Live music in Pasadena: late October into November

Pasadena gives you a lot of ways to hear live music in the next two weeks, from free Friday courtyard sessions to a Halloween indie show in a restored schoolhouse. The Courtyard Collective plays Fridays at Pasadena Commons, the Bach to Broadway concert returns for its 31st year on October 23, Surprise Chef plays Sid the Cat Auditorium on October 31, and the Pasadena Conservatory of Music keeps its November concert calendar full. I am Alejandro Espitia, a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Apex Realty and Investments, licensed in California (01213999) since 1996, with 200+ homes sold serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Riverside, fluent in English and Spanish. I check the local listings each week so you can spend your evenings out enjoying the city instead of researching it. Every show below comes from a current public listing, with sources at the bottom of the post.

Free Fridays: Courtyard Collective at Pasadena Commons

The Courtyard Collective hosts free live-music sessions in the courtyard at Pasadena Commons on Friday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, on October 23 and October 30, and continuing weekly through November beginning November 6. It is an easy, open-air way to catch local musicians over early dinner or a walk through the district, and it fits the season nicely as the evenings cool down. The full schedule lives on the Pasadena Commons events page.

October 23: the 31st annual Bach to Broadway concert

The 31st annual Bach to Broadway concert takes place Friday, October 23 at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena. The program makes the jump from the baroque to the musical-theater stage in one evening, and a three-decade tradition means a loyal local crowd, so arriving early is a good idea. It is listed on the Pasadena Now music listings, which is the best place to confirm the program and how to join.

October 23: Noche de Live Banda on Colorado

If your Friday runs late, Noche de Live Banda: Perreo vs Banda Nights starts 9:30 pm on Friday, October 23 at 119 E. Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena, a live-banda and reggaeton night that has become a regular on the district's calendar. It is featured in the AllEvents entertainment listings for Pasadena, where the current cover and door details are posted.

October 31: Surprise Chef at Sid the Cat Auditorium

On Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 pm, the Melbourne instrumental soul band Surprise Chef plays Sid the Cat Auditorium at 1022 El Centro Street in South Pasadena with opener Ben Hackett. The show is all-ages, presented by Sid the Cat on the band's fall 2026 North American tour, and tickets run around $32.75 with fees through Dice, the venue's box office. It is a great Halloween-alternative night out in the beautifully restored 1928 former schoolhouse that also houses Sid's Bar. Tickets and details are on the Dice event page, with the show also listed on Oh My Rockness and the Sid the Cat Auditorium site.

Early November at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music

The Pasadena Conservatory of Music keeps its year-round calendar rolling into November: a Music in the Rose Garden program on Monday, November 2, the Adult Student Recital on Friday, November 6, and the Jazz Department Recital on Saturday, November 7. These student and faculty concerts are how you discover the neighborhood's musical life up close, and the Conservatory events page is the reliable place to confirm times and locations.

And if you are ready for a laugh with your night out, Mark Gagnon plays the Legendary Room at The Ice House in Pasadena on Friday, November 6 at 7:30 pm, part of the club's long-running live lineup. It is worth checking the Ice House calendar ahead of time, as comedy nights sell well on weekends; the show is listed on ConcertFix's Pasadena concert calendar.

A note on times: concert listings can shift, and details like start times, ticket availability, or program order are occasionally updated by the presenters. Please confirm directly with the venue before you head out, and use the links below for the latest. If you have a favorite Pasadena music event I missed, text me and I will add it to the next edition.

Sources: Pasadena Commons events, Music events, Pasadena Now, Entertainment events in Pasadena, AllEvents, Surprise Chef tickets, Dice, Surprise Chef, Oh My Rockness, Sid the Cat Auditorium, Pasadena Conservatory of Music events, and Pasadena concert calendar, ConcertFix.