FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2016

Media Contacts: Laura B. Cohen, LC Media, (310) 867-3897, [email protected] David Monnich, LC Media, (210) 422-1764, [email protected] Mia Cariño, Skirball Cultural Center, (310) 440-4544, [email protected]

Skirball Cultural Center celebrates 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF SUNSET CONCERTS Thursday evenings, July 21–August 25, at 8:00 p.m.

2016 season showcases leadings acts on both the global and national music scene— from Bay Area alt folk-rock artists to West African desert bluesmen to Colombian funk fusion players, from one of LA’s best in Brazilian samba and jazz to Southern boogie all-stars to the next generation of Middle Eastern rock musicians

LOS ANGELES, CA—The Skirball Cultural Center proudly celebrates the twentieth anniversary season of its annual free music series, Sunset Concerts. Presented every summer since 1997 in the Skirball’s one-of-a-kind hillside setting, Sunset Concerts have showcased both emerging and established talents, drawing music fans from across greater Los Angeles. The new season will once again feature an eclectic lineup of artists who tap into traditional roots music for inspiration while forming their own unique, contemporary sounds.

The 2016 schedule is as follows: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (July 21); Songhoy (July 28); Thalma de Freitas (August 4); M.A.K.U. Soundsystem (August 11); Music Maker Blues Revue (August 18) in their LA debut; and Shai Tsabari and the Middle East Groove All Stars (August 25).

“We are grateful for the opportunity to present boundless music from around the globe with our Sunset Concerts, and we couldn’t be more excited for our milestone twentieth season,” remarked Andrew Horwitz, Vice President and Director of Programs at the Skirball. “Inspired by the Jewish value of welcome, the Skirball seeks to be a place of meeting and celebration for the diverse communities of LA. For decades now, the Sunset Concerts series has fulfilled that mission, providing a fun, interactive haven for people to gather in our spectacular yet cozy central courtyard and enjoy high-quality performances from the international stage.”

“As we gear up for the next twenty years,” added Horwitz, “we look forward to continuing our work with artists who reflect the ever-evolving musical and cultural landscape of the city and our world.”

Over nineteen seasons, an impressive roster of both rising stars and musical greats from around the world have graced the Sunset Concerts stage. In 2000, years before she scored the first of several Latin Grammys and a Grammy, Mexican American singer-songwriter Lila Downs made her first major LA appearance at Sunset Concerts. Southern Californians first saw Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars at the Skirball when they made their LA debut at Sunset Concerts in 2006. In fact, it was the Skirball who found the band an agent, making their debut US tour possible. A year after their Skirball appearance, the All Stars went on to play the Hollywood Bowl.

In his memoir The Doors: Unhinged, drummer John Densmore raved about his 2007 Sunset Concerts show: “Tribaljazz played the Skirball Cultural Center, a gig I’d salivated over for years. I’d been to many summer evening concerts at this particular venue…. I remember being in heaven at the Skirball that night.” In 2015, world music expert Tom Schnabel of KCRW wrote, “Malian ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyaté’s concert last Thursday at the Skirball Cultural Center was—for me—not only the best concert of this summer (so far), but one of the best shows I have ever seen in my life.”

Other noteworthy Sunset Concerts performers over the years have included Yasmin Levy (US debut), Hugh Masekela, Vieux Farka Toure (LA debut), Natacha Atlas, Red Baraat, Conjunto Chappotin y Sus Estrellas (US debut tour), and Novalima.

Sunset Concerts is complemented by the Skirball’s second summertime music series, Family Amphitheater Performances, designed specifically for children and their families. Taking place every Saturday and Sunday from June 25 through Labor Day weekend, this year’s lineup honors “The Sounds of Our City,” from son jarocho to to Yiddish folk tunes. Information about the 2016 Family Amphitheater Performances season is available at skirball.org/family-amphitheater-performances.

