I am all for utilizing social media to interact and network with others when creating art. However, live music performances are the life blood of music. CDs, MP3s, music streaming services allow you to play music whenever and wherever you want, but who doesn’t want to see their favorite band, singer or even a new group play live?
That’s why I absolutely love Grand Performances in Downtown Los Angeles. Grand Performances is a free, summer-long concert series that takes place at the open-air California Plaza II in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles. Audience members can come bring picnic meals and drinks, sitting almost anywhere around the stage. There is reserve seating for those who wish to pay, but really any seat in the plaza is a great seat because of the sound system, acoustics, and multiple television monitors placed throughout the area. Grand Performances makes it a point to celebrate cultural diversity, booking groups and solo acts from all over the world (I, myself, recently went to watch L’Orchestre Afrisa International & Ricardo Lemvo, hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
I have written posts encouraging people to go experience live music before, but really, everyone should go to a show during the Grand Performances summer series. By offering free access to world performance events, they are building and inspiring our community to become a part of the bigger cultural picture, educating the public through art; especially music. The artists that perform also are able to sell their merchandise, should anyone choose to bring these cultural experiences home to explore more (which they should). The staff that work these events are always polite and extremely helpful, and the welcoming atmosphere keeps people coming back every summer.
Please check out a show at Grand Performances soon! This is definitely one of the best musical experiences that you could have in Los Angeles. You won’t be disappointed.
The link to their main page can be found below for your reference:
http://www.grandperformances.org