Roses played a 'Fresh From Detox' rehab show.
1986
February 28
Guns N’ Roses played the show that got them signed to Geffen. They played their live debut of “Out Ta Get Me.”
May 20
Janes Addiction made their Troubadour debut.
1987
December 31
L.A. Guns closed out 1987 with a jam-packed New Year’s Eve performance at the Troubadour.
1988
May 24
Metallica played a secret show at the Troubadour where they debuted "Harvester of Sorrow" which at the time didn’t have a complete ending. Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken and Kingdom Come were also on the lineup.
1989
December 2
Metal band Hellion played the Troubadour, ending their set with an iconic cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”
1990
February 23
Anthrax played an intimate, last-minute warmup show at the Troubadour, previewing new material ahead of recording their landmark album Persistence of Time.
March 23
Seattle grunge band Mudhoney played their debut show at the Troubadour just after the release of their self-titled album the year prior.
1991
March 10
Pearl Jam, formerly called Mookie Blaylock, performed for the first time under their new name.
1992
April 25-26
KISS played two sold-out nights at the Troubadour for the very first time, introducing their new drummer Eric Singer.
1993
October 20
Joan Baez returned to the Troubadour supporting her album Play Me Backwards. She opened the show with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."
1994
January 11
Sheryl Crow played her first headlining show at the Troubadour where she brought Don Henley out as a special guest.
June 4
Weezer played their first Troubadour show as an opening act for Material Issue.
November 9
Korn played their first Los Angeles show as the opening act for Corrosion of Conformity.
1995
March 7
Elliott Smith opened for Mary Lou Lord at the Troubadour.
March 11
Sublime played their first and only show at the Troubadour the year prior to the release of their iconic self-titled album and the death of their frontman Bradley Nowell.
November 24–26
No Doubt performed record-release shows for Tragic Kingdom.
1996
May 28
System of a Down performed their first headline show exactly one year after their first ever live performance.
May 16
Elvis Costello and longtime collaborator Steve Nieve recorded Live at the Troubadour for a live four-CD box set.
September 10
Fiona Apple performed her first live U.S. gig at the Troubadour.
1997
June 13
Radiohead made their U.S. live debut of OK Computer.
1998
August 20
Shonen Knife made a surprise appearance at a gig by Joey Ramone & the Independents. The band was introduced onstage by Joey as “The Osaka Ramones.”
1999
February 14
Troubadour owner and founder Doug Weston passed away.
March 11
System of a Down played an intimate show announced the same evening. They debuted 3 songs and didn’t begin the show until after 1 a.m. Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan played “Know your Enemy” alongside them.
May 22
Johnny Cash gave one of his last performances with his wife, June Carter Cash.
September 3
Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett played his debut show with the band.
2000
August 4
Jimmy Eat World headlined at the Troubadour. Deathray, Onelinedrawing and Anderson opened up.
2001
May 16–17
The White Stripes performed record-release shows for White Blood Cells.
October 10
John Mayer performed at the Troubadour for the first time.
October 22–26
Joe Strummer played his final Los Angeles shows.
2002
March 7
Drummer Dave Grohl made his first live appearance with Queens of the Stone Age.
September 18-19
Interpol sold out two nights at the Troubadour shortly after the release of their debut album.
2003
May 26
Then underground band My Chemical Romance played the Troubadour alongside The Suicide File, Every Time I Die and American Nightmare.
September 24
Kings of Leon played the Troubadour during their Youth & Young Manhood Tour.
November
Phantom Planet released Live at the Troubadour.
2004
January 21
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs played an iconic sold out show at the Troubadour.
March 19
Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand performed their first Los Angeles show, including Grammy-nominated tracks like “Take Me Out.”
August 28
The Killers headlined the Troubadour for the first time.
2005
March 11
Coldplay performed a secret show, debuting five songs from their third album, X&Y.
June 18
The Go-Betweens played their final U.S. show before the death of co-founding member Grant McLennan in 2006.
2006
January 6
The Strokes debuted material from their new record, First Impressions of Earth.
May 13
Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a record-release fan show for their new record, Stadium Arcadium.
May 16–20
Rise Against played five sold-out nights previewing their new record, The Sufferer & the Witness.
August 25
The Killers debuted tracks from their new album, Sam’s Town.
October 14
Lily Allen made her U.S. debut with Mark Ronson and Aaron LaCrate as her opening acts.
December 13
Comedians of Comedy, featuring Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman and David Cross, filmed their DVD Live at the Troubadour.
2007
October 2
AFI played an exclusive, intimate show for their official fan club, the Despair Faction.
November 28–30
The Troubadour celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of shows featuring James Taylor and Carole King. They recreated their original Troubadour debut together with their original band: Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, and Lee Sklar.
2008
February 29
Fleet Foxes played their first Los Angeles show.
April 25–29
Tom Petty and fellow Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench reformed their original band, Mudcrutch, and played their belated Los Angeles debut.
May 22–23
Hall & Oates returned to the Troubadour, where they had made their Los Angeles debut 35 years earlier as the opening act for Harry Chapin.
