Hosted by Anthony Valadez, each podcast episode will take a unique dive into GP’s rich, forty-year history. Through honest conversations, we’ll hear directly from artists who have graced the California Plaza stage as they reflect on what Grand Performances means to them. Their stories about authenticity and artistic evolution will move you. You’ll also hear from people behind the scenes who work year-round at GP to bring you a concert series that is curated with intention and care, summer after summer. These firsthand perspectives will help to paint the picture of how a million small, moving pieces fit together to create a compelling concert series worthy of your attendance.

In our premiere episode of GP360, host Anthony Valadez looks back at his visit to Care Camp in January of 2025. An initiative of LA County Parks and Recreation, Care Camp provided support to children and families displaced by the Eaton Fire. We hear emotional testimonies from people on the ground at Care Camp who came together in the face of unspeakable tragedy. The episode also examines our role in uplifting community in times of hardship.

In our 2nd episode of GP360, we chat with GRAMMY-nominated artist Ciro Hurtado, one of the first artists to ever grace the Grand Performances stage some 40 years ago. We talk to Ciro about his Peruvian origins, LA’s music scene in the ‘80’s, marching to the beat of his own drum and what continues to inspire him.

This podcast has been a year in the making, so we’re beyond thrilled to release these conversations into the world, for your listening pleasure. We just ask that you come with an open mind to leave with a deeper understanding of who we are and why what we do matters more than ever. The first two episodes are out now with additional episode dropping monthly. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube or Amazon.

Raising children in Los Angeles means raising them amid constant rhythm…the rhythm of neighborhoods, languages, and the many cultures that give this region its pulse. Parenting here becomes an act of listening to music, to memory, and to the stories that surround us.

Last Saturday, my sons, Kalixto and Luxiano, and I spent the day moving through those rhythms. We began in downtown LA, where my sons started their morning with their weekly vocal lessons, learning pitch, breath, discipline, as well as the patience and focus that music demands. Afterwards, we headed to the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown for dim sum breakfast, a small ritual of joy and discovery, before setting off to experience the rhythm of Los Angeles itself.

We started at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival, where South LA’s legacy came alive through the sounds of world-class musicians and the spirit of a community that has carried jazz forward for generations. On Central Avenue, the music carried the stories of a community that helped define LA’s identity. My sons listened, asked questions, and began to understand that art is both expression and endurance.

Later, in Little Tokyo, we joined the joyful gathering of FandangObon, dancing among traditions from Japan, Mexico, West Africa, and beyond, a living example of what happens when cultures meet in respect and harmony. FandangObon is what Los Angeles does best: it doesn’t blend cultures into sameness; it allows each to shine, forming harmony through respect and rhythm.

Along the way, my sons met friends and mentors Carlos Guaico, Dexter Story, Allison De La Cruz, Quetzal Flores, Debra Nakatomi, Jim Herr, and Karen Mack. These amazing folks are artists and civic leaders who embody the power of creativity to build connection and change. They showed my sons that culture isn’t something that happens on a stage; it’s something we live into, protect, and pass on.

As I watched Kalixto and Luxiano take it all in, I was reminded of what I learned and championed years ago at First 5 LA, that early experiences with music and the arts profoundly shape a child’s development. The arts teach focus, patience, and discipline. They encourage empathy and build the capacity to listen, collaborate, and dream. They help children find their voices and use them with purpose. When we give children access to the arts, we’re developing future people of conscience and imagination.

Experiencing both events in one day was a reminder of what makes Los Angeles extraordinary: neighborhoods rich with history, art that transcends generations, and communities that celebrate joy, resilience, and belonging. This is Los Angeles at its best...where music, art, and culture don’t simply entertain; they educate, connect, and transform.

Moments like these remind me that parenting is an act of love, a practice of guidance, respect for culture and traditions, and a commitment to nurture the world our children will inherit and shape.

