sept 23 // 8pm // $5
Fresh from their win at the Buskerfest, Wild Pack of Canaries will be bringing their infectious rhythms and grooves to {open}, with a stripped down, almost-acoustic version of themselves. Hence the new name, Mild Pack of Canaries.
Plus we are very proud to present Stephen Steinbrink from AZ. Check out some [...]

sept 2 // 8pm // $5
Performances from
Korey Dane
Sam Outlaw
& Brian John Appleby (Seattle)

july 21 // 7pm // $3
3rd Thursday presents:
a surround sound environment created by the Southern California Sound Ensemble (SCSE) in celebration of  World Listening Day.
More on World Listening Day and the World Listening Project here:
http://www.worldlisteningproject.org/?p=1037
Listen and view media from previous SCSE performances here:
http://www.glennbach.com/scse.html

In honor of World Listening Day, the Southern California Soundscape Ensemble (SCSE) will perform a live, [...]

aug 13 // 8pm // $5
{open} proudly presents the return of a veteran to our stage, Matt Adams and The Blank Tapes.
and don’t miss the opening set by Pageants (featuring ex-Avi Buffalo member Rebecca Coleman)

For the May 3rdThurs, Opt.in presents its May Salon with an organizational meeting of Southern California Sound Ecology, where we will discuss World Listening Day, Soundwalk 2011, and official affiliation with the national Acoustic Ecology organization ASAE.
At 9pm, the Southern California Soundscape Ensemble (SCSE) will perform an unrehearsed, completely improvised [...]

Merrady recorded a 5-song EP with the very talented Brooklyn musician Gene Back at Doghouse Studio in NY. In her cross-country move to Long Beach, the EP fell by the wayside … until now! Join us for a lovely evening of music.
Featuring performances from Merrady, Lucky Penny and Miniature Houses.
Check out [...]

f you’ve been to the Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts festival, you know about its awesomeness, with everything from clothes, home decor accessories and notepads from local handcrafters like the Long Beach Craft Mafia to homemade jams and preserves from folks like the Road Less Traveled Store owner and Patchwork founder Delilah Snell.
If you haven’t [...]

Sidewalk Society EP Release Party
part of Last Saturdays on 4th
Saturday, April 30 // 7-9pm //  FREE
Featuring a performance by Sidewalk Society
plus DJ Tony the Tyger
Sidewalk Society celebrates the release of their limited edition 7-inch EP. Released at the end of 2010 through the UK label “Fruits de Mer” on coloured vinyl with [...]

Saturday, April 23 // 7-9pm // FREE
Launch party for AIOP (Ashes in Orange Peels) magazine issue one and special edition hom[ep]rairie EP

featuring Joy Shannon and Will Morrison, performing the EP in its entirety

copies of AIOP and the EP will be available for sale ($15)

adelaida by AIOP recordings
hutch fire by AIOP recordings

Friday, March 11 // 8-11pm // FREE
Release party for
Jason Bowe’s poetry book “All the Pennies Wishes Bring”
and
Eminent Ruth’s EP “Live at the Dark Room”
With performances by
Michael Roberts, Jeremy Radin
Jason Bowe (accompanied on piano and synth by Brenda Carsey)
Eminent Ruth

An ambient evening with CJ Boyd + Chris Schlarb
sat, feb 12 || 8pm || $5
About CJ Boyd
Equal parts ambient and virtuosic, melancholic and playful, CJ Boyd’s bass playing melts glaciers, creating a sea of low, flowing rhythms, while also supplying melodies that soar over the ocean to melt the sun itself. Waves of bass loops [...]

Thursday, January 20 || 8pm || $3

Sat, Dec 11 // 7pm // FREE
We’re celebrating SEVEN years of {open}! We’re also celebrating the holiday season and the end of the year and the beginning of the new one and everything in between.
Featuring The Greater California Holiday Folk Choir, with members of: Miniature Houses / The Fling / Year Zero / EXTRA / [...]

Brother Cecil (Jackson, MS)
myspace.com/okashiiblues
Brown & Blue (Long Beach, CA)
myspace.com/brownandblue
Johnny O’Donnell (Los Angeles, CA)
myspace.com/johno39donnell

For Night 4 of Hot Water Nights, {open} is delighted to host Ben Sollee, a Kentucky-based, genre-bending cellist and vocalist. His album Dear Companion is out on Sub Pop now and he is currently on tour across the southern states… on bicycle! TRhis event presented in coordination with the LB Cyclists!
Check out [...]

You read that right … it’s Dietra Kruschev’s last show! Come check out their great sound before the final chords!
From LA RECORD:
“Hailing from Long Beach, the group plays downbeat—in contrast to upbeat—minor key songs. The groups sound was exemplified by their instruments: Fender semi-hollow body guitar with finger-picking by Aaron, low-end bass from Jeremiah, sparse [...]

{open} is hosting a series of shows to raise awareness about the state of water on Earth, the state of the Earth itself, and the need for a new water and eco consciousness!

