Summer Is Back

We are excited to share the full line-up of Grand Performances 2021 Summer Season, returning to the newly renovated California Plaza on Friday July 9!

GRAND PERFORMANCES
SUMMER 2021
at CALIFORNIA PLAZA

• Friday June 4 - Mndsgn (Online Only) [WATCH]

• Thursday June 17 - Neel Agrawal (Online Only) [WATCH]

• Thursday June 24 - Sarah Elgart (Online Only) [WATCH]

• Thursday July 1 - Dayramir González (Online Only) [WATCH]

• Friday July 9 - Ethio Cali + Cut Chemist [RSVP]

• Friday July 16 - Katalyst [RSVP]

• Sunday July 18 - Dance Baby Dance [RSVP]

• Friday July 23 - La Tigresa y Briseyda Zárate [RSVP]

• Friday July 30 - Surprise Show TBA

• Saturday July 31 - DEEP w/ Marques Wyatt [RSVP]

• Saturday August 7 - Dilla Fest ft. Talib Kweli [RSVP]

• Friday August 13 - Jacque Hammond and Qur'an Shaheed [RSVP]

• Saturday August 14 - Head Wraps in the Park [RSVP]

• Friday August 20 - Katzù Oso [RSVP]

• Saturday August 21 - Soulection [RSVP]

• Friday August 27 - Garth Trinidad and Trinidad-Senolia [RSVP]

• Saturday August 28 - Hello Stranger ft. Brainstory, Chola Orange and Jason Joshua [RSVP]

• Saturday September 4 - Subsuelo ft. Los Rakas, LNL, Reyna Tropical and Cumbiatón [RSVP]

• Friday September 17 - Surprise Show TBA

• Saturday September 18 - Buyepongo vs Quitapenas [RSVP]

• Saturday September 25 - The Do-Over [RSVP]

HERE IS THE FULL GRAND PERFORMANCES LINEUP FOR ALL OF THEIR FREE SHOWS THIS SUMMER

By GAB CHABRAN - JUNE 10, 2021

Summer is back. Last year was a bit of a bust, of course. But with the sun shining and cool breeze in the air, it’s safe to say that the people of the greater L.A. area and beyond are ready to get back out there and get back to what we know best…straight vibing with the best of them.

For those Angelenos in the know, Grand Performances, the nonprofit free all-ages concert series, has been filling the streets of DTLA with music now for 35 years. The concert series begins this month and will be held until late September. Expertly curated by some of the city’s best tastemakers the city has to offer, GP is known for featuring some of the most genuinely eclectic and diverse acts from across the globe. Held at California Plaza in the historical Bunker Hill neighborhood, that can be found adjacent to the top entrance of Angel’s Flight. This year, the California Plaza space has evolved from waterfront fountains that had previously adorned the outdoor courtyard with a new look featuring an expanded grass area, increasing the capacity by 2,000.

While the concert series has traditionally attracted international musicians that have graced the GP stage, this year’s lineup organizers are looking within their own Los Angeles community as a central focus for providing the talent.

“We’re so excited to invite Los Angeles to celebrate Grand Performance’s 35th year at the new California Plaza! Now is the right time for LA to come together to re-connect with our diverse community. Providing a safe space for our multicultural and multi-generational celebrations”, says Azul Amaral, Grand Performances’ Creative Director. 

In June, their summer season began with a month of online shows premiering on GP's  YouTube and Facebook. The first in the series features Stones Throw artist Mndsgn with a blissed-out 30 minute set filmed at Ron Finley's 'Gangsta Garden'' in South Los Angeles.

The performance coincided with the group’s recent album release, Rare Pleasure. The digital series continues with a new performance that will be posted weekly from June through early July. Featuring world percussionist Neel Agrawal (June 17), renowned dancer Sarah Elgart (June 24), and Cuban pianist and composer Dayramir González (July 1st).       

The in-person kick-off for the Grand Performance concert series starts on July 9th with Todd Simon’s Ethio Cali ensemble, which brings their own distinctive L.A. take on Ethiopian jazz. The group previously collaborated with Kamasi Washington during many of their legendary live gigs around Los Angeles. Joining them that evening will be none other than legendary LA-based DJ Cut Chemist as the evening selector. Later on that month, on July 31st House Music Pioneer Marquess Wyatt celebrating his 21 years of his club performance of DEEP. 

The following month, on Saturday, August 7, Dilla Fest featuring underground hip-hop hero Talib Kweli. Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there when it comes to GP. The following month on Saturday, August 28, featuring a specially curated evening with Hello Stranger ft. the IE’s own trippy foos Brainstory, Futuro cumbia weirdos Chola Orange and soulful stylings of Jason Joshua. 

Rounding out the month of September and going out with a bang, on Saturday, September 4th, local DJ collective Subsuelo will play host to legendary hip-hop artists Panamanian by way of Oakland Los Rakas and Reyna Tropical (fresh off their Taco de Sonido feature here at L.A. Taco). The following Saturday, September 18th, Tropical Cumbia all-stars Buyepongo and Quitapenas go head to head for all of your dance party needs. Topping off their series, GP concludes their season with a legendary hip hop kickback crew, The Do-Over, on Saturday, September 25th.

This summer will no doubt be one for the books. Let GP be your soundtrack to all the good times to be had for the City of Los Angeles. 

https://www.lataco.com/grand-performance-lineup-dtla/

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Grand Performances thanks our partners for their commitment to our mission to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts.

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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.