Grammy Museum

The Grammy Museum Where: 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, L.A. When: Museum open Sun.-Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. See website for program schedules. Price: $20 to $40 for programs Info: (213) 765-6800 or (800) 745-3000; http://www.grammymuseum.org

The colorful life and rich musical legacy of Woody Guthrie, widely considered America's greatest folk troubadour and songwriter, will be celebrated throughout 2012 in an expansive nationwide series of all-star concerts, previously unissued recordings, conferences, museum exhibitions and educational programs marking the 100th anniversary of Guthrie's birth. Guthrie's family, including his children Arlo and Nora, is collaborating closely with officials at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in assembling "Woody at 100. " It will include a broad swath of activities that will take place from California to the New York island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters — mirroring the words of "This Land Is Your Land," Guthrie's best-known song among some 3,000 he wrote before his death in 1967 at age 55. An overarching goal of the various activities is to introduce younger audiences to Guthrie's music and remind all listeners of his place in the long history of music as a powerful tool of social change, said Grammy Museum Executive Director Robert Santelli, who is overseeing much of the centennial planning with Nora Guthrie.

POP MUSIC An Evening With Mavis Staples The gospel legend will take the stage at the intimate Clive Davis Theater to discuss her history-making five-decade career and newest work, including her hotly anticipated new album, "You Are Not Alone. " Following the interview, Staples will take questions from the audience and perform a few songs from her expansive catalogue. The Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. $20. (213) 765-6800. http://www.grammymuseum.org. American Carnage Tour Three old-guard titans of thrash metal unite for an evening that may have, pound-for-pound, more drum fills and tapping solos than any concert in decades.

BOOKS Harlan Ellison The prolific science-fiction writer, who penned memorable episodes of "The Outer Limits," "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "The Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek," will discuss his love-hate relationship with TV in a conversation with screenwriter Josh Olson ("A History of Violence"). A screening of select Ellison episodes will follow. The Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. $10. (323) 655-2510. http://www.cinefamily.org Jonathan Lethem The prolific author is best known for his fiction, which includes the sci-fi-indebted "The Four Fingers of Death" and crime caper "Motherless Brooklyn.

MUSIC When Frank Zappa intoned "Music is the best!" he wasn't kidding, but he was cryptic. At "S'talking Zappa," a panel will discuss the legendary guitarist, arranger and furry fiend's contributions to music alongside an audiovisual presentation and live performances. The Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. $10. grammymuseum.org.

L.A.'s long-running Latin-rap-funk ensemble Ozomatli tunes up for an evening show at Club Nokia with a kid-friendly matinee. Though the band has experienced a number of lineup changes, it still has a reputation for being a seven-piece party on wheels, and at this show the kids get to play along as the band explores its eclectic variety of sounds and teaches the crowd one of its favorite songs. As a bonus, every 10-and-under child in attendance will be invited to attend that night's show for free -- with a paying adult, of course.

The Grammy Museum's new exhibit "Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey," based on a large-format photography book of the same name, explores the genre's four-decade history in the United States and its effect on the world. Through interactive mixing and listening stations, video footage, rare photographs and original artifacts, visitors will get a taste of what made the first pioneering moments from such auteurs as Grandmaster Flash so appealing. Highlights include handwritten lyrics from Tupac Shakur, LL Cool J's trademark Kangol hat, the Run-DMC leather jacket and pants worn during the "Walk This Way" performance with Aerosmith and a hip-hop sneaker gallery.

The Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles has been around only since 2009, but its intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater has already become one of the music industry's hottest rooms. In past months, participants in programs at the theater have included Ringo Starr, Annie Lennox, Dwight Yoakam, Herbie Hancock, Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Carly Simon, Dionne Warwick and Heart. Every month, as part of the museum's public programs, legendary artists are invited to take the stage to talk about their history and latest projects, field questions from the audience and end the evening with an unplugged performance, often followed by a meet and greet and CD signing with audience members.

Come early 2009, the new Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles will play host to a series of public events, the centerpiece of which will be a chat and performance by Brian Wilson on Jan. 15. Overall, the four-story hall has more than 100 events on tap for the coming year, says Executive Director Bob Santelli. Though some are directly tied to the Grammy Awards, such as a free Jan. 22 look at the "Masterminds Behind the Grammys," most, like the museum itself, have a broader focus than the award gala.

The first week of December has been circled for the grand opening of the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Rock and blues historian Bob Santelli has been named executive director of the four-story, 30,000-square-foot interactive exhibit space. Instead of jamming its relatively limited floor space with guitars and memorabilia, the museum is conceived as a hub for lectures, live music and traveling exhibits, the first of which will be a survey of political music entitled "Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom."