December 13
The Cure performed their first U.S. club show in more than 20 years, a 3-hour-long intimate show collaboration with MySpace who livestreamed the whole thing. The crowd was star-studded, with The Killers, My Chemical Romance, Paramore and AFI, as well as actors such as Kirsten Dunst and Jared Leto watching on.
2009
April 17–18
The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast performed their first live stage show.
May 18
NBC awarded the Troubadour “Best Venue in L.A.” through its Golden Local debate.
2010
February 9
Mumford & Sons performed their debut North American headlining show.
August 17
Brandon Flowers of The Killers made his Los Angeles solo debut in support of his album Flamingo.
August 20
John Legend and The Roots made their live Los Angeles debut of their first collaborative record, Wake Up!
October 19
The legendary Manu Chao played his first-ever U.S. club show.
2010
February 9
Mumford & Sons performed their debut North American headlining show.
August 17
Brandon Flowers of The Killers made his Los Angeles solo debut in support of his album Flamingo.
August 20
John Legend and The Roots made their live Los Angeles debut of their first collaborative record, Wake Up!
October 19
The legendary Manu Chao played his first-ever U.S. club show.
2011
L.A. Weekly voted the Troubadour the best-booked club in Los Angeles.
January 13
Elton John returned to the Troubadour to watch a sold-out performance by Plan B.
January 20–22
Dashboard Confessional played three sold-out shows for the 10th anniversary of Swiss Army Romance.
February 12
Dierks Bentley played a special pre-Grammy show with special guests Lady A, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown, Blake Shelton, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and Country Strong actor Garrett Hedlund.
February 14
Comedian Dave Chappelle stopped by for a secret Valentine’s Day set.
February 18–21
Cake played four sold-out nights in celebration of the release of their chart-topping album Showroom of Compassion.
May 10
Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future celebrated the release of Goblin.
May 11
Prince played two surprise shows in one night amidst his “21 Night Stand” in Los Angeles.
May 23
James Blake made his Los Angeles debut to a sold-out crowd, covering Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You,” with Joni herself returning to the Troubadour to be present in the audience.
July 31
Red Hot Chili Peppers played their first Los Angeles show with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and debuted several new songs, including “Meet Me at the Corner.”
August 6
Cypress Hill played their first show with Muggs in nine years and were joined by Slash and members of System of a Down.
October 19
Kelly Clarkson performed, previewing her new album Stronger to fans and press a week before its release.
November 16
Vince Gill returned to the Troubadour 35 years after being discovered there by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.
December 7
Lana Del Rey performed to a sold-out crowd on the last performance of the 2011 leg of the Born to Die Tour.
2012
January 25
Alabama Shakes made their Troubadour debut following the announcement of their first album, Boys & Girls.
January 30
Ringo Starr was joined onstage by Joe Walsh and Don Was for his record-release show for Ringo 2012.
July 28
Deftones make their Troubadour debut.
November 13–15
Gary Clark Jr. played a three-night stand in support of his album Blak and Blu.
December 21
Bob Weir, Jackson Browne, and Jeff Lynne joined Heartbreaker Mike Campbell and Jonathan Wilson’s Holiday Jam session, which included the Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway” and “Truckin’.”
2013
Rolling Stone named the Troubadour the second-best rock club in America.
February 9
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell played a special pre-Grammy show with special guests Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, Zac Brown Band, J.D. Souther, Damien Rice, Joan Osborne, Shannon McNally, John Fullbright, and Shawn Camp.
April 25
Rod Stewart made his Troubadour debut, performing songs from his new album Time as well as classics including “Forever Young” and “Have I Told You Lately” in a 10-song set.
April 26
Depeche Mode made their Troubadour debut, performing a 10-song set that included “But Not Tonight,” which had not been played live since 1986.
May 11–12
Tom Jones made his Troubadour debut, playing two nights in support of his album Spirit in the Room. Morrissey and Mel Gibson attended the first show.
July 23
Bastille played their Los Angeles debut show.
September 3
Nine Inch Nails made their Troubadour debut, performing a 21-song set.
November 24
Jackson Browne performed as a special guest at Rock School Scholarship Fund’s benefit show.
November 25
Florida Georgia Line performed a private, invitation-only show for SiriusXM listeners, which was broadcast live on “The Highway,” the satellite radio channel that helped launch their career.
December 2–3
Sam Smith made his Los Angeles debut with two sold-out shows.
2014
Billboard named the Troubadour one of the top five “must-play” venues in the U.S.
January 24
Robert Glasper Experiment performed with special guests Javier Starks, Algebra Blessett, Wayne Brady, PJ Morton, B. Slade, Keyon Harrold, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Lalah Hathaway.
January 28
Elton John returned to the Troubadour to watch a sold-out show by The Strypes.
April 13–15 & 17–18
After rescheduling his previous shows due to emergency heart surgery, David Crosby played five sold-out shows.
May 20
Hozier performed to a sold-out crowd following the breakout success of “Take Me to Church.”
