Looking back at Summer 2021

Hello GP Family,

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season. As we come up to the end of the year, we wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire GP community who came together this summer to celebrate our 35th season in Downtown Los Angeles. After so much time apart, it was truly beautiful to gather together once again at California Plaza in appreciation of music, dance, performing arts, and global culture.

Before we begin looking forward to 2022, we would like to take a moment to reflect on all the beautiful performances and memories that made this year so special.

We also invite you to join Grand Performances in support of our End of Year Campaign with a tax-deductible donation, so that we can continue our mission to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts.

Please click here to donate.

We look forward to reconnecting with you all in the new year!


THE BRAND NEW CAL PLAZA

Introducing the Newly
Renovated California Plaza

After 2 years of renovations, Grand Performances returned to California Plaza for our first in-person concerts, and what a joy! The new yard brings audiences and performers closer together, expanding capacity and inviting community to picnic, bring blankets and snacks, enjoying the space with the whole family.


Summer is Back

Thousands of Fans

Hundreds of Performers

Dozens of Free Shows 

Grand Performances is and always has been one of the premier attractions in Downtown L.A in the summertime. They have their reputation of always providing a family-friendly outdoor environment that’s free and open to the public. Bringing summer back to Los Angeles never felt so right. Here’s looking forward to next year.
— LA TACO

African Music, Jazz, Flamenco and Dance

ETHIO CALI, KATALYST, CUT CHEMIST,  + MORE

Ethio Cali, Cut Chemist and Rani de Leon

July 9, 2021

Our long-awaited return to California Plaza, after 2 years of remodeling, brought together LA's iconic East African Jazz ensemble, Ethio Cali, featuring Todd Simon (Trumpet) Randal Fisher (Sax) Tylana Renga (Violin) Alan Lightner (Steel Drums) Kibrom Birhane (Keys) Nadav Peled (Guitar) Dexter Story (Guitar) Brandon Owens (Bass) Te'Amir Sweeney (Drums) Kahlil Cummings (Percussion), plus DJ sets from Cut Chemist and Rani De Leon. ⁠

Katalyst Collective

July 16, 2021


La Tigresa y Briseyda Zárate

July 23, 2021

Grand Performances once again returned to our roots in jazz, dance, and global music with two performances centered on multi-layered instrumentation.

Inglewood collective Katalyst struck a tight balance balance between tradition and futuristic jazz, while flamenco choreographers La Tigresa y Briseyda Zárate brought together an all-star cast of cante jondo singers, guitarists, dancers and percussionists.


GP DIGITAL 2021

MNDSGN, COLA + DAYRAMIR GONZÁLEZ

Mndsgn 'Rare Pleasure',
filmed at Ron Finley's 'Gangsta Garden'

June 4, 2021

We kicked off the digital season with a world premiere from Mndsgn, debuting tracks from his new album Rare Pleasure. The vibrant performance was broadcasted from Ron Finley’s Gangsta Garden, a former swimming pool teeming with plants, flowers and produce located in South Los Angeles. ⁠

This video has since become Grand Performances' most viewed of all time, with hundreds of thousands of views across all platforms.

COLA Artist Fellows
Neel Agrawal and Sarah Elgart

June 17 and 24, 2021

Grand Performances continued its annual collaboration with the City of Los Angeles (COLA) Department of Cultural Affairs, with two Feature Presentations from COLA Artist Fellows Neel Agrawal and Sarah Elgart.

Neel Agrawal is a global percussionist who collaborated with special guest L. Shankar, while Sarah Elgart presented a site-specific dance performance at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Dayramir González 

July 1, 2021

Representing the next generation of Afro-Cuban jazz, Dayramir González is an internationally celebrated pianist, educator and  bandleader who brings together a unique blend of original and traditional compositions rooted in Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms. ⁠


CELEBRATING LA'S DANCE COMMUNITIES

DEEP, SOULECTION and THE DO-OVER

DEEP w/ Marques Wyatt
21st Anniversary 

July 31, 2021

Celebrating Los Angeles house music at Grand Performances with Marques Wyatt, Jeremy Sole, Big Cee and Juliet Mendoza. ⁠DEEP is nothing short of a phenomenon driving the dance music scene in Los Angeles and beyond. For 21 years, DEEP has prided itself on procuring and presenting the finest electronic music DJs and artists from around the world. 

