KCRW Music Announcement

Line-up Announced for KCRW Showcases at 2017 SXSW

Wednesday, March 15

Temples, Real Estate, and The Japanese House

Radio Day Stage

Ballroom D, 4th floor, Austin Convention Center

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

SOHN, Cherry Glazerr, Middle Kids, Mondo Cozmo, Aquilo, and Gabriel Garzón-Montano

Elysium

705 Red River Street

8:00 pm -2:00 am

Los Angeles-based public radio station KCRW has announced the line-up for this year’s KCRW Showcases at SXSW, kicking off the convention with two official showcases on Wednesday, March 15.  

KCRW’s nighttime showcase features SOHN, Cherry Glazerr, Middle Kids, Mondo Cozmo, Aquilo, and Gabriel Garzón-Montano from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am, at Elysium located at 705 Red River Street. Earlier in the day, Temples, Real Estate and The Japanese House hit the Radio Day Stage located on the 4th Floor of the Austin Convention Center in Ballroom D, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Both showcases are open to anyone with a festival badge or wristband (no RSVP required).

KCRW is also a presenting partner of FLOODfest Austin.

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KCRW kicks off SXSW with the Radio Day Stage featuring a handful of station favorites including the layered melodies of The Japanese House, lo-fi indie rockers Real Estate, and UK rising stars Temples.

Twenty-one year old artist Amber Bain, who performs under the moniker The Japanese House, was taught to play guitar as a child by her father – on a right-handed guitar, despite being left-handed. From here, she became entrenched in the timeless art of acts like The Beatles, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, and perhaps most importantly, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The work of these artists gives some insight into the layered melodic process of Amber’s work, which is replete with the lilts of other enduring artists that can stand the test of time – from the aforementioned and onward.

On In Mind, Real Estate’s fourth full-length record, the band fine-tunes the winsome songwriting and profound earnestness that made previous albums so beloved. Recorded with Cole M.G.N. (Julia Holter, Beck), the album delivers the same warmth and soft-focus narratives that one has come to expect from the band—pastoral guitars, elegantly deployed arrangements, a sort of mindful melancholy— but there is a newly adventurous sonic edge to the proceedings. Reflecting a change in lineup, geography, and a desire to move forward without looking back, the record casts the band in a new light —one that replaces the wistful ennui of teenage suburbia with an equally complicated adult version.

Melodies seem to come effortlessly for Temples, the English four-piece comprised of James Bagshaw (vocals, guitar), Tom Warmsley (bass, backing vocals), Sam Toms (drums) and Adam Smith (keys). Their debut album, Sun Structures, was a Top 10 UK debut, named Rough Trade’s “Album of the Year” for 2014 and they’ve performed on The Tonight Show and Ellen, and in festivals including Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, and, Lollapalooza. All the elements people loved with that record remain intact on Volcano, but this time around, there’s a noticeable evolution presented from the outset. There are sun-dazed numbers and lysergic dream-pop songs and those where synth and mellotron interweave to beguiling effect. Entirely self-produced and written by all four members of the band, Volcano is the sound of Temples squaring up to their potential.

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For the nighttime showcase at Elysium, KCRW presents an array of artists we think you should know, from the expert pop songcraft of LA standout Mondo Cozmo and Aussie trio Middle Kids, to punk outfit Cherry Glazerr and the soulful sound of Stones Throw artist Gabriel Garzón-Montano, alongside UK notables Sohn and Aquilo. With anticipated releases out now or on the way, we expect these artists to be some of the biggest names of 2017!

A child of immigrant parents, Brooklyn-based Gabriel Garzón-Montano’s aesthetic is an extension of his French-Colombian heritage, a pastiche of Bach sonatas, cumbia records, and the machine gun funk that echoes to this day from behind half-rolled tints up and down Nostrand Ave. On his debut LP, Jardín, he sings of the struggles and uncertainties of the many-layered game that is America today, from the specific doubt and double consciousness of the first-generation hustle, to the universal challenges of love, legacy, and exploring the maze of one’s own mind.

Aquilo, the duo of Ben Fletcher and Tom Higham – who introduced themselves back in 2014 with their inimitable and beautiful cinematic sound – have spent the last two years going from strength to strength. A handful of widely acclaimed EP’s have seen them rack up over 75 million streams on Spotify and tracks included in ads, film trailers and major TV shows including Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars and more. Having produced the majority of their own material along the way, for their first full-length album Silhouettes, Aquilo were honored to work alongside the brilliant SOHN as well as spend some time in the inspiring landscape of Iceland with renowned producer Ólafur Arnalds. Rolling Stone described Aquilo’s sound as “Justin Timberlake trying to out-falsetto Jeff Buckley’s in an ambient synth rainstorm: Pop has rarely been this emotionally unashamed since the days Spandau Ballet.”


