Los Angeles Event

The Hollywood Bowl

2301 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles

September 21, 2008
5:30pm - 6:30pm   Private reception celebrating the tastes of Mexico (Museum Patio)
5:30pm - 10:30pm Mexico Cultural Market featuring travel opportunities, crafts and artist displays (Museum Terrace)
7:00pm       Concert begins

Private reception is a complimentary event, and registration is required. Registration includes admission to private reception and bench seating tickets to the concert.

Presenting:
Lila Downs
Ozomatli with special guests
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Nortec Collective

Lila Downs is a Mexican singer who combines Mexican and Latin folk with cumbia. Downs grew up with a Mexican, Mixteca Indian mother and a father from the United States. She lived in Mexico and California before studying anthropology and music at the University of Minnesota. Downs performs her own compositions while taking from the rich Mesoamerican music of Mexico. Lila Down performed at the 75th Academy Awards, performing a number included in the biographical film "Frida".

One of the most fun and exciting live acts in latino rock music today, Ozomatli, is made up of nine musicians from various ethnicities creating a vibrant sound of their own. The band fuses salsa, hip hop, jazz, funk, and rock to produce a high energy performance. Ozomatli is Los Angeles born and continues to place the culture and music of Mexico at the forefront of their artistry.

Michael Franti, the lead member of Spearhead, has musical roots stemming from hip hop, reggae, jazz, folk and rock. Franti has a deep connection to the spreading of political activity by means of grass roots. Michael Franti's belief in peace and social justice are portrayed through his lyrics and his honest humility as a performer. Michael Franti is from the Bay Area of San Francisco. The Latin influences of California are heard throughout the beats of Spearhead's music.

Nortec Collective is comprised of five producers from the northern part of Mexico, mainly Tijuana. The Nortec movement combines electronica with traditional Mexican music and derives from the Spanish word "norteño" meaning "north". Nortec Collective was one of the first bands in the United States to introduce a laptop computer as one of the on-stage instruments. The sound that this band produces is electric and captivating; dancing at this band's show is inevitable.