Perry Farrell & Etty Lau Farrell Usher in a New Era of Art, Love, and Consciousness with ‘Heaven After Dark’ Concert Series
The landscape of modern music festivals, replete with diverse lineups and immersive experiences, owes a significant debt to one visionary: Perry Farrell. As the pioneering founder of Lollapalooza, Farrell cemented his legacy by sowing the seeds for what would become a global phenomenon, shaping how generations interact with live music and culture. Now, with the debut of his latest venture, the HEAVEN AFTER DARK concert series, the iconic frontman of Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros, alongside his wife and creative partner, Etty Lau Farrell, is once again poised to redefine the intersection of entertainment, spirituality, and community. Kicking off on February 17th at the historic 1926 Room within L.A.’s Belasco Theatre, Heaven After Dark represents not just a new concert series, but a profound artistic statement—a beacon of light at the end of what Perry and Etty describe as a very long and challenging tunnel.
The Genesis of a Vision: Escaping the ‘Backwash of Entertainment’
The inspiration for Heaven After Dark stems from a collective yearning for something more profound than the status quo of contemporary entertainment. Perry Farrell, speaking with HollywoodLife, articulates this origin: “What led to the genesis of Heaven After Dark is we were looking into the future, having existed in a very, I think, constrained presence that was COVID-19. Even before COVID-19, we were looking at a scenario where we were kind-of caught in a backwash of entertainment that had gone to festivals surfacing that were copying each other.”
He elaborates on the pervasive sense of stagnation: “And in the clubs, it had turned into your basic bottle-service nights, and we had to think our way out of that because it was causing everyone to be very uninterested in experiencing nightlife. It’s so vital to the creation of culture. And so, we started to conceptualize what would break this traffic or log jam on the freeway of art, music, dance, and culture, and we came up with Heaven After Dark.” The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified this need for connection and authentic experience, pushing Farrell and Lau to envision a space where creativity could flourish unbound by past limitations.
Heaven After Dark emerges as a direct response to this perceived vacuum, aiming to re-inject genuine artistry and spiritual depth into the nightlife experience. It’s designed to be a vibrant antidote to the monotonous, offering an escape from the formulaic and an invitation into something truly transformative. This new series is not just about showcasing musical talent; it’s about curating an entire atmosphere that stimulates the senses and elevates the spirit, transforming passive observation into active participation in a collective ascent.
A Multidimensional Journey: Exploring Seven Realms of Wonder
The Heaven After Dark series is meticulously crafted to be a multifaceted experience, seamlessly blending musical performances with immersive visual stimulation and a deep dive into underground culture. Attendees are invited to traverse seven distinct realms of sonic and visual wonder, each designed to evoke a facet of the metaphorical seven realms of heaven. Perry explains the philosophical underpinning: “It starts with the idea that the universe is multidimensional, and to build and perform that concept, we want to raise our energy, our consciousness throughout the evening.”
Etty Lau Farrell adds her perspective on the communal energy this concept fosters: “And so, getting everyone together again, I think we are all contributing to this energy that is brought out of us with music and love and things that we enjoy. And maybe together as an audience, with the band, everyone in the group, we can all ascend to a higher level of love and consciousness and entertainment.” This shared aspiration for collective upliftment lies at the heart of Heaven After Dark, creating an environment where art transcends mere performance to become a vehicle for spiritual growth and communal bonding. Perry simply responds, “Beautiful. Very well said,” acknowledging the profound sentiment his partner eloquently expresses.
Beyond the Showcase: A Spiritual Imperative and Collective Awakening
Anyone familiar with Perry Farrell’s extensive body of work—from the raw energy of Jane’s Addiction to the cosmic journeys of Porno For Pyros at Woodstock ’94, and his more recent collaborations with Etty Lau in the Kind Heaven Orchestra—recognizes a distinct spiritual undercurrent. Heaven After Dark, predictably, is no exception. But one might ask, playing Devil’s advocate, why infuse a concert series with such a profound spiritual aim? Why not simply stage a music showcase? The answer, according to Perry and Etty, lies in a desire to transcend the traditional performance dynamic, aiming for something far more expansive and impactful.
