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
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
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.