Performing Arts Houston presents Lila Downs: Día de Los Muertos
(Houston) – Performing Arts Houston presents the return of GRAMMY-winning vocalist Lila Downs for a performance in celebration of Día de Los Muertos (Mexico’s Day of the Dead) at Jones Hall on October 19 at 7:30 pm. Downs will perform alongside a seven-piece band and dancers from Ballet Folklorico de Austin. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in Día de Los Muertos attire and bring remembrances of loved ones to share in an offrenda. Tickets start at $29, students pay just $15, at performingartshouston.org.
Downs brings her unique interpretation of traditional Mexican and Mesoamerican music, deeply personal renditions of classic rancheras, and her own original songs to convey the concept of Día de Los Muertos, combining movement and sound that celebrate the rich traditions of Day of the Dead on both sides of the border. The performance will include songs from Lila’s new album “La Sánchez”, including Solita Solita and Dos Corazones, as well as favorites from her vast repertoire such as Cumbia del Mole, Zapata se Queda, and Mexican classics.
Prior to Down’s performance, Performing Arts Houston’s Education and Community Engagement department will host pre-performance activities in the Jones Hall Plaza and lobby with community partners Harris County Public Library and live mariachi vocalist and guitarist Cessar Mandujano. Patrons will be able to have their faces painted with traditional Día de Los Muertos designs and have custom Spanish and English poems written and performed by poets with Writers in the Streets. Performing Arts Houston has released student tickets at a discounted price of $15 to make this performance more accessible and eliminate financial barriers.
Born and raised in both Oaxaca and Minnesota, Lila Downs is the daughter of a Mixtec Indigenous mother and Anglo-American father. She has written narratives of Indigenous resistance protecting the original vision of the sacred plants and food of her Oaxacan culture, while keeping the traditions of the American continent. A passionate human rights activist, Lila Downs’ lyrics often focus on stories ranging from social injustice to the suppressed Latin American stories of women of indigenous and working-class origins.
Lila Downs’s music embraces influences from the folkloric and ranchera music of Mexico to the music of the southern United States, crossing barriers and generating sounds that blend folk, jazz, folkloric blues, Indigena, ranchera, and hip hop.
Downs is the winner of six Latin GRAMMYs and one GRAMMY Award. With symbolic stage presence and emotional storytelling through song, her singing transcends all language barriers.
About Performing Arts Houston
Performing Arts Houston (formerly known as Society for the Performing Arts) connects audiences with exceptional artists through diverse performances and learning experiences. We ignite and cultivate passion for the performing arts, exploring the vast landscape of artistic expression to discover new understanding about ourselves, create community, inspire dialogue, and enrich our world. More at performingartshouston.org
Ticket Information
Tickets start at $29, and a limited number of student tickets are available for $15. Tickets can be purchased through the Performing Arts Houston website at performingartshouston.org or by calling our box office at (713) 227-4772. To support the arts, save up to 25%, and access exclusive live arts experiences, become a Performing Arts Houston member at performingartshouston.org/memberships.
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PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON
presents
Lila Downs: Día de los Muertos
October 19, 2023
Thursday 7:30 pm
Jones Hall
Tickets start at $29
performingartshouston.org
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Media Contact:
Caroline Senter
csenter@performingartshouston.org
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