A disciple of Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, and The Verve, thus the Philadelphia-born, Los Angeles-based Mohawk-ed and tattooed troubadour Mondo Cozmo was born. Think Dylan fronting Oasis with Beck making the beats. Mondo Cozmo has the attitude of the Manchester bands of the 90s…working class, honest, inspirational, cautiously hopeful, and socially observational. Mondo Cozmo hasn’t wasted any time positioning himself as one of 2017’s most promising new artists. His new single “Shine” has been resonating across the globe as a message of hope in today’s troubled times. A soon to be festival headliner who will have the crowd singing along to every word while the sun is setting and challenging everything you know about music in the process. Recently, he finished a run of sold out shows across Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and announced upcoming festival dates including: Bonnaroo, Governors Ball, Boston Calling, Sasquatch, Firefly, Hangout Festival, and more.

Australia’s Middle Kids, led by vocalist / guitarist Hannah Joy, and producer / multi-instrumentalist Tim Fitz, with Harry Day on drums, first came to public attention with the release of their debut single ‘Edge Of Town’ in May 2016. Sir Elton John declared himself a fan of the song, added it to his Apple Music playlist and aired it on his Beats 1 radio show. Major Australian radio station Triple J placed the song on high rotation, and before long was being played on radio stations across the world, earning the band a slot at Iceland Airwaves, a booking on Conan, and deals with EMI (Australia) and Domino (North America). To date, ‘Edge Of Town’ has accumulated more almost 3.5 million streams on Spotify. Not bad for a band that, when they recorded the single, hadn’t played a single show. Their debut EP Edge of Town is out now.

Society would deem that a prodigious girl can’t be in a progressive rock band while also being in complete control of its creative vision, business plan and social messaging. Society is wrong. Clem, a 19 year old teen Queen with a headstrong resolve like her hero Patti Smith and a cartoon laugh like Muttley the dog, dreamed up Cherry Glazerr in her LA bedroom alone and is perhaps more capable of figuring a music career out than anyone who attempts this treacherous life path. The newly lined-up trio’s second album, Apocalipstick is every bit as epic, funny, life-assuring, doom-defiant and flaming fire as that title sounds. What’s more, it’s the soundtrack to their collective rockstar evolution.

In the wake of SOHN’s acclaimed 2014 debut, Tremors – which launched him from behind-the-scenes producer to international star, and was heralded as “spellbinding” by The Sunday Times, – critics and fans alike were eagerly anticipating his new album Rennen. Having toured relentlessly, circling the globe three times in two years with a live show that blended electronics and instruments into a hypnotic mix, SOHN made a conscious decision to cast off any self-doubt holding him back and push the boundaries of what was possible for the new album. Nothing was off limits, and the newfound freedom resulted in his most adventurous, engrossing music yet. With his newly empowered attitude, SOHN crafted a gutsy, gritty collection for the ages.

KCRW OFFICIAL SHOWCASES AT SXSW:

Radio Day Stage presented by KCRW

Wednesday, March 15

Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D

Set times:

The Japanese House – 3:00 pm

Real Estate – 4:00 pm

Temples – 5:00 pm

Nighttime showcase presented by KCRW

Wednesday, March 15

Elysium – 705 Red River Street

Set times:

Gabriel Garzón-Montano – 8:00 pm

Aquilo – 9:00 pm

Mondo Cozmo – 10:00 pm

Middle Kids – 11:00 pm

Cherry Glazerr – 12:00 am

SOHN – 1:00 am

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw

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KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Presents “Straight from the Heart – A Romantic Adventure with Reggie Watts” Valentine’s Day Special

Tuesday February 14, at 10:00 AM on Morning Becomes Eclectic

On Demand Anytime You’re in the Mood at KCRW.com

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, KCRW presents Straight from the Heart – a Romantic Adventure with Reggie Watts. A creative mastermind and improviser extraordinaire, Watts visited the KCRW studio bringing with him a special set of songs relating to love. With picks from Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Crowded House and The Internet, among others, Watts sets the mood and offers keen words of advice, from how to keep a relationship’s love fire burning, to the benefits of being alone.

Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned vocal artist/ beatboxer/ musician/ comedian who wows audiences with his live performances which are 100% improvised. Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Reggie blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy. No two performances are the same and to that end, “genius” is the word most often used to describe Reggie Watts. LA Weekly crowned him “the most wildly inventive new talent of the past five years,” and the Los Angeles Times praised Reggie is “a superstar.”

Tune in live to KCRW in the 10:00 AM hour, or stream Straight from the Heart – a Romantic Adventure with Reggie Watts anytime for your loved one at kcrw.com.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw

 

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Events, KCRW Music Announcement

Line-up Announced for 2017 KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association has announced today the initial line-up for the 19th season of KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. The successful collaboration between KCRW and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association continues, starting Sunday, June 18.

KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl:

Sunday, June 18, at 7 PM

REGGAE NIGHT XVI

ZIGGY MARLEY with ORCHESTRA

THE SPECIALS

U-ROY

HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA

THOMAS WILKINS, conductor

Eight-time Grammy®-winner Ziggy Marley makes his orchestral debut playing an unforgettable set of his and his father Bob Marley’s music. Forty years after forming in the U.K., legendary ska band The Specials are still delivering the inspired musical anarchy between punk and reggae in rousing, high-energy shows.

Sunday, June 25, at 7 PM

SEU JORGE – THE LIFE AQUATIC: A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE

HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA

THOMAS WILKINS, conductor

Brazilian troubadour Seu Jorge celebrates Bowie’s catalog (with an orchestra for the first time) through the lens of his role in Wes Anderson’s whimsical film The Life Aquatic; his classic Brazilian samba sets the stage.

Sunday, July 9, at 7 PM

BLONDIE · GARBAGE

SKY FERREIRA

In the ultimate co-bill, two highly influential forces of nature – Blondie and Garbage – rock the state with their timeless sounds of punk, disco, rock and pop. L.A.’s own Sky Ferreira opens the show with her rebellious synth pop, rock and new wave sound.

Sunday, August 6, at 7 PM

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN

SPOON

Additional artist to be announced

Beloved Scottish band Belle and Sebastian deliver delicate melodies over ‘60s-inspired folk-pop. Austin’s Spoon return in support of Hot Thoughts, their bravest, most sonically inventive album to date.

Sunday, August 27, at 7 PM

PINK MARTINI featuring CHINA FORBES and STORM LARGE

CHARO

The internationally beloved Portland band blends genres from cool standards to hot swing with style to burn. The ravishing vocals of China Forbes and Storm Large sail over an irresistible fusion of Brazilian samba, ’30s Cuban dance, and Parisian café music. Multi-talented Spanish entertainer Charo opens the show!

Sunday, September 24, at 7 PM

COSMIC JOURNEY

SOLANGE

Plus BLOOD ORANGE and special guests KING ·

KELELA · MOSES SUMNEY · KELSEY LU and more

Powerful and inspiring, and with a No. 1 record closing out last year, Grammy® winner Solange guides and curates a divine musical journey with soulful special guests to create a historic night at the Hollywood Bowl. The evening will feature Dev Hynes’ Blood Orange, finding power in danger and exploring provocative themes. Celebrate the diversity of experimentation within R&B, folk and jazz with this musical collective of friends and genre-defying artists.

Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl 2017 summer season will be available online at HollywoodBowl.com or via phone at 323.850.2000 on the following dates:

  • New subscriptions are on sale today.
  • Group sales available February 21, 2107.
  • “Five or More” packages will be available on Tuesday, March 14, 2017.
  • The Hollywood Bowl box office opens for single ticket sales on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw

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KCRW Music Announcement

Roger Bennett Tackles His Favorite Songs on KCRW’s Guest DJ Project

Full episode online now at:

http://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/guest-dj-project/roger-bennett

Santa Monica, CA (February 1, 2017) – The latest installment of KCRW’s Guest DJ Project, hosted by Eric J. Lawrence, features Roger “Rog” Bennett co-host of the wildly popular Men in Blazers podcast and weekly show on the NBC Sports Network. While soccer – particularly the English Premier League – is his one true love, music also holds a special place in his heart and the Liverpool native shares favorites from his youth.

For Bennett’s Guest DJ set, he highlights songs that exemplify his fascination with America. “I grew up in Liverpool, England in the 1980s. It was a dark time in a changing England. And in Liverpool there were only two things that mattered: one was football, the other was music. And I loved both. So for this show I tried to choose five tracks from that formative period that ultimately lured me to the United States like a siren tempting ancient mariners onto the rocks.”

Roger Bennett Guest DJ Project Tracklist:

1. Simon and Garfunkel — I Am a Rock

2. Blondie — Hanging on the Telephone

3. Stevie Wonder —  Living For the City

4. Tracy Chapman  — Fast Car

5. Lena Horne – Now!

To listen to the full episode, click here.

KCRW’s Guest DJ Project is an online-only production that features an array of cultural luminaries sharing and discussing songs that have inspired and moved them. Past guests on KCRW’s Guest DJ Project include Emeril Lagasse, Joe Mantegna, Andy Cohen, D’Angelo Russell, Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader, John Krasinski, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, W Kamau Bell, Dr. Neil deGrass Tyson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many more. All previous episodes can be found here.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw

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