Mile 9: Compton
June 14, 2025 | 3pm-7pm PDT
$20 suggested donation — or pay what you wish!
"Kiki’ing with the River" rolls on in Compton! Join artists Tolliver and Bett Williams for an unforgettable evening of queer joy, music, and mischief at the LA River. Tolliver brings the funky beats, while Williams performs from a new work: Project Mermaid Attack; Leviathan Moves Upriver in Endtimes.
About the artists
Tolliver is a Chicago-born funk singer, journalist, and DJ drawn to the humor in every story, the dance floor, and the best BBQ spot in every city. He's written for Reuters, produced video for LA Times, TOMS shoes, and OutTV, and has appeared on the Late Late Show. He’s also the musical director and DJ on NPR's The Middle. He’s the founder and executive producer of Exotic Fruits Fest, an annual music and film event that benefits local nonprofits.
Bett Williams is a literary writer and psychedelic explorer, the author of The Wild Kindness; A Psilocybin Odyssey (Dottir Press, 2020), a memoir about growing mushrooms in the high desert of New Mexico. Her other works include The Wrestling Party and Girl Walking Backwards (St. Martin’s Press), which was named one of the Ten Best Young Adult Queer Novels by Vogue Magazine. She has written for DoubleBlind, OUT Magazine, Flaunt, and more.
About River Sessions
River Sessions is an ongoing series of creative site visits that bring artists and cultural practitioners to the LA River to create public activations engaging themes of environmental justice, resilience, and community storytelling. By centering historically marginalized perspectives, River Sessions foster critical dialogue and deepen cultural connections to the River.
Join us to experience art, culture, and place along the 51 miles of the LA River. In the spirit of Hyonaayn’ar--a Tongva word that means both teacher and student--we will learn about the River’s ephemeral histories and imagine it’s ecological futures, all while exploring diverse and dynamic cultural responses to the watershed.
Watch this 10min documentary featuring our three Indigenous Advisors whose artist residency on the River culminated with: A Day of Joyful Intervention: Returning the River