Dave in Los Angeles

About Dave

Dave is a British grime and hip-hop artist from Streatham, South London, who emerged in the mid-2010s with sharp wordplay and introspective lyrics that balanced the genre's aggressive roots with genuine vulnerability. His 2019 debut album 'Psychodrama' became a cultural moment, featuring 'Essence' and 'Lazarus' which explored grief, loss, and personal trauma with uncommon directness for the genre. The album topped the UK charts and established Dave as one of grime's most critically respected voices. His follow-up 'We're All Alone in This Together' continued this trajectory, with 'Thiago Silva' becoming one of his most recognizable tracks. Beyond pure technical ability—which he has in abundance—Dave's main thing is saying something real. He doesn't coast on punchlines or flexing. His bars have actual weight because he's actually thinking about something when he writes them.

Dave's shows are quiet-loud quiet-loud. Crowds go silent for the introspective moments, hanging on every word, then absolutely go for it on the anthemic tracks. He commands attention without needing to work for it. Very focused, methodical performance. You feel the weight of what he's saying.

Known for Essence, Lazarus, Screwface Capital, Location, Thiago Silva

Dave + Los Angeles

Dave's relationship with Los Angeles runs deep, rooted in the city's rich soul and funk heritage. Most recently, in January 2026, Dave took the stage at Blue Note Los Angeles with a setlist that felt like a masterclass in timeless grooves. Opening with "We Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town," they immediately set the tone—a track that captures the restless energy of urban life. The trio expanded into "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," that sprawling Temptations classic, before closing with "Be Thankful for What You Got," a song about gratitude that resonated in the intimate venue. It was the kind of set that doesn't announce itself but settles into your bones.

Dave in Los Angeles News

• In Los Angeles, Foo Fighters Threw Dave Grohl a Birthday Bash Unlike Any Other: Review + Photo Gallery IMDb · Feb 26, 2026
• Foo Fighters mark Dave Grohl’s birthday — and support a good cause — at the Forum Los Angeles Times · Jan 15, 2026
• Foo Fighters Plot Los Angeles Benefit Show on Dave Grohl’s 57th Birthday Rolling Stone · Dec 2, 2025
• FOO FIGHTERS to play benefit concert in Los Angeles, CA on Dave Grohl’s birthday Lambgoat · Dec 2, 2025
• Foo Fighters: Charity Concert Jan. 14 in LA -- Dave Grohl's Birthday Rock Cellar Magazine · Dec 2, 2025

Live Music in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has always been a laboratory for soul and funk, from the Watts Towers jazz scene to the modern neo-soul explosion. The city's music DNA runs through everything—Motown covers sit comfortably next to West Coast experimentalism. Venues like Blue Note provide the kind of intimate space where artists like Dave can strip their sound down to its essence, letting each song breathe. LA's audiences understand that the best music isn't about flash; it's about feeling.

Los Angeles road trip to see Dave?

Stay in Los Feliz, where you can walk tree-lined streets and catch views from Griffith Observatory. Dinner at Republique in the Arts District—refined French-inspired food in a restored factory space that feels more Paris than LA. Spend an afternoon at the Huntington Library in San Marino, a world-class art collection that justifies the drive. The city's recording studio history is everywhere; walk through Hollywood and you're literally surrounded by the spaces where hits were made. End the night at a jazz bar like The Fonda Theatre or catch live music on Sunset Boulevard.