About the Artists:

Thursday, July 21: THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN

Thao Nguyen is the expressive frontwoman for the San Francisco–based band Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. Since the release of their first in 2008, the band has experimented with a range of musical styles, from folk and bluegrass to rock and . Their recently released fourth album, —produced by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards—adds the influences of hip-hop, electronic music, and funk to their repertoire. Widely praised by critics from NPR, , and the Guardian, A Man Alive has been described as “the most deeply introspective, experimental and well-formed release from Thao yet” (Paste). Over the last decade, Nguyen has worked with a number of esteemed performers and producers, including , , Laura Viers, and , and she also appeared on the renowned television show Austin City Limits in 2014. In recent weeks, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down played a live session on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Thursday, July 28: SONGHOY BLUES

Fusing guitar-based rock, hip-hop, and R&B, ’s Songhoy Blues celebrate the history, traditions, and struggles of the Songhoy people. Songhoy Blues formed in 2012, when political unrest in northern Mali forced young men and families to flee south to . In an effort to find joy in a time of crisis, the four-piece band began performing in bars and clubs throughout Bamako and soon landed an audition with French producer Marc- Antoine Moreau (Amadou & Mariam, K’naan). Songhoy Blues’ debut album, Music in Exile, produced by () and Moreau, recalls iconic West African guitar heroes like Baba Salah and Ali Farka Touré, while evoking the traditional and the modern, the youthful and the ancient, the exotic and the familiar. According to the Guardian, “They have all the makings of African-rock crossover heroes.” In performances around the world, Songhoy Blues have shared the stage with , , and the .

Thursday, August 4: THALMA DE FREITAS

Los Angeles-based Brazilian singer, songwriter, and actress Thalma de Freitas performs an exhilarating blend of samba, jazz, and bossa nova. Also known as the “maestro’s daughter,” de Freitas grew up in Rio de Janeiro under the musical tutelage of her father, acclaimed arranger, composer, pianist, and conductor Laércio de Freitas. Since making her professional debut in a Brazilian production of Hair in 1992, de Freitas has starred in numerous Brazilian television shows and released her debut self-titled solo album in 2004. In addition to singing with the carioca big band Orquestra Imperial, de Freitas also fronts an experimental sonic project called Serendipity Lab. Having performed at concerts and festivals in South America and Europe, de Freitas was honored to join Carlinhos Brown in representing Brazil in the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Thursday, August 11: M.A.K.U. SOUNDSYSTEM

An eight-piece Colombian band based in , M.A.K.U. Soundsystem explores the immigrant experience through a thrilling hybrid of musical styles honoring their cultural heritage. Psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, Afro-beat, and Caribbean grooves blend with the music of indigenous Colombian peoples and West African and Spanish influences—creating a sound sure to bring audiences to their feet. As hailed by NPR, “this raw- edged, punk-tinged band explodes with the propulsive force of traditional rhythms and urban restlessness.” In their latest album, Mezcla (the Spanish word for “mix”), they invite listeners to rediscover America through the eyes and ears of Colombian immigrants. The band formed in 2010 and has released two independent and one EP.

Thursday, August 18: MUSIC MAKER BLUES REVUE (LA debut)

Music Maker Blues Revue, a rotating cast of seasoned blues and soul journeyman musicians, formed in 1994 as part of the Music Maker Relief Foundation—a North Carolina–based nonprofit whose mission is to preserve the musical traditions of the American South by directly supporting the musicians who make it. Whether performing on sidewalks or at Carnegie Hall, the Music Maker Blues Revue puts on a fast-paced, energetic show with a repertoire that includes boogie, funk, soul, R&B, and the entire blues spectrum. These masterful musicians have supported such legendary artists as James Brown and Percy Sledge. Their performances, including a forty-two city tour with Taj Mahal, have taken them to Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Holland, and Spain. At the Skirball, the Music Maker Blues Revue lineup features Robert Finley, Alabama Slim, Robert Lee Coleman, Albert White, Nashid Abdul, Ardie Dean, and Lil’ Joe Burton.