Soulection 
10 Year Anniversary

August 21, 2021

Since 2011, Soulection has been a cornerstone of creativity for innovative musicians, crate-digging DJs, and open-minded fans from across the world. What began as an independent radio show has since blossomed into a global community of artists and audiences, united in a borderless, genre-bending, musical movement.

The Do-Over

September 25, 2021

Established in 2005 in Hollywood, The Do-Over has been supplying the best summer Sunday party options ever since. The magical tropical daytime get-down has built a following like no other, all thanks to the deep consistent vibe and hang loose attitude, curated by founders Chris Haycock, Jamie Strong, and Aloe Blacc.


UPLIFTING POWERFUL VOICES

MADAME GANDHI, JACQUE HAMMOND, QUR'AN SHAHEED and TALIB KWELI

Dilla Fest featuring Talib Kweli

August 7, 2021

GP commemorated 15 Years of Dilla’s Donuts with live performances by Talib Kweli, Frank N Dank with Illa J, and DJ Rhettmatic of The World Famous Beat Junkies, featuring Grammy winner Daru Jones as Music Director and drummer.

Jacque Hammond and Qur'an Shaheed

August 13, 2021

Blending the organic feel of old beloved soul classics with the punch and appeal of contemporary music, Jacque Hammond and Qur’an Shaheed brought all the vibes to Cal Plaza along with special guest DJ Monalisa.

Madame Gandhi
+ KCRW DJs Anne Litt & Francesca Harding

September 24, 2021

Teaming up with KCRW’s Summer Nights, Grand Performances presents a special night featuring indie electronic singer, percussionist and activist Madame Gandhi, in an all-women performance.


Latinx Los Angeles

BUYEPONGO, QUITAPENAS, SUBSUELO, IRENE DIAZ, BOOGALOO ASSASSINS, + HELLO STRANGER

Katzù Oso and Irene Diaz

August 7, 2021
 Katzù Oso and Irene Diaz joined forces to perform an eclectic assortment of dreamy synth-pop, moody soundscapes and heart-wrenching textures.


Hello Stranger featuring BrainStory,
Chola Orange & Shiro Schwarz

August 28, 2021
Chola Orange and Brain Story brought psychedelic, soulful sets to Hello Stranger’s ‘Black and Brown Get Down.’

SUBSUELO 10-Year Anniversary
featuring Reyna Tropical, El Dusty, 
Cumbiatón, LNL, and Los Rakas

September 4, 2021

Global bass artist collective Subsuelo celebrates their 10-Year Anniversary with all their friends, playing electro-cumbia, tropical funk, Afro-house, kuduro, 3ball, international hip-hop and world wide web bass variations of all kinds, 

Boogaloo Assassins 

September 17, 2021

Boogaloo Assassins brought a heavy mixture of Afro-Latin rhythms, funky horn arrangements and soulful vocals that both define boogaloo as a genre and contribute to a much wider sound.  

Buyepongo vs Quitapenas
featuring DJ Francesca Harding

September 18, 2021

In celebration of Mexican Independence and Hispanic Heritage Month, Buyepongo and Quitapenas take the stage to engage in friendly competitive back-to-back battle of the bands.


Looking Forward to 2022

We would once again like to thank all the members, donors, volunteers, sponsors, media partners, performers, and staff that made this year so special.

We look forward to reconnecting with you all next summer for Grand Performances 36th season of free performing arts in Downtown Los Angeles.

In the meantime, stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify and Mixcloud for more information.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from all of us at Grand Performances!


Support/ Donate

Grand Performances’ mission is to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts. While all our programming is free, producing it is not. Please support our mission today with a tax-deductible gift or membership ensuring access to GP's performing arts experiences for the people of Los Angeles.

Please click here to donate.

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Boleros de Noche at GP

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Celebrate 15 years of Do Over