A Selective Guide to the Arts in Los Angeles

ARTScorpsLA/ACLA Emerging Producers presents Beat the Drum’s second annual drum festival, Beat the Drum: East Los Meets West Los, to be held on Sunday, July 15, at 8 p.m., at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. One lucky Culture Spot reader can win a pair of tickets; simply email editor@culturespotla.com by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, and one winner will be selected at random.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for picnicking, drum technique demonstrations from South Mexican and Central American traditions, live screen printing and painting, and dancing by the Capoeira Collective in the Ford Theatre Plaza.  At 8 p.m., audience members will be ushered into the venue in a percussive, celebratory parade led by Aztec drumming.  The main event features performances by Atabey (traditional Puerto Rican bomba), CAVA (bolero/tropical with primal taiko & cajon drumming) and East LA Taiko featuring drummer Fredo Ortiz of the Beastie Boys with special guest Lysa Flores (Latin, Afro-Cuban, Japanese fusion).

The event will be held at the Ford Amphitheatre located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068.  Tickets are $20-$40. For tickets and additional information,  call (323) 461-3673 (323-GO-1-FORD) or visit https://fordtheatres.org/en/events/details/id/362 and https://www.facebook.com/BeatTheDrumLA.