Lila Downs is the best! There is no other current artist who is as talented as she is. She's amazing and beautiful to hear sing and also watch.

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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.
Setlists
- 1.Icnocuicatl
- 2.Tortolita
- 3.Conjuro
- 4.Humito de copal
- 5.La Martiniana ([traditional] cover)
- 6.Dos corazones
- 7.Son de difuntos
- 8.Tirineni Tsïtsïki
- 9.Mal de amores (New song)
- 10.La pochota (New song)
- 11.nueva canción para las estudiantes
- 12.Maldita billetera (Alicia Villarreal cover)
- -Te vas angel mio (Ramón Ayala cover)
- 13.La Llorona ([traditional] cover)
- 14.El último trago
- 15.Zapata se queda
- 16.La cumbia del mole
- 17.Cariñito (Los Hijos del Sol cover) (with Alicia Villarreal, Majo Aguilar y Mariana Seoane.)
Encore
- 18.Cruz de olvido (Juan Záizar cover)
- 19.Viene la muerte echando rasero
- 20.Mezcalito
- 1.Icnocuicatl
- 2.Son del chile frito
- 3.La campanera
- 4.La Martiniana ([traditional] cover)
- 5.Tortolita
- 6.Urge (Vicente Fernández cover)
- 7.Dos corazones
- 8.Son de difuntos
- 9.Dear Someone (Gillian Welch cover)
- 10.El beso
- 11.Cambia mi mundo
- 12.Viene la muerte echando rasero
- 13.El último trago
- 14.Zapata se queda
- 15.La cumbia del mole
- 16.Cariñito (Los Hijos del Sol cover)
Encore
- 17.Clandestino (Manu Chao cover)
- 18.Mezcalito
- 1.Son del chile frito
- 2.La campanera
- 3.Tortolita
- 4.Fuiste feliz
- 5.Urge (Vicente Fernández cover)
- 6.Dark eyes
- 7.Dos corazones
- 8.Clandestino (Manu Chao cover)
- 9.El último trago
- 10.Zapata se queda
- 11.La cumbia del mole
- 12.Cariñito (Los Hijos del Sol cover)
- 1.Tirineni Tsïtsïki
- 2.Mandimbo
- 3.La campanera
- 4.Conjuro
- 5.La Martiniana ([traditional] cover)
- 6.Son de difuntos
- 7.Urge (Vicente Fernández cover)
- 8.Fuiste feliz
- 9.La curación
- 10.Te hubieras ido antes (Joss Favela cover)
- 11.Dos corazones
- 12.La cigarra (Lola Beltrán cover)
- 13.El último trago
- 14.Viene la muerte echando rasero
- 15.Zapata se queda
- 16.La cumbia del mole
- 17.Cariñito (Los Hijos del Sol cover)
Encore
- 18.La Llorona ([traditional] cover)
- 19.Naila
- 20.Mezcalito
Encore
- 21.Cumbia sobre el río (Celso Piña cover)
- 22.Reina de cumbias (Celso Piña cover)
- 23.Cumbia poder (Celso Piña cover)
- 24.Comprendes, Méndez? (Control Machete cover)
- 1.Mezcalito
- 2.Fuiste feliz
- 3.Conjuro
- 4.La campanera
- 5.Zapata se queda
- 6.La cumbia del mole
- 7.Cariñito (Los Hijos del Sol cover)
- by Anonymous on 9/2/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5
Great start but sudden ending.
by LeftWantingMore2 on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 4 out of 5The opening act was great. Lila was fabulous but. I really thought she would on longer. An hour and a half is just too short. She said she would sing some of the songs that were being petitioned, but she didn't. This was another disappointment. Other than that, I really enjoyed the night. Overall nice atmosphere.
cultural show
by kalimaximo on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5Great vocalist of mexican folklore music. Very fun and interactive singing. Great performer all around. I am also a big fan of kinky, was disappointed because of they're limited set usually see them as a headliner and longer set. Never disappoint. Vamos queriendo mas y mas! :-)
Excellent ShoW!!
by BeraldyBeltran on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5This has been one of the best performances that i have seen this year! I love every moment of the show. Lila Down is the best and i will definitely go see her again. I think the entire setting was what made it so unique. I will definitely go to another show at the Greek.
