Leonid & Friends at The Wiltern: Chicago Tribute 2026

Leonid & Friends are coming to The Wiltern on Sunday, November 15, and if you've never seen them, the short version is this: a band from Russia that plays the old Chicago catalog, horns and all, so closely that a lot of people who clicked on their YouTube videos assumed they were listening to the original records. For anyone hunting through upcoming events Los Angeles has on the fall calendar, this is an easy one to circle.

Who they are

The project started with Leonid Vorobyev, a Moscow producer who wanted to rebuild the Chicago sound from the ground up. He pulled together session players and singers, recorded the parts one by one, and posted the results online. Those videos took off, and the "friends" became a touring band. The live lineup is big. You'll see a full horn section, keys, guitars, a drummer and several lead vocalists trading off songs.

Chicago is the backbone of the set. Expect the brass-driven early stuff alongside the ballads that ran on radio for years. The band has also recorded songs from Earth, Wind & Fire and other horn-heavy acts from the same era, so don't be surprised if a few of those turn up too. Ticketmaster files the night under rock, which fits: this is loud, tight, sweaty music, not a polite tribute act.

The room

The Wiltern is a 1931 Art Deco theater on Wilshire at Western, right on the edge of Koreatown. The green terra cotta exterior is worth a look before you go in. Inside, the main floor is usually general admission standing room with a sloped balcony above, which suits a band that tends to get the crowd on its feet by the second or third song.

Practical info

• Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
• Doors: 7:00 p.m. Show: 8:00 p.m. (the venue says times and supporting acts can change)
• Venue: The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
• Ages: All ages. Every person needs a ticket, kids included.
• Bags: Up to 12" x 6" x 12". Everything gets searched, and bags that aren't clear get an extra look.
• Tickets: Sold through Ticketmaster. Pricing wasn't published in the listing we checked, so look there for current rates.

The Metro D Line stops at Wilshire/Western, basically at the theater's door, which beats hunting for street parking in Koreatown on a Sunday night. Paid lots nearby fill up fast when the Wiltern sells out. If you're driving, give yourself an extra 20 minutes.

It's a Sunday show, so plan on a school-night finish. That also makes it one of the more family-friendly things to do in Los Angeles that week, since it's all ages and the parents in the room probably owned these songs on vinyl.

More shows are on our concerts page, and you'll find other things happening in Los Angeles on the Los Angeles neighborhood page.