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The Music Center today announced that Grammy® and Latin Grammy® winning band Ozomatli will headline the performing arts organization’s first annual free concert, as part of the Live at The Music Center series, on Saturday, September 3, at 8:00 p.m., on Jerry Moss Plaza. The concert, which will take place over Labor Day weekend, is made possible by a major gift from Tina and Jerry Moss & the Moss Foundation, which calls, in part, for The Music Center to develop an annual celebration of music on Jerry Moss Plaza each summer.
The special evening will begin with a 40-minute A/V set by renowned Stones Throw label head L.A.- based Peanut Butter Wolf. Getting his initial start spinning and playing Hip-Hop beats, Peanut Butter Wolf developed the careers of Madlib, J Dilla, Quasimoto, Madvillain, Dam-Funk, Mayer Hawthorne, KNX, Mild High Club, MNDSGN and Anderson Paak.
“We are thrilled to have Ozomatli perform a free concert on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center for all Angelenos to enjoy—what a fantastic way to kick off Live at the Music Center with one of L.A.’s homegrown bands!” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We have been able to provide this free event thanks to a major gift from Tina and Jerry Moss & the Moss Foundation. Their deep love and appreciation for music will reverberate in the many free and low-cost events we produce year-round. So, mark your calendars for September 3 and get ready to rock the night away under the stars!”
Ozomatli’s music is as multifaceted as its members and influences. Meeting as young political activists and musicians, the original band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 to play a notorious urban-Latino-and- beyond collision of Hip Hop and Salsa, Dancehall and Cumbia, Samba and Funk, Merengue and Comparsa, East L.A. R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican ragga and Indian raga—all while following a key mantra: Ozomatli will take you around the world by taking you around Los Angeles. Their music has been recognized and celebrated widely with three Grammy® Awards (for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album and Best Alternative Music Album, among others), and the City of Los Angeles has declared April 23 as “Ozomatli Day” in recognition of the band’s sizable contribution for more than 25 years to the city’s cultural life. The band, which is comprised of six members (Wil-Dog Abers, Ulises Bella, Raul Pacheco, Justin Poree, Asdru Sierra, and Jiro Yamaguchi), recently released a new album called Marching On on Blue Élan Records.
“Ozomatli is an award-winning group which formed right here in Los Angeles so their upcoming concert over Labor Day weekend will be like performing in their own backyard,” said TMC Arts Executive Vice President Josephine Ramirez. “Ozomatli’s ability to influence and create change through their music perfectly aligns with The Music Center’s vision to provide arts experiences that build healthier, more compassionate and more equitable places to live. Join us on September 3 for an energizing performance—it is the perfect way to celebrate the last days of summer and our L.A. community’s strength.”
Tickets are required to gain entry into the concert. Limited seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beverages will be available for sale on-site. No outside food, beverages, alcohol or seats allowed.
The concert is Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Public parking will be available for $9 per vehicle in The Music Center Main Garage (accessible via the Grand Avenue entrance) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall Garage. Given the large number of attendees expected, the public is highly encouraged to take public transportation. The Music Center is located across the street from Grand Park, which is home to the Civic Center/Grand Park station along the Metro B Line (Red) and Metro D Line (Purple).
TICKETS: Each guest may claim up to four (4) General Admission tickets online by visiting
musiccenter.org/ozo or by calling the Box Office at 213-972-0711.
