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These Eastside bands will join the Ritchie Valens tribute show this weekend
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Courtesy of Grand Performances
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This story first appeared on The LA Local.
Several Eastside bands will perform Saturday at a special tribute to Ritchie Valens as part of Grand Performances’ free summer concert series.
The “Ritchie Forever” program at downtown LA’s California Plaza will blend live music, storytelling and archival visuals to celebrate what would have been the Mexican American rock pioneer’s 85th birthday. The event will feature artists from East L.A., El Sereno, Highland Park, Southeast L.A. and more.
Families can bring a picnic from home or grab food from Grand Central Market, and get there early to score a spot on the grass or in the amphitheater. We recommend hopping on the Metro E Line from Mariachi Plaza to the Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill station and either walking up the hill or taking Angels Flight up to California Plaza.
The event will start at 6 p.m. and is open to all ages. RSVP here.
A variety of bands will join the stage Saturday, including these Eastside bands:
Denise Carlos and Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras
From left to right: Jose Cano, Denise Carlos and Hector Flores pose outside the Paramount Theater in Boyle Heights.
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Andrew Lopez
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Boyle Heights Beat
)
Denise Carlos and Hector Flores of the Eastside-born band Las Cafeteras will perform at Grand Performances. The group began playing shows in 2005 while they were music students at Eastside Cafe, a community space in El Sereno that inspired the band’s name.
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Las Cafeteras blend son jarocho — a traditional folk music from Veracruz, Mexico — with electronic music, punk, cumbia and hip-hop. Their mostly bilingual songs explore themes of love, identity and social justice. Learn more about the band here.
Bryan Ponce from The Altons
Bryan Ponce, lead guitarist and singer of The Altons.
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Courtesy of Red Heart Media
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Bryan Ponce, lead guitarist and singer of the band The Altons will also join the celebration.
The Altons is a modern soul and retro-indie-soul band from Southeast LA that has captivated local audiences for several years, quickly driving them to become a staple of the scene, according to the band’s website.
Formed in 2016, the group combines vintage Chicano soul, Motown-style harmonies, and Latin rhythms with modern indie sensibilities. Learn more about them here.
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Thee Sinseers
Joey Quiñones, lead of Thee Sinseers.
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Courtesy of Grand Perfromances
)
Straight out of East LA, this band was formed in 2019 and led by multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter Joey Quiñones.
Quiñones and his crew have been introducing a new era of modern soul with vibes of traditional ska and dancehall reggae.
Thee Sinseers are currently on tour. Learn more here.
Irene Diaz
Artist Irene Diaz.
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Courtesy of Grand Performances
)
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Irene Diaz, born and raised in Highland Park, is a singer-songwriter, whose captivating vocals and soulful melodies have garnered critical acclaim.
Diaz blends elements of folk, soul, and Chicanxs influences, creating a sound that is both intimate and expansive, according to her site. You can learn more about her here.
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