The Grammys are here, which means it’s time for America to warm up those thumbs for hate tweeting Taylor Swift’s aw-shucks, girl-at-a-concert routine and LL Cool J’s proportionally goofy headwear.
On the plus side, Grammy party producers are likely seeing a reduction in their event insurance premiums now that bullet and mayhem magnet Suge Knight is locked up without bail.
Unlike the Emmys, Oscars, or Golden Globes, the artists actually ply their trade all weekend. Grammy parties have music, lots of it.
From Jennifer Hudson to John Legend and Lil Kim to the “big homie” himself, Jay Z, here are TheWrap’s Party Report picks of the most solid invites during Grammys weekend in L.A.
Also read: Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney to Debut ‘FourFiveSeconds’ With Grammys Performance (Video)
Thursday, February 5
Thursday night is one of the busiest.
Delta Pre-Grammy Celebration with Charli XCX
Soho House, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Delta smartly leverages its partnership as the official airline of the Grammys by jetting in two-time nominee Charli XCX to jump start the party weekend. There will be dancing atop 9200 Sunset.
Rolling Stone and Google Play
El Rey Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
A performance concert more than a party, Childish Gambino, The Weeknd, Mat Zo, and Samantha Ronson will perform at the mashup collaboration of old and new media. Rolling Stone has been on a tear in 2015 after a rough UVA rape-retraction blemish in 2014. They hosted events at both Sundance and the Super Bowl in the last 10 days.
Also read: Common and John Legend to Perform ‘Selma’ Song ‘Glory’ at the Oscars
John Legend at Los Angeles Confidential
Beverly Hills Hotel, 7-10 p.m.
Beverly Hills Hotel boycott be damned. The glossy mag has no fear.
This is the second unusual venue for Legend in a week, capping DirecTV’s Super Bowl bash with Rihanna and surprise guest Kanye West. Legend stole the Sunday morning social media crown with the four-shot Waffle House selfie of himself, wife Chrissy Teigen, West and his reality star wife, who will never see this story because it won’t hit her google alert.
Legend and pal
The list is strong: Diplo, Arctic Monkeys, Paul Oakenfold, Ava DuVernay, Common, Bastille, producer J-Roc, Carmen Electra, Cliff Clavin, O-Town (attempting a comeback), and a gaggle of ladies from the “Real Housewives” franchise and “The Real,” who no doubt are aspiring to catch the eye of L.A. Confidential publisher Alison Miller and Editor-In-Chief Spencer Beck for their own cover shoots one day.
Essence Black Women in Music
Avalon Hollywood, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Jill Scott receives the 2015 Black Women in Music Award. A decade-by-decade evolving lineup of performances will come from Chaka Khan, Brandy, and Lianne La Havas. Essence is using the Twitter hashtag #BlackWomenInMusic and will livestream the event on its website.
Turn It Up for Change Ball
W Hollywood, 9 p.m.
Jennifer Hudson (slated to perform), Kelly Osbourne, Dita Von Teese, and Liberty Ross are among the famous faces who will be part of the “Voguing Ball.” The cause — nationwide marriage equality and the “fight for 50” campaign, as in marriage equality in all 50 states.
Friday, February 6
The Food Salon presented by Questlove
Private Residence, The Hills
After a week in L.A. with Jimmy Fallon’s West Coast “Tonight Show” homecoming, the root of “The Roots” turns down the volume, hosting an intimate gathering of “thought leaders in art, design, music, film, TV, and food,” the no-frills text invitation declares. There will be no servers, no dress code, and no white table cloths. It’s the open-kitchen restaurant analog to a house party.
Questlove is bringing in three chef friends to fuel the night, one the 15-year-old Flynn McGarry, who got the cover of the New York Times Magazine last year. The other two have been acknowledged for James Beard Awards: Maxime Bilet and Angela Pinkerton.
Press and media free, there is one creative partner in Dell, whic has been making a push into Hollywood’s creative community.
Tom Windish, Jason Bentley, Jesse Lee Joint Party
Figueroa Hotel, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Blocks away from MusiCares, five figures join together in a new get-together. The principals: KCRW’s Jason Bentley, dFm President Jesse Lee, Windish Agency President Tom Windish (who books Lorde, Alt-J, M83 and has had over 20 acts on Coachella and 121 at SXSW), producer Ludwig Goransson, and Roc Nation manager Jon Lieberberg.
Windish and Lee hosted the artists brunch during the pre-opening of Soho House Chicago during Lollapalooza weekend last summer, a choice enclave.
“While this is the inception of an annual celebration, we plan on inviting other friends into the mix each year, to hit all aspects of the music industry,” dFm’s Lee says.
T.I.’s Party At Sayers Club
Hollywood, 11 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Small venue. Big star.
