Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and Dolly Parton parties are popping all over Southern California
With big-name artists embarking on huge arena tours in 2023, several of these major events sold out in minutes. Fans who missed the opportunity to see the real deal can still join in the fun and fandom at a local tribute party.
Pop-up dance and disco nights are slowly but surely taking over venues in Southern California, and this year there are already several to visit. Whether you’re a swiftie who couldn’t get a ticket to the Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in time, a 9-5 worker who adores Dolly Parton, a bad bunny Stan, or an indie rock lover – or emo music, there’s a feast for everyone.
Here is a list of some of the upcoming themed events. Check the official venue websites and ticket vendors for the most up-to-date event information and ticket prices.
Bad bunny nights
Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny’s music will rock the clubs with hits like “Tití Me Preguntó”, “Me Porto Bonito”, “La Canion” and other Perreo-inspired tracks. Some of these bad bunny parties play a mix of benito and reggaeton classics, while others focus solely on the latino star. Make sure you check the relevant websites for more details as, like anything that becomes popular, there is more than one promoter. 10 p.m. Friday, January 13 at the Regent Theater, 448 S Main St, Los Angeles. 18+ Tickets start at $10 at Ticketmaster.com; 9 p.m. Sunday, January 15 at The Reserve, 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles. 21 years and older. Tickets are free until 11pm, with VIP options starting at $20 at Eventbrite.com.
emo night
The ultra pop punk and emo dance party makes its debut in 2023 with nights in Pomona and San Diego. Creators TJ Petracca and Morgan Freed brought Emo Nite to life by mixing a playlist on an iPad in an Echo Park bar, and eight years later it became one of the most requested and immersive experiences ever. Music from the likes of Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance and A Day To Remember will likely be played on these nights, and you never know which popular emo artists will actually show up to join in the fun. Saturday, January 14 at 7 p.m. at The Glasshouse, 200 West 2nd Street, Pomona. Every age. Friday, January 20 at 9 p.m. at the Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. 21 years and older. Tickets start at $16 at emonite.com.
indie sleaze
The indie sleaze era took place from the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, and prided itself on mismatched fits made possible by American Apparel and amateur flashing Polaroids, which were quickly posted to Tumblr. The bands that fueled this movement were artists like The Strokes, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Bloc Party. Though the hype around this area has cooled, it appears to be returning with a swing of indie sleaze dance parties. This special event will feature bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Castles, MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix and more. The party will have two dedicated rooms, go-go dancers and Say Cheese And Die photo booths. Friday, January 20 at 9:30 p.m. at Boardners by La Belle, 1652 N Cherokee Ave., Hollywood. 18-and-over. Tickets start at $15 on Eventbrite.com.
Daft punk disco
Daft Punk may be on hiatus, but Daft Disco is still alive and kicking. The French house and daft punk themed party will play all the hits from the “Get Lucky” house DJs and hits from groups like Phoenix, Disclosure, Stardust, St. Germain, Cassius, Neon Indian, Breakbot and more. 9 p.m. Saturday, January 21 at 5:20 p.m., 1720 E. 16th St., Los Angeles. 21 years and older. General admission is free before 10pm and tickets start at $15 for guaranteed entry at Eventbrite.com.
Dolly disco
The touring disco party is a Dolly Parton themed country western disco extravaganza with a Rainbowland theme to match the affair. Other disco and country ladies are featured in the mix including Tina Turner, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, The Chicks, Loretta Lynn, Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. Friday, January 27 at 8 p.m. at the Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. 21 years and older. Tickets start at $17 at Thedollydisco.com.
electrical feeling
The experimental dance party is making stops in Los Angeles and Pomona during their nine-city tour to play a mix of ’00s indie dance music. With a party-festival feel, attendees will be transported by LED visuals, various DJs playing specific themes, and special guest appearances. Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m. at The Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona. 18 years and older; 9 p.m. Saturday, January 28 at the Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles. 21 years and older. Tickets start at $18 at electricfeelsparty.com.
Taylor Swift nights
As the Swifties scramble to get tickets to the recently announced North American Eras Tour, fans can still join in the fun with the Taylor Swift-inspired Taylor Parties making their way to Southern California. Each stop consists of Swift’s best-loved hits, Swift-inspired decorations, and fans celebrating “anti-hero” pop stress throughout the decades. Saturday, February 18 at 8 p.m. at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, 3485 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside. 18 years and older; Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. at the Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. 21 years and older. Tickets start at $18-22 at Taylorswiftnight.com.