July 14
BTS performed a free surprise show for fans before launching into international superstardom.
September 23
Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators kicked off their Live From the Sunset Strip tour of historic Hollywood venues, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Guitar Center.
October 9–12
Alkaline Trio performed four sold-out shows, featuring two full albums each night from the band’s catalog.
December 6
Broad City’s Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson performed two sold-out live shows in advance of the premiere of the second season of their Comedy Central series.
December 13
John Fogerty made his Troubadour debut at the third annual Merry Minstrel Circus, performing classics including “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Proud Mary.”
2015
The Los Angeles Times gave the Troubadour an A+ rating.
January 29
Sam Hunt played his first headlining show in Los Angeles.
February 20
Imagine Dragons returned to the Troubadour on the first stop of their Destination Dragons tour.
March 9
Dwight Yoakam joined Billy Joe Shaver onstage.
March 18
Demi Lovato performed with special guests including Joe Jonas, with proceeds benefiting the Lovato Treatment Scholarship, which funded mental health treatment for those facing financial hardship.
March 24
Leon Bridges made his Troubadour debut with a sold-out show.
April 2
HAIM played Sam-Jam, benefiting Our House Grief Support Center, with special guests including Jenny Lewis, Kesha, Laura Marling, and Grizzly Bear. Audience members included Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Jaime King, and Kyle Newman.
August 19
Mumford & Sons returned for a midnight show and brought special guests Tom Morello, Mark Hoppus, and T Bone Burnett onstage to perform with them.
August 24
Carly Rae Jepsen celebrated the release of her third album, E•MO•TION with a sold-out show.
September 3
Faith No More played a surprise midnight show.
December 19
Tom Petty surprised the audience at the fourth annual Merry Minstrel Circus with a 10-song set. Other performers included Jeff Lynne, Jackson Browne, and Dawes.
2016
February 13
Bonnie Raitt, Eagles/Frey collaborator Jack Tempchin, Lee Ann Womack, The Civil Wars’ John Paul White, Brandi Carlile, and Jack Ingram performed at Americana’s Pre-Grammy Salute to Glenn Frey, who had died on January 18.
February 17
Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Kelly Rowland attended a show by The-Dream.
April 1
Guns N’ Roses’ classic lineup reunited for a surprise show, marking the first time since 1993 that Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan had performed together onstage.
April 25
Weezer returned to the Troubadour in support of their White Album.
July 20
Alicia Keys played an intimate show, unveiling tracks from her new album and performing favorites including “Fallin’” and “No One.”
October 9–10
Bastille returned to the Troubadour for two sold-out nights.
October 12–13
Margo Price made her Troubadour debut with two sold-out shows following the release of her breakthrough album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter.
October 27
Portugal. The Man returned to the Troubadour with their core band members and played an intimate set for fans, debuting “Noise Pollution” from their 2017 album Woodstock.
October 29
Jimmy Eat World returned to the Troubadour as part of a series of intimate Los Angeles shows celebrating the release of their ninth studio album, Integrity Blues.
2017
January 20
AFI played a sold-out show at the Troubadour on the day of the release of their 10th album.
January 29–February 1
Lucinda Williams performed four consecutive sold-out shows, featuring fan favorites and new songs.
February 11
Loretta Lynn was saluted by the Americana Music Association for her pioneering role in country music. Guest performers included Brandy Clark, Joe Henry, Fantastic Negrito, ZZ Ward, Jack Ingram, Kesha, Shannon McNally, Robbie Fulks, Lynn’s granddaughter Emmy Rose, John Carter Cash, Lynn’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell, and the co-producers of Lynn’s Grammy-nominated 2016 release Full Circle.
March 2
Sheryl Crow played a surprise show.
March 21
Maggie Rogers made her Los Angeles debut with a sold-out show at the Troubadour.
April 28–30
New Found Glory played three sold-out shows as part of their “20 Years of Pop Punk” tour, performing two albums in full each night and allowing fans to choose which albums they heard.
May 2
Ozomatli celebrated the release of their album Non-Stop Mexico to Jamaica with a sold-out show and were joined onstage by Banda La Maravillosa and the Mariachi Divas.
May 19
Harry Styles made his U.S. solo debut at the Troubadour with a surprise show featuring special guest Stevie Nicks, celebrating the release of his self-titled album. The show was announced the day of the performance, with tickets available in person only at Amoeba Music.
August 12–13
Steve Earle & The Dukes performed two sold-out shows.
August 18
Cody Johnson made his Troubadour debut with an intimate sold-out performance.
September 11
Sam Smith returned to the Troubadour, previewing new songs from his sophomore album.
September 18
Help Houston Heal brought artists together for a fundraising show featuring Robert Glasper, Lupe Fiasco, BJ the Chicago Kid, Estelle, Herbie Hancock, Terrace Martin, Chris Dave, and Lalah Hathaway. Proceeds were distributed to Direct Relief and Bread of Life to provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
September 21
Niall Horan performed a surprise private show for Spotify superfans in anticipation of his debut solo album following his departure from One Direction. Former bandmate Louis Tomlinson attended the show.
