Red Carpet Premiere - 10/13/11, 7:00p-10:00p, at L.A. LIVE (Downtown)

The Canyons is a collaboration of artists brought together by a love of music and a fait of sorts. The group started in the imagination of producer Randy Jackson. It was to be a project in which solo artists could come together as a movement. Following in the footsteps of legendary bands like Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, the goal would be real songs, honest music, and a new sound for a generation in need of change.

Alisan Porter has been performing since the age of three. She was the youngest person to ever appear and win on “Star Search”, and has credits including the title role in “Curly Sue”, on Broadway in “Footloose”, and played ‘Bebe’ in the Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line”. Alisan released a self-titled solo record on her own in 2009 and is known for her distinct vocal style and honest songwriting. When she met fellow band mate Ilsey Juber at a dinner party the two began writing songs together almost instantly.

LA native Ilsey Juber (daughter of Laurence Juber, lead guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings) was practically born playing the guitar, singing and writing songs. Her musical journey began as a drummer at the age of 12, but by 15 she was selling jingles and performing around the LA area as a singer/songwriter. With her unique voice and guitar playing Ilsey quickly started to make a name for herself.

Alisan and Ilsey were always hoping to find another talented musician to write and sing with and on a writing trip to Nashville the two met Jordan Lawhead, who would soon become their third partner. Jordan, an Arizona Native, has worked as a solo artist and published songwriter with Sony/ATV for the past four years. His music has been heard on MTV and on such shows as “Men in Trees”, “Kyle XY”and on the Lifetime Network.

Together they have merged all of their strengths as solo artist to create an undeniable sound and spirit. Their common thread is music, songwriting and the desire to share a message of truth with the world.

Dana Cowin, Food & Wine’s editor in chief since 1995, has been covering the world of food, wine, style and design for more than 25 years. Dana oversees the Food & Wine brand, including a monthly magazine with a circulation of 925,000; digital products, including the website foodandwine.com; mobile applications; and editions for iPad, Nook Color and Kindle Fire. She additionally heads up a books division that publishes Best of the Best Cookbook Recipes, the Food & Wine Wine Guide, Food & Wine Cocktails, and several other titles. She also serves as editorial advisor to Food & Wine China, the publication's first international edition.

Under Dana’s leadership, the award-winning magazine has attracted an audience of more than 10 million readers with a passionate, adventurous approach to cooking, wine, entertaining, restaurants and travel. Dana is a 2012 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America inductee, one of the highest honors for food and beverage professionals working in North America. In 2011, she was inducted into the MIN (Media Industry Newsletter) Editorial and Design Hall of Fame, and the magazine won the James Beard Foundation award in the Wine and Spirits category for Jon Fine’s “Natural Wine: Weird or Wonderful?” (June 2010 issue).

Before joining Food & Wine, Dana was managing editor of Mademoiselle, managing editor of House & Garden, and an associate editor of Vogue.

Dana is on the board of directors of City Harvest, a New York City hunger-relief organization, for which she spearheads the annual "Skip Lunch Fight Hunger" campaign, and is on the board of directors of Wholesome Wave Foundation. She is a member of Brown University's President's Leadership Council.

Dana appears frequently on national television and shares her eating and drinking adventures on twitter.com/fwscout (@fwscout) and on Facebook.

Lunch at WP 24 With Guest Iron Chef ... Friday 10/14 11:30-2:30pm $125.00

Grilled Cheese & Great Wines With ... Friday 10/14 4:30-5:45pm $50.00

Daniel Boulud - Tribute To A ... Friday 10/14 6:30-10:30pm $500.00

Tyler Florence - Stirring The Pot Saturday 10/15 10:00-11:15am $50.00

Blake Gilbert:  Blake Gilbert is a food and wine enthusiast whose passion began by cooking traditional southern meals in his Grandmother's kitchen when he was just five years old. Since then he has spent the last 14 years pursuing his passion in various capacities at renowned places such as TRU in Chicago and Fleur de Lys, Las Vegas. Blake was then recruited to open Guy Savoy, Las Vegas where he received critical acclaim for putting together a Wine Spectator Grand Award winning wine list. Now, as the West Region Director for Krug Champagne, you can still find him at home in his family's kitchen, only now he is cooking for his own family...

