Advance Notice. Culture Collide Festival.

Without a doubt, Los Angeles has one of the most vibrant and consistently-awesome music scenes in the country. We're always cooking up something new and fresh to add to the 'next best' lists, and we house some of the best intimate venues in the country, so it's really no wonder why musicians continue to flock here in search of rock stardom.

Filter magazine's Culture Collide Festival is zoning in on this phenomenon, and bringing us local music fans along for the fun. The four-day music fest, taking place October 7-10, is bringing in bands from all over the world (including Norway, Sweden, Israel and the U.K.) into L.A., and calling up some of L.A.'s own bands to come and act as ambassadors. The artists will get the chance to exchange advice, stories and musical wisdoms, and in between it all, play a few fun shows at local venues.

For us fans, that means checking out sets by great up-and-coming bands as well as some well-known names, playing in great places like The Echo and Spaceland. Think Klaxons (representing the U.K. and making their grand return) next to the local group We Barbarians, or the Black Lips (from Atlanta) playing after Land of Talk (Canada). It'll be a melting pot of the familiar and strange, the new and the known.

And the best part? The whole weekend-long fest can be enjoyed for only $20. And the line-up already lists more than 20 bands, with more to be added soon. Talk about a deal! But better get on it quick, tickets are already on sale and sure to sell out, and you won't want to miss out on this meeting of musical nations.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Summer Darling at Spaceland.

It's always a good idea to take advantage of free live music, especially when it's likely that of an up-and-coming band.

Spaceland's Monday night residency program is great for this. Tonight is the last night of Summer Darling's month at the Silver Lake venue - so check them out if you haven't had a chance yet.

Spaceland is located at 1717 Silverlake Blvd. in Los Angeles. Show July 26 at 9:00 p.m. Free.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: clubspaceland.com

Do It. Ice skating in the city.

Why yes, ice skating does exist in this tundra of a city, and guess what? It's actually quite festive too. Get into the winter spirit by hitting these special and uniquely-L.A. skating spots:

Pershing Square in downtown, open now until Jan. 18, $6 + $2 for skate rental.
This probably goes without saying, but there's simply nothing like skating your freezing heart out right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. Surrounded by downtown landmarks like the Eastern Columbia building and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, this rink is downright charming. It's a little on the small side, but there are free concerts on most nights (Wednesdays are sponsored by Spaceland, and Dramarama showed up last Thursday!). This weekend is the family-friendly Winter Holiday Special, complete with sledding.

Holiday on Ice at L.A. Live, open now until Dec. 31, $10 (includes skate rental).
You sure can't miss all the lights and madness known as L.A. Live if you're anywhere near downtown, so get right in the middle of the action by skating at this L.A. Kings-sponsored rink. While skating, you can bask in the neon brightness of the center's infamous holiday tree, and afterward, you can take a breather with a fancy dinner at Katsuya (you know, that one restaurant). Does it get any more "L.A." than that?

ICE at Santa Monica, open now until Jan. 31, $10 (includes skate rental).
Need to make all your ice-shoveling, non-Californian friends jealous? Tell them about that time you went ice skating right next to the beach. The rink is two blocks down from the 3rd Street Promenade, so you can basically smell that brisk salty air as you breeze down the ice. Oh, not so much of a breezer on the ice? ICE offers skating lessons for everyone and anyone on Sat. mornings. Then you can tell your friends how you went ice skating right next to the beach and how you were actually kind of good at it.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Pershing Square

Do It. Crazy Heart, Funny or Die, Princeton.

Crazy Heart at LACMA, tonight at 7:30 p.m., $12.
Everything I've heard about this new film has the word "Oscar" attached to it. "Crazy Heart" is a musical drama (complete with original music) that follows the story of Bad Blake, a down-and-out country music singer just trying to make a living. Consider it this year's "The Wrestler." Stars Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal will be on hand during this special preview screening (the film will be in limited release beginning Dec. 16) for a Q&A.

Funnyordie.com Presents the Internet 3.0 at the Egyptian Theatre, Fri. at 7:30 p.m., $10.
Can you believe it's only been two years since you first laid eyes on Pearl the Landlord? Internet viral video has never been the same, and the people who helped to change it are celebrating with a live program complete with screenings of new and old-time favorite webisodes and special guests. Where's my rent?!

Princeton at Spaceland, Sat. at 8:30 p.m., $8 (21+ only).
It's got to come down to talent and passion when you're a band with more than five years down the road, you've released EPs upon EPs, with finally an official debut album in Sept., and your music still sounds well-crafted and fresh. So it goes for Princeton, a local indie pop band headed by a set of adorable twin brothers. They'll be hitting SXSW next year; celebrate the hometown heroes now while you can.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: nymag.com