September 27
Midland celebrated the release of their debut album On the Rocks with a sold-out performance at the Troubadour.
October 10
Billy Bragg played a sold-out show celebrating the release of his book Roots, Radicals, and Rockers.
October 12
Shawn Colvin performed a sold-out show honoring the 20th anniversary and re-release of her breakthrough album A Few Small Repairs.
October 19 & 29–30
Greta Van Fleet performed four sold-out shows.
October 27
Jessie J previewed songs from her 2018 release R.O.S.E. in an intimate show that included an onstage marriage proposal.
November 5
Grace VanderWaal began her first solo concert tour following her 2016 victory on America’s Got Talent with a sold-out show at the Troubadour.
November 14
Stone Temple Pilots played their first live show since the death of original singer Scott Weiland in 2015, introducing Jeff Gutt as their new vocalist.
December 19
The Brian Setzer Orchestra performed a private Christmas show for SiriusXM listeners.
2018
January 17
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives performed a sold-out show featuring their take on classic country.
January 25
Michael Nesmith revived his First National Band for a sold-out performance.
February 3–4
Bermuda Triangle, featuring Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Becca Mancari, and Jesse Lafser, made their Los Angeles debut with two sold-out shows.
February 7–8
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats played two sold-out nights during the week they released the first song from their forthcoming album Tearing at the Seams.
March 16
The Psychedelic Furs performed songs spanning their 40-year career to a sold-out crowd.
April 11
Noah Cyrus made her headlining debut at the Troubadour, with her family watching from the balcony.
April 28
Phoebe Bridgers closed her U.S. tour with a hometown show at the Troubadour, bringing out Conor Oberst and Noah Gundersen. She performed songs from her debut album Stranger in the Alps alongside a selection of covers.
May 2
Bad Religion celebrated the 30th anniversary of their album Suffer with an intimate show at the Troubadour.
May 5
Leon Bridges returned to the Troubadour for an intimate show celebrating the release of his second album.
May 7–9
Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite played three shows in support of their second album as a duo, No Mercy in This Land.
May 30
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer performed a solo acoustic show featuring songs from the band’s catalog and a selection of covers.
June 18–19
King Princess made her Los Angeles headlining debut with two sold-out shows celebrating the release of her breakout EP, Make My Bed.
June 27
The Smashing Pumpkins played their first full show with the original lineup since 2000. The surprise performance was announced the night before, with tickets available only at Amoeba. Davey Havok joined the band during the encore to perform Joy Division’s “Transmission.”
September 5–6
The Marcus King Band played two sold-out shows celebrating the release of their third studio album, Carolina Confessions.
September 12–14
STRFKR celebrated the 10th anniversary of their self-titled debut album with three sold-out shows.
September 28
People Under the Stairs performed to a sold-out crowd, bringing Los Angeles independent hip-hop to the Troubadour stage.
October 12–14, 16–17
Café Tacvba brought their Niu Güeis Tour to the Troubadour for five sold-out nights, performing favorites from their catalog.
November 7
José James celebrated Bill Withers during the year of Withers’s 80th birthday, performing songs from his album of Withers covers, Lean on Me.
November 8
Tyler Childers made his Troubadour debut to a sold-out crowd following the success of his critically acclaimed 2017 album, Purgatory.
November 16
Richie Furay celebrated the 50th anniversary of Poco, performing the band’s classic live album DeLIVErin’ in its entirety alongside songs from Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther-Hillman-Furay, and his solo catalog.
November 18
Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top stopped at the Troubadour as part of his Big Bad Blues Tour, performing to a sold-out crowd.
December 13
Colter Wall made his Troubadour debut following the success of his sophomore release, Songs of the Plains.
2019
January 17
Ryan Hurd made his headlining debut to a sold-out crowd following the release of his second EP, To a T.
January 28
FINNEAS performed a sold-out show featuring songs from his solo work.
February 9
John Prine was saluted by the Americana Music Association for his pioneering role in country music, with performances by Dwight Yoakam, Jody Prine, Bettye LaVette, Margo Price, Bob Weir, Mary Gauthier, The Milk Carton Kids, Ashley McBryde, The Wood Brothers, Anderson East, Cedric Burnside, Maria Muldaur, Punch Brothers, Iron & Wine, Boz Scaggs, Joe Henry, John Paul White, Ian Noe, Billy Raffoul, Logan Ledger, Caitlin Canty, and Willie Watson.
February 19–20
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real performed two sold-out shows featuring guest appearances by Jimmy Buffett and Lucius.
February 22–24
Billy Bragg returned to the Troubadour for a three-night sold-out run.
March 5
Limp Bizkit reunited with their original lineup for the first time since 2012 for a “Three Dollar Show Y’all.” Machine Gun Kelly and Marilyn Manson made guest appearances, with Billy Corgan watching from the balcony.
