THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER’S SUNSET CONCERT SERIES 2010 LINEUP ANNOUNCED

May 8th, 2010

The Skirball Cultural Center’s Sunset Concerts Series 2010

Created as a way of connecting people to one another and uniting local communities, the Skirball Cultural Center presents a free world music concert every Thursday at their outdoor venue for a night of dancing and celebration. Get more details below…

Check out the acts they’ve got lined up for this summer!

Sunset Concerts Series 2010
07/22/2010, Thu Parno Graszt
07/29/2010, Thu Natacha Atlas
08/05/2010, Thu Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
08/12/2010, Thu La Excelencia
08/19/2010, Thu Jews on Vinyl Revue
08/26/2010, Thu Kenge Kenge

The series kicks off with Hungary’s Parno Graszt (July 22; L.A. premiere),known not just for finding the source of the traditions they relish; they are the source. With the distinct Roma scat-singing rhythms of their native land and their magical ability to turn everyday objects into the source for irrepressible percussive beats, the group can fill a dance floor in a heart beat-and will often come out to join their dancing fans even after their concert is supposedly over.

The Skirball’s mission runs through all the Sunset Concerts, but shines through with performers like Natacha Atlas (July 29). Her work moves from edgy Arabic-flavored electronica to poignant acoustic ballads that capture the full breadth of the singer’s multicultural heritage: Belgian-born to an English mother and a father with diverse Arabic and Sephardic roots. “In her music and in her role as UN Goodwill Ambassador against racism, she embodies the message of strength in diversity, that our differences are sources of riches to be embraced, not feared,” Shah-Rais explains.

With a similar ear for reimagining their roots, the rowdy mastery of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys (August 5) rethinks the Cajun and Creole sounds of Southern Louisiana, creating rollicking music that dares listeners to keep from trying the two-step. “Even at their most traditional,” Shah-Rais notes, “they have such a diversity of harmony and rhythms, with a rock feel.”

New York-based salsa crew La Excelencia (August 12; L.A. premiere) also gets crowds moving with their hard-hitting dance-or-bust vibe-and gets them thinking at the same time. Committed to social justice in the barrio as well as intense beats, the 13 young members of this rising salsa dura band stay true to their roots while engaging both salsa tradition and their audiences with their unflagging energy and stellar musicianship.

Unexpected musical connections will be showcased at the Jews on Vinyl Revue (August 19; L.A. premiere), a unique chance to catch some of Jewish music’s most revered veterans playing alongside up-and-coming musicians. Tying into an exhibition at the Skirball curated by music researchers and writers Josh Kun and Roger Bennett, audiences will have a rare chance to catch performers like maverick nonagenarian Yiddish songwriter Irving Fields, known for his Bagels and Bongos records; Fred Katz, who introduced solo cello into jazz and was so committed to the music that he taught jazz to nuns at a Benedictine convent; and Yemenite-Israeli diva Hedva Amrani, whose velvet voice has scored major hits from Cairo to Tokyo.

“There will also be multi-media presentations and two outdoor listening parties connected to this exhibition,” Shah-Rais relates. “It’s about bringing Jewish American pop history to life in sound and images.”

Kenya’s Kenge Kenge,the group behind the YouTube video phenomenon “Obama for Change,” (August 26; Californiapremiere) bring an entirely different viewpoint to vibrant, exuberant life. The group transforms the traditional instruments of the Luo people, even building some instruments like orotu fiddles themselves. Fans of the Congolese musical group Konono No. 1 will instantly fall for the raw, hypnotic, and exhilarating sounds of Kenge Kenge as they combine the immediacy of an old-school field recording with the hardcore funk of the best dance tracks.

The liveliness of the music and dancing characteristic of the series is beautifully augmented by the Skirball’s spectacular setting. Concertgoers can come early and enjoy a picnic supper or make reservations for the delicious buffet dinner at Zeidler’s Café. Fans have been known to bring their own instruments for an impromptu jam session as dancers move and groove and kids play. It’s a space designed to welcome and embrace people from all walks of life, while making room for artists to push the musical envelope.

“When I’m considering who to invite to perform, there is no limit,” Shah-Rais reflects. “The more diverse we are, and the more exposure we have to other cultures, the richer we become. I’d like to share that with other people and to encourage people from totally different backgrounds and places to start enjoying each other’s culture.”

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
(July 22-August 26)
Doors Open: 7:00 pm, Show: 8:00 pm
Free
No reservations
Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis
On-site parking available:
$5 per car containing three or more people,
$10 otherwise (cash only)
No street parking permitted
Ph: 310.440.4500