Arts & Culture

Latino Heritage Month Opens With Motions Both Inside and Outside City Hall

By Ed Fuentes — September 04, 2009

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|Photo Gallery| The City of Los Angeles launched 2009's Latino Heritage Month by presenting awards to educator Jamie Escalante, musician Shelia Escovedo and actor Jimmy Smits. Once out of an overflowing council chambers, all three honorees moved to the South Lawn and gave the audience a sample of their personalities.


Win Tickets to See The Avett Brothers at the Orpheum

By Eric Richardson — September 02, 2009
18 Comments

The Avett Brothers 7.18.09 - 038

North Carolina folk-rockers The Avett Brothers come to the historic Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, September 5, and we've got a chance for a couple lucky blogdowntown readers to win a pair of tickets courtesy of Goldenvoice.


Grand Performances Adds September Date with Omar Torrez and Kinky

By Ed Fuentes — September 02, 2009

Kinky at Club Nokia

Grand Performances' 2009 season is winding down, but not quite ready to fade into the night. The series just added a night on its September slate, bringing guitarist Omar Torrez and Latin-Funk band Kinky to the Watercourt stage on Sunday the 20th. Kinky's 2006 release Reina garnered three Latin Grammy nominations, and the band's 2007 release Rarities moved...


Around the Stages: Plenty of Theatre Options Remain in 2009

By Ed Fuentes — September 01, 2009

August: Osage County

With the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Company of Angels and REDCAT joining stalwarts Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper Forum, and East West Players this past decade, there's no shortage of live theater in Downtown. Here's a look at the some of the productions that are making the neighborhood a theater destination during the last few months of 2009.


Old War Shirt's Jonny Cournoyer

By Monk Turner — September 01, 2009 — 3 Comments

Jonny Cournoyer Monk Turner

|Photo Gallery| These days, the Downtown Art Walk is the place to be every second Thursday of the month. When things start to wind down on Gallery Row, the night owls flock to the Garden Party for a night cap and some socializing. Recently, Is Good Music became a partner in the after party and has been hosting local indie music acts such as Old War Shirt.

On the night I popped in, Old War Shirt's Jonny Cournoyer had an easy commute to his gig. A resident of the Downtown community, he shared a little bit about his background and what life is like as a musician in Downtown L.A. — Continued Inside...


Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda Opens Second JANM Exhibition Saturday

By Ed Fuentes — August 28, 2009
3 Comments

Glorious Excess Dies

In his second installation of Glorious Excess, artist Mike Shinoda -- best known as part of the band Linkin Park -- surveys fame from the other side of the looking glass and throws his following a challenge to rethink media overload feeding consumer-celebrity culture.


Win Tickets to See The Faint at Club Nokia

By Eric Richardson — August 27, 2009
23 Comments

2009 04 14 - 4350 - Washington DC - 930 Club - The Faint

Indie rockers The Faint headline a bill with Moving Units and AutoErotique at Club Nokia on Sunday, August 30, and we've got tickets for you to see the show courtesy of Goldenvoice.


Dead Weather Shows Rock and Roll is Alive

By Daniel Maddox — August 26, 2009 — 15 Comments

The Dead Weather Andrew Gombert / EPA

|Photo Gallery| Rock N Roll is alive and well thanks to Jack White and his band of misfits.

White’s most recent band “The Dead Weather” played a 30-minute show to open the pop-up shop of Third Man Records at the Regent Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. As showtime grew near, the line snaked from Main street to 5th and onto Los Angeles. By the time the band started to play more than 500 people were crowded inside the small room. — Continued Inside...


Win Tickets to See Terence Blanchard at the GRAMMY Museum

By Eric Richardson — August 24, 2009
10 Comments

Terence Blanchard Group

The GRAMMY Museum hosts "An Evening With Terence Blanchard" on Thursday, August 27, offering an on-stage interview, audience Q&A and a performance by the GRAMMY-winning trumpet player and film composer. Tickets are on-sale via Ticketmaster, but we have a few pairs for blogdowntown readers interested in checking out the show.


2009 Nisei Week Dances Into the Sunset

By Ed Fuentes — August 24, 2009

Ondo Sunset

|Photo Gallery| The nine days of Nisei Week closed Sunday in Little Tokyo, capped off by the annual Ondo Community Dance and Closing Ceremonies. Dancers wearing traditional – and not so traditional – garb circled around 1st street after a second weekend of Japanese cultural exhibitions.