London’s Jungle returns to the Hollywood Bowl, this time as headliners. The producers of the recent revival in retro dance and funk music will be performing on Friday, Sept. 27. While very few have moves like dancer Will West, who has appeared in many Jungle music videos such as last year’s “Back on 74,” there’s no doubt the night is going to see lots of free-flowing dancing in the crowd and on stage. Jungle will also be opened by Aaron Frazer of Durand Jones & the Indications fame and rapper Bas, offering a wide variety of good vibrations outside the dance-funk that will likely kick off the weekend. Ticket prices range, with the lowest going for $40 per seat.

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Words: David Sosa

Jungle know how to stir up a good time

With the same exuberance as the crowd of a Soul Train episode, London-based producer trio Jungle is the modern-day epicenter for music inspired by the 70s. Formerly a duo composed of J Lloyd and Tom McFarland before frequent collaborator Lydia Kitto joined this past year, their already respected profile as producer extraordinaire was boosted after “Back on 74” went viral. But for years leading up to that moment, they had put out three albums, had songs appear in multiple TV shows, and explored genres ranging from neo-soul to electro-funk. On stage, their live shows capture the same move-your-feet energy as the choreography in their visuals, with the tracklist for their latest album Volcano, their most wide-ranging and lively record to date, all but sure to erupt audiences into a dance frenzy.

Aaron Frazer channels oldies from the past

Singer-songwriter Aaron Frazer is among the most recognizable figures in contemporary soul music, best known as one of the angelic voices behind Durand Jones & the Indications. Between now and 2017, he’s done solo work on and off, mostly between Durand Jones releases. In 2021, he released his debut album, Introducing…, which formally introduced listeners to Frazer’s sound reminiscent of lowrider oldies.

The album lived up to the early promise of his double-sided single “My God Has a Telephone,” a song that reached the high notes in Frazer’s work with the band but allowed him to show more personality outside the love crooners he mastered out of the gate. Into The Blue, his sophomore album, expands upon the retro-soul that Frazer pioneered through Western-inspired production and sunny instrumentation.

Bas moves crowds while provoking deep thought

Rapper and longtime Dreamville (J. Cole) signee Bas offers a different genre still linked to the soul music that will be the center of the night. Although best known for his mellow brand of hip-hop, the Sudanese-American artist always makes his presence known, particularly on the many standout features he has on Dreamville projects. Milky Way, his 2018 album, took inspiration from afrobeats, an umbrella term defined by the many genres that originated in Africa. Bas’ most recent album, We Only Talk About Real Shit When We’re Fucked Up, was his most mature project yet from an artist whose stream of conscious lyricism exceeded the emotional maturity of other rappers.

Plan ahead for a night full of dancing

Leave it to the Hollywood Bowl to assemble a lineup that must have been conceptualized in a lab and tested for the best dance results. The amphitheater provides a wide variety of places to sit or stand, whether it’s a front-row look at the show or picnic spots where you can eat the many food options available at the venue. Although every seat is a great spot to see the show, the traffic to the Bowl will present an obstacle or two. Since the event is on Friday, with gates open at 6:00 PM and Jungle starting at 8:00 PM, make sure to plan your commute and avoid any rushing that goes down to the wire. Hitting the Bowl on a Friday evening is quite the feat, but this trifecta makes the traffic journey totally worth it.

Whether you plan on going to the Hollywood Bowl before or after Jungle’s show, there’s always a concert for everyone happening throughout the year. A day after Jungle, Mitski will also play at the Bowl on Sept. 28 as part of her tour for The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We. Before Jungle and Mitski, Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo will perform on Sept. 26 to support his latest and aptly titled fourth album, quatro. With those shows and many more left this season, there are multiple opportunities to attend the Hollywood Bowl in all its LA glory.