Hey party people,
It’s been a heavy week with the loss of both country-music icon and national treasure, Dolly Parton, and the great actor and Rocky Horror Picture Show legend, Tim Curry. When the news of Dolly’s death broke during Morning Becomes Eclectic, Novena Carmel pivoted the show into a rolling tribute of our favorite Dolly Parton songs that got us through both the good times and the hard times. In moments like these, I take shelter in Pulitzer-prize-winning poet Alice Walker’s quote, “Hard times require furious dancing. Each of us is proof.”
So let us come together in beloved community, overcome these hard times with furious dancing, and enjoy the final four Summer Nights of the year.
The parties continue this weekend with another doubleheader featuring some special guests, so get the crew together and meet us in Downtown LA on Friday and then cruise down to Orange County on Saturday. Scroll for all the deets!
📋Included in this week’s field guide:
- A live performance from Adrian Quesada
- Good Food recs for a Santa Ana culinary adventure
- Masters of the decks, Chris Douridas + John Tejada
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Friday, August 28th: Summer Nights with LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
DJ Stage Schedule:
6:00–8:00 PM — KCRW DJ Wyldeflower
8:00–9:15 PM — Adrian Quesada's Trio Asesino
9:15–11:00 PM — KCRW DJ Francesca Harding
On Friday night, we’re excited to bring the Summer Nights party to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes with a special performance led by Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated artist, guitarist, and producer, Adrian Quesada! A lifelong Texan and adventurous musician, Quesada truly possesses the Midas touch, turning sound into funky, soulful, psychedelic, Latin-infused gold. As a station, we’ve been longtime fans of his 7x Grammy-nominated psych-soul project, Black Pumas. Throughout the years, we’ve hosted them in the studio for multiple live sessions and interviews, and in 2019, we invited them to perform at our very first Summer Nights in the KCRW courtyard!
Every project Quesada produces, assembles, or lends his musical skills to becomes imbued with his signature warm analog productions. Last year he produced my #1 record of 2025, Sons of Sevilla’s Street Light Moon. He’s also worked with other favorite artists including Neal Francis, Los Bitchos, Hermanos Gutierrez, Prince, just to name a few.
His most recent sonic adventure is the assembly of Adrian Quesada’s Trio Asesino, performing live for us at this week’s Summer Nights! The trio debuted live on tour with Hermanos Gutiérrez in 2025, and blossomed into a full-length album featuring a hypnotic assortment of instrumental songs. The trio includes Joshy Soul (Teskey Brothers, Curtis Harding) on keys and Jay Mumford (Danger Mouse) on drums. Trust me, you’re in for a captivating and soul-warming delight.
Check out a few of Adrian Quesada’s live performances throughout the years:
Before and after the performance from Adrian Quesada’s Trio Asesino, expect to sway to the soulful grooves from your Tuesday and Wednesday night friends in frequency, DJs Francesca Harding and Wyldeflower! A pairing that will begin with feeling all the feels and will conclude with your hands to the sky.
HOT TIP: LA Plaza is a short walk from Metro’s Union Station and many bus stops. Check out Metro to plan your trip! Bring your own chair for a comfortable experience, and we’ve got you covered with food trucks and bars on-site. KCRW Events Director Krissy Barker recommends exploring Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles that’s rich with LA history, culture, food, and vendors that need our support as they face troubling times.
KCRW MEMBER PERK: $1 off drinks at the bar.
🥘 GOOD FOOD’S NEIGHBORHOOD 🍱
RECOMMENDATIONS
Nearby places to eat for our LA Plaza party:
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Saturday, August 29th: Summer Nights with Bowers Museum
Schedule:
7:00–8:30 PM — KCRW DJ Chris Douridas
8:30–10:00 PM — KCRW DJ John Tejada
On Saturday, we’re excited to turn up with our Orange County community at the historic Bowers Museum in Santa Ana! The OC’s largest museum is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and at our Summer Nights event you’ll get to explore their nine permanent galleries and rotating exhibitions, with special after-hours museum access.
You seriously can’t miss their fascinating exhibit on The American Quilt, showcasing over 40 quilts from the Revolutionary Era to the present day that reveal the intimate relationship between cloth and community and display a tactile record of American life, labor, and legacy.
KCRW DJs Chris Douridas and John Tejada are taking over the museum for an eclectic and electric dance party for the whole family to get down! These two sonic purveyors are masters of their crafts, and even though their selections will keep you on your toes wondering where the beat will take you next, you can trust there will be a sweet, euphoric release. For the art lovers and families with kids, have fun with the art-making activity in the Key Courtyard from 7–10 PM.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TIP: The bus line servicing the Bowers Museum and Kidseum is the OCTA bus number 53. Metrolink and Amtrak trains stop at the Anaheim Station (3.5 miles from the museum) and the Santa Ana Station (1.7 miles from the museum).
KCRW MEMBER PERK: Free admission to the museum with presentation of KCRW membership card.
🥘 GOOD FOOD’S NEIGHBORHOOD 🍱
RECOMMENDATIONS
Nearby places to eat for our Bowers Museum party:
Party Playlist
*ೃ༄Here’s a playlist I curated for you full of Dolly Parton favorites, Rocky Horror classics, and Adrian Quesada pregame jams*ೃ༄
Let’s close out August with a bang-bang and show up and out for THE FINAL FOUR SUMMER NIGHTS! We’re in the midst of a gnarly heatwave right now, so be sure to bring those cute little portable fans and drink lots of water for more dancing times ahead.
With love, light and Dolly’s sparkle,
Yer Girl Tyler “Boogie” Boudreaux
With Support from Our Sponsors
