By Bel Hernandez Castillo

There’s something magical about boleros—the romantic lyrics, the gentle strum of guitars, and those unforgettable harmonies that wrap around your heart. The Boleros de Noche performances presented as part of LA Phil’s 2026 summer season at The Ford, felt like a true homecoming. 

This year’s lineup started off with the dynamic ensemble Arturo and Jose Luis of Bolero Soul, delivering a heartfelt tribute to the golden era of romantic Latin music. It was followed up by the reunion of La Marisoul with Los Hermanos Carlos, making for a powerhouse bolero trio.  La Marisoul delivers vocals that drip with heartache, longing, and love, while the Carlos brothers’ harmonies wrap around her like a warm summer breeze. The crowd didn’t just watch—they felt it, often singing along, swaying in their seats, and cheering in between every heart-tugging verse.

La Marisoul, best known as the powerhouse vocalist of La Santa Cecilia began her career singing boleros.  “That’s the root of what I sing—traditional boleros and rancheras,” she explains. “I learned from the musicians that played at restaurants on Olvera Street.”  She is a Grammy Award winning artist who credits her songs as being inspired by life, love, heartbreak and the drunken rants of the neighborhood.

It was clear that for many, boleros are more than music—they’re memories. The Ford was a perfect backdrop for this concert, with palm trees lit in vivid hues framing the stage, the hillside seating enveloping the audience in a close shared beautiful sensory experience of sight and sounds. 

While the bolero’s origins trace back to 18th-century Spain and Cuba, it was Mexico that truly made the genre its own, becoming a cultural epicenter for its evolution. Many of us grew up hearing the voices of Los Panchos, Pedro Infante, or Javier Solís serenade generations with their soulful bolero renditions. Boleros De Noche at The Ford Theater brought that timeless sound back to life, creating an unforgettable night of music, nostalgia, and connection that felt both deeply personal and universally moving.

Boleros De Noche, now a yearly tradition at the Ford, began in 2015 with a mission to preserve the bolero tradition and create a space to keep the tradition alive. They moved to The Ford in 2018 and are now celebrating their 9th year at this venue. Boleros De Noche has evolved from a small grassroots concert series into a major cultural event. 

This year’s LA Phil summer season at The Ford runs through October 31st, features everything from retro cinema, hip-hop and poetry to mariachi legends and cutting-edge dance of all genres. Boleros De Noche at The Ford proves that great programming doesn’t need to be big and flashy to be powerful. It just needs to be authentic. And this show? It absolutely was.

Performance line up at The Ford  Follow on social media: @TheFordLA 

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