Thursday, August 25: SHAI TSABARI AND THE MIDDLE EAST GROOVE ALL STARS

Born in Jaffa to a family of Yemeni Jews, Israeli singer-songwriter Shai Tsabari accompanied by the Middle East Groove All Stars creates an upbeat, uplifting sound at the intersection of Middle Eastern music and contemporary rock. Drawing from the diverse musical influences of Tsabari’s upbringing—his father was a cantor, his grandmother introduced him to Yemenite percussion instruments, and his older brother collected 1960s and 1970s American rock albums—Tsabari’s music combines Middle Eastern instrumentation such as the oud, doumbec, and tar with guitar, bass, drums, trombone, and electronics. While part of Israel’s recent Arabic-influenced music revival, Tsabari takes this style into a new direction by incorporating traditional Jewish liturgy into his lyrics. As the Wall Street Journal notes, “Mr. Tsabari is part of a growing movement of Israeli rock musicians who are turning to Judaism for inspiration, fusing tradition with contemporary Israel to find a voice that is both Middle Eastern and Jewish.”

Editors, please note:

2016 SUNSET CONCERTS Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 440-4500 • skirball.org

FREE CONCERT ADMISSION No reservations Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis

CONCERT PARKING: $10 per car (cash only) Carpooling is encouraged. Street parking is strictly prohibited. Or take Metro Rapid 734.

SCHEDULE: All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m. Doors at 7:00 p.m.

THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN—Thursday, July 21

SONGHOY BLUES—Thursday, July 28

THALMA DE FREITAS—Thursday, August 4

M.A.K.U. SOUNDSYSTEM—Thursday, August 11

MUSIC MAKER BLUES REVUE—Thursday, August 18 (LA debut)

SHAI TSABARI AND THE MIDDLE EAST GROOVE ALL STARS—Thursday, August 25

All Skirball exhibitions (except Noah’s Ark) are free and open until 10:00 p.m. during Sunset Concerts, including Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American and The Unauthorized History of Baseball in 100-Odd Paintings: The Art of Ben Sakoguchi.

Zeidler’s Café’s dinner buffet starts at 6:00 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made starting two weeks prior to the Thursday evening concert by calling (310) 440-4575. Lighter fare can be purchased at Zeidler’s Cart.

Guests may bring their own food.

Note: No outside alcoholic beverages or chairs are permitted.

THE 2016 SUNSET CONCERTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY:

Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles Los Angeles County Arts Commission PepsiCo US Bank

MEDIA SPONSORS:

KCRW 89.9 FM KPFK 90.7 FM

About Sunset Concerts at the Skirball

Marking its twentieth season in 2016, the longstanding summer concert series kicked off just a year after the Skirball Cultural Center opened to the public in 1996. During that inaugural year, the institution drew nearly 300,000 visitors, far surpassing an initial expectation of 60,000. In winter/spring 1997, seeking to build upon this early success, the Skirball began to hold monthly dinnertime concerts inside its restaurant, Zeidler’s Cafe. The concerts were so well attended that the staff immediately rethought the event space. The following summer, upon popular demand, the Skirball launched a free four-concert series on Thursday nights. These performances took place in the Skirball’s much more spacious central courtyard, offering a view of the hillside at dusk. The series was soon named Sunset Concerts at the Skirball. For several seasons in those early years, along with Grand Performances downtown and Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concerts, Sunset Concerts represented one of the city’s few free outdoor summer music series.

About the Skirball

The Skirball Cultural Center is dedicated to exploring the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals. It welcomes and seeks to inspire people of every ethnic and cultural identity. Guided by our respective memories and experiences, together we aspire to build a society in which all of us can feel at home. The Skirball Cultural Center achieves its mission through educational programs that explore literary, visual, and performing arts from around the world; through the display and interpretation of its permanent collections and changing exhibitions; through an interactive family destination inspired by the Noah’s Ark story; and through outreach to the community.

Visiting the Skirball

The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049. Museum hours: Tuesday–Friday 12:00–5:00 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Mondays and holidays. Admission to exhibitions: $12 General; $9 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children over 12; $7 Children 2–12. Exhibitions are always free to Skirball Members and Children under 2. Exhibitions are free to all visitors on Thursdays. For general information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit skirball.org. The Skirball is also home to Zeidler’s Café, which serves innovative California cuisine in an elegant setting, and Audrey’s Museum Store, which sells books, contemporary art, music, jewelry, and more.