Next week will bring two special events to our summer venues of the Hollywood Hills, you should get tickets now to avoid being left out in the heat.
On Wednesday July 24, Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields will perform what is described as a “deconstruction” of his most popular album, 1999’s 69 Love Songs at the Ford. Part of the show involves a collaboration with podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway, of the show Song Exploder, followed by an “intimate solo performance”. Hirway is renowned for giving interviews that truly dissect pieces of music in the presence of their creators, but unlike many of his interviews, this one is not being recorded or broadcast, so the opportunity to hear Merritt expound in this way will be limited to those in attendance.
Friday the 26th, legendary singer Chaka Khan will perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra directed by Thomas Wilkins. This is probably this author’s most anticipated event of the Bowl season, a chance to see a phenomenal voice that has been with me my whole life, paired with a live orchestra, to produce the kind of complex backing heard on her recordings. Chaka was killer with her regular band on the NPR Tiny Desk stage earlier this year, the even more grandiose presentation with the orchestra is sure to get the Bowl ringing.
Tickets for Chaka Khan with special guest Masego at the Hollywood Bowl, and Stephin Merritt at the Ford, are available on the venue website.
