On Sunday June 21, the summer solstice, a variety of performances in parks will take place across the City of Santa Monica. This will be the fourth year Santa Monica participates in Make Music Los Angeles/MMLA, a countywide celebration of music.
The event is based on France’s Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982.
This year, Santa Monica Neighborhood Associations, in partnership with Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission Chair, Phil Brock, and the Historic San Vicente Coalition, have put together an all-day musical smorgasbord in City parks including Palisades, Hotchkiss, Virginia Avenue, Colorado Center, Reed and Douglas.
To encourage participation in the event, the Cultural Affairs Division offered grants to the City’s Neighborhood Associations. Six are partnering with Phil Brock to create special musical offerings for the day. The Pico Neighborhood Association invites residents and visitors to Virginia Avenue Park from 2-7:30 pm. Bands include PYFC All-Stars, Larissa Dubois, Mack Keane, Leah Hall, and FreeLA, plus an opportunity for visitors to make their own music with The 100 Hohner Harmonica Project with Tom Nolan.
One hundred harmonicas, courtesy of Hohner, a 156 year old musical instrument company, will be distributed to participants who can join a lesson and play along with a live music performance. The North of Montana Association will host music in Palisades Park’s Rose Garden between 2-8pm featuring Ukelele Mass Appeal with Brit Rodriguez, Dianne Michelle, Charlize Diaz de Leon, Carolyn Crotty, TRIL, Marcey Yates, JPS and Breaking Up a Monologue.
Ocean Park Association presents seven bands of varying genres in Hotchkiss Park between 12-7pm. Groups include: Dogtown All Stars, The Steady Rock, The St. Clairs, Maggies Toybox, Kristen Center, Calvin Banks and the Tellers and Ramini Natarajan. Santa Monica Mid-City Neighbors will have music from 12-5:45pm at Colorado Center Park including Santa Monica Sam, Root Chakar, The Illegals, Rising Phoenix Morris Dancers, Mike Cushner, Rob La Fond, Shayne Blue and Ooks of Hazard. The Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition presents three musical acts, The Wilmonts, Plastic Chateau and Under the Sky, in Reed Park from 1-4 pm. Santa Monica Northeast Neighbors will have music in Douglas Park from 2-7:45 pm including Dan Patrick Fulton, Katharina, Andrea Muller, Charlize Diaz de Leon, Jaq Mackenzie, Diane Michelle, TRIL, and Tee-M.
The Historic San Vicente Coalition features music from 3-7 pm at Palisades Park’s Inspiration Point. Groups include: Nick Kandler, Band Meets World, Tee-M, Ben Anderson and Kinsey Ry. With so many parks activated, everyone should be able to experience live music and even make some of their own during Santa Monica’s celebration of Make Music Los Angeles.
Make Music Los Angeles, the countywide celebration, hosts performances in a variety of locations throughout Los Angeles, including community gardens, plazas, schools, courtyards and parks.
MMLA has become an international phenomenon celebrated on the same day, the summer solstice, in more than 460 cities in 110 countries. Admission to all events is free. :
What: Santa Monica Joins the Countywide Celebration of Make Music Los Angeles
When & Where: Summer Solstice, Sunday, June 21, 2015
12-7pm, Hotchkiss Park, 2302 4th St.
12-5:45 pm, Colorado Center Park, 2400-2500 Broadway
1-4 pm, Reed Park, 1133 7th St.
2-7:30 pm, Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., 2-7:30pm
2-8 pm, Palisades Park’s Rose Garden, Ocean Ave. at Palisades Ave.
2-7:45 pm, Douglas Park, 2439 Wilshire Blvd.
3-7 pm, Palisades Park’s Inspiration Point, Ocean Ave. at San Vicente Blvd.
Cost: All events and performances are free. For updated information on the line up at each park, times and locations, visit http://makemusicla.org.
