It’s safe to say that 2025 was a year full of incredible live music. I went to so many shows that I wasn’t even able to count them out. On this final day of the year, I thought, what better way to reminisce than going through my favorite concerts from 2025? There were countless shows to choose from, but I think I had a pretty solid year of live music.
Addison Rae at Greek Theater
In case you haven’t noticed, for me, 2025 was the year of Addison Rae. Her debut album was my favorite project that came out this year. I was fortunate to catch her last night of her sold out U.S. tour at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Being the last date of the tour, I had seen dozens of clips from the show on social media, but watching her perform in person was a whole other phenomena.
Watching Addison, I had never witnessed a pop show, let alone any show quite like it. The production was minimal, but each detail was intentional. The choreography was clean and crisp. From start to finish, she had each and every attendee’s attention in the palm of her hand. She owned the stage. It was remarkable. Charli XCX also came out as a special guest for “2 die 4” and the “Von Dutch Remix.”
Wolf Alice at The Wiltern
Coming in next on my list is Wolf Alice’s show at The Wiltern. In recent years, the world of alt / rock hasn’t really had a stand out band. That changed when Wolf Alice dropped their new album The Clearing. When I first heard the project, I was hooked. Already a fan of a few of their tracks, I caught them on tour. Boy, does Wolf Alice know how to put on a show. Their setlist was perfectly balanced showcasing every kind of genre of music they have dabbled in. Lead singer, Ellie Roswell, was an absolute force on stage. Her on stage presence was beyond cool, tough and high energy. Seeing Wolf Alice live made me an even bigger fan.
Arooj Aftab at El Rey
Arroj Aftab was probably my favorite new artist that I discovered this year. I got invited last minute to her show at the El Rey. Before going, I didn’t have much time to deep dive into her catalog, but I liked what I heard. At the show, I was transported into a whole other sonic realm. I had never experienced anything quite like it. The music, so dreamy, filled every inch of the El Rey, creating a special energy.
Hannah Cohen at Lodge Room
Hannah Cohen’s show at the Lodge Room in Highland Park is closing out my list. Cohen put out one of my favorite albums this year. The songs from Earthstar Mountain came to life so beautifully on the stage. It felt almost effortless for her and her band to lose themself in the songs. In case you missed it, I wrote a show review for this one. Check it out here.
What was your favorite show of 2025?