At Grand Performances, I see that spark every summer, families discovering new sounds, children dancing freely under the skyline, and multigenerational communities learning from one another through the power of the performing arts. These moments are more than performances; they are lessons in culture, connection, imagination, and civic life.

Thanks to the love and care of our audience members, we collected hundreds of art supplies and hygiene kit items to distribute to the Altadena community to assist with their fire recovery. That distribution happened this past weekend, at MCL’s awesome Heal Dena event.

Check out our update to learn about the community impact you made - and please give Music Changing Lives a follow on their website or Instagram if you want to stay involved!

*Also, we’re always open to more ideas on how we can help the community at our future GP shows. Email us with your suggestions!

This week, I had the honor of speaking at the Southern California Grantmakers Conference, under the theme Act of Courage. The session, “Reimagining Philanthropy in Defense of Culture Work, History, and Civil Society”, featured Jim Herr, Director of the National Center for the Preservation of Society, was moderated by Álvaró Márquez, Senior Officer, Communications & Arts of the California Community Foundation, and included my fellow panelist Ann Burroughs, President & CEO of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM).

In times of political pressure and cultural erasure, the arts are a force for justice. Among many things, they bring joy, and joy itself is an act of resistance. The arts are where memory, belonging, and democracy converge. Just as importantly, they are woven into our everyday lives, shaping how we gather, heal, and imagine.

At Grand Performances, we see art as civic infrastructure, as essential to democracy as roads and schools. Our stage is a public commons where Angelenos gather freely to see themselves reflected and affirmed. It’s where our stories come alive. From the film screening of The Great Dictator to the poetry series of She Speaks, from the orchestral celebration of California Love to the current relevancy of J-Town/Bronzeville Suite, our programming this past season pushed back against amnesia and uplifted stories too often erased.

We cannot do this work alone.

One of the points I made on the panel was for philanthropy to be more than a funder. We need you as allies, defenders, and our biggest advocates. Help us build a big tent for culture and the arts. One wide enough to hold the innovative creativity emerging from our communities alongside traditional art spaces. Culture is everywhere, and it must be funded everywhere.

We know funders have their priorities, and too often the arts fall lower on the list. The truth is that the arts intersect with education, public health, justice, and civic life. Supporting the arts strengthens every one of those priorities.

What’s needed for the arts to thrive is sustained, flexible funding that affirms the arts as civic investment…investing directly in people, in communities, and in a just and shared future. Support that pays artists and crews fairly, bolsters the work behind the stage, and values cultural workers whose daily labor already shapes civil society.

Playing it safe is not neutral. It perpetuates harm. In this climate, we are all targets. We must take action together. The real danger isn’t backlash. It’s becoming irrelevant. Institutions and funders that stay silent in times of crisis lose their moral authority and their place in the civic fabric.

Because what’s at stake is bigger than the arts. It’s democracy itself.

Words by Rafael González, President & CEO, Grand Performances:

Grand Performances just concluded its summer season amidst the chaos and uncertainty we’ve faced all year long. I expected low numbers because of this, but attendance exceeded expectations, even higher than in previous seasons. At times, it felt like we might not have a season at all, a reality made especially clear when we had to postpone Ozomatli’s 30th Anniversary performance. 

Wildfires raged, a new administration brought shifting priorities, NEA criteria changed, and our undocumented community faced ICE raids and ongoing injustices, all while we operated from the heart of Downtown LA. Alongside these challenges, the city’s economic pressures reminded us how vital ongoing investment in the performing arts remains. Yet I was determined to move forward. I believed in the power of the performing arts to unite people, provide respite, and give us all a way to resist. We took something daunting and turned it into hope, connection, and joy.

Even before the official season began, we produced major events, from the Las Cafeteras Concert at the Arboretum in January for Altadena families and children who lost their homes in the wildfire to a Cuban Block Party in Culver City in April that had the Westside dancing in the streets with Changüí Majadero, and by summer, our team was already stretched. Still, we carried through and delivered a 2025 summer season that brought people together.

