Sammy Rae & The Friends at The Wiltern With Melt

Sammy Rae & The Friends play The Wiltern on Sunday, October 4, with Melt along as special guest. Doors-to-encore, this is a show built for dancing, and it lands on a Sunday night, which makes it one of the better LA events this weekend if you don't mind a slower Monday morning.

Who's playing

Sammy Rae & The Friends come out of Brooklyn. The "Friends" part isn't a figure of speech: it's a full band with a horn section, backing vocalists and a rhythm section that leans on funk and jazz as much as pop. Sammy Rae fronts it all with a big, brassy voice and a stage presence that's closer to a bandleader at a wedding you actually want to be at than a pop singer working a mic stand.

A lot of people found them through "Kick It To Me," the song that took off online and pulled a crowd of new fans to their shows. Those shows got a reputation fast. Fans dress up, sing the horn lines back, and treat the whole night like a party they were personally invited to.

Melt opens. They're a New York band too, and their sound sits in the same soul-leaning pop lane, so the bill hangs together well. Get there for their set rather than drifting in halfway through.

What to expect

Expect a loud, happy room. Sammy Rae crowds are known for costumes and glitter, and the band stretches songs out with solos and call-and-response bits that turn the floor into one big singalong.

The Wiltern is a good fit for that. It's a 1931 art deco theater with a sunburst ceiling and a tiered general admission floor, so the back of the room still gets a clean view of the stage. It's big enough to feel like a real night out and small enough that a band this size doesn't get lost in it.

Practical info

The show starts at 7 PM on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Ticket prices weren't published in the listing we could check, so look at the Ticketmaster page for current tiers and fees before you buy.

The Wiltern sits at Wilshire and Western on the edge of Koreatown. The Metro D Line stops at Wilshire/Western right beside the theater, which is easier than hunting for parking on a show night. There are paid lots around the intersection, and rideshare drop-offs on Wilshire are simple. Koreatown has barbecue and late-night noodle spots within a few blocks if you want dinner before doors or something after.

If you're scanning things to do in Los Angeles for early October, this is an easy yes for anyone who likes horns, harmonies and a crowd that actually dances. For more things happening in Los Angeles, check the Los Angeles neighborhood page or the full arts and culture calendar.