Kevin Bronson on April 23rd, 2014

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Grand Performances have announced their slate of free summer concerts at California Plaza downtown – including a huge “Stones Throw Picnic” with Peanut Butter Wolf [pictured], Madlib, Dam-Funk and the Lions along with shows by Grammy Award-winning songstress Angélique Kidjo, L.A.-based Malaysian singer Yuna, local folk outfit Miner and Quetzal, the East L.A. legends who celebrate their 20th anniversary in July joined by La Santa Cecilia.

The genre-spanning series kicks off June 20 with Kidjo. The series also includes theater, dance, spoken word and children’s activities. California Plaza is at 350 S. Grand Ave. in downtown.

After the jump, check out the music offerings in the series. For a full rundown on the activities at California Plaza, go here.

Evening performances
All times 8 p.m. except where noted

June 20 РAng̩lique Kidjo
June 21 – Panoptica feat. Banda Agua Caliente and Federico Aubele
June 27 – “Movie Music Magic;” vocal ensemble does songs from movies
June 28 – Double G’s daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra
July 5 – “Stones Throw Picnic” with Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Dam-Funk, the Lions and special guests, 5 p.m.
July 11 – Cesária Évora Orchestra, “The Spirit of Cesária”
July 12 – “Adventures from Paradise: A Tribute to Minnie Riperton,” with the Decoders (feat. a 20-piece ensemble and guests), hosted by DJs Jeremy Sole & Aaron Byrd
July 18 – Chop and Quench (the “Fela!” Band Broadway cast, including Tony nominee Sahr Ngaujah), performing Fela Kuti’s “69 Los Angeles Sessions” in its entirety
July 19 – Quetzal (20th Anniversary Celebration), featuring La Santa Cecilia, Maya Jupiter, and Marisa Ronstadt and the Know-It-Alls [Grand Performances fundraiser]
July 27 – WR & Daisy
Aug. 1 – “Les Triplettes de Belleville” featuring Benoît Charest et le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville (French animated film with a live score)
Aug. 2 – “People Get Ready: A Soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement” featuring feat. Les Nubians and guests
Aug. 8 – Los Dos Marks (DJ Nu-Mark and Mark de Clive-Lowe)
Aug. 9 – “Más out there: East Los Sessions” with Raul Pacheco (Ozomatli) and Reyes Rodriguez (Tropico de Nopal)
Aug. 15 – Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate and Vikesh Kapoor
Aug. 16 – Miner and the Eagle Rock Gospel Singers
Sept. 5 – DakhaBrakha and Carmen Rizzo
Sept. 6 – Yuna

The Lunch Box Series
Noon shows

July 18 – Chop and Quench
July 25 – Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble
Aug. 1 – “Les Triplettes de Belleville,” avec Benoît Charest et le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville (open rehearsal of the music from the Oscar-nominated film, which screens later that evening)
Aug. 8 – DJ Nu-Mark
Aug. 15 – Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate

Photo by Joel Frijhoff