Upcoming Events
Grand Illuminations: Opening Night Celebration
"Paint the Night in Holiday Light!" Join us as we flip the switch on 100,000+ lights at The Yard at Cal Plaza and ring in the holidays!
Grand Avenue Arts: All Access
As part of Grand Ave Arts: All Access, join us for a day of FREE family fun at Grand Performances, featuring HOLA Intergenerational Choir, Urban Voices Project, and Gay Men’s Chorus.
Broadway Night Lights
In partnership with Broadway Night Lights, Grand Performances presents an unforgettable night of music in LA’s most historic theaters on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.
CHUCHO PONCE Y LOS DADDYS
Born in Brooklyn, New York and based in his father’s hometown of Chinantla, Puebla, Chucho Ponce Los Daddy’s innovates the cumbia poblana sound infusing it with a hip-hop beatmaker sensibility.
The Neighborhood Orchestra
In partnership with the City of West Hollywood, LA’s own The Neighborhood Orchestra ft. Annie Gonzalez will bring their infectious rhythms and intricate melodies for a Sunday evening concert.
MADISON MCFERRIN
In partnership with MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles), Grand Performances presents the genre bending songstress Madison McFerrin, bringing her self-harmonizing blend of R&B, pop, soul and jazz to the stage.
LA STORIES: HOME w/ CARRIBEAN FRAGOZA
Join us for a special Friday night poetry show hosted by poet and writer Carribean Fragoza.
Listen to Music Outside at Sunset in Downtown LA
Listen to Music Outside in the Sunset at California Plaza (presented by dublab and Leaving Records) celebrates a local success story of public art made accessible by and for Los Angeles through dedicated collaboration between the city and its artist residents. Bring a picnic and gather with friends and family to enjoy the experimental and forward-looking sounds of this vibrant musical ecosystem.
PRELUDE (CLASSICAL)
Join KUSC host Suraj Partha, along with talented students and alumni from the Colburn School of Music as we dive into electrifying classical performances in the GP amphitheater.
CELIA CRUZ TRIBUTE Presented by Nance Arte Productions
Step into the electrifying world of Havana Secret as they pay homage to the unforgettable "Salsa Queen," Celia Cruz. Boasting a vibrant fusion of sounds from Mrs. Cruz's legendary west coast orchestra and Cuba's iconic dance bands, this musical extravaganza promises fresh, invigorating renditions of Celia's timeless hits under the spellbinding direction of Maestros Luis Eric Gonzalez and Sean Billings who were her last backing band.
OKWY OSADEBE
Eastern Nigeria created its highlife music style by the mid-1950s. Chief Osita Osadebe, the little man from across the great River Niger, was the widely recognized front man with appeal to his people and region with a unique and enchanting dance wave, swinging West Africa’s music scenes. His voice was brazen, rasp, yet seductive and curiously magnetic. Chief Osadebe thus, introduced a unique traditional folkloric sound of the River Niger waves with horns and guitar driven rhythms.
LA STORIES: MUSIC IS HISTORY
Join us for a special Friday night poetry show as we delve into LA Stories: Music is History with Mike the PoeT.
DAYMÉ AROCENA
In partnership wit De Los (LA Times) we are excited to present Daymé Arocena. Blending neo-soul singing, Afro-Caribbean beats, and modern pop, Daymé Arocena’s music is spiritually charged exploration of Afro-Latin grooves that seamlessly fuses tradition and innovation.
"A cross between Celia Cruz and Aretha Franklin" NPR’s Felix Contreras
MARIACHI WOMEN’S FESTIVAL
The 11th Annual International Mariachi Women's Festival at Grand Performances will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the trailblazing Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and the 25th anniversary of the two-time Grammy winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea. Both groups have contributed to the preservation of Mexican mariachi music in the U.S.and have brought femininity, tradition and innovation to their unique interpretation of this predominantly male musical genre.
PRELUDE (CLASSICAL)
Join KUSC host Solomon Reynolds, along with talented students and alumni from the Colburn School of Music as we dive into electrifying classical performances in the GP amphitheater.
CALI SOUL JAM
Join the Hello Stranger team alongside Grand Performances as we celebrate The Soul scene like no other at “Cali Soul Jam”
Some featured artists taking stage are true friends to the Soul scene and have been doing it right for many years. You will be serenaded by the voices of Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan, Joey Quinones, and Kelly Finnigan to name a few. Backed by some of the best musicians in the game along with our curated djs This will surely be a night to remember.
LA STORIES: POETICS OF PRIDE + LEGACY
Join us for a special Friday night poetry show celebrating the legacy of Pride hosted by award winning poet of Jen Cheng!
MAX ROACH ‘The Drum Also Waltzes’ Centennial Celebration
Happy 100th Max! We’re honored to be celebrating the Centennial of the legendary Max Roach - virtuoso drummer, percussionist, bebop pioneer and a fierce advocate of change, with an All-Star lineup of 25+ of LA’s finest musicians, dancers, poets and artists.
“Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience. We take our respective instruments and collectively create a thing of beauty.” Max Roach
COLA Artist Fellows 2024
The City of Los Angeles (COLA) Individual Artist Fellowship by the DCA (Department of Cultural Affairs) allows accomplished artists to create new work with increased freedom to innovate and experiment in the disciplines of design, visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts.