Twenty-year music industry veteran and Grammy Award winning producer, Randy Jackson started out at the young age of 13 playing bass guitar and got his big break when he joined the band Journey.  As a prolific musician and producer, Randy also spent eight years, as the Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records followed by four years as Senior Vice President of A&R at MCA Records.  However, it was AMERICAN IDOL that propelled Jackson into public consciousness.  The show has proved to be a massive hit for FOX and has become a pop culture phenomenon around the world. 

Randy has expanded into TV production, setting up his Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment, which launched MTV’s hit series RANDY JACKSON PRESENTS:  AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW which The Los Angeles Times proclaimed “perhaps the greatest reality television show of all time” and TV Guide  said “That’s how you should do a dance show.” The series is currently in its 6^th season on MTV, and is enjoying record ratings.

As a result of his success as a television producer Randy has been included for the past three years in The Hollywood Reporter’s Annual “Reality Power List.”

While working on over one thousand gold and multi-platinum albums, which have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, Randy’s amazing talent, vast studio knowledge, performing, touring and record company expertise, have made him one of today’s highly coveted music industry experts.  He continues to manage the careers of rising talent such as the critically acclaimed singer Van Hunt and the band Paper Tongues. In 2008, Jackson started his own record label under DreamMerchant 21. As if guiding the careers of musicians was not enough, Randy is managing Chef Lorena Garcia who appears on “America’s Next Great Restaurant” as well as magician Joshua Jay.

Randy has recorded, toured, performed  and produced records for Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child, Joss Stone, Travis Tritt, Van Hunt and many, many more.

Jackson launched two radio countdown shows for the Westwood One radio Network “Randy Jackson’s Hit List,” which can be heard on over 100 stations nationwide.

Randy has also jumped in the literary world writing two books:  “What’s Up Dawg?  How to Become a Superstar In The Music Business” and “Body With Soul: Steady Your Sugar, Cut Your Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on Your Best Health.”

In addition, Jackson is involved with numerous charitable organizations including becoming a U.S Ambassador for Save the Children.  Other charities Jackson is involved with include:  The Gibson Foundation, The Lili Claire Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House and NARAS Music for Schools. Jackson has also assisted in worldwide relief efforts through the multi-million dollar fundraiser IDOL GIVES BACK. Randy traveled back to his home state of Louisiana, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Most recently Jackson was involved with the re-recording of “We are the World” to help benefit the relief efforts in Haiti.

Randy resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.

Performer, Dancer and Musical Inspiration

With the beauty of a model, moves of a dancer, an ear for music and a personality that captures hearts, Mia Guzman was built to be a performer.

Her career began in modeling for such publications as Stuff Magazine and TransWorld Snowboarding Magazine, and performing in a number of HOT music videos. Mia’s interest was piqued by DJing, and she learned the basic skills of mixing and blending, song selection and creating a DJ persona. Her debut was a simple hour-long set at a local club, and as a dancer, she knew which selections of top40, 80’s, rock, reggae, pop, R&B, hip-hop, dance, house and trance would make the crowds move. Her career moved quickly and her ambition, talent and personality landed her a part on MTV’s Wild’n Out w/ Nick Cannon.

Mia now performs in clubs all over the US, and throughout the world, including her Asian debut in India late 2008. She went on to major shows in the Philippines, where she performed with Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas. Mia and Apl, sharing parallel experiences and both hailing from the poor population in the Philippines, have been teaming up for the past year. Recent projects include MTV America’s Best Dance Crew DJ & Vitamin Water ad campaign.

HEAT - LA's Spiciest After Party Friday 10/14 10:00-2:00am $125.00