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Lila Downs

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About

Lila Downs is the daughter of a Mixtec Indian woman, Anastasia Sanchez,  who ran away from her village at 19 to sing in Mexico City cantinas and a Minnesota-born, Scottish-American film & photography professor, Allen Downs,  who saw her singing and fell in love.  Lila Downs was born in the Oaxacan mountain town of Tlaxiaco, 7,000 feet up in the heavens. The first songs she remembers are her mother singing Lola Beltrán's heartfelt rancheras, and her father singing Woody Guthrie's ''This Land Is Your Land.'' Her border-blurring, multicultural upbringing infused Downs with a firm world view in support of the disenfranchised working classes and an aesthetic vision that embraces cross-cultural pollinations.

As a result Downs has become one of the most innovative exponents of Mesoamerican music on both sides of the border. Her lyrics are high-minded and sentient and her sound is all encompassing. By drawing on a pan-Latin palette of music as well as American folk, jazz, blues and rock, Downs and her worldly band of kindred spirits, La Misteriosa, have won accolades and a devoted following of world music fans. Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Downs has created a unique body of work that defies categorization in any single genre.

With eight studio albums and one live album released since 1999, Lila Downs has long been recognized by the music industry.  She received a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release “Una Sangre,” and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s “Shake Away,” as well as various performance awards from around the world.  Her 2011 release,  "Pecados y Milagros" garnered both a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album, and a Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.  It also  hit #1 on the Mexican music charts immediately after its initial release, and reached Double Platinum status there.   

In addition to headlining venues all over the world, Lila Downs has performed at major festivals and events including  WOMAD; Live Earth; Montreal Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, the World Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama;  the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama, the Bicentenario de Mexico, the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Latin Grammys on Univision.

Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 283 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lila Downs, Balboa Theatre, Awesome

    by Anonymous on 2/28/12Balboa Theatre - San Diego

    Wonderful, soulful and captivating. Just wish the concert would have lasted longer, surely the entire audience would agree, as everyone was completely tuned into the music and performance. Incredible show, such a unique blending of musical and cultural genres. Lila's voice is amazing - as is the band. Lovely theatre. Wished there were some concert memorabilia available for purchase (even something small), in addition to the latest CD.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    amazing Lila!

    by Colores on 2/28/12Balboa Theatre - San Diego

    Her register of voice is awesome...She sings with that latin passion...really worth to see Lila live!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    REALLY GOOD! But too short!

    by SinaloaenSD on 2/28/12Balboa Theatre - San Diego

    Amazing voice! Great show! Too short! She should have sung at least another 3 or 4 songs!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 2/27/12The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    She's absolutely awesome. She needed to sing more though, also songs in other languages.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Lila as usual was great

    by SouthAmerican on 2/27/12The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    Wiltern Theater was packed, concert was supposed to start at 8:00PM. but it started at 9:15PM. was worth it the wait. she sang for 1 1/2 hrs. mostly new stuff from her new album, yes will go again. and will recommend a friend.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 2/27/12The Wiltern - Los Angeles

    Lila gave an amazing performance. The acoustics were great. It was nice to hear so much music from the new album. The Wiltern security staff had a difficult time managing the crowd on the right side of the theater. It was unfortunate that so many incredibly rude and inconsiderate people attended the concert. People kept standing in the aisle or in the stairs at the front to video, take pictures, or try to make up for their seats. They did this with no regards for the people whose view they blocked. Their behavior and the efforts by security to rangle the crowd distracted from Lila's performance. Sadly, for half of the concert, a security staff person stood at the top of the stairs and blocked the view. Overall the performance was excellent but some members of the auience ruined the experience.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Show was amazing but too short..

    by Lila8 on 11/16/10Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles

    Lila is one of the best performers I've seen and I've attend more than 300 concerts. She has one of the best voices I've heard and is extremely talented. The only issue I had with show was that the Disney Concert Hall did not allow her to come back out for an encore which would have been great since her perfromance was only about an hour. When I see her next time I'll make sure it's a different venue.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lila Downs=incredible

    by Chelita12 on 11/12/10Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles

    Amazing! Great venue! Great opening act (Buika)! Great performer Lila inspires!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Que viva la mujer!

    by EsaGuerita on 11/12/10Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles

    There two women were inspiring and unforgettable! Buika's passion and unique vocal style was a perfect compliment to the eclectic, creative and spiritual experience of Lila Downs!

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Amazing time!

    by Vivfighton on 11/12/10Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles

    I loved the venue and the concert best time ever seats were perfect and will definately go back to Disney!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    la llorona

    by Aner on 5/2/10House of Blues Chicago - Chicago

    Every thing was amazing! i would go see her sign her awesome songs again.I would do anything to meet her in person!

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    lila was great, crowd could use some work

    by flo6 on 5/1/10House of Blues Chicago - Chicago

    i love lila. i have seen her many times and would see her again. unfortunately house of blues had some early clientele from another party that went too long- the result was that when lila was singing there were huge amounts of loud drunk people in the back by the bar screaming over each other. it made it really hard to hear her and very hard to concentrate. if these were actually fans of lilas then that did not show and they have been absent at every other show of hers.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Too short

    by Capicuo on 5/1/10House of Blues Chicago - Chicago

    Great concert but we were really surprised how short it was! For the money we paid, we expected more concert. Thank you.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Lila Soso

    by keriko on 5/1/10House of Blues Chicago - Chicago

    It was a good performance; she has a good stage presence; the sound was adequate. I gave her an average rate because I thought she would perform traditional music, even singing with south Mexican dialect. Basically, I was with the assumption of hearing something like in the closing titles of the movie "MEN WITH GUNS".

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lila was amazing!

    by Farias on 11/5/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    Lila Downs has an amazing voice and undeniable talent. Her concert was full of energy, tradition and meaning. Lila’s songs bring about a panoramic range of tradition fused with modern style and experiences. Simply astonishing!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lila Downs was Festive!

    by Raymortician on 10/28/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    i didnt know what to expect from this show. i just heard of her from the Frida soundtrack. it was a festive latina show.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Lila Downs - Black Magic Woman

    by ProudLatina40 on 10/27/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    In the first 30 seconds Lila came out singing Santana's "Black Magic Woman" saying she is the Black Magic Woman. From there she broke into many of her classics with an upbeat flare . I was expecting a more subdued show with an acoustic guitar which I am sure would have been magical. Instead, I was amazed at the non-stop energy show in Anaheim. All of this from a woman who had a appendicitis 2 months ago.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    by mobetterblues on 10/27/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    found music too modern. expected songs to be more on ballad side. very loud venue. poor seating, would not recommend to friends.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    LOVE LILA!

    by Maluca on 10/26/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    ALWAYS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HANDS DOWN BEST FEMALE PERFORMER!!!!!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 10/26/09Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim

    just an outstanding performance...!!!! What an incredible talent...truly magnificent.