Erica E. PhillipsIn an exclusive to West Coast Sound, the Levitt Pavilions in Pasadena and MacArthur Park have revealed the lineups to their massive, free summer concert series — almost 100 shows between the two venues.
This year features everything from Latin alternative to folk, indie and world music. Highlights include former Los Abandoned frontwoman Maria del Pilar (aka Pilar Diaz), noisy garage rocker Hanni El Khatib, cacophonic big band Killsonic, Sara Watkins of contemporary folk trio Nickel Creek and Mexico City-based electronic outfit Mexican Institute of Sound. The full list is below.
Mexican Institute of Sound performs June 17 in Pasadena
JUNE in Pasadena
16 – Dam Funk
17 – BMI Summer Nights presents: Mexican Institute of Sound and Mr. Vallenato
20 – Kids show: Bob Baker Marionettes
21 – Dustbowl Revival
22 – Fishtank Ensemble
23 – Yuna
24 – Barbara Morrison
27 – Kids show: Birdie's Playhouse
28 – The Watson Twins
29 – Locos Por Juana
30 – Fools Gold
JULY in Pasadena
Allah-Las perform July 14 at MacArthur Park; Credit: Jennie Warren
1 – Van Hunt
5 – Red Baraat
6 – Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek
7 – Sergent Garcia
8 – Kamasi Washington
11 – Kids show: Kiddle Karoo's Silly Monsters
12 – Allensworth
13 – M.A.K.U. SoundSystem
14 – Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
15 – Dublab presents: Tribe Records 40th Anniversary Celebration with Phil Ranelin and special guests, with DJ set by Carlos Nino
18 – Kids show: Jose-Luis Orozco
19 – Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto
20 – Border Radio
21 – Sola Rosa
22 – USC Jazz Quintet
25 – Kids show: Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band
26 – Wake Up Madagascar
27 – Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds
28 – Mariachi Divas
29 – Luisa Maita
JULY in MacArthur Park
5 – Rumbankete
6 – Ethio-Cali
7 – BMI Summer Nights presents: Il Abanico and Enjambre
8 – Kids show: Ballet Folklorico ASOSOL
8 – ON Ensemble
12 – M.A.K.U. SoundSystem
13 – String Theory
14 – Spaceland presents: Allah-Las and Sony and the Sunsets
15 – Pupusa Power Music and Food Festival feat. Grupo Briza
19 – Criolo
20 – Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto
21 – DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: Pick-Up Basketball NYC, a film by Bobbito Garcia & Kevin Couliau, with guest DJ Anthony Valadez of KCRW
22 – Kids show: Kiddle Karoo's Silly Monsters
22 – Sola Rosa
26 – Nosaj Thing
27 – The Expanders
28 – Dublab presents: Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, and Javelin, with DJ set by Frosty
29 – Kids show: Cesar Castro and Cambalache
29 – uKanDanZ
August schedule below
Gustavo Galindo performs August 11 at MacArthur Park; Credit: Ivan Fernandez
AUGUST in Pasadena
1 – Kids show: Rhythm Child
2 – MELA featuring Aalok Mehta & Colin Johnson
3 – La Chamba
4 – Vaud and the Villains
5 – Ernie Watts Quartet
8 – Kids show: Party Animals Live
9 – Hanni El Khatib
10 – The Decoders
11 – Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars
12 – Tia Fuller
15 – Kids show: Funky Punks
16 – The Dunwells
17 – David Wax Museum
18 – Mark Clive de Lowe
19 – BMI Summer Nights presents: Diego Garcia and David Garza
22 – Kids show: Zak Morgan
23 – Sony Holland
24 – Bei Ru with live band and visuals
25 – Chico Trujillo
26 – FUNK & SOUL CLASSICS with DJ Renato, DJ Frane, and DJ Greg Belson, end of summer celebration
AUGUST in MacArthur Park
2 – Dublab presents: Rainbow Arabia and Puro Instinct, and DJ set by Ale
3 – SMOD
4 – Jubilee presents: Tristen and Maria Del Pilar
5 – Kids show: Bob Baker Marionettes
5 – Aurelio Martinez
9 – Adrian Younge Presents Venice Dawn
10 – Bomba Estereo
11 – Gustavo Galindo, Sol Pereyra, and Fernanda Ulibarri
12 – Kids show: Funky Punks
16 – Bobby Matos
17 – Quetzal Guerrero
18 – Fools Gold
19 – Youth Talent Night
23 – Viernes 13, La Resistencia, and The Delirians
24 – Masanga Marimba Ensemble
26 – Kids show: Antics Performance
26 – Chico Trujillo
30 – Don Carlos
31 – Buyepongo
September schedule below
SEPTEMBER in MacArthur Park
Killsonic performs September 6 at MacArthur Park; Credit: Timothy Norris
1 – Vagabond Opera
2 – Kids show: Silk Road
2 – Dehli 2 Dublin
6 – Killsonic
7 – SCORED & JUMP N FUNK present The AfroBeatles feat. Rich Medina, Mark Hines, and special guests
8 – BMI Summer Nights presents: Palenke Soultribe and Monsieur Perine
9 – Interdependence Day Festival, various artists
LevittLA is at MacArthur Park, 2230 West 6th Street at the corner of Park View and 6th. Levitt Pavilion Pasadena is at 85 East Holly Street in Pasadena.
See also:
*Crate-Digging with Dam-Funk … at Best Buy
*Hanni El Khatib Makes an Album With Dan Auerbach, Gets Drunk
*Pilar Díaz: Let There Be Latin Rock
*Lewis Pesacov: Don't Hate Him Because His Life Is Amazing
*Ska Still Rules in L.A.! Just Ask Viernes 13
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