Saturday, July 6 at 3:00 pm

A free, non-stop, immersive and interactive, seven hour live musical mix tape featuring local and international artists that defy genre and broadens perspectives

#AudacityofSound

Special projects for the festival produced by:
Dexter Story & Jae Deal, David Garza, Gaby Moreno & La Marisoul and Choreographer Amy O’Neal

Featured artists/ensembles:
DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson, Jeremy Dutcher, Masoud Rezaei, Sara Naeini, and Cimafunk

Vesper Public Relations. Los Angeles, CA. June 5, 2019. Grand Performances presents the Audacity of Sound Joy.Art.Music on July 6, 2019 from 3:00 pm-10:00 pm. The free and all-ages music festival continues Grand Performances' fearless mission of presenting works from local and international artists that pushes boundaries, opens minds and challenges conventional thinking all within a friendly, inclusive environment.

This global journey of exploration will take audience members through North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Latin American diaspora is represented with music from the 21st century Guatemalan-Mexican-American collaboration of Gaby Moreno and La Marisoul of La Santa Cecilia, and the rock/pop fusion of critically acclaimed Austin singer-songwriter David Garza. Audacity of Sound will celebrate Pan-African culture with composer/writer/producer Dexter Story with The Gospel of Madame Biddy Mason - a jubilant, soul-stirring musical biography of the founder of Los Angeles' First AME Church with Jae Deal, an all-star lineup of musicians, and a 12-voice choir of Los Angeles' best faith-based singers. The acclaimed French-Afropean duo DjuehDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson brings fresh melodic sizzle and electro Afrobeat pop. And Cimafunk, the most exciting new face on the emerging alternative Cuban music scene bridges the Motherland and Latin musical worlds.

To add to the increasingly eclectic line up, classically-trained Canadian Indigenous operatic tenor, Jeremy Dutcher, will mesmerize with an electric performance sung in the Wolastoqiyik language, soloists from LA Opera will cast a spell, Iranian artists Sara Naeini will sing with her ensemble and setar virtuoso Masoud Rezaei will play a high energy set.

Interactive and unexpected moments will feature Brasil Cultural Center’s Capoiera Batuque, boogie woogie piano (think Jerry Lee Lewis Grand Avenue among the audience,) dancer and choreographer Amy O'Neal will lead vibrant hybrid street and club dances for the audience to the mix via short youtube tutorials that will be shared via social media streams encouraging the gather crowd to celebrate the day and dance. A sing along component in The Gospel of Madame Biddy featuring member of the Urban Voices Project in and among the crowd to encourage us all to raise our voices in song. The Garfield High School Marching band and a land acknowledgement and prayer by Tongva elder, Julia Bogany will begin the festival.

“We are excited to be presenting this dynamic event to the people and visitors of Los Angeles,” said Executive Director of Grand Performances Mari Riddle. “Audacity brings all the joy, art, and music that Grand Performances is known for into one jubilant, global performing arts showcase at our 30-plus-year home on Grand Avenue in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles at the top of historic Bunker Hill!”

The Audacity of Sound will also feature local food trucks for convenient dining, water stations, a children crafts and reading room and much more. Attendees are encouraged to wear green and bring their own water bottles to reduce the event’s carbon footprint as Grand Performances is dedicated to creating an environmental friendly space for all.

About The Artists/Performances:

Cimafunk

Cuban-born singer, writer and composer Erik Iglesias aka Cimafunk is well on his way to stardom having been listed by Billboard as one of the 10 Latin artists to watch in 2019. The name Cimafunk was created from the word "cimarron: or "renegade" - a name given to African slaves who rebelled and fled from the plantations in colonial Cuba and pays respect to his black Cuban heritage but also his willingness to wander from the traditional trova, timba that he loves and informs his aesthetic. While he also cites Prince, James Brown and Funkadelic as influences, make no mistake, Cimafunk's sound is definitely his and Cuba’s own. His magnetic, rhythmic, sensual stage presence (with outfits and hair style that can only be described as 21st century funky) to this sparklingly refreshing music, and this presentation holds the promise of being a funky non-stop, in-the-groove party on Grand Avenue.

David Garza: Normalize! Harmonize!

Los Angeles & Austin-based singer-songwriter David Garza is a musicians’ musician whose current most visible project is the soundtrack of HBO’s "Running with Beto". Known for his prolific output of rock, pop, Latin diaspora sounds, and socially conscious lyrics - Garza returns to GP with a set that features a century of songs about cannabis. Garza returns to GP with a fun and surprising set that tells the centuries old story of cannabis through song – roughly a song per decade - featuring music penned by artists ranging from Cab Calloway to Cypress Hill. Special guests to be announced.

Las Musas: Chavela, Joni, Mercedes, Nina and Violeta

Two of our city's iconic earth-strong LatinX voices pay tribute to the muses that inspire them. Playing the music of legends and musical heroines Chavela Vargas, Joni Mitchell, Mercedes Sosa, Nina Simone, and Violeta Parra, this bilingual musical feast showcases the creative solidarity of feminine and non-binary power. Guatemalan-born Gaby Moreno and L.A.'s own La Marisoul (of La Santa Cecilia fame) serve up their renditions of classic songs layered with jazz, rumba, rock, soul, cumbia and other western and Pan- Latin music styles. This is more than just a tribute performance - it is a reminder of how important the female voice continues to be especially in politically unsettling times. Ensemble: Anna Butters (bass), Barbara Gruska (drums), Nina Diaz (vocals), Dorian Wood (vocals) Madison Cunningham (vocals) and Andrea Cruz (vocals).

DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson

DjuehDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson call themselves French-Afropeans and their music, by extension, speaks to who they are. One has to only listen to their last release Aimez Ces Airs to understand. These two dynamic composers and Afro-soul singers’ poppy, trippy, cheeky French sounds fuse jazz, Afrobeat, electronic, and soul. "That's the Afropean sound" says the group. It's danceable, it's fun, it's perfect summer music.

Jeremy Dutcher

Fewer than 10,000 Wolastoq people live in First Nations communities and Jeremy Dutcher combines his operatic, piano and composition talents to make music that focuses a much-needed light on the attempt to keep a language alive and reimagine the traditional. His solo classical piano set seamlessly incorporates 100 year old recordings of ancestral songs (learn more about that compelling story) and electronic keyboard, drum, traditional percussion, violin, bass and other samples to create exquisitely lush "post-classical Wolastoqiyik music." His soaring vocals, tribal songs, opera and pop mix is garnering acclaim around the world and is the reason he joins a distinguished list of important, emerging indigenous and first nations artists that Grand Performances has introduced to Angelenos over the years.

Sara Naeini

While it isn't unusual for athletes to share their artistic endeavors, it is unique in Iranian culture, particularly for a female athlete. Sara Naeini (a renowned national champion gymnast since the age of eight) transformed herself into one of her country's most influential traditional pop/rock musicians. She caught the music bug at 18 and has not looked back. The bedrock of her sound is informed by traditional classical Iranian compositions performed with oud, sifan, daf, other Middle Eastern instruments, and a healthy dose of western keyboards, drums, bass, electronics and guitars. Her ethereal voice, when mixed with pop/rock notes, becomes absolutely transcendent.

Masoud Rezaei

Born in Iran, but now based in Los Angeles, Masoud Rezaei is a composer/setar (Persian Lute) player with unparalleled talents. His journey into the world of tradition Iranian music began when he was only 11- years-old, studying the intricate techniques of playing this age-old instrument and understanding how to compose the lush, beautiful scores with Iranian master musicians such as Zolfonoun, Babaei and Shoari. His love of this classic Iranian instrument led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in Iranian Traditional Music Performance and since the early 2000s, he has been performing on the global stage composing and performing with renowned western and Middle Eastern artists. This set will feature his trademark duet with a Mathias Kunzli on western drum kit.

The Gospel of Madame Biddy

Music to Celebrate LA’s Praise Origins and Founding Matriarch
Composer/writer/producer Dexter Story’s Grand Performances programs have paid tribute to everyone from Gil Scott-Heron to Sly and the Family stone. This program will feature a jubilant, soul-stirring biographical gospel homage to Madame Biddy Mason, whose story of transformation from disenfranchised and displaced slave to wealthy businesswoman and founder of Los Angeles' First AME Church is brought to life with an all-star lineup of musicians, and a 12-voice choir of Los Angeles' best faith-based singers. Versatile multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger Jae Deal adds his touch as co- producer to this full-bodied celebration. Members of DTLA’s The Urban Voices Project will mingle among the audience encouraging everyone to participate in a mini sing along. It's a sonic expression of love and devotion to one of our city's most extraordinary African-American women.

What: Grand Performances Presents Audacity of Sound
When: Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 3:00 pm
Where: 300 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (300 block of South Grand Avenue. Street closed from 2nd Street to Hope Place)
For more information: www.grandperformances.org

About Audacity of Sound:

Audacity of Sound is a free, non-stop, immersive and interactive seven-hour, live musical extravaganza produced by the innovative performing arts organization, Grand Performances. This festival showcases Grand Performances’ joyous love for music from around the world and our own backyard. The festival also seeks to create signature, one-of-a-kind collaborations telling L.A. stories. Featuring jubilant gospel (with a sing-along!) opera, capoeira, a marching band, boogie-woogie piano, food trucks, a facilitated children’s craft and reading room; and more. With an anticipated attendance of 10,000 - 15,000 people, this will be one of the largest events in Grand Performances’ history!

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About Grand Performances:

Hailed as the “Best Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series” by Los Angeles Magazine and called “a grand gift to the public... democracy in musical action” by the Los Angeles Times, Grand Performances presents high-quality music, dance, theater, and more at the breathtaking Califoria Plaza on Grand Avenue in the heart of Bunker Hill, Downtown Los Angeles. For more than 30 years, Grand Performances has delivered the best of global culture to inspire community among the diverse peoples of Los Angeles, and reflect the many cultural interests across the region.

Grand Performances is proud to have the support of the following sponsors for the Audacity of Sound: AT&T, Canadian Consulate, CD 14 - Councilmember Jose Huizar, City National Bank, City of L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs; County of Los Angeles Arts Commission, Dew Foundation, Farhang Foundation, First 5 LA, FLAX Foundation, Grand Central Market, Green Foundation, Omni Hotel, Rising, 2Cal, Sony Pictures, and US Bank.Media sponsors: Film Independent, KPCC, KCRW, KPFK, LA Canvas, and LA Taco.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mariluz González
Vesper Public Relations
(818) 667-6403, mgonzalez@vesperpublicrelations.com