5 Can’t Miss Concerts at The 2019 NAMM Show

The NAMM Show doesn’t just feature the latest technology in music, pro audio and event tech—it puts it into action! With hourly concerts throughout the campus, NAMM attendees are treated to some of the finest musicians, spanning genres and on a wide variety of stages, including a VW van and a plexiglass-enclosed shipping crate.

Find your favorite concerts and add them to your calendar, with the My Show Planner tool and the new NAMM Shows app.

Discover new bands and artists ahead of the show by listening to the official Spotify playlist, with a number of performers from Bands@NAMM represented. Then, view the full calendar and your favorites to your schedule!

And be sure to check out these five, can’t-miss concerts at The 2019 NAMM Show:

1. The NAMM Foundation Celebration for Music Education Featuring Black Violin
Thursday, January 24, 6–8 pm, NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage

“Black Violin upends cultural and musical stereotypes... an unexpected blend of classically trained musicianship and hip-hop beats and inventiveness.” —The Miami Herald

The NAMM Foundation celebrates music education on the NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza with musical guests Black Violin. Classically trained violist and violinist Wil B. and Kev Marcus combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as “classical boom.” Black Violin has shared stages with top names including Kanye West, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys.

Black Violin ’s most recent record, Stereotypes, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and at #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. NPR praised the album and band, saying “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.”

2. Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand
Friday, January 25, 6–8:30 pm, NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage

While the artist lineup for this year’s concert remains a secret, Yamaha has built an unmatched reputation for developing and producing the largest and most energetic concert events at past NAMM Shows. Last year’s concert featured star turns by celebrated artists Melissa Etheridge, Sam Moore, Michael McDonald, Butch Walker, Lindsey Stirling, Marc Broussard and Sheléa.

3. The Grand Rally for Music Education Featuring Conductor-Composer Eric Whitacre
Saturday, January 26, 9:30–10:30 am, Hilton Anaheim, Level 2, California Ballroom CD

Grammy-winning composer-conductor Eric Whitacre headlines The Grand Rally for Music Education, featuring audience participation in choral arrangements directed by Whitacre. Sign up to sing with Whitacre, and become part of the performance!

Following the concert, a special encore viewing of Deep Field, a new film by Mr. Whitacre inspired by the iconic Hubble Telescope Deep Field images.

Trumpet soloist Jonathan Dely will give a rousing pre-show performance.

4. NAMM Foundation Presents: The Lennon Bus Imagine Party Featuring Elle King
Saturday, January 26, 6–8:30 pm, NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage

On Saturday evening at the annual “Imagine Party,” The NAMM Foundation and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus presented by Other World Computing will welcome singer and songwriter, Elle King. King blends pop, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll into a sound that’s all her own. After hearing the all-girl pop-punk band The Donnas when she was nine years old in Ohio, she decided she wanted to be a singer and musician. By 13, she was playing guitar, and later learned to play the banjo. After signing to RCA Records, she released The Elle King EP which featured the Mob Wives Chicago theme song “Playing For Keeps.”

5. 34th Annual NAMM TEC Awards
Saturday, January 26th, 6–9:30 pm, Hilton Anaheim, Level 2, Pacific Ballroom
Purchase tickets.

Grammy-award-winning guitarist, singer, songwriter, and innovator Peter Frampton will receive the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award at the 34th Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. Frampton will treat the crowd to a concert of his timeless hits following the awards ceremony, celebrating the best in professional audio and sound production.