Photo Credit: LA Phil
Downtown Los Angeles is currently under curfew, impacting several live entertainment events as protests over ICE raids continue.
The curfew was enacted by Mayor Karen Bass on June 10 and covers a one-square-mile are of downtown LA. The area is bounded by the I-5, I-110, and I-10 freeways and is in effect from 8 pm to 6 am. The measure was implemented in response to escalating protests against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids—which began in the city on June 6. Those protests have turned violent, resulting in vandalism of Waymo cars and looting in some cases.
The curfew has had a profound impact on the city’s live entertainment sector. Residents and workers with legitimate business in the curfew area are exempt, but all others—including concertgoers and theater patrons—are prohibited from being out during the curfew hours unless specific exemptions are granted. City officials have carved out exceptions for ticket holders at select indoor performing arts venues, allowing performances such as Center Theatre Group’s ‘Hamlet’ and the Los Angeles Opera’s ‘Rigoletto’ to proceed.
Despite these exemptions, the vast majority of live music and entertainment events in LA have not been so fortunate. A wide array of high-profile cancellations has left artists, venues, and fans disappointed. The Walt Disney Concert Hall was forced to cancel the final show of its Seoul Festival—marking the end of the LA Philharmonic’s 2024-2025 season. The Peacock Theater had to call off the Fly High Fest—a major Latin music event featuring Chino Pacos and Los Caimanes De Sinaloa. British house DJ Cloonee postponed his two-day event at City Market—standing in solidarity with protesters while acknowledging the necessity of the delay.
The Alamo Drafthouse cinema and other theaters in the area also suspended their evening schedules, refunding tickets for affected screenings. The Grammy Museum also canceled an event showcasing music from ‘Cobra Kai,’ while the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles closed through the weekend.
The ongoing uncertainty about the duration of the curfew and the possibility of further unrest has cast a pall over downtown’s arts and entertainment scene. Businesses, restaurants, and venues remain on edge, with many struggling to adapt to the rapidly changing situation.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.