Pacific Electric Is L.A.'s Newest Venue and It Looks Incredible

L.A. just got a new room and it might be the most exciting venue opening the city has seen in years. Pacific Electric is a 750-capacity concert venue tucked inside the historic Naud Warehouse, right where Mission Junction meets Chinatown. Named after L.A.'s legendary Red Car railway system, the venue is the first West Coast project from tvg Hospitality, the company founded by Mumford & Sons co-founder Ben Lovett back in 2016. And based on the early lineup, they're not messing around.

The Room Itself

I'll be real, a 750-cap room is the sweet spot. Big enough to pull serious talent, small enough that every show feels like an event. Pacific Electric features a multi-tier three-level mezzanine, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, large bars, and the kind of cutting-edge design work that makes you actually want to hang out before doors. The address is 1729 Naud St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, and you can check out the full venue details at pacificelectric.la.

The Opening Lineup

Pacific Electric kicked things off on March 19 with a private show from L.A. folk rockers Dawes. That's a statement of intent right there. A local band, a hometown crowd, no fanfare. Just music. Dawes released their album Oh Brother in late 2024, which saw Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith pushing the band's sound in new creative directions. Perfect choice to christen a venue that says it wants to put local talent first.

The first ticketed show was TimeCop1983 on March 20, followed by a KCRW-presented show from indie pop band Voxtrot on March 26. But honestly, the bookings only get better from there.

The Big Names Already Booked

On April 11, Pacific Electric hosts the California Chaos festival featuring California-based acts including Militarie Gun and Stateside. Cut Worms rolls through on April 28. Then on May 10, nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones takes the stage. Let that sink in. Norah Jones in a 750-person room. She'll reportedly be performing beloved tracks like "Come Away With Me," "Don't Know Why," and "Sunrise," alongside newer material from her latest album Visions, a collaboration with producer Leon Michels. If you can get tickets to that one, do not hesitate.

Other confirmed names on the early calendar include Aimee Mann, Joseph, Rose Gray, Alexander Stewart, and Marlon Magnée of La Femme. That's a seriously diverse range of bookings for a brand new room.

Netflix Is A Joke Fest Takeover

Here's where it gets even more interesting. Pacific Electric will host 12 shows during the upcoming Netflix Is A Joke Fest in May, welcoming comedians and musicians including Robby Hoffman, Guster, Emil Wakim, and Jimmy O. Yang. For a venue that hasn't even been open a full two months by that point, landing a dozen festival shows is a pretty clear sign that the industry is already paying attention.

The Food Situation

This is the part that honestly sets Pacific Electric apart. They've partnered with Badmaash, the Indian street food specialists, to run a "Secret Indian Food Window" during shows. It's located in the venue's outdoor garden near the entrance, and they're serving concert-friendly handheld dishes. Think chicken tikka poutine, wagyu skirt steak street tacos, butter chicken tacos, and a vegetarian-friendly aloo gobi option. Most venue food is an afterthought. This is not that.

Why This Matters for L.A.

L.A. has no shortage of live music venues, but the mid-capacity range is where the magic happens. A 750-cap room with real investment in sound, design, and programming is exactly what a lot of neighborhoods in this city have been missing. The fact that it's in Chinatown, in a historic warehouse, with a food program that actually competes with restaurants, and booking everyone from synthwave artists to Grammy winners? That's not a venue. That's a destination.

Ben Lovett clearly knows what musicians and fans actually want from a room. tvg Hospitality has already proven the concept on the East Coast, and bringing that same energy to L.A. feels overdue.

Get Tickets

Tickets for upcoming Pacific Electric shows are available now on Ticketmaster. Keep an eye on the venue's website too, because the way this calendar is filling up, the good ones are going to move fast. Don't sleep on this room.

Cover photo courtesy of Ticketmaster