A discussion on black presence and art at the Getty, Isabella Rossellini’s absurdist circus, Ladysmith Black Mambazo live, In Sheep’s Clothing Record Fair and more
Digable Planets
Monday, February 17, 2020 / 8–11 p.m. / The Regent Theater
Butterfly, Doodlebug and Ladybug Mecca’s two albums as Digable Planets — 1993’s “Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)” and 1994’s “Blowout Comb” — made jazz-rap palatable to the masses, earning them a Grammy and an everlasting hit with the song “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” As part of their Black History Month programming, Jazz Is Dead added two additional Digable Planets performances due to the overwhelming demand to see the trio perform with a live band — and perhaps tease a tune or two from their album in the works.
Tickets: $40 / More Information
Isabella Rossellini’s Link Link Circus
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 / 7–10 p.m. / Lodge Room
Isabella Rossellini loves critters and fur babies so much she’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in animal behavior. Her absurdist circus stars puppets and her dog Peter Pan as a chicken, a bee and a dinosaur, among other things. Rossellini expands on the different aspects of animal psychology and scientific discoveries about their intelligence and emotions throughout the show — all while celebrating the wonderful traits that make dogs our best friends.
Tickets: $60 / More Information
Place is the Space: Recasting Black Presence and Power Through Art
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / 7–8:30 p.m. / Getty Center
In conjunction with its “Balthazar: A Black African King in Medieval and Renaissance Art” exhibit, The Getty presents a conversation between alter-ego selfie artist Genevieve Gaignard and multimedia collager Rashaad Newsome, moderated by Tyree Boyd-Pates, curator of Western history at the Autry Museum. The pair will talk about why and how they create space for black histories in their work. They’ll discuss notions of power, absence, erasure and reclaiming history in the African diaspora both in and out of museums.
Tickets: Free with RSVP / More Information
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Thursday, February 20, 2020 / 8–10:30 p.m. / Royce Hall
Active since 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group that sings in the traditional vocal styles of Zulu isicathamiya and mbube traditions. The a cappella group gained global recognition after appearing on Paul Simon’s album “Graceland” in the 1980s, which led to collaborations with Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Michael Jackson, Emmylou Harris and ’90s girl group B*Witched. Just last week, the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, passed away; the group carries on led by his four sons.
Tickets: $39-$79 / More Information
Lindsay Ames Presents ‘My Diary’
Friday, February 21, 2020 / 10–11:30 p.m. / Dynasty Typewriter At The Hayworth
Lindsay Ames must regularly scour Los Angeles like a crazy person in order to find a comedian whose diary she hasn’t read just yet. Indeed, Ames has been running ‘My Diary’ as a monthly showcase for quite a few years now. The show offers “salacious, emotionally fraught, hilariously horrible moments” read by comedians from their actual diaries. This edition features Greg Barris, Blair Socci, Sherry Cola, Noël Wells plus surprise guests.
Tickets: $15-$20 / More Information
Women’s Motorcycle Show
Saturday, February 22, 2020 / 3 p.m. to midnight / House of Machines
Hosted and created by the Moto Lady, aka Alicia Elfving, the Women’s Motorcycle Show showcases women motorcyclists and all the things related to the bikes they love. You don’t need to be a biker to attend, but if you are, or perhaps just fantasize about it, attendees can try their hand at pinstriping, MIG and TIG welding and blacksmithing courtesy of Real Deal Revolution. There will be artwork, live music, a raffle, a piñata and short films about women riders by Cam Elkins from Stories of Bike.
Tickets: $10 / More Information
In Sheep’s Clothing Record Fair
Sunday, February 23, 2020 / 12–6 p.m. / In Sheep’s Clothing
In Sheep’s Clothing, that cool Japanese-inspired bar sporting a perfect sound system tucked within Lupetti’s pizzeria, is hosting a record fair bringing together collectors, labels and private sellers, including Awesome Tapes From Africa, Benedek, ISC Records, James Rene of NTS Radio, Cinespia’s John Wyatt, King Tuff, Paradise City Records and Perfect Circuit Records.
Attendance is free / More Information