Live music and shows in Pasadena: mid-to-late November

As October winds down, the Pasadena calendar turns toward a generous stretch of live music and shows running deep into November. There is a folk night with The Wildwoods in an intimate record-store room before the month turns, David Sedaris at the Pasadena Civic on November 10, a strong run of comedy at The Ice House, and free music at Pasadena Commons and the Conservatory. I am Alejandro Espitia, a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Apex Realty and Investments, licensed in California (01213999) since 1996, serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Riverside, fluent in English and Spanish. I keep a running list of the best nights out in the neighborhoods I serve, and every listing below comes from the venue's own calendar or current event listings, with sources at the bottom of the post.

Before the month turns: The Wildwoods at Healing Force of the Universe

If you want music before the calendar flips, The Wildwoods, the Lincoln, Nebraska folk and Americana trio of Noah Gose on guitar and vocals, Chloe Gose on violin and vocals, and Andrew Vaggalis on upright bass, plays Friday, October 30 at 8:00 pm at Healing Force of the Universe, the record store and live event space at 1200 E. Walnut Street. The room seats about 40 for shows, with a stage and plenty of floor space, so arrive early for a seat. The band has two recent albums, Foxfield Saint John (2023) and Dear Meadowlark (2025), and this date is part of a fall West Coast tour, with details on the Wildwoods site and the Healing Force of the Universe event page.

David Sedaris at the Pasadena Civic

For an evening of stories and sharp observations, David Sedaris brings his touring spoken-word show to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 pm. His evenings blend new essays, readings from his diaries, and a long audience Q&A, and they sell well, so it is worth booking ahead: tickets start around $135, and the show is listed on ConcertFix's Pasadena Civic calendar, with the Civic box office the place for tickets.

Comedy nights at The Ice House

The Legendary Room at The Ice House, Pasadena's long-running comedy club at 24 N. Mentor Avenue, has a strong November run: Jiaoying Summers on Tuesday, November 10 at 8:00 pm, the Finnish comic ISMO with a New Material Night on Wednesday, November 11 at 8:00 pm, the Class Clowns Graduation Show on Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 pm, and actor and comedian Patrick Warburton on Wednesday, November 18 (time to be confirmed on the club calendar). Showtimes and tickets are on the Legendary Room listing and the Ice House venue page.

Free music: Courtyard Collective and a Conservatory recital

Two free music nights land on the same evening, Friday, November 13. The Courtyard Collective brings free live music to the plaza at Pasadena Commons from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, a friendly open-air session with string lights overhead. And at 7:30 pm, the Pasadena Conservatory of Music hosts a Piano Duet Recital in Barrett Hall at 100 N. Hill Avenue, free and open to the public. Both are easy, no-ticket nights out. Confirm on the Pasadena Commons events page and the Conservatory recital listing.

Salastina's chamber afternoon at Barrett Hall

Sunday, November 15 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Los Angeles chamber ensemble Salastina presents Main Series 2: "Thick as Thieves" at Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Salastina's programs pair familiar favorites with new and overlooked voices, played with real warmth, and a Sunday-morning concert is a gentle way to start the week. The performance is listed at the Barrett Hall venue page, and the Conservatory's own events calendar carries the details.

A note on details: showtimes, lineups, and ticket prices can shift, and small-venue dates like The Wildwoods at Healing Force of the Universe often sell out well in advance. Please confirm directly with each venue before you head out, and use the links below for the latest. If you know of a Pasadena show I missed, text me and I will add it to the next edition.

Sources: The Wildwoods, Healing Force of the Universe, David Sedaris, ConcertFix, Legendary Room at The Ice House, The Ice House, DoLA, Events, Pasadena Commons, Piano Duet Recital, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.