“In my journeys and travels through life, I came to find out that we all have a similar purpose,” Perry shares. “This is our common ground. Our common ground is to first know ourselves, and through knowing ourselves, we can begin to find God, which is love – as you pointed out, Etty. So, I’m trying to help everybody with their spiritual impediments, like all faiths, even people that are agnostics and atheists, to at least begin to know themselves. They’ll take care of the rest; we’ll all begin to know God equally, and that’s gonna be the beginning of a new era. We are leaving the old era. We are leaving the old days, the end of days.” This profound statement highlights a mission far grander than mere entertainment, positioning Heaven After Dark as a catalyst for personal and collective spiritual evolution.
Etty echoes this sentiment with a pragmatic yet equally profound perspective: “And my answer would be, ‘why not, right?’ I understand that it would be easier if we were just to do a musical showcase. But, in this world with COVID and war, if there is any chance to subconsciously instill or inspire people to love and be kind and be helpful and come together as a race, if we can subconsciously sneak that in through entertainment, why not?” This reflects a powerful belief in the subtle, yet potent, influence of art to shape human behavior and foster a more compassionate world.
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Challenging the Audience: Transformation, Inspiration, and Happiness
How do Perry and Etty envision Heaven After Dark challenging and ultimately changing its audience? Etty’s hope is that attendees will leave each performance “being lifted onto a higher place of consciousness and togetherness.” The objective is not merely fleeting enjoyment but a lasting imprint.
“Yes, it is about music and entertainment, and we have somewhat of a variety show, and it is entertaining,” she clarifies. “But, I feel that we always use this phrase as ‘we spread love.’ Either with music, art, or deeds, I would like the audience to feel inspired and leave the show wanting to do better and be the best version of themselves.” This aspiration speaks to a profound belief in the power of art to inspire personal betterment and collective harmony.
Perry adds a layer of philosophical depth, encouraging attendees to embrace change: “Not being afraid of being transformed. Because what the truth is, we are transforming anyway. It just is what direction you are transforming or at what time. You put it into context: some of us are transforming into death, and some of us are transforming into youth and life.” Etty elaborates on the ultimate, more immediate goal: for people to “leave feeling that they’ve been entertained and happy. And if we can create a space of a few hours where they can leave all their worries and sadness behind, that’s what we’re here to do.” In a world often burdened by anxiety, providing such a sanctuary is an invaluable offering.
Championing Emerging Talent: A Legacy of Elevation
Heaven After Dark also continues a vital aspect of Perry Farrell’s long-standing mission: to elevate the notoriety and presence of burgeoning artists. Lollapalooza, while showcasing commanding headliners and established stars, always featured side stages where emerging acts earned their “next big thing” reputations, and underappreciated veterans received much-deserved recognition. Perry tells HollywoodLife that this commitment to new artists in Heaven After Dark stems from his genuine appreciation for creative expression: he’s “always enjoyed other people’s work as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it and presenting it myself.”
Nearly four decades into his distinctive career, the timeless Perry Farrell remains intensely engaged with the evolving art scene. “I’m also super interested in [art] still,” he adds. “I just love staying in touch with emerging artists, musicians, and dancers. As an example, my son is becoming a musician now. He started playing instruments during COVID. Now it’s gone to the point where anything he plays, you kinda want him to record. The point is that I get inspiration, and I’m inspired. I’m not afraid to learn from young people at all. In fact, I learn from young people a lot.” This dedication to perpetual learning and discovery is a testament to his enduring artistic vitality.
Etty further emphasizes the importance of this mentorship: “It is a great thing to have a platform like Lollapalooza, knowing you have spent so many years struggling to get your placement in the world; it’s nice that you turn around and open that up to newer artists because the world, and music is constantly evolving. It’s important to not just study the classics, but to see what this new crop of musicians is doing.” Their shared commitment ensures Heaven After Dark will be a dynamic stage for both established and revolutionary talent.
The Power of Partnership: Love as the Driving Force
The conversation inevitably turns to the partnership that has brought so much joy and creative synergy to the rock icon’s life. Much like the celestial heart at the center of the universe, whose beats form a galactic symphony echoing through time to shape all existence, love fuels Heaven After Dark. It is the newest venture from Perry and Etty Lau Farrell, arriving at a profoundly significant moment. This year marks 25 years since their paths first crossed and 20 years since their marriage, making this new “nightlight transcendence” ripe with personal meaning and a celebration of their enduring bond.
