Lina Lecaro
They call the Grammys “music’s biggest night,” and true or not, it’s definitely the “busiest week” for party people in L.A. This year wasn’t all celebratory, of course. Controversy mired the Grammy organization last week as its former CEO, Deborah Dugan, filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Recording Academy days before the ceremony. And then there was Kobe Bryant’s death, which cast a dark cloud over the proceedings at the Staples Center Sunday night. But in spite of this, the 2020 Grammys offered good times around town before the show, and hope for the future of music after it, with a slew of strong female voices winning the top prizes, including inimitable Highland Park resident Billie Eilish and the exuberant, body positivity crusader Lizzo. As we all try to recover in time for The Oscars, here’s a look back.
Lizzo was the star of the night at the Warner Music Party, where she and Burna Boy performed. Themed like a ’70s disco (loved the waitstaff’s vintage-style maroon get-ups), the Hollywood Athletic Club gathering attracted the likes of Gary Clark Jr., Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, and many others. (Photos 1-24)
The chic new hotspot Sunset at WeHo’s EDITION Hotel celebrated the Grammys with a week’s worth of music and cocktails, curated by DJ Zen Freeman, and featuring Q-Tip, DJ Samantha Ronson, Grammy-nominated Bonobo (DJ set), Kidd Kitt, James Murphy (DJ set), Lights Down Low & Cassd and Grammy-nominated Soulwax aka 2ManyDJs. (Photos 25-38)
Daytime realness and fashionable females ruled at the Instagram Grammy Luncheon celebrating women in music at Ysabel (Photos 39-50), while the empowerment group Gritty in Pink spotlit women in music at its Grammy event featuring Shiragirl, No Small Children, and Stuntdriver jamming on Grammy cover songs at the Satellite in Silver Lake. (Photos 51-65) Another inspiring woman-driven event, the Grammy Museum’s Beyond Black- The Style of Amy Winehouse (exhibiting the singer’s clothing, belongings and Grammys) took place at the Grammy Museum last week to a packed house. (Photos 66-73)
And finally, there were lots of after parties on Sunday, and one of the most dance-happy belonged to producer Robin Nixon (TECYES) who hosted his second annual party for the dance and electronic nominees at Mack Sennett Studios with performances by nominees Apparat, Bonobo, Meduza and Tycho along with a surprise b2b set with Jon George of Rufus Du Sol and Bob Moses. (Photos 74-78)
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