LAX SUMMER NIGHT SIZZLES WITH FREE OUTDOOR MUSIC CONCERT FEATURING THE SOUNDS OF LOS ANGELES-BASED ORIGINAL-POP ROCK BAND “SOUL RISING”

(Los Angeles, California – August 19, 2017)  Yesterday evening, guests were treated to a musical summer night at Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) first outdoor concert featuring the sounds of Southern California-based all-original pop-rock band “Soul Rising.” This concert is part of the LAX’s Guest Services Division team’s efforts to bring LAXceptional Experiences and a Gold-Standard Airport to guests, providing unique experiences in and around the airport for travelers, staff, and guests.  

"LAX is on a mission to deliver Gold-Standard Airports to guests — and what better way to provide that than by giving guests memorable experiences they will remember that reflect the musical artistry that makes this city the entertainment capital of the world,” said LAX Volunteer Program Director Gadelynn Gaddi. “We hope this is the first of many free, outdoor concerts that guests will get to experience while at LAX.”

The event, which took place at the courtyard located on the Upper/Arrivals level between the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) and Terminal 4, attracted nearly 50 guests from the curbside and terminals to hear Soul Rising’s unique blend of rock and soul.  Attendees enjoyed seven songs as part of a 45-minute set that inspired more than a few spontaneous dances, smartphone recordings, and turned heads from passengers surprised to see a live band rockin’ out in the middle of the world’s fourth-busiest airport.

 “Soul Rising is honored to be the first band to play an outside concert at LAX,” said Soul Rising Manager Steven Rosen.  “It is a thrill to be able to play in front of so many people traveling through the airport from all around the world.  Today is a great day.”

LAX’s Guest Services Division team is made up of approximately 300 Volunteer Information Professionals (VIPs) and Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) volunteers, dressed in red vests or blazers that provide more than 40,000 volunteer hours each year assisting guests in terminals. VIPs staff information booths located at the baggage claim areas, and PUP volunteers provide comfort and smiles to guests waiting at boarding gate areas. The Guest Service team also includes 150 part-time Guest Experience Members dressed in light blue.

            Soul Rising is a high-energy, all original-pop rock band that has played over 100 shows all over Southern California.  In 2014 and 2017, the group ?received five nominations in the Los Angeles Music Awards (LAMA) for Best Rock Band, Best New Artist, Best Female Lead Vocalist, Best Rock Drummer and Best Rock Lead Guitarist. This year, Soul Rising? is also nominated in the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in the same categories.                                                                       

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

            LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

            LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 .  Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com .  

          As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.