Monthly Archives: February 2015

Are you excited for the Levitt National Tour? In just a few months, Black Violin, the genre-busting pioneers of urban meets highbrow, will be bringing their show-stopping talent to six Levitt stages across the country: Levitt Arlington, Levitt Los Angeles, Levitt Memphis, Levitt SteelStacks, Levitt Pasadena and the future site of Levitt Denver.

We’ll be announcing their tour dates soon, but until then, here’s a taste of what’s to come! Earlier this month, the duo turned a plane ride into an impromptu show, breaking out their instruments for a rousing rendition of “A-Flat.” Check out their surprise performance!

Black History Month Playlist_14

Artists pictured above (clockwise, from top left): Barbara Morrison, Black Violin, Tia Fuller, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Gedeon Luke & the People, The Soul Rebels, Chubby Carrier, Ruthie Foster, Booker T. Jones and The Drifters)

African Americans have shaped many of the most iconic American music styles—gospel, jazz, rock and roll, funk, hip-hop…the list goes on and on. As we wrap up Black History Month, we’d like to celebrate the musical contributions of some of the many talented African American artists who’ve graced Levitt stages across the country. Continue reading

Use_Levitt_loves_comin_together

What better reason to come together than free, live music? Levitt lawns give families, friends and people of all ages and backgrounds a place to gather and enjoy a rich spectrum of music—discovering new worlds and one another in the process!

Here are four adorable girls doing what Leviteers do best—comin’ together and dancing without a care in the world!

HappyValentines2015

How do you tell someone you love them?

While you can certainly say it with flowers, chocolates, home cooked meals and more, we often find ourselves turning to one of the most romantic forms of expression of all: music. And to celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’ve put together a playlist of songs about love by artists who have performed at Levitt stages across the country over the last couple of years! Continue reading

Last night, over 25 million viewers across the globe tuned in for music’s biggest night, the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center. Five of the 83 gilded gramophones given out last night went home with artists who’ve performed at Levitt venues. A hearty congrats to GRAMMY-winning artists: Rosanne Cash, Mike Farris and Pentatonix. Continue reading

Levitt-loves_courageous-creators

We’re kicking off Black History Month spotlighting one of our favorite Levitt artists, the phenomenally talented Booker T. Jones—a musician whose creativity is matched by his courage. Jones made his Memphis debut at Levitt Shell in Memphis (then known as the Overton Park Shell) in 1968 with his GRAMMY-winning group, Booker T. and the M.G.’s. According to Rolling Stone, this group, made up of two black members and two white members, “became a symbol of racial integration in the South during the civil rights years.” Booker T. Jones and the M.G.’s were awarded the prestigious GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for helping to create the sound of the 1960’s and using notes to build bridges between people.

Our hats go off to Jones, who has always used his courage and creativity to push our nation’s musical and racial boundaries. Learn more about Jones in his Meet the Artist video.