Grand Performances presents live showcases by 2024 COLA Artist Fellows Sehba Sarwar, Dorian Wood, Gina Loring, Chris Wabich, and Jay Carlon.
THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND
Hailing from New Orleans, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has been at the forefront of the brass band revival for over four decades, blending traditional New Orleans brass band music with funk, bebop, and R&B influences. Don't miss your chance to witness their infectious energy, unparalleled musicianship, and the sheer joy they bring to every performance.
SOULNIC LIVE
SOULNIC Live celebrates the 40th anniversary of House music with a free, family-friendly special event at Grand Performances featuring DJs WeirdoWithSoul and Roxcizzle, plus a live performance by Tortured Soul.
KCRW Summer Nights Presents iLe
Kick-off Summer with KCRW presents iLe, the captivating Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, at Grand Performances on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Experience the mesmerizing blend of traditional and modern Latin American sounds that have earned iLe critical acclaim and a Grammy Award. Don't miss this opportunity to witness her powerful vocals and emotionally resonant compositions, along with opening acts Mestizo Beat and DJ José Gálvan, in the heart of Los Angeles.
ReelAbilities Film Festival: Los Angeles
The 6th annual ReelAbilities Los Angeles Film Festival showcases films and conversations that promote awareness and appreciation for the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities.
The C’mon, Sing Festival
The C’mon, Sing! Festival is a downtown-wide musical jam to inspire joy and humanize homelessness by uniting housed and unhoused communities through song at open mic stages across Downtown LA.
From Backyards to Discotheques: The Evolution of LA DJ Culture
As part of Grand Ave Arts: All Access, join us for a day of FREE family fun at Grand Performances, featuring “From Backyards to Discotheques: The Evolution of Los Angeles DJ Culture”, with live performances, interactive art installations, DJ’s, panel discussions, and more!
Schedule
DJ Set: 10-11am - Willy “GUILTY” Reyes
Panel: 11:10am-12:10pm – DJ speaker panel w/ moderator Gerard Meraz
DJ Set: 12:10pm-12:55pm - Domingo Encinas
DJ Set: 12:55-1:40pm - Sandy “PLAYGIRL MUSIQUE” Gonzales
DJ Set: 1:40– 2:15pm - Tony G Gonzales
Performance: 2:15–3:00pm - Mellow Man Ace/ Rodney O’
DJ Set: 3:00-4:00pm - Jack Monforte
From Backyards to Discotheques features a panel comprised of avant-garde DJs and promoters who thrived in the early 80s, followed by live DJ vinyl sets from pioneers of LA's DJ subculture and live performances from guest artists.
Curated by Pablo Aguilar and Jack Monforte in conjunction with Grand Performances, the event will also feature Pablo Aguilar's “Lookout Weekend” 1984-1988 book preview and an 80s-inspired sound and lighting art installation.
Book Cover Design: Masaki Koike @phyxdesign.com
Live Performances by
Rodney O’ &
Mellow Man Ace
Moderated by Gerard Meraz
Panelists
Tony G Gonzales
Mando “Nemesis” Navarrete
Danny “Poison” Martinez
Sandra “Playgirl Musique” Gonzales
Domingo Encinas
William “Guilty” Reyes
DJ’s
Tony G Gonzales
Mando “Nemesis” Navarrete
Jack “Freedom” Monforte
Sandra “Playgirl Musique” Gonzales
Domingo Encinas
William “Guilty” Reyes
Vintage sound & lighting by Palace Palace/The Kidd
Art Installation
An interactive participatory exhibition entitled “Featuring the Lightz and Soundz of….”, celebrates the first 30 years of DJ culture focusing on the Chicano/a experience in Los Angeles, by Adrian Rivas.
After Party
Afterparty at Hello Stranger, 7pm-2am
📍320 E. 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
about grand ave arts: all access
On October 21 from 11am to 4pm, institutions along Grand Avenue open their doors to visitors of all ages for a day of free workshops, performances, tours, and interactive events. Explore art, music, dance, literature, and more: all events are free and open to the public, rain or shine.
LA Sínfonica “Eight Seasons”
Grand Performances presents LA SINFONICA “Eight Seasons” Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Piazzolla, Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas
LAist + Artbound Screening: Chinatown Punk Wars
Join us for the kick off of the LAist + KCET ARTBOUND Screening Series: Chinatown Punk Wars, with a free screening, conversation, and live performance by the Linda Lindas at Grand Performances
Changüí Majadero
In partnership with the City of West Hollywood, Afro-Cuban band Changüí Majadero will bring their infectious Latin rhythms and intricate melodies for an incredible Sunday evening concert.
Grupo Kual
Beloved cumbia band Grupo Kual (Mexico City) headlines Grand Performances' epic summer finale. Presented in partnership with Discos Rolas.
Return the White Breath to its Black Body: A Black Lives Matter Poetry Performance
In 'Return the White Breath to Its Black Body: Poets Speak On Black Lives Matter,' Black voices take center stage during this special Friday evening Grand Performances poetry showcase hosted by award-winning author Shonda Buchanan.
Mark de Clive-Lowe presents Jazz in the House
Electronic jazz pioneer and pianist Mark de Clive-Lowe blends acoustic, electronic and world music exploring themes of belonging and identity. Equal parts jazz, house, hip hop and broken beat artist, Jazziz sums him up perfectly - "way before jazz hybridity became a worldwide phenomenon, de Clive-Lowe was busy designing its blueprint.”