Delgres to Make Los Angeles Debut as Part of Skirball's Sunset Concerts Series

French-Caribbean roots trio Delgres continues the twenty-first season of Sunset Concerts at the Skirball on Thursday, August 10, at 8:00 p.m.

Consisting of Paris-born, Caribbean-descended frontman Pascal Danaë on dobro and vocals, Baptiste Brondy on drums, and Rafgee on sousaphone, Delgres specializes in a distinct blend of Creole, West African, rock, and Delta blues. The evening begins with DJ Rani de Leon of dublab, who will spin a set at 6:30 p.m. The performance by Delgres, the band's first-ever show in Los Angeles, is co-presented with the France Los Angeles Exchange (FLAX).

When Napoleon Bonaparte reinstated slavery in Guadeloupe in 1802, many people fled or were exiled to New Orleans following a rebellion led by the legendary Louis Delgrès. It is from this perspective that the band Delgres revisits the songs, dances, and sorrows of the long-lost, drifting souls of the crescent city and brings to life the historical link between the French West Indies and Louisiana. Delgres's first album is due out in early 2018.

The full schedule of the 2017 Sunset Concerts is as follows: American Tune Featuring Sean Watkins & Friends: A Singer-Songwriter Celebration of Paul Simon (July 27); the West Coast debut of Ibibio Sound Machine (August 3); the Los Angeles debut of Delgres (August 10); Daymé Arocena (August 17); David Buchbinder's Odessa/Havana (August 24); and the Los Angeles debut of Betsayda Machado y La Parranda El Clavo (August 31).

All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Check-in and FREE admission to the Museum and Skirball campus begin at 5:30 p.m. Doors to the concert venue open at 6:30 p.m. FREE concert admission RSVP is requested but does not guarantee admission or seating, which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parking: $10 per car (cash only) Carpooling is encouraged. Street parking is strictly prohibited. Or take Metro Rapid 734/234.

All Skirball exhibitions (except Noah's Ark) are free and open until 10:00 p.m. during Sunset Concerts, including Paul Simon: Words & Music. Audrey's Museum Store is open until 8:00 p.m.

Grab-and-go light fare, full bar service, and specialty food items will be available for happy hour and throughout the show. Guests may bring their own food. Note: No outside alcoholic beverages or chairs are permitted.

Marking its twenty-first season in 2017, the longstanding summer concert series kicked off just a year after the Skirball Cultural Center opened to the public in 1996. During that inaugural year, the institution drew nearly 300,000 visitors, far surpassing an initial expectation of 60,000. In winter/spring 1997, seeking to build upon this early success, the Skirball began to hold monthly dinnertime concerts inside its restaurant, Zeidler's Cafe. The concerts were so well attended that the staff immediately rethought the event space. The following summer, upon popular demand, the Skirball launched a free four-concert series on Thursday nights. These performances took place in the Skirball's much more spacious central courtyard, offering a view of the hillside at dusk. The series was soon named Sunset Concerts. For several seasons in those early years, along with Grand Performances downtown and Santa Monica Pier's Twilight Concerts, Sunset Concerts represented one of the city's few free outdoor summer music series. Noteworthy Sunset Concerts performers over the years have included Yasmin Levy (US debut), Hugh Masekela, Vieux Farka Touré (LA debut), Natacha Atlas, Red Baraat, Conjunto Chappotín y Sus Estrellas (US debut tour), Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, and Novalima.

The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society.

The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049. Museum hours: Tuesday-Friday 12:00-5:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; closed Mondays and holidays. Admission to exhibitions: $12 General; $9 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children over 12; $7 Children 2-12. Exhibitions are always free to Skirball Members and Children under 2. Exhibitions are free to all visitors on Thursdays. For general information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit skirball.org. The Skirball is also home to Zeidler's Café, which serves innovative California cuisine in an elegant setting, and Audrey's Museum Store, which sells books, contemporary art, music, jewelry, and more.

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