“Our Mission: To embrace diversity of talent, community, business and education by providing live entertainment programs and events in the arts.”
That is a quote directly from the Valley Cultural Foundation, founded in 1975 to assist the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks in bringing arts and culture to the San Fernando Valley, and it has been at the forefront of culture, arts and arts education for more than 45 years. Starting June 18, the free summer concerts at Warner Park program will return to Woodland Hills courtesy of the Foundation, free to the public and held on Sunday evenings from June 16 to August 25, with all concerts starting at 5:30 pm accompanied by Emerging Artists Opening Act performances. Headliners follow shortly after and end at 8 pm unless otherwise noted.
Using the beautiful Nora Ross Bandshell at the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Park as a dramatic backdrop, the 2024 free summer concerts at Warner Park series kicks off on June 16 with Linda and Friends – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt and concludes on August 25 with Aeromyth – A Tribute to Aerosmith. In between are exciting acts that pay homage to some of rock’s most influential artists and bands, including The Soul Juice Band on June 23, Strange Days – A Tribute to The Doors on June 30, Foreigner Unauthorized – A Tribute to Foreigner on July 14, Twisted Gypsy – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on July 21, Red Corvette – A Tribute to Prince on July 28, Wanted – A Tribute to Bon Jovi on August 4, The FABBA Show – A Tribute to ABBA on August 11 and Blank Space – A Tribute to Taylor Swift on August 18.
As always, there is plenty of room for a late afternoon picnic with the family while being entertained by the headline performers.
A Brief History
Valley Cultural Foundation’s free Concerts in the Park program was launched in 1975 under the guidance of original chairwoman and educator Lou Bredlow; today, the concerts are still free of charge and enjoyed by more than 140,000 Valley residents each year. First presented in Shadow Ranch Park, the concerts have found a permanent home at the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Center Park, which was built on land generously donated by the Harry Warner family in 1967. The Pavilion was built for $1.3 million, $1,000,000 of which came from Quimby funds and $300,000 from the Valley Cultural Foundation’s donors. Currently, a 25-year lease on the Pavilion is held by the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation & Parks, with the facility being used for various cultural and arts activities.
What’s more, the Valley Cultural Foundation is actively engaged in community outreach, its programs encompassing the diverse cultural, social and artistic dynamics of the Valley. As such, the Foundation has become a vital community resource that provides arts appreciation, music education and arts outreach for Valley students, as well as programs supporting the senior population.
The many concerts, films in the park, awards/scholarships and special events provide rich opportunities for Valley residents to participate in and enjoy the artistic diversity that defines our unique neighborhood.
A Deeper Look at the Performers
Linda and Friends is comprised of a group of top recording artists, performers and composers who continue to play the music of Linda Ronstadt and a group of friends who lived, hung out and wrote songs in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles – artists such as Don Henley and Glenn Frey of The Eagles (her original backup band), Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Joni Mitchell, Warren Zevon and many others. Linda and Friends is much more than a live band of top musicians; it is a live rock experience filled with the rock’ n roll musical history of our childhoods.
The Soul Juice Band fuses soul, funk, rock and jazz with a wall of horns – yet the band members themselves describe their efforts as “a multi-genre songwriting foray” that combines five blazing horns, a screaming B3 Hammond organ, heavy guitar riffs and a gritty, soulful singer that results in a dynamic culmination of “heavy soundscape” unique in the music industry. The band recently released their self-titled album to rave reviews, with three of their singles featured on Pandora’s curated Amp Playlist, and they continue to build a loyal fan base with their spectacular live shows and one-of-a-kind musical sound.
Strange Days is often referred to as the ultimate Doors concert experience. It was formed and based in Los Angeles and has become North America’s most realistic and impressive Doors tribute act. They capture the magic, mystery and madness of The Doors in their prime by combining vintage instruments with the latest technology, resulting in both an authentic on-stage look and an unmistakable studio album sound.
Foreigner Unauthorized was formed in 2010 in Fresno, quickly creating a large, loyal and growing fan base on the California music scene and garnering buzz for their ability to reproduce to perfection the sounds of the phenomenal Foreigner, a band that helped shape rock music in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s with captivating, high-energy live performances. The group remains one of the top Foreigner tribute bands in the U.S., delivering incredible vocals, sound and stage show antics.
Twisted Gypsy is often called “Fleetwood Mac reimagined,” the members spending nearly a decade creating and honing a modernized, high-energy, big-stadium style show that will dazzle your eyes, seduce your ears and leave you speechless. Professionally produced, Twisted Gypsy features world-class touring musicians, gorgeous handcrafted vintage costumes, all live vocal harmonies and fun stage banter which captures the synergy of the original Mac members.
Red Corvette is the newest Prince tribute act on the scene, but its members have been honing that signature Prince sound for over 15 years – and on more than a thousand Prince tribute shows. With that sound of funk mixed with a bit of rock and a lot of pop, the Red Corvette band is tight and, in the words of Prince himself, “hits like a jackhammer!” The group is comprised of Mike Lane (music director, keyboardist, lead vocals and backing vocals), Tommy T (guitar and backing vocals), Wickett (bass and backing vocals), Anthony (drums) and Chyna (percussion, lead vocals and backing vocals).
Wanted performs the music of Bon Jovi the way it was meant to be played – as a true Bon Jovi Concert Experience – with the musicians recreating the extensive catalog of rock and love songs that have stood the test of time, appealing to generations of music lovers. These songs include “Runaway,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” and “Have a Nice Day,” with band members comprised of Ed Johnson on lead vocals, Tony Fondale on guitars/vocals/talkbox, Alan Bongiovanni on drums/vocals, Johnny “Shu” Sustar on keyboards/piano/effects and James “JT” Torrence on bass/vocals.
The FABBA Show remains America’s most renowned, authentic and truly sensational tribute to ABBA, performing hit after hit of dancefloor classics like “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Mamma Mia” and over 40 other hit singles that will have you on your feet disco-dancing all night. The costumes are spectacular, and the energy and showmanship of the nationally acclaimed cast keep fans coming back again and again. FABBA Show performers include Julianne Ruck, Marie-Claire Marshall, Lars Midthun, Andy Marshall, Gustavo Peraza, Levi Petree, Karie Seasock and Michael Zeta.
Blank Space is a Los Angeles-based Taylor Swift tribute experience where the magic of sexy Taylor comes to life in a dazzling explosion of music and energy. Hailing from the heart of the entertainment capital, Blank Space is more than just a tribute – it is often described as a journey into the incredible world of Ms. Swift’s chart-topping hits and unforgettable melodies. Led by the charismatic Olivia Mojica, who embodies Taylor’s spirit with every note and hip thrust, this ensemble of talented musicians brings the Swiftie experience to the West Coast like never before.
Aeromyth was formed in 2007 and hailed worldwide as “The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute Experience,” achieving a level of success and notoriety nearly unheard of in the tribute community. Paying their dues and honing their craft for well over a decade, the band has performed countless shows, touring internationally with venues ranging in size from clubs and theaters to giant arenas like Dodger Stadium, ultimately defining themselves through a combination of stellar live performance re-creations, uncanny physical likeness and unparalleled musicianship. Aeromyth comprises Gil T. Serrano on lead vocals, Frank Wilsey on guitar, Neal Shelton on guitar, Tony Cavazo on guitar and Pat Magrath on drums.
Warner Center Park is located at 5800 Topanga Canyon Boulevard. More information about the free concerts at Warner Park and the lineup can be found here.
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