Since 1987, Grand Performances has brought concerts, theater, dance and poetry to downtown Angelenos, all at no cost. This summer, the organization is keeping that legacy alive, recently announcing the lineup for its 39th season of free performances.
From June through August, California Plaza will serve as the home for free shows by singers, songwriters, orchestras and poets, as well as a screening of a classic film.
“Grand Performances’ mission is to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts,” its website stated.
The series launches on Saturday, June 14 with a homegrown talent, Ozomatli. The American rock band combines hip-hop, Latin and global sounds, and has won three Grammy awards. The group is known for advocating on behalf of several social causes, such as immigration reform and the rights of farmworkers, and is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the performance.
The shows are held on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. Three live poetry gigs will be part of the series’s 39th season, featuring Consuelo G. Flores (June 20), Tanzila Ahmed (July 25) and Yesika Salgado (Aug. 1).
On Saturday, June 28, Colelab and Mochilla are presenting a reimagination of the Los Angeles G-funk sound with a 30-piece orchestra performing classics by Dr. Dre, conducted by Sly5thAve.
On Friday, Aug. 15, Grand Performances will host a screening of the classic Charlie Chaplin film “The Great Dictator,” followed by a panel discussion.
The season ends on Saturday, Aug. 23, with a performance by Oro Sólido, a New York-based merengue group.
The shows start at 6 p.m., with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Disabled seating is available on the Lower Plaza. There are 350 amphitheater seats and benches across the Upper Plaza, with an audience capacity of 7,000. Guests can bring blankets and chairs, but they cannot block designated walking, dancing or wheelchair areas. Service dogs are welcome, but pets are not allowed on California Plaza.
Grand Performances shows are held at California Plaza, easily accessible by bus and rail. On-site parking is available at 351 S. Olive Street, with a special event parking rate of $10 cash or $17 credit card available 60 minutes before listed show times.
All shows are free, with RSVP possible at grandperformances.com, thanks to the support of sponsors including LA County Department of Arts and Culture, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and the Green Foundation.