For nearly 40 years, Grand Performances has been more than a concert series, it has been a civic stage, a place where the cultural life of Los Angeles is made visible. This summer, we honored that legacy. We celebrated the music that raised us, inspired us, and gave us strength, from the cool jazz of Coltrane to tributes to Dr. Dre, to the fresh fire of rising artists like Baby Rose and Angelica Garcia and on and on.

Not everything went as planned. Our highly anticipated Ozomatli 30th Anniversary concert was postponed amid urgent calls for justice. That moment reminded us that the arts cannot be separated from the realities of our city. At Grand Performances, we do not shy away from these truths, we lean into them, because art has always been a voice for resistance and renewal.

Yet the season gave us unforgettable moments:

• John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme at 60, reimagined as a stirring tribute.

• A symphonic salute to Dr. Dre, affirming hip-hop as cultural canon.

• Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos, breathing new life into vintage boleros.

• The soaring power of Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra and the energy of DEEP with Marques Wyatt.

• With JANM, Dave Iwataki’s J-Town/Bronzeville Suite, lifting up an important chapter of Los Angeles history through music and dance.

• A special outdoor screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, reminding us that the fight against authoritarianism and injustice remains urgent today.

• A global journey that carried us from the mystical sounds of Qawwali to the rhythms of Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

• Oro Sólido and Banda Máxima Potencia closed the season with fire, drawing thousands in attendance and leaving audiences dancing long into the night.

• Fridays were devoted to poetry, classical music, and film, deepening the dialogue between arts and civic life.

This work is not without cost. Our team is tired. We began under pressure, we produced relentlessly, and even now, with the summer behind us, three more major productions await this Fall. At the same time, we face the ongoing challenge of budget cuts and shifts in civic support, making the need for investment in community and culture more urgent than ever. The arts are not ornamental, they are essential to civic health, cultural memory, and community resilience.

Looking back, this season was truly special.  We honored the past, celebrated the present, and gave a stage to the future. Against wildfires, political shifts, economic pressures, and societal challenges, our audiences came together, proving that the arts remain vital, relevant, and necessary.

Looking ahead, we are energized to keep that spirit alive. On September 4, we host a Juried Showcase of emerging performing arts talent with the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) right here at Grand Performances. On September 14, we join the Skirball Cultural Center and Zócalo Public Square for “Zona Libre” to celebrate Los Angeles’ deep ties to Mexico and Central America with an afternoon of community activities and an evening of live music. In December, together with the DTLA Alliance, we launch Grand Illuminations, a holiday exhibition with lights and music at California Plaza. And with a few additional projects soon to be announced, the momentum continues as we move beyond summer into fall and winter.

To our artists, partners, and audiences: thank you for being part of this story. You are the reason Grand Performances has endured for nearly four decades.

To my team: let’s take time to rest and catch our breath. I know how much you’ve given, and I also know we can’t keep giving at this pace without care for ourselves and one another. Together, with the right support, we’ll build practices that sustain us, because caring for our well-being is also caring for the future of this organization.

We look forward to continuing this work together as we celebrate Grand Performances’  40th anniversary in 2026…with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Banda Máxima Potencia kicked off with bold, brassy energy—fast, festive, and precise. Oro Sólido kept the party moving with their signature merengue grooves, syncopated and crowd-pleasing.

The evening, co-produced by ZZK Records, was something of an experiment: pairing Mexican banda with Dominican merengue isn’t common. But the throughline was undeniable—uptempo rhythms, vibrant brass, and charismatic frontmen driving the crowd into nonstop motion and cheers. DJ Anthony Valadez tied it all together with deep Latin cuts that bridged the two styles seamlessly.

California Plaza itself became part of the performance: the lawn swayed, the stage ignited, the upper platform pulsed with dancers, and silhouettes spun in the shadows on the second floor above. The entire venue moved as one, reaching a euphoric peak when Oro Sólido dropped their smash hit El Beeper. In a summer marked by uncertainty and unrest across the city, the night brought some needed joy and healing through community.

