Los Angeles is renowned for its vibrant arts scene, and few events capture this spirit better than the annual Grand Performances series — the longest-running presenter of free concerts in downtown Los Angeles. For nearly four decades, Grand Performances has been bringing free concerts to Downtown LA. This summer’s programming is ongoing through Saturday, Aug. 24, at California Plaza. The lineup includes global stars and local legends, promising a mix of modern and traditional sounds from Latin America, Asia and Africa, along with classical music and poetry nights.
From Afrobeat to cumbia, classic jazz to modern soul, ambient electronica to heavy-hitting salsa, Grand Performances’ summer season spans genres and generations. Key performances include the pioneering New Orleans brass band and 2023 Grammy winner The Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Saturday, June 15, Nigerian highlife royalty Okwy Osadebe on Saturday, July 27, and Afro-Cuban vocalist Daymé Arocena on Saturday, July 20.
“(The Dirty Dozen Brass Band) is one of the most influential brass bands to come out of New Orleans,” Stewart Irel, Grand Performances’ artistic and creative director, said. “They have a recent Grammy win, and people want to experience that authentic New Orleans sound. I think everyone will be on their feet dancing that night.”
The season kicked off on June 1 with a performance by critically acclaimed singer iLe, presented by KCRW. As a teenager, iLe, along with her brothers Residente and Visitante, achieved global superstardom with Calle 13, winning a record-breaking 21 Latin Grammys. She later established herself as a solo artist, earning her own Grammy.
The season finale on Saturday, Aug. 24, features cumbia sonidero pioneers Chucho Ponce Y Los Daddys De Chinantla. This event follows last year’s record-setting Grupo Kual concert, which drew a capacity crowd of 7,000 people and more than 225,000 viewers on Grand Performances’ YouTube livestream.
Grand Performances has a rich history dating back to 1986, when it was founded by Michael Alexander and has hosted free live concerts featuring iconic artists such as Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Kamasi Washington, Seun Kuti, Madame Gandhi, Ana Tijoux, Soulection, Aloe Blacc and Angelique Kidjo.
“This is our 38th summer in downtown LA,” Irel said. “The buildings weren’t even completed here back then, but Alexander and Tom Bradley had the vision to create a space for the arts. It’s been free concerts for 38 years, which is incredible.”
This summer, GP will host two special events celebrating the legacies of Celia Cruz and Max Roach, continuing its tradition of iconic tribute shows. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the Celia Cruz tribute will feature Havana Secret, her final U.S. tour’s backing band, along with salsa DJ superstar Gia Fu from Hong Kong. On Saturday, June 22, an all-star lineup of over 25 of LA’s finest musicians, including Brandon Coleman, Todd Simon, Jimetta Rose, Munyungo Jackson, Tommaso Cappellato and Dexter Story, will celebrate the 100th birthday of bebop pioneer and civil rights icon Max Roach.
“This season, we are expanding our platform to highlight more local artists and present a spectacular collection of international talents to Los Angeles, offering the community free access to global performing arts on the Grand Performances stage,” said Rafael González, president and CEO of Grand Performances. “Angelenos are in for an unforgettable summer as our creative team has curated what’s sure to be a remarkable season.”
The programming for Grand Performances is a collaborative effort. “We have listening lunches where we all get together and share music and concert experiences,” Irel explained. “Everyone on staff gives input, and we also work with collaborators. It’s about keeping an eye on the music scene and honoring different genres.”
The goal of Grand Performances is to make the arts accessible to everyone. “We want all of LA to feel at home here,” Irel emphasized. “It’s so rare to come to a place where everyone’s welcome. We have vendor villages, opportunities to dance, and people can meet some of the musicians. It’s a shared experience that’s invaluable.”
In addition to the newly added Friday night poetry and classical music series, Grand Performances is broadening its year-round programming. Following last summer’s concert series, Grand Performances hosted several off-season events, including the screening of the KCET and PBS SoCal documentary “Chinatown Punk Wars” featuring performances by The Linda Lindas and Alice Bag, The ReelAbilities Film Festival with the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability and Grand Avenue Arts All Access, among others. Continuing its tradition of collaboration with cultural institutions, Grand Performances’ Friday, June 21, show is in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Saturday, July 20, show with De Los (LA Times), the Saturday, July 27,, show with KPFK’s Radio Afrodicia and the Saturday, Aug. 10 show with dublab.
Grand Performances will host three poetry nights featuring award-winning LA-based poets and educators. These events will focus on Pride Month, LA’s rich music history and a multicultural exploration of our homes.
“Each poetry night has a theme and is more theatrical than just a person reading at a mic,” Irel explained. “We pick a curator to pull together a group of poets, and there’s multimedia, lights and sounds. It’s a profound experience for the audience.”
Additionally, Grand Performances presents a Classical music series on Fridays, hosted by KUSC’s Solomon Reynolds and Suraj Partha. Local classical musicians will help audiences discover the connections between classical music and today’s top hits.
“We care deeply about what we do,” Irel said. “Seeing the audience come out is like Christmas morning. Art should be for everyone, and we’re proud to provide that.”
Grand Performances
California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
213-687-2190, grandperformances.org
