On Friday June 21, 2013, community came together for a Summer Solstice celebration of Make Music LA, part of the international Fete de la Musique started in France, celebrated in over 100 countries, and for the first time ever in 2013, the National Day of Music in the United States. It was a beautiful day of making music outdoors all day long throughout Los Angeles with a unique concert hosted by the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee in Sunset Triangle Plaza at Edgecliffe, Griffith Park Blvd, & Sunset Blvd, the location of the regular Silver Lake Farmer’s Market and a quintessential neighborhood gathering place – also affectionately known by residents as “Polka Dot Plaza” the “Town Triangle” & the “Triangle Square”.
This sustainability-minded, lo-fi & grassroots concert produced with neighbor, community & volunteer assistance lasted about 5 hours from 4PM until just after sundown, and was 100% acoustic and unplugged – no mics, no cables, no amps, no power, no electricity at all. Mostly all instruments from congas, drums, shakers, tambourines, guitars, banjos, accordions, and yes, even a real piano (in a tip of the hat to the Laurel & Hardy silent film classic “The Music Box” also filmed in Silver Lake many years ago), were rolled, pushed in wheelbarrows, or walked into the plaza by local musicians and volunteers or were carried in on foot by neighbors and community members, as nearly all of the acts featured were locally based in Silver Lake.
The event honored the mission of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council – honoring diversity, innovation, and harmony – and included everything from middle & high school musicians, solo Native American/folk & R&B singer-songwriters, alt-folk, country, jazz, and pop duos, an Afro-Latin percussion ensemble & master teaching session, folk rock/Americana, fusion, alternative/world & funk rock bands etc, all performing alongside children & adults, with everyone joining in ~ from novice musicians to old pros. As the sun set in the west over this joyful Plaza gathering, even little children joined major name acts & musicians on stage in spontaneous co-creation, and the entire event closed with an all-inclusive community music jam featuring neighbors & community gathered around the piano, using voice, guitars, bass, congas, accordion, banjo, drums, and much more in an inspired celebration of the day.
The photojournal below (with media by Gaia Grove) documents as much of the event as possible, and audio/video of the event will be shared soon.
The Wurlitzer piano at the start of the day in the Plaza, after being wheeled down Sunset Blvd ~
Silver Lake R&B Singer-Songwriter (& X-Factor Contendee) David Laboriel
Young & talented Sophia (Wolf Country) serenading us at the start of the day
Maltman stage lineup at the start of the day, with a wild-card slot for a local artist
Folk/Native American singer/songwriter Ben Gould drawing a crowd to his blanket ~
“A Song For The Dead” by local musician/poet Ned Casual of Downtown Train framed inside Mornings Nights Cafe
Master Teacher Angel Luis Figueora of Paws Music with his Afro/Latin Percussion Ensemble of students teaching the crowd
Local funk/rock band @Stonefeather walking into the plaza with all of their gear for the show
Silver Lake locals Poppa’s Kitchen – Folk Rock/Americana w/Stephen Feldman & Bob Romanus (Johnny Damone of Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
Edgecliffe stage lineup (although acts eventually migrated closer down to the plaza to be near the fountain)
SLNC Vice-Chair, Film Director & skilled multi-instrumentalist Charles Herman-Wurmfeld playing banjo in the sun
Following a summery set by folk/jazz duo The Singer & The Songwriter ( in foreground, R), the Pasadena band Earthbound performed center plaza
Kids playing at the piano & drums watching the art-biker entertain with his acrobatic antics
Co-Producer Charles Renn of the Hive Salon & Co-Chair of Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee, Stage Manager Howie Goldklang of the Establishment & Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce & Flor Cruz, Co-Chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Outreach Committee
Co-Producer of the event, Co-Chair of Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee, Gaia Grove founder & Alt/World Singer/Songwriter/Pianist/Percussionist Amy Clarke performing with her friend Dave Greene, Percussionist for Joe Walsh & Drum Tech for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Amy joined during her set by budding young drummers Charlotte (R) & Amy’s own daughter Ella Mira Rose (L) on congas
@AmyClarke w/Dave Greene
A few highlights from BKM Photography’s Media Set below –
Amy Clarke & Charles Herman-Wurmfeld singing “Spirit of the Wind”
@Stonefeather playing a fun, stripped-down acoustic set before the all-inclusive Community Music Jam
For more images, please visit fabulous local Silver Lake photographer Brittany Kalag Margulieux of BKM-Photography‘s Make Music L.A. – Silver Lake album on Facebook.
Huge hugs, deep gratitude & thank yous to (to name a few) the Silver Lake Improvement Association, Sunset Triangle Plaza, the 2nd Annual Make Music Los Angeles, Dorsay Dujon, Genelle Le Vin, Kevin Bannerman, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Governing Board, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts & Culture Committee, Silver Lake Neighborhood Assembly, Mornings & Nights Cafe, Gaia Grove, Jody and everyone who helped move the piano, Micheltorena Elementary School, Micheltorena Elementary Garden, Make Music Silver Lake (http://www.makemusicsilverlake.org – coming soon…) countless volunteers, community members and friends. We look forward to music all year long and the 3rd Annual Make Music Los Angeles scheduled to take place on SATURDAY JUNE 21, 2014.
KEEP MAKING MUSIC!
Gaia Grove ~ healing circles ~ music, ceremony, magic 