Music

Sing It, Bring It: Family Karaoke Night on Fridays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. is where everyone can unleash their inner rockstar! Grab the mic, belt out your favorite tunes, and get ready for some serious family fun. Whether you’re a pop diva, a country crooner, or a rock ‘n’ roll rebel, this is your chance to shine! Expect laughs, applause, and maybe a little bit of friendly competition. It’s not just about singing—it’s about bringing your best performance and making unforgettable memories together. So, warm up those vocal cords, and get ready to sing it, bring it, and have a blast with the whole crew!

Sing It, Bring It: Family Karaoke Night on Fridays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. is where everyone can unleash their inner rockstar! Grab the mic, belt out your favorite tunes, and get ready for some serious family fun. Whether you’re a pop diva, a country crooner, or a rock ‘n’ roll rebel, this is your chance to shine! Expect laughs, applause, and maybe a little bit of friendly competition. It’s not just about singing—it’s about bringing your best performance and making unforgettable memories together. So, warm up those vocal cords, and get ready to sing it, bring it, and have a blast with the whole crew!

Gil Scott-Heron Bluesology is a theatrical reinterpretation celebrating the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron, covering his influential work from 1970 to 2010. The production features skilled spoken word artists who breathe new life into his powerful and enduring words. Adding a personal touch to this tribute, his daughter, Gia Scott-Heron, shares stories and memories, providing a unique authenticity that distinguishes this production from others. It’s a chance to experience the spirit of Gil Scott-Heron’s work in a vibrant and moving performance. Don’t miss out—The Revolution will be live!

Explore 30 years of music history, from blues, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll to hip-hop and alternative music, through the lens of photographer Jay Blakesberg. Featuring more than 150 photographs shot on film between 1978 and 2008, Retro Blakesberg captures three decades of pivotal moments in music history. The dynamic exhibit showcases multiple genres and iconic musicians, ranging from Snoop Dogg, B-40, and Bob Dylan to PJ Harvey, Pearl Jam, and the Grateful Dead.

Stream films on Kanopy or Hoopla, both on-demand streaming film services. They both have an extensive library of African American cinema and documentaries that are free with your Los Angeles City or Los Angeles County library card.

kanopy.com/en/category/40898?frontend=kui

 hoopladigital.com

The community is invited to attend DCA’s William Grant Still Arts Center (WGSAC) opening reception of CongoSonic: Bantu Beats Across the Americas, Saturday March 29, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

From the vibrant rhythms of traditional Bantu instruments to the infectious grooves of Congolese rumba and soukous, CongoSonic: Bantu Beats Across the Americas delves into how music from the Congo has shaped genres across the Americas—including jazz, rock n roll, hip-hop, cumbia, salsa, and bachata. On display, you will find a collection of albums, photographs, and other materials that showcase the lasting influence of the greater Congo on our continents.

Explore the cultural connections formed through the African diaspora, discover iconic artists like Franco Luambo and Papa Wemba, and trace the enduring legacy of Congolese rhythms in modern music from legends such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Nina Simone to Big Mama Thornton, Zapp, Celia Cruz, Prince Buster, and aja monet. Featuring interactive listening opportunities, including live performances, and rare artifacts, CongoSonic highlights culture, music and movement commonalities in the Americas from Congo while reflecting on the devastating humanitarian and ecological crisis currently unfolding.

The opening reception is Free and open to the public.

CongoSonic: Bantu Beats Across the Americas shows from Saturday, March 29 to Saturday, June 14, 2025. Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 5:00 p.m.

To learn much more about the exhibition, please visit wgsac.wordpress.com/2025/03/06/congosonic-bantu-beats-across-the-americas/.

Exhibition programming:

Opening Reception, Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Djs Adé and Fresko in vinyl conversation

Workshop and Performance, Saturday, April 19, 2025

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  | Workshop with Petna Ndaliko Katondolo

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  | Performances by aja monet and Jimetta Rose and the Voices of Creation

Screening Thursdays | 7:00 p.m.

The Rumba Kings, April 10, 2025

Neptune Frost, May 1, 2025

When We Were Kings, June 5, 2025

Questions? Please contact WGSAC at (323) 734-1165 or wgsarts@lacity.org.

The Los Angeles Public Library and the Los Angeles County Library cards give you access to many resources, including two amazing online music collections. Freegal features unlimited songs, and Hoopla lets you check out full albums. These two databases have endless amounts of music from the African and African American diaspora to explore, from famous hits to underground sounds.

hoopladigital.com/search?q=African+American+music&scope=everything&type=direct&kindId=6

freegalmusic.com

One of the most inventive artists in the history of American music, the brilliant and always-innovating Herbie Hancock returns for a night of freewheeling, thought-provoking, mind-expanding, galactic-traveling jazz, and funk.