Skrillex Hosts Gem the App with Fame Music
Soho House, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
TheAudience, the social media management company that helped vault Steve Aoki from Tuesday night Nissan party DJ waiting for Kelly Clarkson to finish to global phenom on the side of the MGM, is throwing a party. The group that manages social and campaigns for celebrities has garnered the title of an “Official Pre-Grammy Party” for their efforts. Calvin Harris, Chrissy Teigen, Jamie Foxx, Diplo, Frank Ocean, and the aforementioned John Legend are all expected.
Lil Kim Performs at Galore Mag’s “Ladies Night”
1Oak, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Getting past the rope will require a “Magic Stick” (*rimshot*).
Only days after producing TAO Group’s Super Bowl pop up in Arizona, the event-focused EFG PR group flips over to the other traveling nightlife brand for this Grammy weekend event. Event regular Ana Calderon will DJ before the performance of the song that won Lil Kim a Grammy, “Lady Marmalade.”
Saturday, February 7
Roc Nation Grammy Brunch
Private Residence
Rihanna is a regular. This is always over subscribed. They are moving out of Soho House and in to a “mo-flow” house for more room. Jay Z is the host, and not in a nightclub “hosted by” way. It’s his company.
Primary Wave 9th Annual Grammy Party
Riva Bella, West Hollywood, 8 p.m – 1 a.m.
Fresh off a series of acquisitions and mergers in late 2014 and early 2015 (including Mark Burg’s Evolution, behind Charlie Sheen vehicles “Two and a Half Men” and “Anger Management” as well as the “Saw” franchise), the talent management, music publishing, and marketing company throws a party in the same space that Anonymous Content did the night before the Globes.
Clients like Jane Lynch, CeeLo Green, Melissa Etheridge, Cypress Hill, Zendaya, and Elle Mcpherson are expected.
Clive Davis Party
Beverly Hilton, 7:30 p.m.
Nobody ever knows for sure who is going to perform (first course of EDM with “Afrojack” one year, a story-time with Usher over dessert), but the list of modern relevant names reportedly includes Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, Usher, Pharrell and Iggy.
There are always classics too (Paul Shaffer chewing up the carpet early, Berry Gordy with his now-defunct LMFAO nephew) and a few outside their lane oddballs, like Hota Kotb. Last January, Joan Rivers cracked up media for the length of the long curving carpet.
Nielsen Pre-Grammy Party
Hyde, West Hollywood
The famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Bastille are backed up by the ever-present Michelle Pesce. Live music is back in the former home of Coconut Teaszer.
Sean Kingston Pre-Grammy Soiree
6363 Hollywood Blvd., 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
The “Beautiful Girls” and “Take You There” singer throws a party in what looks like a former department store on a not-yet made-over block of Hollywood Boulevard. His sister, an aspiring “multi-media host” and accomplished Instagram-model, butt-selfie poster is listed as a co-host.
Sunday Night, After the Show
Recording Academy Official Grammy After Party
Convention Center, After the Show
Gloria Gaynor, Jessie J., and DJ Michelle Pesce perform in the cavernous space. Ciroc is the official Grammy vodka.
Red Light Management @ Skybar
Mondrian, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
The top shelf management company, and sister marketing agency Greenlight, which turned out great campaigns with Cam Newton in addition to TheWrap this year, will not travel far from its Sunset Boulevard offices above Katana. Vevo and Upstaging are on as party partners. This one will hit capacity quickly.
GQ
Hollywood Athletic Club, 10 p.m.
At their last big Hollywood party, Dave Chappelle did stand up and Michael Sam walked around starstruck. Editor-In-Chief Jim Nelson’s cross-label, cross-genre post-show party with Giorgio Armani is one to aim for.
Warner Music Group
Chateau Marmont, 9 p.m.
After the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department abruptly shut down the music on the deck of the Sunset Tower last Grammy night, killing the party, WMG is on the move across the street.
WMG’s nominees include Beyonce, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Wiz Khalifa, Faith Hill, Coldplay, Tegan and Sara, the Grateful Dead (yes, for “Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package”), and The Black Keys.
There will be live music. Your move, Sheriff.
Grammy Awards Official Talent Gift Lounge
Staples Center SW VIP /Artist Entrance, Thursday-Saturday
Fresh off a pitch perfect send-up of Showtime’s “Episodes,” Dina Rezvanipour’s “Distinctive Assets” gifting suite is the official swagateria of the Grammys, aimed at nabbing the talent during Staples Center rehearsals.
Notable swag includes “velour track suits from Sean John,” Gibson guitars, a “luxury rail journey through the Canadian Rockies” from Rocky Mountaineer (who has time for that?), a shovel of beauty supplies, and something called “MiPosaurs by WowWee,” which may or may not make you the “Poser” when that picture gets taken.
Send additional bookings and invites to Mikey Glazer here.