The livestream is archived on our YouTube page and pics will be posted on our Facebook page soon.

“Grand Performances welcomed a full house last Friday for a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. Watching hundreds of Angelenos gather outdoors for a film released in 1940, one that dared to speak out against tyranny when so many stayed silent, was unforgettable and emotional. 

I grounded the evening in both history and urgency: that art has always been more than entertainment. It is a force for resistance, truth-telling, and solidarity.

My friend and former Grand Performances President Michael Alexander joined me on stage with a moving reflection about the courage of Chaplin’s vision and the continued relevance of the film. He reminded us, sharing a tattered Chaplin filmography book his dog chewed up, that when Chaplin used his art to confront fascism, it was a radical act. It carried risk but also the possibility of awakening audiences to their shared humanity.

As I watched the film, I laughed at the absurdity of power and cried silently at the oppression of the people.  As I turned around me, others did the same. I couldn’t help but think about how Chaplin portrayed the persecution of Jews in 1940. Today, in real time, we see Mexicans, other Latinos, Asian Pacific Islanders, facing similar scapegoating, profiling, hunting, imprisonment, and dehumanization from the Trump Administration. The echoes are unmistakable, different era, same tactics of division. 

I bring it back to Grand Performances and its mission. When we present films like The Great Dictator or host artists who tell their stories freely, we affirm that everyone belongs. I belong.  You belong.  We belong. We honor self-preservation, ignite imagination, and make joy itself an act of resistance.

At the close of the evening, I shared my own reflections and personal story. My family lived through the injustices Chaplin warned against: deportations in the 1970s, and even earlier during Operation Wetback in the 1950s, when my relations were forcibly removed. These moments scarred many generations, leaving behind a collective trauma that haunts me and many folks I know and don’t know to this day. At the same time, we built in us a resilience, a determination to overcome and to fight for a space for belonging and a place at the table.

Looking ahead, advancing a better future means protecting immigrant families from separation and injustice, supporting cultural institutions that connect us, and standing in solidarity across communities so that dignity is never compromised.

Friday night was more than a screening. It was a reminder that, as Chaplin said in his timeless speech: we are not machines, we are human beings. And our shared humanity is worth fighting for.

I invite you to support this vision: stand with immigrant communities, invest in the arts as a space of resistance and joy, and join us at Grand Performances as we continue creating free cultural experiences that bring Los Angeles and the world together.”

Big Cee set the tone with a vibrant opener, while QVLN emceed with charisma, backed by live congas and samba dancers in full regalia.

A towering video wall and sound-reactive lights gave the night an extra edge, transforming California Plaza into a pulsing, glowing dance temple.

This was DEEP at its finest: pure intention, impeccable execution, and a loving community lifted by music.

**We also want to give a massive shoutout to everyone who participated in our highly successful Music Changing Lives donation drive. LA showed so much love for this wonderful music mentorship and mutual aid nonprofit, to the tune of: 

• 125 sketchbooks

• 204 sets of colored pencils / pens

• 59 toothbrushes

• 80 tubes of tooth paste

• 91 sticks of deodorant

• 48 packs of body wipes

• and over a hundred individual online donations!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Relive the magic on our YouTube page.

The Elysians opened with a warm, sunlit set led by three captivating vocalists. Blanco y Negro, the youngest group, followed with an energetic fusion of ska and Latin rock. Mobtown’s steel drums added a melodic Caribbean touch from Trinidad and Tobago, while The Untouchables, sharp in dapper suits, brought a vintage ’60s mod flair. Western Standard Time closed with a sprawling set—even weaving in Ethiopian jazz—powered by an incredible 23-member lineup.

In total, more than 70 musicians filled the night with sound, a testament to producer Nancy Artega’s epic vision. And LA showed up in style: checkered patterns, cabby hats, fedoras, suspenders, Doc Martens, punk gear—all moving to the beat, all smiles.