March 15
Theo Katzman, Joey Dosik, David Ryan Harris, and other musicians came together for a Donny Hathaway tribute, performing music from Donny Hathaway Live, recorded at the Troubadour in 1971.
March 29
Spiritualized played the first California show of their North American tour.
April 17
Melissa Etheridge performed an intimate show celebrating the release of her album The Medicine Show.
May 7
Sammy Hagar & The Circle performed a special SiriusXM show celebrating the release of their album Space Between.
May 8
Incubus returned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Make Yourself, launching a 39-date North American tour.
August 16–17
Orville Peck’s L.A. Rodeo took over the Troubadour for two sold-out nights, hosted by drag queens Meatball and Pinche.
August 22
The Fixx performed an 18-song set featuring hits including “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Stand or Fall.”
September 9
Richard Marx made his Troubadour debut with a sold-out show.
September 18
Billie Eilish performed an exclusive concert for Pandora and SiriusXM listeners, featuring songs from her No. 1 debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
September 29
Sturgill Simpson played an intimate benefit show for the Special Forces Foundation and performed songs from his album Sound & Fury.
October 16–17
Tanya Tucker celebrated the release of her first album in 17 years, While I’m Livin’, with two sold-out shows. The album, co-produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, went on to win two Grammy Awards: Best Country Song and Best Country Album.
October 28
The Growlers returned to the Troubadour after eight years in support of their album Natural Affair.
November 4
Hootie & the Blowfish played the Troubadour for the first time, performing hits including “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” the night before being honored at the Billboard Live Music Awards.
November 14
The Black Crowes reunited to announce their upcoming tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker. They performed the album in its entirety, including songs they had not played live in 30 years.
2020
January 20
BMG hosted its annual Pre-Grammy party featuring Jessie Reyez, India.Arie, Lewis Capaldi, and Lindsay Ell. Billy Ray Cyrus also made a surprise appearance.
January 25
Americanafest’s Pre-Grammy Salute to Willie Nelson took place, celebrating his unforgettable songs. The night included performances by John Prine, Andrew Bird, Rhiannon Giddens, Shooter Jennings, Joe Henry, Amos Lee, Yola, I’m With Her, Iron & Wine, Calexico and The War and Treaty, Ida Mae, Madison Cunningham, Sierra Ferrell, and Francesco Turrisi.
March 11
Glass Animals performed the last show before the coronavirus pandemic caused nationwide concert and music festival cancellations, ultimately resulting in a 13-month shutdown of the club.
October 16–18
The Troubadour participated in Save Our Stages Fest, a three-day virtual music festival presented by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) in partnership with YouTube to support independent music venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The livestream series featured performances from YG, Marshmello + Demi Lovato, JP Saxe, Phoebe Bridgers, Leon Bridges, and Foo Fighters, among others.
2021
June 24–30 & July 5–14
John Mulaney reopened the club with 15 nights of performances spanning June 24–30 & July 5–14.
September 3
LANY held a surprise record-release show for their new album gg bb xx.
October 1
Twenty One Pilots kicked off the Los Angeles leg of their Takeøver Tour and returned to the Troubadour stage.
October 24
Troubadour alumni Greta Van Fleet returned to perform an intimate show before their two sold-out shows at the Greek Theatre.
October 28
Marcus King spent an evening at the club performing songs including “Wildflowers & Wine” and “The Well.”
November 23
NHC, a supergroup comprised of Dave Navarro, Taylor Hawkins, and Chris Chaney, rocked out at the club. The members of the band gushed about each other between songs, explaining how they had been fans of one another for years and enjoyed every moment of being in a band together.
2022
January 25
Third Eye Blind celebrated 25 years of In the Blind with an intimate performance.
February 28
Chris Carrabba, leader of Dashboard Confessional, debuted his newest album, All the Truth That I Can Tell, the first-ever live performance of the album.
April 10
The Linda Lindas made their sold-out Troubadour debut.
April 22
Gavin DeGraw stopped by the Troubadour on his Full Circle Tour.
April 29, May 2 & May 4–6
Netflix Is a Joke Festival took over the club with comedic performances from Becky Robinson, Kevin Smith, Craig Robinson, Ron Funches, Hasan Minhaj, and Ronny Chieng.
May 11
The Black Keys celebrated their Dropout Boogie album release with a sold-out show.
May 18
The Chainsmokers played an intimate release show for their new album So Far So Good.
June 3
David Ryan Harris & Scary Goldings played to a sold-out room and surprised the crowd when John Mayer joined them onstage.
June 22
Dwight Yoakam & Chris Hillman performed a private set to help announce The Western Edge exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, which highlighted the history of Los Angeles’ influence on country music.
June 27
Jelly Roll took the stage ahead of his national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
July 13–14
FINNEAS performed two sold-out shows ahead of his new single “Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.” Fans received an extra surprise on night two when he brought out his sister, Billie Eilish, to perform “Hostage” and “Happier Than Ever.”
July 31
Hearty Har made their Troubadour debut, bringing out surprise guest John Fogerty to end the show.
