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Dive into a pool of beats and rhythms from all around the globe at this summer’s Grand Performances at the California Plaza. This series of free outdoor concerts features sights and sounds from Peruvian electronic music to African Ethio-jazz to edgy alternative beats from East LA. There’s a show for all ages to enjoy and discover their next favorite artist, music, dance, or beat.

If you want to enjoy an energetic jolt during your lunch hour, Grand Performances hosts a Lunchbox Series, providing a weekly line-up of free indie, folk, and pop concerts at noon each Friday from July 6 to August 24.

The first performance took place today and it was easy getting there from the Metro Red Line Pershing Square Station. From there, hop on the Angels Flight to watch an energetic bi-lingual performance from Las Cafeteras. Hailing from East Los Angeles, this band fuses Afro-Mexican music with hip-hop and alternative styles.

Not a single seat was open for the first Lunchbox concert and everyone in the audience ranged from local businessmen to summer music campers to German tourists. Las Cafeteras proved to be a crowd favorite and by the end, brought the audience off their feet to dance onstage to the rhythm of their #1 hit “La Bamba Rebelde.”

Concerts are commonly scheduled for Friday at noon and Friday and Saturday evenings, and there’s a Kids Series on Sunday afternoons. Make sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket along with a picnic because seating goes fast! The complete calendar with the lineup of events can be found here.

To plan your route to a Grand Performance concert, use the Metro Trip Planner.