Relive it all on our YouTube page.

On Saturday, August 16th - at our DEEP 25th Anniversary Party - we’d like to help them gather more art supplies, hygiene kit items, and (if you happen to have any) used drums. See details in the flyer below…

In return, Grand Performances will give donation drive participants the VIP treatment, which includes:

• Validated Parking - Just tell our parking attendants that you’ll be validated upon entering our parking structure at 351 S Olive Street and take the parking stub up with you to the plaza ($10 value).

• VIP Viewing Area - You’ll gain access to an exclusive viewing area on the upper stage, directly behind the DJs and bands.

• Complimentary Beer, Cocktails & Snacks - Waiting for you in the VIP Viewing Area, courtesy of Angel City Brewery and Hello Stranger.

A true guitar virtuoso, Quesada leaned into fuzzed-out riffs dripping with '60s psychedelia. His all-star backing band brought the mood to life with pounding drums, sparse guitar stabs, and organ melodies that oscillated between romantic and haunting. This was mood music melting in acid.

His guest performers - Trish Toledo, Angélica Garcia, Mireya Ramos, Gaby Moreno, and Cuco - sang with all their hearts during unforgettable appearances. Even Sly5thAve, who recently cemented his legacy as an all time GP great with his Dr. Dre symphonic tribute, came out to play sax with Quesada during his set’s final act.

It was pure romance and magic, and his collective of artists were just as enthralled by the experience as the audience was.

Relive it all on our YouTube page.

From the moment Francesca Harding dropped a reggae dub remix of “Be Thankful for What You Got,” the mood was set — Saturday night was going to be drenched in soul. Her set flowed with rare grooves and global rhythms that eased the crowd into a warm, feel-good space.

Then came Angélica Garcia, who flipped the energy electric without losing that soulful thread. Backed by a live drummer, her performance blended soaring vocals with bright electro-pop textures. A gifted dancer, she never stopped moving — channeling a spontaneous, magnetic energy that felt both improvised and completely in command.

Baby Rose followed with poise and power, her otherworldly voice leaving the crowd stunned. A confessional songwriter, she explores heartbreak and longing, yet her set felt anything but heavy. Her voice, smoky and low like Nina Simone one moment, soaring like Amy Winehouse the next, proved she’s not just echoing greats — she’s forging her own path.

Relive it all on our YouTube page.

Giveaway Rules:

• Enter from July 23, 2025 at 12 a.m. through August 20, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

• The random winner will be drawn on August 21, 2025.

• One lucky winner will take home a premium Yeti cooler valued at $450.

• Los Angeles: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
  Open to legal residents of California. Sweepstakes runs from 12:00 a.m. (PT) on July 23, 2025 through 11:59 p.m. (PT) on August 20, 2025. Must be at least 18 years or older to participate. Void where prohibited. For official rules please see the following link: https://events.aarp.org/event/SweepstakesGP/summary

  Administrator: AARP

About AARP:

AARP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people aged 50 and older to live their best lives. From advocating on key issues like healthcare, financial security, and caregiving, to offering member benefits such as discounts, educational resources, and community programs, AARP supports its members at every stage of aging. Their mission is to strengthen communities and champion positive aging nationwide.

AARP x Grand Performances:

A valued partner of Grand Performances, AARP has graciously sponsored our August 9th Latin Goes Ska and August 23rd Oro Sólido shows. Learn more about their valuable life planning services at their booth on those days.

Backed by 12 elite instrumentalists (many of whom played with Sérgio Mendes) and a five-person vocal ensemble, the expansive three-part set spanned centuries of Brazilian culture. Tropical grooves kept the crowd dancing all night, while capoeiristas of all ages elevated the performance with sacred martial arts ciphers. Parallels to breakdancing were clear—and with DJs Cut Chemist and Gaslamp Killer cutting over the live band, the program pulsed with an electricity that helped bridge generations.

It was a night of movement, education, community, joy and resilience. Revisit it all on our YouTube page.

