LA County Free Summer Concerts

Directed and founded by trumpet player Cindy Shea in 1999, under the musical direction of Grammy® Award- winning Alberto "Beto" Jimenez Maeda, the Mariachi Divas have made big waves on the national and international music scene. A two-time Grammy® Award winner, with five Grammy® nominations and two Latin Grammy® nominations, the Mariachi Divas are a multicultural all-female ensemble imbued with the true flavor of Los Angeles. In addition, the Mariachi Divas have been performing regularly at Disneyland Resort since 2003. All together, the Divas discography includes 10 albums released through Shea Records and East Side Records. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea. Their music can be found on iTunes.

A unique and versatile cello quintet, hailed as “brilliant” and “superb” by Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times, Sakura is built on the artistry and virtuosity of its members: Michael Kaufman, Benjamin Lash, Gabriel Martins, Yoshika Masuda, and Peter Myers. Drawing from the rich heritage of a repertoire that spans eight centuries, their inventive programs are constructed around conceptual threads with a commitment to opening new vistas of beauty and expression by showcasing the great warmth and scope of five cellos. Sakura explores great music of the past through dazzling arrangements that offer fresh perspectives on familiar notes, and continually expands their five-cello repertoire through the commission of new works. In the tradition of the great chamber ensembles, this quintet distills its interpretations through time, reveling in the pure sonic pleasure of a unified and colorful sound. Its name honors the great mentor and artist Ralph Kirshbaum, with whom all five members studied: sakura (桜) (Japanese) and Kirschbaum (German) have the same meaning: “cherry tree”—a plant whose flowers have five petals.

Mestizo Beat is a Los Angeles based ensemble that fuses the music of Nigerian afro-beat, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and New Orleans funk into a performance of heavy groove and soul. Inspired by the music of Fela Kuti, James Brown, The meters, Parliament Funkadelic, and Mongo Santamaria, the band touches up on funky rhythmic music from all over the globe.

Sgt. Peppers is a Beatles tribute band that performs everyone’s favorite Beatles songs. Beatles fans will have nostalgia as the band performs dressed up in the Ed Sullivan Show black suits, the Sgt. Peppers outfits, and Abbey Road clothing. Sgt. Peppers employs the same vintage instruments and amplifiers used by the Beatles to replicate what a Beatles performance would have sounded like live.

Carolina Hoyos is a first generation Peruvian Quechua-Inca Afro-Latina. She splits her time between acting/writing/directing for stage and film, and releasing records as singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist A Girl I Know. She also sings as Antonella in Nicolas Winding Refyn’s Amazon series Too Old To Die Young and has shared the stage with Eddie Van Halen, Ryan Adams, and Guns N’ Roses. Her latest EP (The Lost Tapes) was released in 2016. Her first Spanish language release will include translations of her two EP releases as a full-length album in 2019. A classical pianist since the age of two, Carolina performs soul, jazz, and pop with a 60's girl-group influence. As a multi-instrumentalist, no two A Girl I Know shows are ever the same. A fan of choose-your-own-adventure-stories, Carolina gives her fans a chance to vote for these variables on her social media outlets leading up to each performance.

As a border performer born in El Paso, Texas and growing up in Mexico City, Dr. Gloria Arjona crosses various languages, disciplines and music styles to carry on an musical mission that aims to educate and entertain. During her interactive lectures, Dr. Arjona combines live music, media, traditional attire and Tableaux Vivants (living pictures) to address racial and gender issues. Dr. Arjona can perform solo, singing and playing acoustic guitar, or as part of a duo, trio, or quartet with keyboards, bass, drums, and other performers.

Michael Haggins Group combines jazz and R&B to generate a smooth funk sound. The group plays original music and cover tunes of songs by Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Sade and R&B classics from the '70s and '80s. The group has performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival, the legendary Spaghettini Grill & Jazz Club in Seal Beach, and many other Southern California events and festivals, such as those presented by 94.7 The Wave and KJLH radio station. Michael is a successful contemporary bass player and songwriter from Pasadena with major music placements of his original songs. Credits include the movie soundtracks for Hall Pass and The First Time, as well as NBC’s Community, ABC’s Happy Endings, FOX’s Raising Hope and New Girl, HBO’s Ray Donovan, MSNBC's Morning Show Wake Up With AL,The Weather Channel and KTLA-TV Morning News Show.

Directed and founded by trumpet player Cindy Shea in 1999, under the musical direction of Grammy® Award- winning Alberto "Beto" Jimenez Maeda, the Mariachi Divas have made big waves on the national and international music scene. A two-time Grammy® Award winner, with five Grammy® nominations and two Latin Grammy® nominations, the Mariachi Divas are a multicultural all-female ensemble imbued with the true flavor of Los Angeles. In addition, the Mariachi Divas have been performing regularly at Disneyland Resort since 2003. All together, the Divas discography includes 10 albums released through Shea Records and East Side Records. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea. Their music can be found on iTunes.

Upstream started in the Twin Islands of Trinidad and Tobago and have been performing in the U.S. for over 20 years. Their talent, creativity and vision are astounding! The band plays an indescribably fascinating blend of reggae, calypso, soca and steelpan music! Each of the musicians bring various seasonings to the pot!

Together since 1988, Opa Opa performs an array of Latin music from salsa to Latin jazz to cumbia to name just a few. Their musical talent has accompanied stars such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.