Summer Nights, KCRW’s free summer concerts series in Los Angeles, returns live and in-person. The 2022 Summer Nights will feature KCRW-curated bands and the station’s stellar DJs including! Live performances will include: Ambar Lucid, Hana Vu, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Pachyman, Sly5thAve, Thee Sinseers, Tolliver, and many more. DJ performing will feature: Anthony Valadez, Dan Wilcox, Francesca Harding, Jeremy Sole, LeRoy Downs, José Galván, Nassir Nassirzadeh and more.
KCRW’s 2022 Summer Nights will feature FREE, all-ages outdoor concerts in various prominent Los Angeles cultural institutions CAAM (California African American Museum), One Colorado, Descanso Gardens, and Grand Performances — will once again join forces to deliver sounds from some of LA’s finest.
Additionally, Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum and Chinatown will be returning in 2022, as well as new partnerships with the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, JANM (Japanese American National Museum), and the Bowers Museum in Los Angeles.
Hammer Museum – July 7, 14, 21, 28
Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum, will take place on Thursdays in July in the museum’s bustling courtyard for four nights of free live music. The lineup includes Ambar Lucid (July 7), Pachyman (July 14), Thee Sinseers (July 21), and Hana Vu (July 28) along with KCRW DJs Wyldeflower & Nassir Nassirzadeh, Jeremy Sole & Tyler Boudreaux, José Galván & Jason Kramer, and Dan Wilcox & Valida respectively. To top off the experience, Andrea Bowers, the first museum retrospective of the Los Angeles-based artist’s work spanning more than two decades, will be on display at the Hammer. The Hammer’s galleries will be open until 9 pm.
Chinatown – July 16
As a celebration of food and summer fun, Chinatown Summer Nights is sure to be a popular gathering place for Angelenos in August. You can eat delicious Chineses cuisine and beer all the while dancing in Central Plaza with KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe & Jason Bentley, and Novena Carmel & Raul Campos on. The festive event will also be an opportunity watch Chinese chefs demonstrate their skills, and also participate in hands-on, Chinese cultural activities presented by local organizations and museums.
California African American Museum – July 22
KCRW DJs Novena Carmel and Francesca Harding will lay down the tracks on July 22 at California African American Museum. Located in Exposition Park, the museum explores African American art, history, and culture. CAAM contains a permanent collection of more than 5,000 artworks, antiquities, and historical documents, plus a research library and public activities. There will be food trucks and a beer garden, as well as a Black-owned company marketplace.
Grand Performances – July 30 & Sept. 3
KCRW links up with Grand Performances for two special Summer Nights. Located at the newly-renovated California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Performances inspires community, celebrates diversity, and unites Los Angeles through free performing arts. Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II, aka Sly5thAve, and DJ SiLVA will be performing on July 30 and artists and KCRW DJs are yet to be announced for Sep. 3 event.
Descanso Gardens – August 13
Located in La Cañada Flintridge, just northwest of Pasadena, Discerns Gardens is the perfect spot for music and plant lovers. The unique botanical landscape of Descanso will make for one magical night of DJs and dancing featuring KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez & Jeremy Sole. Get lost in the music and get lost exploring one of LA’s most beautiful gardens.
Bowers Museum – Aug. 28
KCRW is excited about its brand-new partnership with the Bowers Museum for one special Summer Nights featuring live sets from KCRW DJs José Gavlán & Francesca Harding, a beer garden pop-up by Blinking Owl Distillery, kids activities, and more. Sunday, August 28 also marks the last day to check out the Bowers Museum’s current exhibition, Everest: Ascent to Glory. After-hours admission to the museum will be free for KCRW Members and Santa Ana residents.
One Colorado – Sept. 10 & 11
Join KCRW for a weekend takeover in Pasadena’s One Colorado courtyard, a block-long open-air shopping center in Old Pasadena. KCRW’s Summer Nights at One Colorado features two evenings of live music, from Tolliver (Sep. 10) and Mark de Clive-Love (Sep. 11) with Freaks Only host Travis Holcombe and DJ LeRoy Downs respectively.
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA – Sept. 22 & 29
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo are among the cultural institutions that KCRW has partnered with for its Summer Nights series. Valida and Scott Dallavo (Sep. 22), as well as Anthony Valadez and SiLVA (Sep 29), will be spinning the decks for two nights of summer fun in the courtyard that will include food trucks and a beer garden as well as access to two of the best museums in town.
For more information on KCRW’s free Summer Nights concerts series, please visit their pages.
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