Remember George Harrison's unforgettable opening line in the Beatles' 1969 hit "Something"? "Something in the way she moves / attracts me like no other woman. " Of course not, because he sings "lover," not "woman. " But "woman" is what Harrison wrote before changing one word that could well have spelled the difference between a hit and a miss, an edit that's on display at the Grammy Museum in "George Harrison: Living in the Material World" a show focusing on the man pigeonholed early as "the quiet Beatle.

MUSIC Steve Lukather Best known as the guitarist for Toto, Lukather also is one of the world's top session men, having played on more than 1,500 records by artists such as Paul McCartney, Miles Davis, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper and Aretha Franklin. Hear him in discussion about his lengthy career followed by a performance of some of his signature guitar licks. The Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. $15. (213) 765-6800. http://www.grammymuseum.org. Gold Panda The U.K. producer deftly blends crackly vinyl samples with ambient synths and a consistent ear for screwball melody.

JOHN WATERS "Female Trouble" / "Serial Mom" Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $22. (310) 260-1528 ART WALK El Molino & Colorado Blvd. Pasadena 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. Playhousedistrict.org OPENING Golden Road Brewing 5430 W. San Fernando Road 2-7p.m. Sunday. $20. Goldenroad.la TALK + MUSIC Stevie Nicks Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic 8 p.m. Wednesday. $50. (213) 765-6803 PERFORMANCE Literary Death Match Busby's East, 5364 Wilshire Blvd.

MOVIES "Brand X" An artifact of 1960s counterculture and a forerunner to such programs as "Saturday Night Live" and "SCTV," this absurdist film parody of a TV show tackles the Vietnam War, sex, drugs, technology and more. The film is directed by Wynn Chamberlain and stars Frank Cavestani, Abbie Hoffman and Sam Shepard. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu . "George Harrison: Living in the Material World" The first major museum exhibition to explore the life of former Beatle George Harrison, it provides an in-depth view of his creative life.

ART Self Made For her debut feature film, the Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing put out an ad and recruited seven non-actors (from hundreds) to participate in an intensive Method-acting workshop, pushing them to explore themselves through performance. "Self Made" chronicles their journey and features five vignettes created by the participants. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu . MUSIC Justin Townes Earle The son of rabble-rousing folkie Steve Earle continues in his dad's vein with expert bedraggled folk about struggle and redemption.

EVENTS Danish Days The city of Solvang's 75th annual Danish Days festival takes on special significance this year, as it also marks the town's centennial. The celebration features folk dancing, live music, theater performances, authentic food, parades and living history exhibits. Various venues, Solvang. 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Free. (800) 468-6765. http://www.solvangusa.com 23rd Annual Taste of Newport The fest offers three days to sample fare from more than 30 local restaurants, sip wine from 15 California wineries and enjoy live music — all against the backdrop of Newport Beach.

STAGE Los Doppelgangers Performance artist Guillermo Gomez-Peña and actor-director Richard Montoya team up for this two-man show confronting current border issues. The performance features monologues, movement, spoken word and storytelling, as well as musical guests Chicano Son. Fowler Museum, UCLA, Sunset Boulevard at Westwood Plaza, L.A. 7:30 p.m. $25, reservations suggested. (310) 267-4007. fowler.ucla.edu. MOVIES Miss Representation Tackling issues of media culture, beauty and sexuality, writer-director Jennifer Siebel Newsom's 2011 documentary film features stories from teenage girls along with thought-provoking interviews with Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda and more.

The colorful life and rich musical legacy of Woody Guthrie, widely considered America's greatest folk troubadour and songwriter, will be celebrated throughout 2012 in an expansive nationwide series of all-star concerts, previously unissued recordings, conferences, museum exhibitions and educational programs marking the 100th anniversary of Guthrie's birth. Guthrie's family, including his children Arlo and Nora, is collaborating closely with officials at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in assembling "Woody at 100. " It will include a broad swath of activities that will take place from California to the New York island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters — mirroring the words of "This Land Is Your Land," Guthrie's best-known song among some 3,000 he wrote before his death in 1967 at age 55. An overarching goal of the various activities is to introduce younger audiences to Guthrie's music and remind all listeners of his place in the long history of music as a powerful tool of social change, said Grammy Museum Executive Director Robert Santelli, who is overseeing much of the centennial planning with Nora Guthrie.