When I travel, I love riding on public transportation—buses, trains, trams and ferries— because in Europe, the UK and Scandinavia, these services are so efficient (as they are in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, BC).

Cuban son ensemble El Septeto Santiaguero can testify to the impact that recognition from the U.S. record industry can have on even a well-established non-U.S. act.

There is a treasure trove of concerts coming up this month that should appeal to music lovers of every persuasion. The City of Angels is home to many diverse cultures, and these shows reflect some of our rich multicultural landscape.

La compañía Dédalo Artes Escénicas del estado de Sonora y la orquesta Panóptica del tijuanense Roberto Mendoza se unieron el viernes en la primera presentación local de “La Línea”, obra que destaca la multiplicidad de experiencias de los que viven en ambos de la frontera entre México y Estado Unidos.

Los Ángeles — Si hubieras llegado tarde, muy tarde a la presentación local del montaje “La Línea”, que se realizó ayer en la noche en la California Plaza del Downtown L.A. sin costo alguno, habrías regresado probablemente a casa con la impresión de que este es un espectáculo alegre en el que la música interpretada en vivo es llevada al estrado por unos bailarines de cumbia.

It was dance, dance, dance with LA-based polyrhythmic cumbia-rock-funk-merengue band Buyepongo and electroacústica Columbian music group Sidestepper.

In an effort to bring visual and performing arts into the large public areas in Los Angeles World Airports, LAX is now presenting live music in terminals in conjunction with the art exhibitions that have been running for more than a decade.

William Close is getting ready to string a skyscraper. As the inventor of the Earth Harp, which holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest stringed instrument, it’s a task he knows well.

Mari Riddle has been selected as the new executive director for Grand Performances, the organization that produces a concert series as well as dance and theater productions in downtown Los Angeles’ California Plaza.

Grand Performances, whose cross-discipline and cross-cultural fare at California Plaza have long been a staple of downtown L.A. culture, has announced its 2017 lineup of music, dance, theater, film, spoken word and children’s entertainment for the summer.

Bring art to the people. That’s the credo of Grand Performances, which has staged free summer shows at California Plaza in downtown Los Angeles since 1987.

Experience culture on a budget by stopping by these great festivals.

You wouldn’t expect openly gay actor/singer/comedian Lea DeLaria to have a baby daddy. But she does. And it’s David Bowie. “He’s totally my baby daddy,” she says. “First of all because I love him, and second, when we consider that this record is my baby, then David Bowie is my baby daddy.”

LOS ANGELES – Manila’s disco music of the ‘70s is coming to downtown Los Angeles as part of the popular Grand Performances Outdoor Summer Series at California Plaza on August 13 from 8 p.m.

DTLA - It’s not hard these days to get people to come to Downtown Los Angeles for evening or weekend entertainment.

The band Mashrou’ Leila, a Lebanese five-piece alternative rock group, performed downtown as part of Grand Performances on Friday night. At right is lead singer Hamed Sinno.

Most Latin and Afro-Cuban beats are based around the clave, which means “key” in Spanish. The clave is the key to Latin music and Africa holds that key.

Sinno is the singer of Lebanese indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila, whose poetic, violin-steeped songs were born from jam sessions (the band’s name literally means “overnight project”) at a music workshop at the American University of Beirut in 2008 and have since traveled around the world. 

A program series called Evolución L.A.tino is a part of Grand Performances' free summer events this year to highlight Latino and Chicano culture through the arts.

Michael Alexander Reflects on Three Decades Of Running Downtown’s Most Popular Outdoor Concert Series