Summer jams with free concerts

It’s summertime, and the living is extra easy, thanks to dozens of free concerts on tap starting this month all over the county.

The 55 free musical performances being staged in public parks, museums and bandshells feature a smorgasbord of styles including pop, R&B, Latin jazz and Louisiana zydeco.

The concert series is hosted by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission with funding in each district from the members of the Board of Supervisors.

In the Third District, the fun starts with a gig by Brazilando at LACMA on July 10 and continues with Latin Jazz in West Hollywood and Balinese gamelan in Northridge in August.  (Check out those listings here, and use the tabs to navigate through the listings in other districts.)

The shows run all the way into the fall, concluding with an R&B show by Louis Van Taylor at LACMA.

If that’s not enough free sounds, the County Parks and Recreation Department will host another 23 free shows in the “Parks After Dark” program between July 8 and September 5. The concerts will take place at Pamela Park, Roosevelt Park and Ted Watkins Park.

Beyond its entertainment value, the cultural lineup plays a role in the county’s gang initiative, which aims to reduce gang violence with up-to-the-minute approaches including night basketball and music.

Posted 7/1/2010