Brittany Howard in concert, live jazz, Kubrick’s ‘The Killing,’ a Brad Pitt celebration and more.
35th Annual Kingdom Day Parade & Freedom Festival
Monday, January 20, 2020 / 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. / Historic Leimert Park Village
Thousands will line the streets of South Los Angeles for one of the biggest Martin Luther King Jr. Day parades in the nation. Actress-singer Keke Palmer is this year’s grand marshal. She will be joined by talented drill teams and marching bands putting on a marvelous celebration in King’s honor.
The parade starts at Arlington Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and ends at Vernon Boulevard, where the festivities will continue with music, art and activism at the Freedom Festival in Leimert Park.
Attendance is free / More Information
Laurie Anderson & Christian McBride
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 / 8–10 p.m. / Walt Disney Concert Hall
In recent years, legendary avant-garde musician Laurie Anderson has joined her synthesizers and violin with the talents of accomplished jazz bassist Christian McBride and cellist Rubin Kodheli to explore the fertile fields of improvisational jazz. Expect some sideways-leaning experimental music served with a side of reflections and commentary from Anderson. It is also possible they’ll involve the audience in a game of “Play the Image,” where the trio live scores an image shouted out from the seats, like James Brown at yoga.
Tickets: $48-$133 / More Information
Brittany Howard
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 / 7:30–11 p.m. / Hollywood Palladium
Vocalist Brittany Howard made a big decision to put the hugely successful Alabama Shakes on hiatus in order to record a solo album. Turning 30 years old, she wanted to make something that was fully her own. She rented a house in Topanga Canyon, embraced vulnerability and dug into her past for meaningful songs. Her solo album “Jamie” came out last September and she’s been touring Europe and the U.S. since. Howard heads into Grammy week with two nominations.
Tickets: $25 / More Information
Kubrick’s ‘The Killing’ Plus Q&A with Malcolm McDowell and James B. Harris
Thursday, January 23, 2020 / 7:30–10 p.m. / Skirball Cultural Center
Stanley Kubrick’s 1956 film noir “The Killing” is a heist story about a $2 million race track holdup that goes pretty well until all the money gets dumped on an airplane runway. The script was penned by pulp writer Jim Thompson and based on the Lionel White novel “Clean Break.” It was Kubrick’s first “major” feature film. Beyond the thrill of seeing it on the big screen, this special event offers a post-screening discussion on Kubrick’s legacy with the film’s producer James B. Harris and legendary actor Malcolm McDowell, star of “A Clockwork Orange.”
Tickets: $10 members; $15 general admission / More Information
The Bottomless Pitt: A Celebration of Brad
Friday, January 24, 2020 / 10 p.m. to 1 a.m / Dynasty Typewriter at the Hayworth
As the man who conquered at least a decade with his beautiful hair, Brad Pitt takes center stage in this comedic evening dedicated to all things Brad. No, he won’t be there. Instead, hosts Stevie Palmer and Natalie Darrah have combed through everything he’s ever done and painstakingly selected the most significant moments in the handsome star’s career. They’ve condensed their findings into a three-hour love fest. We could go all night, though.
Tickets: $15-$20 / More Information
‘Women Behind Bars’
Saturday, January 25, 2020 / 7–10 p.m. / The Montalbán
“Women Behind Bars” is a darkly comedic play by Tom Eyen, a wilder, campy offering from the same writer who went on to pen “Dreamgirls.” A parody of 1950s prison exploitation films, “Women Behind Bars” debuted during the mid-1970s and was embraced by fringe culture after “Pink Flamingos” star Divine was cast in the role of The Matron.
In keeping with pedigree, the cast for The Montalban’s NC-17-rated production includes some incredible personalities, among them the notorious Traci Lords; John Waters’ muse, Mink Stole; RuPaul’s Drag Race star Eureka O’Hara as The Matron; drag legend Miss Coco Peru, local cabaret performer Poppy Fields; and adult film star Wesley Woods as The Man.
Tickets: $25-$120 / Showings: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. / Dates run Jan. 25-Feb. 2 / More Information
20 Years of Pedestrian Deposit
Sunday, January 26, 2020 / 8–11 p.m. / Coaxial
Coaxial put together a comprehensive exhibit covering 20 years of experimental sound act Pedestrial Deposit, a project formed in 2000 by Jonathan Borges, and later joined by Shannon A. Kennedy in 2008. The duo’s synergy comes from Borges’ electronics, tape loops, field recordings and sculpted feedback in contrast to Kennedy’s physical manipulation of her self-designed stringed wood and metal instruments, which she plucks, scrapes and smacks with intensity. On display will be a complete collection of released recordings, handmade instruments, photos, videos and show archives culminating in Sunday’s live performance as the closing event.