August 17
Chappell Roan made her sold-out Troubadour debut.
September 19
Goat Punishment, a.k.a. Weezer, performed a secret show for fans and played their SZNZ: Autumn album for the first time before its release.
September 26–27
Michelle Branch took the stage for two consecutive sold-out nights, playing both new and nostalgic hits.
October 6–7
Lizzy McAlpine made her Troubadour debut and brought out special guests FINNEAS, Jacob Collier, and John Mayer throughout the two special nights.
October 18
Ashe returned to the Troubadour for a one-night-only performance of her sophomore album, Rae.
November 14
Supergroup L.S. Dunes, fronted by Circa Survive and Saosin vocalist Anthony Green, with My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero, Coheed and Cambria guitarist Travis Stever, and Thursday bassist Tim Payne and drummer Tucker Rule, rocked the Troubadour.
December 6
Renée Rapp kicked off her first headlining tour, Everything to Everyone, at the Troubadour, selling out two consecutive shows in one night.
December 15
Billy Gibbons returned to the Troubadour to celebrate his birthday with a sold-out crowd, performing songs including “La Grange” and “Thunderbird.”
2023
February 4
The Americana Music Association presented a pre-Grammy salute to Lucinda Williams with special performances by Mumford & Sons, Brittney Spencer, Grace Potter, Molly Tuttle, Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, Charlie Hickey, Lucius, Katie Pruitt, Watkins Family Hour, and Abraham Alexander.
March 9–10
Stephen Sanchez took over the Troubadour with two sold-out nights. Elton John dropped in on night two and supported Stephen from the crowd.
March 15
RAYE made her Troubadour debut, performing songs including “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Oscar Winning Tears.”
March 19
Sharon Van Etten celebrated 11 years of Tramp and surprised the crowd with special guest Angel Olsen.
March 31
Dorothy took the stage and performed her song “Gifts from the Holy Ghost” with a surprise guest appearance from Slash.
May 9
The Hives performed “Countdown to Shutdown” and other classic hits to a sold-out crowd.
May 25–27
All Them Witches performed three consecutive sold-out shows, with each night highlighting a different album: Lightning at the Door, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, and Sleeping Through the War in their entirety.
May 31
Hozier performed to a sold-out crowd, previewing several songs from his upcoming album Unreal Unearth.
June 5
Counting Crows teamed up with SiriusXM to surprise fans with a special show celebrating the kickoff of their Banshee Season tour.
June 19
Comedian Bill Burr performed a stand-up set for a sold-out crowd.
September 25
Tori Kelly closed out The Take Control Tour in Los Angeles, performing “Paper Hearts” and “Never Alone.”
September 29–30
Lauren Mayberry, lead singer of CHVRCHES, returned to the Troubadour for her solo debut with two consecutive sold-out nights.
October 6
Mitch Rowland, longtime guitarist for Harry Styles celebrated his debut solo album, Come June, with a sold-out crowd.
October 13
Megan Moroney played her first sold-out show at the Troubadour.
2024
Billboard named the Troubadour a Top Music Venue of 2024.
IEBA named the Troubadour its 2024 Club of the Year.
February 3
Americanafest’s Pre-Grammy Salute to Paul Simon took place. The Blind Boys of Alabama, Grace Bowers, Dwight Yoakam, Brett Dennen, Jason Isbell, Rufus Wainwright, and more took the stage to celebrate one of America’s most revered songwriters.
February 20–21
The Beaches stopped by the Troubadour on their Blame My Ex Tour for two consecutive sold-out nights.
February 26–27
Snail Mail performed two sold-out shows and covered Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag.”
March 9
A Tribute to Aretha Franklin took place, with Jennifer Hudson closing out the show.
March 12
Mt. Joy took the stage for a surprise secret pop-up show and performed “Highway Queen” live for the first time since its release.
March 26
The Nicotine Dolls took the stage for a sold-out night, kicking off the set with “Til We Both Say” and performing classic covers including Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You” and Cher’s “Believe.”
May 4–12
Netflix Is a Joke Comedy Festival returned to the Troubadour featuring Dusty Slay, Joel Kim Booster, Craig Robinson, Nicole Byer, Paul Virzi, and Moshe Kasher.
May 23–24
Medium Build played two consecutive sold-out shows and shared the story of how part of his song “Never Learned to Dance” was written about sitting in the Troubadour balcony.
May 31
All Time Low returned to the Troubadour stage for an intimate sold-out performance.
June 24
X returned to the Troubadour for an intimate show and brought out Dwight Yoakam to read a proclamation from the City of West Hollywood praising the band.
July 17
The Red Clay Strays held a surprise album-release show for their new album Made by These Moments, performing the album in full days before its release.
July 23
Role Model celebrated the release of his new record Kansas Anymore with a one-night-only album-release show and brought out special guest Gracie Abrams.
August 2
Hermanos Gutiérrez performed a special show to an intimate sold-out crowd.
August 11
Peter Cat Recording Co. took the stage to perform to a sold-out crowd celebrating the release of their new album BETA.