Saturday, July 24 // 7pm // $5
Slow Animal + Moses Campbell + Fort Wife
About Slow Animal – Some have described them as a male Best Coast, or similar to Beach Fossils, and I’d agree with both of those.  Best Coast have done it and Slow Animal are doing it too; creating a lo-fi, fuzz-pop summer [...]

fri, june 25 // 8pm // $5
Montucky
David Robison

mon. june 21 // 8pm // $5
PRISM-index Release Party
Performances by: Castanets + Ohioan + Chris Schlarb
Projections and Presentation by PRISM-index editor Jeffrey Bowers.

sat, june 19 // 8pm // free
Black Candy book release party

music from Alyssandra Nighswonger
poetry from Kyle Moreno and Raul Ruiz
theatre sketch featuring Jasper Oliver + members of the Alive Theatre Co.

plus an art-and-craft storybook workshop!
FREE!

Long Beach’s beloved Free Moral Agents are hittin’ the road with none other than SAGE FRANCIS this May, joining him as opening and backing band for his entire North American tour.
But before they hit the road, they hit the stage of {open} … in their very first performance together!!
April 23 // 8pm // [...]

3rdThurs
Thursday, May 20 // 8pm // $3
Bavab Bavab
+
Actuary
+
Ain Soph Aur

Cinquo de Gustavo
Book release party for Gustavo Arellano’s “¡Ask A Mexican!
Friday, May 7 // 8pm // FREE
WHAT IS ¡ASK A MEXICAN!? Questions and answers about our spiciest Americans. Gustavo explores the clichés of lowriders, busboys, and housekeepers; drunks and scoundrels; heroes and celebrities; and most important, millions upon millions of law-abiding, patriotic American [...]

Ross Hammond Trio
+
G.E. Stinson
Saturday, April 24 // 8pm // $5

3rdThurs – April 2010
The Constant Collection
+
Peter Kolovos
+
a screening of “Un Chien Andalou” by Luis Bunuel
Un Chien Andalou is a sixteen minute silent surrealist short film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí. It was Dali’s first film and was initially released in 1929 to a limited showing in Paris, but became popular and ran for eight [...]

Alyssandra and the Daymakers
+
The Clouds
Saturday, April 10 // 7:30pm // $7 or $10 with raffle ticket
A fundraiser for the Long Beach City College Audio Engineering Society
Enter the raffle to win an 8-hour recording session from LBCC , plus other prizes, including movie tickets to The Art Theatre and The Garage Theatre, and gift certificates from [...]

{open}’s 3rd 4th Street anniversary
+
Book release party for Karen Finneyfrock’s Ceremony for the Choking Ghost
with music by Vancouver’s CR Avery
and Jay Buchanan
–
words by
Mindy Nettifee and Derrick Brown
–
apr 3 // 8pm // all ages // $6

Reading from and going-away party for MATTY BYLOOS
also featuring:
- readings from Michael Roberts + Maggie Wells
- visual accompaniment by Josh Atlas
- acoustic performance by The Soft Hands
sat, apr 17 // 8pm // FREE

Boris Smile’s “Rockets EP” release party
featuring performances by Boris Smile, Fielding and Korey Dane
Saturday, March 20 // 7:30pm
$5, includes EP
Check out a video of their song “Apollo” below:

Boris Smile – Apollo from A. Wesley Chung on Vimeo.

Thursday, March 18 // 8pm // $3
Natacha Diels (flute & electronics, solo set) from New York group Ensemble Pamplemousse
+
improv set w/ qqq
+
screening of Brian Eno’s “Mistaken Memories of Mediaeval Manhattan” (1981)

{open}’s monthly multi-media series.
8pm // $3

saturday, jan 9 // 8pm // free
Feed the Feeble + Tiger Tank Euphoria
This event, curated by Menchie Caliboso, features a photo album of community, live performances by Feed The Feeble and Tiger Tank Euphoria, one-night art exhibits, artist networking and the release of the new EP from Feed the Feeble.

 Celebrate the holidays with {open}, Greater CA, Derrick Brown and Ray Barbee and the Matson Two.
We’ll also be debuting our six-year anniversary t-shirts featuring six {open} designs from six {open} artists: Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs, Jeff Oonchitti, Robert Pokorny, Gabo Gaete, Greg Brown and Matt Maust.
Sunday, December 20 | 7pm | $4

Performances from Anni Rossi, Whitman and Mycroft Holmes | 7:30pm | $5

In the process of exploring the piano for new sound possibilities, Neumann has reduced the instrument to strings, resonance board and metal frame. With the help of electronics to manipulate and amplify the sounds (sometimes to make parts of the sound audible which are inaudible without amplification), she has developed numerous new playing techniques, sounds, and ways of preparing the dismantled instrument.

Saturday, November 1
8 p.m. • $10
Duo: Andrea Neumann + Sabine Ercklentz
Quartet: Andrea Neumann + Sabine Ercklentz + Ulrich Krieger + Mark Trayle
A bit about Ercklentz + Neumann:
“This electro-acoustic duo isn’t just any duo. It has a niche as well as  a spine that is a rare combination. Both musicians reduce – if not  ignore – [...]

