Grand Avenue & We the People Festivals Come to Downtown LA.

If you've been to the the Grand Avenue Festival in years past, and you're like me, you probably already know.... it's... it's pretty much... a... a... *yawn*... wow I get sleepy just talking about it... Well, if you do happen to find yourself on one of the most gentrified streets in Downtown this Sunday, two things I do recommend: (1) go to the Redcat, and (2) get that free ticket to experience (queue "fabulous" voice) the magical wonders of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I'm assuming the WDCH will be giving a demonstration of the Opus 24, the massive concert organ built by Rosales Organ Builders, and right around the corner, the Redcat will most likely have something that will blow your mind as always... checking redcat.com now... and... let's see here... they're gonna have... caricatures? Really? Hmm... I wonder if I can get them to draw me doing something really snotty and offensive... Anyway, at least check out the massive organ... and when your done with that go to the Disney Concert Hall and see that piano-with-pipes-thingy.

Going back one day in time from future Sunday (Saturday), the We the People Festival/Concert comes to Cornfield Park (aka Los Angeles State Historic Park). I can't say the lineup really has me wagging my tail, waiting in line for a ticket, not that I dislike any of the bands playing, on the contrary, I'd say there's some pretty decent acts mixed in there, I'm just not a big fan of festival shows in general. Elbowing through a sweaty crowd to stand 100 yards away from a band you can normally catch at a smaller venue for a cheaper ticket price is not my idea of music appreciation. Although, the festival is supposed to be all about freedom of speech, civil rights, world peace and all that good stuff... who couldn't get behind those things? Of course, you need to pay the ticket price first right? (/eyebrow raise)

Well, if you're as skeptical as I am about people making a buck under the guise of a good cause, you can lay at least some of your skepticism to rest in this case. A portion of the proceeds from the We the People Fest are going to the soon to be space-less Self Help Graphics. If you don't already know, Self Help Graphics, one of the most amazing and important art spaces on the East Side, is getting evicted from it's location in Boyle Heights where it has been the prime flag waver for Chicano art and DIY culture since the 1970s. The potential loss of this institution is nothing short of a tradgedy. You can read about the whole debacel on their official website: www.selfhelpgraphics.com.

The Grand Avenue Festival is Sunday from 11am-5pm on Grand Ave between Temple and 5th
The We the People Festival is Saturday at the "Cornfield Park" from 2pm to Midnight.