August 21
KALEO performed to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour.
August 30–September 1
The Get Up Kids returned to the Troubadour for their Something to Write Home About 25th Anniversary Tour, performing three consecutive sold-out shows.
September 6–7
The Ocean Blue performed their beloved 1989 debut album for two consecutive sold-out nights.
September 15
Hippo Campus performed an intimate special album-release show ahead of the official release of their new album Flood.
September 30
Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham performed Cunningham Bird Do Buckingham Nicks live onstage to a sold-out crowd. The original was also performed at the Troubadour on October 20, 1973.
October 1
GOOSE returned to the Troubadour for a fan-club-only pop-up charity show benefiting La Playa Centro Comunitario in San José del Cabo and brought out Will Forte to cover Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”
October 7
Mötley Crüe made the Troubadour the first stop of their Höllywood Takeöver and arrived in a garbage truck.
October 20–21
JET celebrated the 20th anniversary of their debut album Get Born with two consecutive sold-out shows, playing “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” and many other classic hits.
October 27
Hawthorne Heights returned to the Troubadour to celebrate 20 years of The Silence in Black and White with two back-to-back sold-out shows in one day.
November 15–16
Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners performed two sold-out nights at the Troubadour, covering Tame Impala’s “Elephant.”
November 26
Orla Gartland closed out her first North American tour with a sold-out show at the Troubadour and covered Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova.”
November 29–December 1
OZMA dominated their hometown shows with three back-to-back sold-out nights.
December 3
Brett Young performed Songs & Stories to an intimate sold-out crowd.
December 12–13
Marcus King returned to the Troubadour for two intimate acoustic performances.
December 18–20
Billy Gibbons’ Birthday Jam returned to the Troubadour for three sold-out nights to celebrate his 75th birthday, featuring special guests Seasick Steve, Slash, Kingfish, Jerry Cantrell, and others.
2025
January 22
For Los Angeles: A Benefit for Those Impacted by L.A. Wildfires brought together a sold-out night of music, community, and compassion featuring performances by Annika Bennett, Dawes, Local Natives, Lydia Night, Madison Cunningham, Medium Build, Olivia O’Brien, Phantom Planet, Winnetka Bowling League, and more. The night raised $46,520 to support those affected by the devastating L.A. wildfires.
January 29
Spacey Jane made their sold-out Troubadour debut with an exhilarating, intimate performance.
January 31
The Coverups, the side project of Billie Joe Armstrong and fellow Green Day members, played to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour for an L.A. Fire Relief concert benefiting Altadena Girls and Altadena Boys. The band powered through a set of iconic covers including “Summer of ’69,” “American Girl,” “Rockaway Beach,” “Last Night,” “Ziggy Stardust,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” and many more hits to raise funds for the cause.
February 1
Americanafest’s Pre-Grammy Salute to John Hiatt took place. Joe Bonamassa, Cedric Burnside, Brandy Clark, Shemekia Copeland, Lyle Lovett, Tom Morello, and John Hiatt himself all took the stage to honor one of America’s most influential songwriters.
February 12
British rock band Wunderhorse made their U.S. debut with a sold-out, electrifying performance at the Troubadour.
February 25–26
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets took over the Troubadour for two consecutive sold-out nights. Lowe delivered favorites including “Cruel to Be Kind” and his version of “(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding,” while Los Straitjackets performed instrumental gems including “The Theme from The Magnificent Seven” and “Bird Dance Beat.”
March 24
Trisha Yearwood returned to the Troubadour decades after making her debut on the stage in the ’90s, performing to a sold-out crowd. She played a mix of new songs and timeless hits, including “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” “Walkaway Joe,” and “She’s in Love with the Boy.”
April 10
At 70 years old, cult favorite Robert Lester Folsom made his long-awaited California debut with a sold-out show at the Troubadour. Originally released in 1976, his album Music and Dreams remained under the radar for decades before gaining recognition as a beloved private-press classic.
May 5–6
Australian indie-pop duo Royel Otis played two sold-out nights at the Troubadour, mixing fan-favorite covers including “Linger” and “Murder on the Dancefloor” with the live debut of their new song “moody.”
May 23
MIRADOR made their Troubadour debut with a sold-out show, introducing the new project from Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and Ida Mae’s Chris Turpin to a packed room.
June 18
Band of Skulls returned to the Troubadour for a sold-out night, bringing their gritty blues-rock back to our stage for the first time since 2016.
June 20–21
Superdrag sold out two nights at the Troubadour for Destination Superdrag. The band revisited their ’90s power-pop roots and played fan favorite “Comfortably Bummed” live for the first time since 1999.
June 25
Lake Street Dive returned to the Troubadour for a sold-out show benefiting Union Station Homeless Services. Dawes opened the night, and the show raised funds for L.A. wildfire relief.
June 29
Rising indie-pop duo The Two Lips made their sold-out Troubadour debut, performing their original songs and covers of The Marías and Clairo.