Wow...Lila and Kinky
by Ashuri29 on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5This is my 4 time seeing Lila with my wife...each time it gets better and better. She is a total entertainer and so soulful (a bit like seeing Sade for me very transcendent)... She also played some new music which sounded great! Kinky was great as well never heard them live before
Super awesome show
by Braziliana on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5Lilia downs is so talented her show is wonderful everyone should see her
A wonderful and delightful night with Lila Downs
by 4829 on 8/26/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5Lila Downs was amazing. She can really sing and I mean SiNG. She was very nice with the audience and it was a memorable night. Overall, the concert was excellent. Lila Downs rocks!!!!
- by Anonymous on 8/25/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5
Amazing performance. Heart and soul fully present in her performance.
Best performance I've seen so far this year!
by Tigreracon4 on 8/25/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5Lila's presence iluminates the stage! Love outfits
No Words - Incredible
by Suzyseven on 8/25/14The Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5She really got the crowd into the music. The stage was amazing, the music was the best.
lila downs was whatever
by tinnii on 8/25/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 2 out of 5i disliked the shortness of the concert and her random choice of songs she seemed like she had no life, not the Lila I've seen before. Sad to pay $80 to see her give a crappy performance
Lila Downs was amazing!
by bornitz on 8/25/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5This was my first show where I knew that the performers would sing (and speak) primarily in Spanish and it was fantastic from start to finish. I don't speak the language but it didn't deter me from having an incredible time. The opening band was Kinky, who put on a fantastic rock show. I loved their cover of Wall of Voodoo's Mexican Radio. Lila Downs performance was nothing of outstanding. Her voice is pitch perfect and her show was incredible. She sings with such passion, compassion and each song tells a story. I have never seen anyone like her before.
Lila Downs was exceptional
by Revlis on 8/25/14Greek Theatre - Los AngelesRating: 5 out of 5As usual she did a great job, great performance. Played her heart out.
- by RDML on 8/24/14House of Blues San Diego - San DiegoRating: 5 out of 5
Amazing voice! The setlist for the evening was very representing of her career.
- by 1PITODURO on 8/22/14House of Blues San Diego - San DiegoRating: 4 out of 5
Great show! Would get rid of the promo stage, too mich light.
Better than Church
by PROMETHEUSD on 8/22/14House of Blues San Diego - San DiegoRating: 5 out of 5Love the voice & the great band; but miss the harpist who was a regular for many years.
Awesome Vocal Talent
by bjohnson916 on 8/19/14The Fillmore - San FranciscoRating: 5 out of 5What a pleasure to hear someone who can ACTUALLY sing.
- by SnoopyLuv on 8/19/14The Fillmore - San FranciscoRating: 5 out of 5
LiLa downs put on an amazing show, it was my first time seeing her perform and i definitely enjoyed myself. The fillmore is a great venue and almost forgot what it looked like since i was last there in 2006.
A Real Surprise and a Real Pleasure
by 1Gardener on 8/18/14Montalvo - SaratogaRating: 4 out of 5I first saw and heard Lila Downs when she performed a ballad in the movie "Frida." I then bought her "Border" CD which was focused on the often difficult stories of migrants, and I learned that she is passionate about human rights and other causes. So when I purchased tickets, I expected to hear her social activist side, with ballads, social commentary etc. While there was a bit of that, the overall concert was joyous and fun. Starting with a little song about Mescal and a teasing dance, she came ready to take us on an upbeat tour through various streams of Latin American music, with a voice much stronger and purer than I expected, and a tight, very, very talented band. What a night., what a happy, noisy, involved audience. Her interaction with the audience was good, and she often explained her songs in perfect English, before singing them in Spanish, and threw in a couple of English language songs as well. That context helped, but you didn't need to understand Spanish to enjoy such a talented group of musicians performing wonderful music, and if you understood enough Spanish to pick up a song's theme, even better. My wife, who understands a little Spanish and had never listened or read about Lila, was somewhat skeptical, but came away impressed and happy as well. I'd put this between a four star and five star event, in a beautiful venue.
Lila Downs was must see entertainment.
by GabytheGreek on 8/18/14Montalvo - SaratogaRating: 5 out of 5If I had only 1 word to describe Lila Downs it would be Passionate. This was an incredible show that made me want to stomp my feet, parade my arms to fall short of displaying my approval. I feel like she is traveling the path of life and sings about landmarks along the way. These are the feeling that were transferred to me and my wife. We have not been able to stop reliving the show. We wanted to see Lila in neighboring shows again, but life did not allow. Wonderfull show .... must see!