Joy Oladokun at The Bellwether: The Heavy Things Tour

Joy Oladokun is one of the more affecting songwriters working in folk-leaning pop right now, and on Friday, October 23, 2026, she brings The Heavy Things Tour to The Bellwether in downtown Los Angeles. If you keep a list of LA concerts worth a weeknight-to-weekend splurge this month, this one belongs on it.

When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 8:00 PM Where: The Bellwether, 333 S Boylston St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 With: Madeline Edwards Tickets: Through Ticketmaster (price not listed at publish time)

What to expect

Oladokun writes plainspoken songs about doubt, faith, family and getting through hard seasons, and she tends to deliver them with an acoustic guitar and a voice that goes from hushed to full-throated in a single chorus. The tour's name is a fair preview. Expect songs that sit with difficult feelings rather than hurrying past them, along with the wry humor she is known for between numbers.

Madeline Edwards is on the bill as well. Arriving early is a good idea at a show like this, since an opening set from a songwriter in the same lane is part of the draw rather than something to skip.

The venue

The Bellwether is a modern, multi-level room in the South Park stretch of downtown. The main floor is standing, and a balcony level wraps above it. For this show, the venue is offering an upgraded Looking Glass Lounge option at checkout. It includes access to a preferred, stage-adjacent standing room viewing section on the balcony level of the Main Room, plus entry to the Looking Glass Lounge 30 minutes before the show and throughout it. The venue's own site, thebellwetherla.com, lists the rules and logistics for the night.

Getting there

Downtown parking varies a lot on a concert night, so book a garage ahead or plan on a rideshare. The 7th Street/Metro Center and Pico stations are both within reach on foot, which makes the Metro a sensible choice if you would rather skip the traffic. Leave extra time if you are coming from the Westside or the Valley on a Friday evening.

If you are building a Friday plan, there are plenty of places to eat nearby before doors, and plenty of other things to do in Los Angeles that week if you want to make a whole night of it. For live music in Los Angeles, a room this size with a songwriter this good is hard to beat.

Check the Ticketmaster page for current availability and ticket tiers, since pricing and the lounge upgrade can change as the date approaches. Start time is 8:00 PM, so confirm door and set times with the venue before you head out.