West Hollywood has always been renowned for live music. As far as rock history goes, Sunset Strip has long dominated headlines thanks to its glitzy, chaotic past as a haunt for some of the most famous names in the game. Legendary venues like Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy Theatre and the Troubadour are still positioned as some of the most coveted venues for live music in the country.
And so we’re surprised it’s taken so long for WeHo to lock this in. Throughout November this year, the most energetic area of Los Angeles will be anchoring a month-long celebration of music with a free concert series. Live on Sunset, a massive, free, one-day outdoor music festival taking place on Saturday 14th November, is being pitched as a new annual event bringing the Sunset Strip to life.
And headlining it will be none other than Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sheryl Crow.
Returning to the same stretch of Sunset Boulevard where she played some of her earliest shows, the rock ‘n’ roll icon will front a lineup of buzzy names including Local Natives, Empress Of, Grace Bowers, Doug Locke and Mia Moretti.
With both established icons and rising voices mixed, it’s being pitched as a full-circle moment for Crow and the lively strip itself.
November is the month of live music in West Hollywood
Live on Sunset may be the major draw, but businesses throughout the Strip will be getting in on the action with regular music experiences across the colourful corridor.
Hotel Ziggy and The Peppermint Club, relative newcomers compared to the aforementioned music clubs, will be hosting their own music showcases as usual. I stayed at Ziggy for a night earlier this year and the hotel’s regular Backbeat series, which showcases local musicians in an intimate bandroom, is a great example of how WeHo’s musical identity has found its way into the neighbourhood’s hotels.
The legendary Sunset Marquis is another worth knowing about, particularly with its recording studio and new documentary, If These Walls Could Rock, exploring the hotel’s long relationship with famous musicians. Meanwhile, The Sun Rose has become a coveted performance space, having recently hosted the likes of Stevie Wonder and Dave Grohl.
For anyone planning a Los Angeles trip this November, there’s a strong case for spending a few nights in West Hollywood and making the most of its live music scene. Live on Sunset is primed to be the start of a new era for a strip steeped in so much pop culture legend, so if you’re over in L.A. around mid-November, I highly recommend you go ahead and witness the evolution of one of America’s most beloved party precincts.
Live on Sunset takes place on Saturday 14th November 2026, along Sunset Boulevard between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. Admission is free, although registration is required and opens on Wednesday 14th October via liveonsunsetweho.com.
5 things you need to do on the Sunset Strip
If it’s your first time trying to make sense of the strip, which I view as divided into three segments: the luxury side (with all the hotels), the shopping centre, and the symbolic dip into debauchery (where all the music clubs and bars are), then take note of the following. These are three non-negotiables on the Sunset Strip.
Have dinner and drinks at The Rainbow Bar & Grill
You can’t talk about the Sunset Strip without mentioning the Rainbow. Opened in 1972, this legendary rock ‘n’ roll hangout has welcomed everyone from Guns N’ Roses to Led Zeppelin, although its most famous regular was undoubtedly Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, whose statue now stands outside. Come for some hearty Italian-American food, stay for the atmosphere and the possibility of rubbing shoulders with a few ageing rockers.
Party by the rooftop pool at The Andaz
Once known as the infamous “Riot House”, this hotel was a favourite of rock stars during the 1960s and 1970s. Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones were among its notorious guests, with tales of outrageous behaviour becoming part of Sunset Strip folklore. These days, the Andaz is much more civilised, although its gorgeous, intimate rooftop pool and summer DJ sessions still make it one of the more exciting places to stay in West Hollywood.
Chill out at 1 Hotel West Hollywood’s Juniper Garden
For a completely different side of the Strip, head to the gorgeous Juniper Lounge and Garden at 1 Hotel West Hollywood. The leafy indoor-outdoor space is a welcome reprieve from Sunset Boulevard’s constant activity, with thoughtful cocktails drawing on ingredients grown in the hotel’s own organic garden. It’s one of my favourite places to settle in for a drink before heading out for a big night.
See a show at Whisky a Go Go
Few live music venues anywhere in the world can claim the kind of history you’ll find at Whisky a Go Go. Opened in 1964, the club famously employed The Doors as its house band before Jim Morrison was fired in 1966. Jimi Hendrix and Mötley Crüe would also grace its stage, helping establish the venue as one of rock music’s most important institutions. Seeing a band here should be high on any music lover’s Los Angeles bucket list.
Catch an intimate gig at The Viper Room
Johnny Depp helped establish The Viper Room in 1993, and the famously dark nightclub quickly became synonymous with Hollywood’s more rebellious side. River Phoenix tragically died outside the venue that same year, although its musical legacy is just as significant, having hosted intimate performances from Johnny Cash and Tom Petty. It’s a much smaller, grittier experience than the Strip’s bigger venues, which is precisely why it’s worth visiting.
For more things to do in WeHo head to VisitWestHollywood.com.
