Kevin Bronson on May 23rd, 2013

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Soulful indie-rockers Nightmare & the Cat, the Los Angeles-based quintet masterminded by British brothers Django and Sam Stewart, will headline the LA Weekly Local Music Stage at the kickoff to 2013’s Chinatown Summer Nights on Saturday, June 15.

The evening’s festivities will celebrate Chinatown’s 75th Anniversary – and, in a special nod to the area’s rock ’n’ roll legacy, will feature a performance by the re-formed rock quintet The Furys, who played the first rock show at the historic Madame Wong’s in October 1978. Rainbow Jackson, Jutty Ranx, Sister Rogers and Cobalt Cranes round out lineup on opening night.

KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Liza Richardson will spin in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, where a statue of Bruce Lee will be unveiled and dedicated.

Chinatown Summer Nights will continue July 20 and Aug. 17. Full lineups will be announced in coming weeks.

In all, six local bands will rock opening night on the LA Weekly Stage, located just steps away from the site of the old Madame Wong’s, 949 Sun Mun Way, where bands such as the Ramones, the Police, Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Flag once cut their teeth.

Nightmare & the Cat’s headlining set, which will feature material from the debut album they are recording for Capitol Records, will go off at 11 p.m., preceded at 10 p.m. by the Furys. Originally from Orange County, the Furys’ edgy power-pop drew comparisons to the Who, Bruce Springsteen and the Doors back in the day. The band is currently assembling a retrospective of material for release.

Young quartet Cobalt Cranes will kick off the evening at with a set of their driving dream-pop, followed by the Latin-influenced Tropicalia of Sister Rogers. Then, it’s Jutty Ranx and their funky, feel-good dance music, and some scuzzy, sweaty powr-pop from up-and-coming quartet Rainbow Jackson.

The event, which also offers cultural performances, a family workshop, children’s activities, food trucks, a craft beer garden, ping-pong, is free and all ages. Chinatown’s restaurants and art galleries will be open throughout the evening. More info here.

The Local Music Stage is curated by the local music website Buzz Bands LA.

DJ Larry G. of the Friday night Grand Star Jazz Club hang Club Underground will DJ between sets at the live stage.

Set times

6 p.m. Cobalt Cranes
7 p.m. Sister Rogers
8 p.m. Jutty Ranx
9 p.m. Rainbow Jackson
10 p.m. The Furys
11 p.m. Nightmare & the Cat