S.Lo on May 16th, 2018

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Grand Performances, whose eclectic and diverse offerings continue to enlighten downtown L.A. every summer after three decades, has announced its 2018 lineup of music, dance, theater, film, spoken word, performance art and children’s entertainment at California Plaza for this summer.

The series’ 32nd season highlights the art of performance from around the world, including artists originating here with the “First Nations, New Voices” series highlighting Native American performers such as MC RedCloud (First Nations Now), Ulali, ceiling-breaking legendary ballerinas Maria and Marjorie Tallchief (When Moons Become Stars), and indigenous fusion hip hop and electronic R&B musicians Classic Roots, Natasha Fisher and Nakotah LaRance. Music offerings also include a 17-year jaunt through the music of Sly and the Family Stone; funk with Bootsy Collins; New Orleans gypsy electro jazz with Gingkoa; New Orleans ragtime jazz with the California Feetwarmers; the Vignes Rooftop Revival bicycle band performing the works of Django Reinhardt; underground legends El Vez and Phranc; Latin rock offerings from the Delirians (fresh from Coachella), Gemma Castro, the Altons, the Steady 45s and Hermanos Herrera; Afro-Cuban jazz by Dayramir González featuring Candi Sosa (amongst other unnamed guests); Jamaican jazz by Dave Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7; a classical suite written just for our City of Angels by Supernova; and less typically represented cultural fusion combinations such as Filipino rap and hip hop from HanHan and Gingee, Pakistani Sufi rock and disco from Füzon, and Iranian German rap, funk, R&B, blues pop from Sogand. Oh, and there’s also a chamber rock opera about Pancho Villa.  

The concerts are free. Full schedule is below; see the Grand Performances calendar for info on each event. 

June

1: Higher! The Psychedelic Soul & Genius of Sly and the Family Stone (1996-1983) (8 p.m.)
2: The Secret Shine & Shimmer Show (8 p.m.)
6: Good Things Happen When We… Speak Up! Stories from the Frontline (7:30 p.m.)
6: L.A. Dance Party USA (9 p.m.)
9: Ulali (8 p.m.)
15: Kristina Wong, Peter J. Harris, d. Sabela grimes – C.O.L.A. Night (8 p.m.)
16: Kristina Wong, Peter J. Harris, d. Sabela grimes – C.O.L.A. Night (8 p.m.)
22: Chassol – INDIAMORE (8 p.m.) 
23: Secret Life of Muslims (8 p.m.)
29: David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 and the Delirians (8 p.m.)
30: The Love Uninhibited Orchestra (8 p.m.)

July

1: First Nations Now: Rhymes and Storytelling for Families (MC RedCloud, Jessa Calderon, and Saginaw Grant) (3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.)
6: Gingkoa and the Vignes Rooftop Revival (8 p.m.)
7: Bootsy Collins (8 p.m.)
13: Now More Than Ever: Protest Songs Sing-Along (8 p.m.)
14: Urban Badlands: Gemma Castro, the Altons, the Steady 45s (7:30 p.m.)
15: Alphabet Soup: *LGBTTQQIAAP (3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.)
20: Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance (8 p.m.)
21: Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance (8 p.m.)
22: Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater: Tale of the Mouth (3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.)
22: HanHan and Gingee (8 p.m.)
27: Roger Guenveur Smith’s Frederick Douglass Now and Lula Washington (8 p.m.)
28: Dayramir González & Habana enTRANCé: the Grand Concourse with special guest Candi Sosa (8 p.m.)
29: Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band: Nom, Nom, Nom (3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.)

August

3: When Moons Become Stars (8 p.m.)
4: Füzon and Disco Füzon (8 p.m.)
10: Classic Roots & Natasha Fisher and Nakotah LaRance (8 p.m.)
11: El Vez & Phranc (8 p.m.)
12: Supernova and LACO String Quartet (8 p.m.)
17: La Marisoul curates: The California Feetwarmers & Hermanos Herrera (8 p.m.)
18: Sogand (8 p.m.)