Guests can enjoy outdoor music and drink in the refreshing summer exhibitions the Getty has to offer.
“The 405 freeway construction is almost complete, making this summer a perfect opportunity to see an outstanding line-up of emerging bands,” says Laurel Kishi, public programs manager at the J. Paul Getty Museum. “There’s no better summer soundtrack, and no better place for evening views of L.A.”
Kicking off the 2014 series on May 17 is Jonathan Wilson. With tremendous musicianship, North Carolina native and Echo Park mainstay Jonathan Wilson makes highly crafted songs that investigate the vibrant 1970s rock landscape. He revitalizes the nostalgic sounds of the Laurel Canyon folk-rock tradition and the epically orchestrated psychedelic prog-rock genre with contemporary relevance. His 2013 release, Fanfare, is both intensely personal and abundant in relaxed, sunny vibes, and features collaborations with likes of Graham Nash, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, and members of Wilco and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
Taking the stage on June 21 is Amsterdam-based Kuenta i Tambú (KiT). With what Rolling Stone describes as "a go-hard blend of peak rave synths and traditional Afro-Curaçaoan tambú music," Kuenta i Tambú creates high-energy dance music inspired by protest and ritual traditions from the island of Curaçao, and the partying energy of the European club scene. With a clever balance between electronic samples and hypnotizing beats, they are guaranteed to set off some serious movement on the dance floor. The group was formed in 2005 after holding a series of educational projects at schools and theaters to introduce the music and culture of Curaçao to children in the Netherlands. Since then, Kuenta i Tambú has been performing all over the world, with appearances at such international venues and festivals as the North Sea Jazz Festival, New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, and the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba.
All performances take place in the Museum Courtyard from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Entrance is free, and parking is $10 after 5 p.m. Check Metro’s Twitter feed for 405 construction updates.
Food is available for purchase and a bar with beer, wine, and Getty-tinis is open in the Museum Courtyard. The Cafe will be open with seven food stations until 6:00 p.m. The Garden Terrace Cafe, which offers a selection of sandwiches and salads, will be open until 8:30 p.m. The Restaurant welcomes walk-ins for a fine dining experience from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Outside food is allowed, but no outside alcohol is permitted on site.
Saturday is also an opportunity to take advantage of the Getty’s “Pay Once, Park Twice,” program, where same-day visitors to the Getty Center and Getty Villa only need to pay for parking once.
Saturdays Off the 405 is produced by Saturdays Off the 405
Schedule
Saturday, May 18, 2014
Jonathan Wilson
Watch a video of "Dear Friend" from Fanfare (Downtown Records (North America) and Bella Union (ROW), 2013)
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Kuenta i Tambú
Watch a video of “Jackhammer” (Jiga Musica, 2013)
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Chicano Batman
Chicano Batman are "the Eastside L.A. fusionists whose sabor simmers with cumbia, Mexican ballads, Brazilian tropicalia, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and Cream" (LA Weekly). They put on a polyrhythmic, funky show, their songs peppered with breaks of all shapes and sizes designed to enthrall audiences and uplift energies.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Caught a Ghost
Caught A Ghost is a new project from Los Angeles songwriter and producer Jesse Nolan, featuring Stephen Edelstein on drums and sultry vocals and percussions from actress Tessa Thompson. A modern take on blue-eyed soul, the tracks feature elements of classic Motown and Stax/Volt compositions with influences from dubstep, ’90s rap, and contemporary electronic.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
BadBadNotGood
BADBADNOTGOOD is a formally trained trio of young musicians who have challenged the rule book on improvised instrumental music and taken a fresh look at the jazz tradition. Their songs marry jazz virtuosity and hip hop source material, and their notorious live performances bring fans across the whole musical spectrum together.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Kan Wakan with strings
The Los Angeles-based group Kan Wakan arrive with a striking breadth of vision that immediately places them among modern pop’s most beguiling and inventive new artists. For this concert they add strings to complement their startlingly original and utterly contemporary amalgam of psychedelic soul, electronica, and orchestral pop.