D-Nice, Leela James and Rahsaan Patterson Rocked the Mother’s Day Music Festival in Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles joins cities across the United States that celebrated Mother’s Day with a music festival. The inaugural Mother’s Day Music Festival supporting Domestic Violence Awareness was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm. 

By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer

     (Los Angeles, CA) Mother’s Day 2025 is one for the books. It’s my hope that Mother’s and others serving in that capacity felt all that love that came their way this past Sunday. This show of love should be experienced all year long.

     The City of Los Angeles joins cities across the United States that celebrated Mother’s Day with a music festival.

    The inaugural Mother’s Day Music Festival supporting Domestic Violence Awareness was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm.  The festival was held at the engaging and lively Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex, 5001 Obama Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90016. People were hoping that the Los Angeles celebration would become an annual event even before the first note was played.

    Walking around, one couldn’t help but noticed that love permeated the air all day. It was palpable, as the joyous feeling of love was felt throughout the venue.

     This special event was presented as “A Gift to the Mother’s y Madres” by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Heather Hutt, Los Angeles Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Los Angeles City Councilman Curren D. Price Jr., and the Jenesse Center for Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention.

     A festival of this caliber attracted several dignitaries. Honorable Diane Watson, Senator Steven Bradford, Assemblymember Sade Elhwary, District 57 and her mom, Audy Vasquez Ramirez, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, the above-mentioned City Councilmembers, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, Captain Lopez, and Patricia Saint James, Philanthropist, realtor, model, actress and Founder/CEO of Saint James Cosmetics.

     Mother’s Day Music Festival honored the incredible women of Los Angeles. The celebration is a powerful tribute to the strength, love, and resilience of mothers and maternal figures who uplift and inspire our communities every day.

      Several hundred guests were in attendance to enjoy this day long live performances, delicious food trucks, and special gifts, the festival offers a meaningful way to show support and appreciation and support.

     Proceeds also benefitted domestic violence awareness through the Jenesse Center, turning celebration into action.

     The weather for the day was hot, with lots of sun and clear skies. Guests were given free handheld fans, and water to stay cool and hydrated. Jose Ugarte, Chief of Staff and Director of Community Engagement, Office of Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr., served as emcee for the first half of the show and Dominique DiPrima served as emcee for the second half of the show.

     DJ PZB was on deck of the ones and twos spinning an eclectic soundtrack to complement the festivities. You have to use your imagination to visualize how thrilled the party people were while dancing in between live performances.

     The program got underway with the Fernando Pullum Performing Arts Band. These talented youth thrilled guests with a set of America’s #1 art form: JAZZ! They performed “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard, “Origin” by Pharaoh Sanders and “Swagism.”

     Las Catrinas Mariachi is an all-female mariachi band. They entertained the crowd with “Guadalajara” a very popular selection.

     La Sonora Dinamita fired up the proceedings on all cylinders. They turned up the heat with a set of contagious, infectious sounds of cumbia. The highlights of their set were the global hits “Encontré La Candenita,” “Qué Bello,” and “Mi Cu Cu.”

     Colombia Show Sonora kept us in the beautiful country of Colombia for another picante set of cumbias to the delight of dancers on this hot day in Southern California. Trinere followed with a dazzling set of selections.

     1500 or Nothin’ remade the festival into an old schoolhouse party. They opened their crowd pleasing set with “Before I Let Go,” by the late great Frankie Beverly. They continued with another classic “Never Too Much” by soul legend Luther Vandross followed by “Rock With You” by the ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson. Adriana Milanes Brothers also performed.

Rahsaan Patterson, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

     Rashaan Patterson took the crowd and me on a musical journey down memory lane of hits from his music catalog. The set list featured the tracks “Memory Lane,” “I’ll Go,” “Don’t You Know That,” “Don’t Wanna Lose It,” “Come Over,” “Treat You Like a Queen,” “It’s Alright Now,” “Spend the Night,” “I Always Find Myself,” Stop Breaking My Heart,” and “Where You Are.”

Leela James, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

     Singer Leela James experienced a homecoming moment. She pointed out that she grew up and went to school not too far from the festival. She arrived onstage to a few choruses of “Gonna Have a Funky Good Time,” by ‘The Godfather of Soul’ James Brown. The lyrics to the track is “we’re gonna have a funky good time, Take ‘em up, we gotta take you higher.” If you have ever seen Leela James perform, you are aware that she takes each concert venue up a notch. Her set is always energetic and high octane. Leela performed “You’re the One,” “Set Me Free,” “Tell Me That You Love Me,” “Right Back In It,” and “Complicated.” Leela James performed “Last Two Dollars” by Johnnie Taylor for the grown folks who like the blues.

D-Nice, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

      It ain’t nothing but a party as D-Nice closed out the inaugural Mother’s Day Music Festival on a great musical note.

     West Coast Wingz, Birria Villalobos, Tacos Toluca, Reality Eatzz, Dread Fraiche Express and Fraiche Signatres were the curated food trucks on site serving up enticing cuisines to satisfy a variety of taste buds.

      Festival t-shirts and a rose were presented to all of the mothers in attendance as a token of appreciation.

     The event carried a deeper purpose: raising funds for Jenesse Center to support it mission to end domestic violence through prevention and intervention programs.

     Founded in 1980, Jenesse Center is a nonprofit domestic violence intervention and prevention organization with a mission: to restore, and provide trauma informed, culturally responsive, holistic, comprehensive services to survivors and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence, and to advance prevention modalities to sustain healthy and safe communities free of violence. Jenesse works locally, nationally and globally to shine a light on violence against women, girls, men and boys and advocates the basic human right for all people to have peace in their homes and relationships. Jenesse’s culturally sensitive programs and services not only transition families from crisis to self-sufficiency but transforms the lives of its clients and the community at large by offering education, referrals and resources that go beyond shelter.