July 18–20
The Buttertones made a sold-out, three-night return to our stage.
July 21–22
Wolf Alice made their sold-out, two-night stand at the Troubadour, delivering favorites including “Smile” and “Giant Peach” alongside new tracks such as “Bloom Baby Bloom” and “The Sofa” in preview of their upcoming 2025 album The Clearing.
August 19
To celebrate 10 years of EMOTION, Carly Rae Jepsen returned to our stage for a sold-out, intimate anniversary performance. She delivered deep album cuts including “LA Hallucinations” and “Favourite Colour,” alongside classic hits including “Call Me Maybe” and fan favorite “Store.”
September 4–5
Young the Giant sold out two nights at the Troubadour, performing their debut self-titled album in full on September 4 and Mind Over Matter in full on September 5 to celebrate the two iconic milestone records.
September 28–30
Lucinda Williams sold out three nights at the Troubadour, treating audiences to a mix of her revered Americana catalog. She performed classics including “Stolen Moments” and “Fruits of My Labor,” with each night drawing from her decades-long career.
October 26
VOILÀ made their sold-out Troubadour debut with a thematic live show.
October 28
Rising theatrical synth-pop duo Haute & Freddy made their sold-out Troubadour debut, featuring costumes, specialty acts, and a performance-driven, engaging live show.
November 14
Portugal. The Man returned to the Troubadour for a sold-out show, bringing their new album SHISH to life in an intimate, high-energy performance.
November 24
Kimya Dawson’s highly anticipated sold-out Troubadour performance brought fans an intimate night of beloved songs, including “Tire Swing,” “Loose Lips,” and “You Are My Baby.”
December 9–10
Legendary music photographer Henry Diltz returned to our stage for two back-to-back nights of Once Upon a Troubadour, presenting his seminal images and sharing the stories behind the artists and moments captured through his lens. Micky Dolenz gave a heartfelt introduction both nights, while special musical guests Chris Stills and America performed, celebrating the music and moments that defined a generation.
December 12–13
Ramones X, the Ramones tribute band fronted by Davey Havok and Josh James, sold out the Troubadour for two back-to-back nights, delivering fan favorites and deep cuts from the punk band’s iconic catalog.
2026
Pollstar named Troubadour Nightclub of the Year
January 14–15
The Lemon Twigs played two back-to-back sold-out nights at the Troubadour as part of a limited U.S. run supporting their 2024 album A Dream Is All We Know.
January 17–18
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra played three sold-out shows across two days, joined by special guests Charlie Puth, Laufey, Seth MacFarlane, Haley Reinhart, and Kaitlyn Dever.
January 26
Devon Again made her headline debut with a sold out show.
January 31
Americanafest’s Pre-Grammy Salute to Neil Young took place. Evangeline, Alex Amen, Rhiannon Giddens, The Milk Carton Kids, Sierra Hull, Leif Vollebekk, Chris Pierce, Ketch Secor, Margo Price, Molly Tuttle, Maggie Rose, Katie Pruitt, Young the Giant, Gold Star, Jesse Welles, I’m With Her, and Grace Potter all took the stage to honor one of America’s most iconic and beloved songwriters.
February 12
Skye Newman made her debut at Troubadour to a sold out show.
February 20
The Mainliners made their sold-out Troubadour debut with iconic Red Hot Chili Peppers Anthony Kiedis and Flea showing support from the audience.
March 3 & 6
Sienna Spiro kicked off her debut U.S. headlining tour at the Troubadour with two sold-out shows, performing her viral hit “Die on This Hill” and premiering new material.
March 9–10
Jonah Kagen played two back-to-back sold-out nights.
March 11–13
Phantogram performed three consecutive sold-out nights, debuting a new live show and performing as a two-piece for the first time in 15 years. Set highlights included new material and fan favorites such as “Fall in Love,” “Don’t Move,” and “Mouthful of Diamonds.”
March 14–15
Darren Hayes played two back-to-back sold-out nights, his first shows since 2023 and his only planned performances of 2026. The sets featured songs from his solo catalog and selections of Savage Garden material.
March 23
Rock for Jennifer: Loud & Legendary, a tribute show, took place at the Troubadour, honoring Jennifer Perry, former Troubadour booker and a respected figure in the Los Angeles rock scene for decades. The sold-out charity concert featured an all-star lineup including Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Gilby Clarke, Taime Downe, and others, who reunited onstage for performances of “It’s So Easy” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
April 4
Justin Bieber performed a surprise show at the Troubadour, delivering an intimate invite-only performance for fans ahead of his Coachella 2026 headline set
May 19-20
Buffalo Traffic Jam made their Troub Debut with two sold out nights.
August 5
Cheap Trick returned to the Troubadour for a sold-out surprise club performance, delivering classics including “Dream Police,” “I Want You to Want Me,” and “Surrender.”
September 10-15
Bleachers took over the Troubadour for a special five-night residency. Across five unforgettable nights, the band welcomed a series of special guests to the stage, including Carly Rae Jepsen and The Chicks,.