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The Ford‘s 2022 season will incorporate international sounds and California-born performers, and a spectrum of music from hip-hop to folk, all starting with the FREE 101 Festival in June, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced Thursday.
The Ford’s 2022 season features 19 weeks of performances between June 12 and Oct. 23. It will start with the FREE 101 Festival, and include the neighboring Hollywood Bowl, for a two-day celebration of music, June 11-12.
The Ford season will include what it calls a captivating and inclusive array of multidisciplinary talent, music legends and local acts. The Ford’s second season is stewarded by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.
“As one of the oldest performing arts venues in Los Angeles, The Ford holds a storied place in the city’s history, and we embrace that history with every artist and ensemble that takes our stage,” Cynthia Fuentes, Director of The Ford, said in a statement. “More than ever before, this year will be about celebrating bright and brilliant voices across different genres. The 2022 season will shine a spotlight on L.A.’s own artists, both emerging and established, as we welcome unforgettable performers to our summer stage.”
The Ford was established in 1920 and was recently enhanced with an $80 million renovation project. It seats 1,200 people and last year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association began operating and programming events at the venue.
Get Lit poets, DJ, percussionist and vocalist Gingee, hip-hop band Weapons of Mass Creation, bassist, vocalist and composer Tonina, Jimetta Rose and her choir Voices of Creation, DJ producer, keyboardist and beatboxer Taylor McFerrin, and singer-songwriter mae will open the Ford season as part of the 101 Festival, a free two-day event, on June 12. The festival closes with a performance from singer-songwriter Mereba.
“The LA Phil is honored to uphold the summer traditions that have kept artists and audiences returning year after year to this intimate venue,” Chad Smith, Los Angeles Philharmonic Chief Executive Officer, and David C. Bohnett Chief Executive Officer Chair, said in a statement. “The Ford is distinct in the LA Phil’s constellation of venues as Los Angeles’ stage, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate the extraordinary artists of this city all summer long.”
California’s local talent will spotlight performances at The Ford with humanitarian and filmmaker Michael Franti & Spearhead on July 30, Best Coast in a two-night anniversary party with performances of their studio album “Crazy For You” on Aug. 12 and “The Only Place” on Aug. 13, Warpaint on Aug. 19, and the FlyPoet Summer Classic on Sept. 3.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel’s Pan-American Music Initiative (PAMI) is being presented across all three LA Phil venues over five years, and The Ford will feature Pan-American Hoy! on Oct. 23 with Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada and Chilean singer- songwriter Gepe.
They’ll be making Ford debuts on an evening that celebrates the eclectic, vibrant musicians from across the Americas and highlights rich musical traditions and contemporary creativity that infuse folk traditions in a new way.
“This season, The Ford will offer a magnificent musical feast with artists of all different styles, backgrounds, and cultures — including our expansive Pan-American Music Initiative,” Dudamel said in a statement. “Much like the beautifully diverse people and neighborhoods of our great city, we will join together to become something more than the sum of our parts, united in harmony by the common language of music.”
The Ford will offer a variety of international and local voices throughout the season. Boleros de Noche on Aug. 6 will return with La Marisoul Love Notes Orchestra, produced in Partnership with Animo Production, for an evening highlighting Mexico’s golden era of boleros. Calexico’s Joey Burns and John Convertino will perform track from their 10th studio album, “El Miradoron” on June 24. Colombian stars, Latin Grammy winners and Tik Tok sensations Monsieur Periné make their Ford debut on July 24. Watchhouse, Punch Brothers and Sarah Jarosz present America Acoustic, a night of Americana and bluegrass music on Aug. 7, and iconic Argentine rock band Babasónicos make a return to Los Angeles with a new album Aug. 18. Kikinceañera: Noche De Orgullo will bring a night of music, drag artists and mariachi, and celebrate LA’s queer Latinx communities, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars alum Valentina on Aug. 26. The Halluci Nation, electronic artists from Canada, will bring upbeat electronica and native dancers in a full electronic show, featuring DJ El Dusty, to wrap up the season Oct. 22.
The 2022 Ford season will feature the songs of Rufus Wainwright on June 14, the folk rock of Mary Chapin Carpenter on June 20, the fan-favorite Ani DiFranco on June 23, She & Him featuring duo Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward with their country-folk melodies on June 25, the soulful rock of Melissa Etheridge on Aug. 23 and an intimate evening with Swedish singer-songwriter José González on Aug. 25.
Ford ensemble Pacífico Dance Company returns Sept. 10 and will mark their 30th anniversary with a brand new, colorful celebration, Desde México, “Viva la Tradicion!” Juan Gabrielísimo, produced in partnership with Colibrí Entertainment, celebrates the life and work of one of Latin America’s most legendary artists with a tribute to El Divo de Juárez, Juan Gabriel on Sept. 24. Noche Cosmica: Thee Sinseers, Luna Luna, Katz Ozo, and Irene Diaz on Oct. 1 pays tribute to visionary L.A.-based record label Cosmica Records, which launched the L.A. and Southwest renaissance of Latin indie music. Twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz of musical duo Ibeyi will perform on Sept. 15.
The season’s first classical program, Green Umbrella at The Ford on July 6, will take advantage of the physical beauty and acoustic excellence of The Ford to give musicians a chance to explore and reconstruct a world of electronic and acoustic sound.
Conducted by Associate Conductor Paolo Bortolameolli, the program will include works by composers Vivian Fung, Juan Felipe Waller, and Kaija Saariaho. The Junction Trio, comprising violinist Stefan Jackiw, cellist Jay Campbell and pianist Conrad Tao, will perform as part of NowRising on Aug. 3. ATMA, produced in partnership with The Music Circle, on Sept. 17, will spotlight ragas and Indian classical music, featuring a pre-concert conversation about a new piece written during the COVID lockdown.
The sounds of Broadway comes to The Ford stage for an evening with Christopher Jackson and Wayne Brady, produced in partnership with 4CLAB on Aug. 27.
A star-studded evening of music, comedy and storytelling featuring Reza Aslan and Evan Kleiman explores touching and timely stories of the journey of resettling refugees from survival to community building with Our World Is a Family on July 16, produced in partnership with Miry’s List.
Outfest Under the Stars celebrates three nights of films from LA’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival on July 21, 22 and 23. Mo Amer, stand-up comic, writer and producer and a pioneer in Arab American comedy, takes the stage at The Ford on Oct. 20.
International ballet superstar Carlos Acosta brings his critically acclaimed Cuban company to The Ford for a U.S. premiere and new commission by choreographer Micaela Taylor for Acosta Danza: Cuban Landscape, funding provided by The Ford Theatre Foundation on Oct. 8.
Jazz offerings this season span from international to local, straight forward to experimental, with performances including Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan on June 16, Kamasi Washington on Aug. 5, the sounds of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, featuring the E-Collective & Turtle Island Quartet on Aug. 9 and Les Claypool’s Bastard Jazz will bring experimental New Orleans Jazz to The Ford on July 29.
Multi award-winning saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia appears in a double bill with American drummer Nate Smith with his bandmates KINFOLK on Sept. 1. Luciana Souza and Vince Mendoza will feature “Storytellers” with Big Band on Oct. 21, produced in partnership with Angel City Jazz Festival for their city-wide festival.
