Sound in Focus Hosts Nas & Baaba Maal
KCRW and the Annenberg Foundation's signature concert series continues featuring heavyweights Nas and Baaba Maal. The free (with RSVP), all-ages summer event at Century Park also features access to exhibits at both Annenberg Space for Photography and Skylight Studios.
The Sound in Focus summer concert series, which kicked off this past weekend with performances by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, takes place in Century Park in the centerpiece park adjacent to the Annenberg Space for Photography and Skylight Studios. Last year's edition of the series brought thousands out for headlining performances by TV on the Radio, De La Soul and more.
The lineup for Saturday, July 16th, includes performances by LA based production/DJ duo Classixx and the electro-pop Brazilian Girls, with Senegalese singer and guitarist Baaba Maal headlining the evening. Maal's 11th studio album, The Traveller, was released earlier this year and recorded with Johan Hugo (The Very Best) and Winston Marshall (Mumford & Sons). The lead singles, Fulani Rock and Gilli Men, both received critical acclaim. DJ duties for the evening will go to KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd.
Saturday, July 23rd, the series wraps up its final presentation with performances by sibling duo Wild Belle, and an early warm up provided by KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad. The headliner for the final performance will be legendary rapper/actor/entrepreneur Nasir Jones, aka Nas, whose 1994 debut Illmatic is considered by many to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
In addition to the performances, attendees will have the opportunity to check out both the Annenberg Space for Photography and Skylight Studios. REFUGEE, currently on exhibit at the Annenberg Space, was commissioned exclusively for the exhibit and looks at the global refugee crisis through the eyes of five internationally acclaimed photographers. The Skylight Studios installation, New Americans, is described as a documentary short and VR experience and shares the stories of refugees who've resettled in the United States.
For those unable to make it, you can still catch a free live stream of the events through the Annenberg website beginning at 6pm PST on July 16th, and 7pm PST July 23rd.
The all ages events are free with RSVP and are scheduled to run from 5pm - 10pm with the exhibits closing at 11pm. One wristband will be distributed per person at check-in and there will be no ins & outs. Self parking is available for $1.00 in Century Park's underground garage, carpool/Uber/Lyft strongly encouraged.
The Annenberg Space for Photography is located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10, Los Angeles, CA 90067. For more information on Annenberg Space for Photography, visit their website at www.annenbergphotospace.org.
Event Schedule
July 16, 2016 4pm: Line Begins 5pm: Doors Open (DJ set, Annenberg/Skylight Studios open) 6pm: Live music/web stream begins 10pm: Concert ends 11pm: Annenberg/Skylight Studios close 12am: Parking garage closes |
July 23, 2016 4pm: Line Begins 5pm: Doors Open (DJ set, Annenberg/Skylight Studios open) 7pm: Live music/web stream begins 10pm: Concert ends 11pm: Annenberg/Skylight Studios close 12am: Parking garage closes |
Check out De La Soul's performance of "Ooh" from on of last year's Sound In Focus events below.