Livestream Part 1

Livestream Part 2

Right now, in California and especially here in Los Angeles, the future of arts and culture is being shaped in real time and the stakes have never been higher for our creative communities.

At the forefront of this movement are California for the Arts and Arts for LA, two dynamic organizations tirelessly championing policies that protect public funding, expand access, and center equity across the arts ecosystem. Their leadership is not just influential, it’s essential. 

Grand Performances stands proudly in recognition of their advocacy and vision. We are here because of them, and we honor the heroic work they do every day to ensure the arts not only survive but thrive in California.

I know California for the Arts and Arts for LA will continue to fight, and we call on everyone who believes in the transformative power of the arts to join and support these two organizations.

Advocacy doesn’t just happen in policy rooms or on Capitol steps. It starts at home, in classrooms, in community centers, and within us.

Arts advocacy is for everyone. Wherever you are, your voice matters. Together, we can defend and advance the arts for today and for generations to come.

Rafael González | President & CEO | Grand Performances

DJ Max Cool opened with a seamless blend of traditional South Asian sounds and modern electronica—honoring the past while leaning into the future.

The Chishty Ensemble embodied duality through contrast: the fast, syncopated rhythms of tabla drums playing against the slow, meditative tones of the sitar—layered and hypnotic.

But duality came into full focus with the Saami Brothers Qawwal. Their soaring vocals, flowing instrumentation, and rhythmic handclaps evoked serenity and devotion, even as the music surged in tempo and power, like a gathering storm. The crowd remained on their feet—dancing, swaying, and absorbing the collective energy.

Revisit the evening on our YouTube page.

“At a time when fear and division are being weaponized, our response is rooted in presence, creativity, and connection.”

The backdrop of uncertainty has made the past few weeks at Grand Performances all the more meaningful.

Despite the challenges and postponing our season opener with Ozomatli, beauty bloomed these past weeks. Our stage became a sanctuary, filled with poetry, music, and collective joy. From the 60th anniversary tribute to John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”, to an unforgettable symphonic celebration of Dr. Dre’s legacy, these events reminded us why we do this work. Each night affirmed the healing and transformative power of live performance and expression.

The last two Friday nights were anchored by poetry curated by the incomparable Consuelo Flores, whose vision brought together voices of women that lifted us to a higher plane. The City of Los Angeles (COLA) Artist Fellows illuminated the stage with fearless creativity, inspiring reflection and hope.

Over 3,000 people joined us during our default opening weekend and more than 4,000 gathered the following weekend. These numbers aren’t just statistics, they are proof of a community’s hunger for connection, culture, and shared experience.

We recognize that during these turbulent times, especially with the federal government’s actions and the threat of ICE raids on our communities, we cannot guarantee absolute safety for all. But symbolically, and as much as we can physically, we offer a space of welcome, solidarity, and care. Our commitment is unwavering.

We will continue to find ways to ensure that all Angelenos across Los Angeles County, regardless of immigration status or life circumstances, can experience the joy, the smiles, the rhythms and body-shaking movements that Grand Performances brings to our people. Whether in person, virtually or in unexpected spaces, we remain dedicated to showing up for our communities through music, art, and culture.

At a time when fear and division are being weaponized, our response is rooted in presence, creativity, and connection. This is what resistance looks like. This is what solidarity sounds like. And this is why Grand Performances continues to show up, year after year...and we're not done yet. We have many more performances ahead, each one designed to carry forward this spirit of inclusion, joy, and cultural richness.

Now through August 23rd, our season continues to celebrate Los Angeles as a space for all. We invite you to join us, stand with us, and be part of what makes Los Angeles truly extraordinary.

I thank you all for your support and understanding our context.  Now more than ever if you can support through discretionary funds that would mean the world to GP.  If you have friends that would join us as GP members that would make a major difference.

In my many years of community service I have not experienced anything like this.  It's been difficult and we will make it through this nuanced year.  Hobbled but standing. 

