De Los (LA Times) presents Afro-Cuban sensation Daymé Arocena at Grand Performances, hosted by KCRW DJ Wyldeflower and featuring live performance from special guest Pan Dulce ft Alan Lightner. Daymé Arocena’s music is a spiritually charged exploration of Afro-Latin grooves that seamlessly fuses tradition and innovation.
“A cross between Celia Cruz and Aretha Franklin”
Schedule
6:00pm - DJ Wyldeflower (KCRW)
7:00pm - Pan Dulce ft Alan Lightner
8:30pm - Daymé Arocena
LOCATION, PARKING & FAQ click here
Daymé Arocena
Daymé Arocena, born in Havana, is a Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning Afro-Cuban singer, composer, and choir director. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence, she blends Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, and soul to create a unique sound. Arocena's music is deeply influenced by Santería and Afro-Cuban folk traditions, which she incorporates into her performances. Her career gained momentum with her acclaimed debut album, leading to international recognition. Arocena is also the youngest Latin-American musician to complete Berklee College of Music's "Signature Artist" program. With her captivating energy and musical versatility, she remains a prominent figure in contemporary Cuban music.
WATCH & LISTEN
Pan Dulce ft. Alan Lightner
Steel pannist/vocalist, Alan Lightner leads this energetic, creative, allstar band through original compositions and arrangements that span from calypso to cha cha, reggae to r&b and jazz to rock, all featuring the transcendent sound of the steel pan. In Trinidad, when a pannist plays well, they say he or she plays "sweet". Yes, and Lightner does play pan "dulce"!
Wyldeflower
Rocio "Wyldeflower" Contreras aka Ro is an on-air radio host and DJ on 89.9 KCRW & Dublab, a budding music supervisor, and creative from Pasadena, California. With decades of experience in art, festival, orchestral concert production and programming. Ro is inspired by discovery; exploring new and classic sounds from all over the globe ranging from tropicalia, mpb, soul, funk, jazz & beyond. Catch her behind the turntables setting intention with her vinyl collection & carefully curated otherworldly sonic selections.
LA Times’ De Los is news, commentary and more that explores Latino identity and culture, presented by a team of Latino creatives to authentically tell stories for our community, not just about our community. Join the conversation at delosangelestimes.com.
The Cultural Treasures of South LA Market presented by community partners LA Commons, will be popping up at our vendor village during the Daymé Arocena show. Come shop local vendors from the South LA community and support small businesses.
Vendors include:
Rincon Hondureño
All Chill Hip Hop Ice Cream Shop
Café Calle
Donaji Oaxacan Crafts
About Cultural Treasures Market
The Cultural Treasures Market is one way in which LA Commons aims to center South LA’s Cultural Treasures by offering them a platform to perform, share their story, market their small businesses, and engage with the larger Los Angeles community. Each market is activated through a mix of live performances, art-making, local vendors, and more!
Cultural Treasures of South LA is a community-based cultural asset mapping and activation initiative of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) in the South Los Angeles Promise Zone co-created and implemented in partnership with LA Commons, the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), Community Coalition, and the University of Southern California (USC)’s Neighborhood Data for Social Change (NDSC) Initiative. This project gives South LA community members a participatory platform to spotlight local Cultural Treasures that they deem significant, illuminating the rich cultural tapestry that makes this community thrive. For more information or to view the cultural treasures database, interactive map and video storybank, visit southlaculture.org.
LA Commons engages communities in artistic and cultural expression that tells their unique stories and serves as a basis for dialogue, interaction and a shared understanding of Los Angeles. Through community-based arts programs, centered on youth leadership development, we help diverse, generally low-income neighborhoods create dynamic works of public art that build community connection and empowerment. We uplift local narratives, enhancing the sense of belonging felt by a broad range of stakeholders. (https://www.lacommons.org/)
LA vs Hate will have an interactive mural booth at the Daymé Arocena show. Event attendees of all ages are invited to stop by and color on one of their Summer of Solidarity community murals. The “Come Walk with Me” mural is a journey through the diverse El Monte community that is inspired by past and present stories of culture, unity, and pride. Learn more about this historic neighborhood and its fight against hate while coloring with your friends and family.
About Kiara Machado
Kiara Machado is a Latiné contemporary artist born in Lynwood who depicts and explores the structures and liberation of identity, femininity, and culture in her work. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in painting and drawing from California State University Long Beach. Her artwork has been exhibited recently in museums across the United States and internationally.
About LA vs Hate
LA vs Hate is a community-centered system designed to support all residents and communities targeted for hate acts of all kinds in Los Angeles County. Led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, LA vs Hate partners with community partners from all five County districts, representing a diverse coalition of voices committed to prevent and respond to hate.
Report hate by calling 211 or visit LAvsHate.org
This PERFORMANCE is supported, in part, by the Green Foundation, the Norris Foundation, Ahmad Tea, A grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture through the following programs: as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan, and the Organizational Grant Program.
