Echo Park Rising 2026: Saturday Brings the Heat

I was shooting Echo Park Rising for the festival so Saturday was jumping around from one stage to the other as I was trying to give some love to as many of the stages as possible. So do I remember much of anything? I do and I don't. I captured 31 bands and singer-songwriters. Is that crazy? The day started off at 12 noon and didn't end until around 10 p.m. I would have pushed it harder, but The Semi Tropic was so packed that I couldn't get in to see Harry Katz and The Pistachios (even with a photo pass). I made the assumption there and then that I wasn't getting in to see The Mainliners at The Echo and so I went home. (Earlier in the evening, I saw a line curved out nearly to the bank, waiting to get into The Echo.)

Supershrew at Echo Park Rising

Song Spotlight: Primer's A New Paradigm (a night at Echo Park Rising, Sticky Rice stage)

I first crossed paths with Primer (moniker for Alyssa Midcalf) back in 2022. I was immediately captured by her synth driven music. In 2024, I covered her Round and Round EP release party for US Rocker Music. When the Sticky Rice schedule posted for Echo Park Rising, I was thrilled to find the band on the schedule. Since this is my final dedicated Echo Park Rising post that highlights a band playing the Sticky Rice stage, I should say: of course, the Sticky Rice stage was awesome throughout the festival considering that Make Out Music booked the stage. Sticky Rice knows how to select the perfect indie promoters who have their ears to the ground of the Los Angeles music scene. Last year, they had Rocknite book the weekend. 

Primer at Echo Park Rising

Song Spotlight: Adriana McCassim's Rust (an evening at Echo Park Rising, Sticky Rice stage)

Adriana McCassim was one of the artists playing Echo Park Rising that I circled. Even though I was attempting to photograph as many bands / singers as possible on Saturday as I was one of the official festival photographers, there were a handful of bands / singers that I intended to see their full sets. So I got to Sticky Rice (Spirit Indoor stage) when she was setting up and stayed until the final notes. The reason I wanted to catch a full set was that way too much time had passed since I last saw a set and that was simply not acceptable. 

Adriana McCassim at Echo Park Rising

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Sep 13th - Sep 19th

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Sep 13th: Annie Jets at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Avalanche" back in 2025.

Sunday, Sep 13th: essencer at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "So Long" back in March.

Sunday, Sep 13th: Stephanie Wittmer at The Echo. Doors at 5:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "Texas Is Haunted" back in July.

Monday, Sep 14th: The Sleeperz at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

The band made my 2024 list of favorite new finds.

Tuesday, Sep 15th: OP ED at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

The band made my 2025 list of favorite new finds.

Tuesday, Sep 15th: Valley Porno People at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

The band made my 2024 list of favorite new finds.

Wednesday, Sep 16th: Mingko at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight to their song "Get A Job" back in May.

Thursday, Sep 17th: June Swoon at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight to their song "Denver" back in March.

Friday, Sep 18th: Leroy From The North at the Bigfoot Lodge. Doors at 8 p.m.

Earlier this year, I wrote a review of his record release party. 

Friday, Sep 18th: Sierra Levesque at The Viper Room. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "U Are My Drug" back in 2025.

Saturday, Sep 19th: UGHH at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of their set.

Song Spotlight: Family Cash's Funny (an afternoon at Echo Park Rising, Bar Henry stage)

I had a random encounter with Josh Beavers as I was walking past the KG Bakery stage -- I was just starting off my Saturday at Echo Park Rising. First, he suggested that I catch Supershrew who was just about to start their set. He then said I should catch his band Family Cash at Bar Henry. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the band was playing the festival, because I had created a schedule of the festival and did not notice that the band was playing anywhere. He mentioned that a band had dropped out and they were taking the slot. I replied that I would do my best to get up to Bar Henry. 

Family Cash at Echo Park Rising

Song Spotlight: Polartropica's Shiny Things (an afternoon at Echo Park Rising, KG Bakery stage)

It was Saturday in Echo Park and Polartropica (moniker for Ihui Cherise Wu) was closing out Echo Park Rising's KG Bakery stage. The stage was outdoors and the temperature was hitting 97. That had Wu telling the kids in the crowd, "You can swim in the pool, if you want." The stage was in the parking lot and someone took the initiative to decorate it up with inflatable palm trees and a kid's pool. 

Polartropica at Echo Park Rising

Echo Park Rising 2026: Friday Kick-Off Had Style

Echo Park Rising was advertised as a Saturday / Sunday event, but the festival had a "kick-off" on Friday evening / night. There were four stages involved. It was technically supposed to kick off at the Echo Park Farmers Market, but there was a delay and so the kick off was at The Echo with Ellery Harper playing to the 5 p.m. early arrivals. The night was filled with a nice mix of bands and singer-songwriters that I'd seen before as well as new ones. (FYI: I wrote specific posts about BEL, Creakbed, and WINN WINN so they're not being mentioned here). 

American Sigh at Echo Park Rising