Thank you.

Rafael González | President & CEO | Grand Performances

To celebrate their delicious line of fruit-infused cold brew teas, we’ve brewed up two prize packs perfect for sunny days and outdoor concerts. Whether you're lounging at the beach or vibing at California Plaza for one of our free shows, these goodies are guaranteed to keep you cool.

Enter here for a chance to win:

Grand Prize:

• Ahmad Tea beach towel

• Iced tea pitcher

• Ahmad Tea water bottle

• Floral bouquet tin (filled with tea)

• $40 Ahmad Tea e-gift card

Runner-Up:

• Ahmad Tea water bottle

• Cold brew bundle

• $20 Ahmad Tea e-gift card

Additional Perks: The Grand Prize winner will also receive a pair of reserved VIP seats at any 2025 Grand Performances show of their choice, with complimentary parking, wine, beer, or soft drinks to complete the vibe.

*Winners will be chosen at random — don’t miss your shot at summer serenity in a glass.

Contest Rules:

• The contest begins on July 9, 2025 and ends on August 18, 2025.

• No purchase necessary to enter or win.

• Limit one entry per person. Multiple submissions will not increase your chances of winning.

• The contest is open to legal California residents aged 18 or older at the time of entry.

• Winners will be selected by random drawing on August 19, 2025.

• Winners will be contacted via email (as a backup method, phone calls).

• Winners’ first name and last initial may be announced via Grand Performances’ social media, newsletter, and this updated blog post.

• Employees of Grand Performances, Ahmad Tea USA, and affiliated partners, as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible to enter.

• If a winner cannot be contacted, fails to claim the prize within 10 days, or is disqualified for any reason, an alternate winner will be selected.

• Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.

• Approximate non-cash prize values: $100 for Grand Prize, $50 for Runner-Up Prize.

So what are you waiting for? Enter to win your slice of summer serenity.

#SipWithGP #AhmadTeaSummerVibes

One only had to step inside California Plaza to feel the sheer breadth of Dr. Dre’s influence. Thousands of Angelenos—multigenerational, multicultural—came together in joyful unity, vibing to his music. Even the most diehard fans of The Chronic couldn’t have imagined this kind of mass appeal back in ’92.

Boleros With Attitude set the tone with Latin folk reinterpretations of Dre-adjacent West Coast rap. Zeus’s guitar work brought romance and a hint of the blues to tracks like Regulators and To Live & Die in L.A.

Later, the 30-piece California Love Orchestra—led by Sly5thAve in striking white uniforms—was a sight to behold. The crowd roared for hits like Xxplosive, Forgot About Dre, and Nuthin’ But a G Thang, but was equally locked in for deeper cuts like Been There Done That and Deep Cover.

With clever arrangements, expert musicianship, and playful deconstruction of Dre’s original samples, the night ventured into thrilling, uncharted sonic territory.

This wasn’t just a tribute show—it was a spiritual experience for fans of L.A. rap. Pics, courtesy of Farah Sosa, are now up on our FB page, and you can rewatch the incredible performances on our YouTube channel.

Catharsis.

That’s what last Saturday’s spiritually resonant “A Love Supreme at 60” show felt like. It was an earned and authentic feeling set against the backdrop of the tension and injustice that has seeped into LA life recently. We’ve all been on edge, and this was the much needed release… not to escapism, but to a higher calling of love, humanity and solidarity. It’s what John Coltrane’s artistry always strived towards.

In that regard, sax prodigy Isaiah Collier stayed true to the deeper themes of “A Love Supreme” even while injecting his own distinct verve and energy into the sacred album (Collier’s take on “Part 3 - Pursuance” was pure electricity). This was a divine act of homage and reinterpretation.

Earlier in the evening, the tone of spiritual reawakening was impeccably set by the soaring performances by Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation and Surya Botofasina.

Pics are up now and new video with remastered audio will be hitting our YouTube channel soon. We hope it heals you too.