Love, by its very nature, is transformative, especially when it influences the creative mind. How, then, has this enduring union changed Perry’s artistic vision? Much like how he hopes people will embrace a higher power with Heaven After Dark, he admits to surrendering himself to a greater force: love itself.
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An Evolving Artistic Vision: Etty’s Influence on Perry
“She has a lot more to say about everything. Like at rehearsal, she stops when she starts telling people where to sing and everything; before I was just telling everybody where to go,” Perry explains, highlighting Etty’s increasingly prominent role. “But I liked it because it really shows me that her passion, her dedication, is rising. It really needs to be. When you’re in the midst of it, everybody will understand this. They won’t feel when you just know this is your job, and you want to be great at your job.”
He continues, elaborating on Etty’s remarkable adaptability and talent: “You want to be monumental in your field. It would be like taking somebody from basketball and trying to make them a baseball player. Or me trying to become a dancer, like you did it, you made the transfer. She has got that, and I knew that you would always do it. Yeah, the second I saw you, that’s why I said, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl,’ because I knew that you would drive when I wasn’t.” This candid admission showcases not only his admiration for Etty’s creative force but also the profound trust and synergy within their partnership.
Conversely, what would Etty Lau identify as Perry’s most significant transformation? “You’re gonna answer this?” Perry playfully challenges his wife. “Are you gonna say what his biggest transformation was? Go.”
“No, you say it,” she responds, willing to play his game. “Let’s see if I agree.”
“Okay, my biggest transformation is I got a grip, and I got to film myself, I did,” he admits. “So there you go. Right?”
“Yes,” she responds.
“I know myself really well now,” he says, with a dash of pride in his voice.
“That grip took a very long time to get you to grip,” she observes, knowingly.
“I know,” he admits.
“And getting to know yourself, that’s because I tell you what is wrong with you,” she says with a triumphant laugh, highlighting the unique honesty and depth of their relationship.
“Right, right. But I listened,” he concedes, underscoring the reciprocal nature of their growth and self-discovery.
The Enduring Theme of Kindness and Understanding
Etty and Perry’s exchange glows with the authentic love and kindness of two souls who have found profound happiness and growth with each other—an extraordinary thing indeed. This deep, abiding love is precisely what they hope to instill in the hearts of all who experience Heaven After Dark. Their vision is for attendees to emerge into the world feeling a little more open, a little more peaceful, and significantly more kind.
Kindness might seem like a rare commodity in these challenging times, but once discovered, it reveals itself as a self-sustaining resource. Kindness has been a recurring theme in Perry’s recent artistic endeavors, woven into his music, album titles, and the very name of his group with Etty. But how does one cultivate kindness in a world marked by years of division and disdain? “Compassion and understanding,” Etty asserts. “I feel like with compassion and understanding, you want to be a service to others, but not in the gray area of ‘service to others and recovering’ way. But I feel like it would be generous to want to help, because you understand the other people.”
Perry wholeheartedly agrees with this foundational philosophy. “You definitely have to start with understanding,” he says, “and then you get knowledge. So yes, you understand, then you get knowledge. That’s a good way to start. And nobody should feel bad. Definitely, it’s realistic to feel trapped. I know there are so many people that are trapped in life.”
He concludes with a powerful message of empowerment and self-liberation: “When I mean that, I mean they’re trapped around people around them that they may be evolving past or, as I said, they’re transforming their ideas and their ideologies are transforming, and they don’t know what to do. And some people, to me, I would feel extremely trapped if I couldn’t express myself freely. So I would say, find out where the Greyhound bus stations are in your neighborhood.” This evocative imagery encourages individuals to seek pathways to freedom and self-expression, echoing the core tenets of transformation and personal growth that Heaven After Dark seeks to inspire.
Conclusion: A New Dawn for Nightlife and Consciousness
In a world craving genuine connection and meaningful experiences, Heaven After Dark stands as a bold proposition from two of music’s most enduring and innovative figures. Perry Farrell and Etty Lau Farrell are not just launching a concert series; they are inviting audiences to partake in a collective journey of art, love, consciousness, and transformation. This wisdom of expression, compassion, understanding, and escape awaits those who dare to seek it. And an excellent place to start that profound search is within the immersive, liberating embrace of Heaven After Dark.