Join us for the 4th street event that was just named The Best of Long Beach by The District Weekly. With participation from some new stores on the street, Last Saturdays on 4th is going to shift over to a monthly event instead of a bi-monthly one, and October is the first one! Huzzah! We [...]

{open} regular I Heart Lung is back, and this time they’re bringing jazz musician Cooper-Moore with them, all the way from NYC. The 61-year old pianist, composer and instrument builder/designer (including a deedly-bo, a three-string fretless banjo and a mouth bow) has accumulated an extensive repertoire since he began playing piano in his mother’s church [...]

{open} presents …
Heavy Chamber  Music
performances by Los Angeles Electric 8 and Edmund Welles
Saturday, October 11
8pm / $5
Read on for a bit about the bands …

thurs, oct 9 | 8-10pm
free
book release party for
Radio Silence:
A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music
acoustic performances by Jeff Caudill + Popeye | drinks by Independent Truck Co.
www.radiosilencebook.com
(Check out the New York release party’s hilarious result on Craigslist!)
 
 

{open} & FLOOD present …
3rd Thurs: SoundWalk2008 pre-event performance night
Thursday, September 18
8 pm // $3

with performances by
Double Blind + Julia Holter
— read more—

{open} & seven inch project presents …
Evening Becomes Acoustic
Saturday, August 23
8pm, $5
with performances by June Madrona and The Next Door Neighbors
(Olympia, WA)
plus a special acoustic set by The Year Zero
(Long Beach, CA)

June Madrona
 

The Next Door Neighbors (check out a rad video of the duo below!)

The Year Zero

Join us for the release party of the latest installation of Seven Inch Project’s Vinyl series, Volume 006, Castledoor-’Til We Sink!
{open} and Seven Inch Project present …
 
Castledoor EP Release Party
performances by Castledoor and Agent Ribbons
Saturday, Aug. 9
8pm
 
show+cd: $10 or just the show: $5
 

Two {open} favorites in one night! This Friday, the lilting tunes of The Blank Tapes and Moe Dog Darling will provide an evening of awesome acoustic ambiance (and we’re not just saying that cuz we like alliteration!)

take a listen, then come hear them live.
theblanktapes.com
moedogdarling.com
{open} presents
the blank tapes + moe dog darling

friday, august 1
8 pm
$5

We couldn’t say it any better than this, so we’re not gonna try! Ergo …
Foot Foot are like a tiny folk orchestra – building totally beautiful and layered arrangements via slide guitar, found objects, et al. Their songs possess an oddly classic feeling and nerve tingling shimmer, and they are undeniably one of the most [...]

3rdThurs featuring Deer Tear + Ain Soph Aur
thursday, may 15 // 8pm // $3
This 3rdThurs is a significant one for Nial Morgan (aka Deer Tear): Excepting a recent set at the Wilson High School open mike, it will be [...]

3rdThurs: a monthly multimedia series
thursday, april 17 // 8pm sharp // $3
3rdThurs returns for its fourth experimental evening this year! This eponymous series features {open}’s most experimental performances, from all edges of the sonic spectrum.
The latest installment of this incredibly intriguing evening will feature Unicorn, a side, solo project of WT Nelson, founding [...]

the {open} 4th st. anniversary party
saturday, april 12 // 7-10pm // free (RSVP only)
Can you believe it? It’s been a whole YEAR since we moved to our new digs here on 4th St.! We opened “new” {open} on April 8, 2007, with a tooth-chippingly awesome performance from poet Derrick Brown and The Blank [...]

Long Beach based sound artist Glenn Bach will lead an ensemble of musicians in improvising a live soundtrack to a selection of [...]

Thursday, July 27th / 8:30pm / donation$
“Low End Theories”
an evening of solid solo bass w/
C.J. Boyd
Jeffrey Roden
Orlando Greenhill
info:
C.J. Boyd will tell you “Good music is like a good community, a convergence of all the influences and sources of inspiration, coalescing into a cohesive new expression.”
www.cjboyd.com
Jeffrey Roden describes it best himself: “It is densely beautiful, stark, [...]

Saturday, June 3rd // 8:30pm // donation$

check out a sample .mp3 file here
The Unmentionables
Noah Philips, guitar Kris Tiner, trumpet
Nathan Hubbard, percussion +
Drumolin Tom Swafford, violin
Matt Crane, drums

“this show is comprised of musicians who are interested in taking new adventures into soul, hip hop, and indie rock. be there or be square.”

Free Moral Agents is Ikey, Mendee & Dennis plus Ryan, Reid and Jesse of Luke Warm Quartet. Together their approach to music is creating an avant guard jazz [...]

Two events are happening this Saturday night at {open} … so come spend Earth Night with us!
Saturday, April 22 starting at 6pm!
First up is a closing reception for artist Mike Foss’ abstract show “textures” … from 6 to 8pm in the front rooms.

And a unique event in the kitchen starting at 7pm …

Renaissance producer Farshad [...]