KCRW Presents the 10th Anniversary of Summer Nights

KCRW Presents the 10th Anniversary of Summer Nights

Free, All-Ages, Outdoor Performances Featuring
KCRW-Curated Bands, and the Station’s Stellar DJs

Summer Nights Begin at One Colorado Old Pasadena with
Harriet Brown + KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad (June 1)
Girlpool + KCRW DJ Chris Douridas (June 15)

KCRW Continues Partnerships with Hammer Museum, Chinatown, California African American Museum, Santa Monica Pier, and Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara

KCRW’s Summer Nights unveil brand-new partnerships with POW! WOW! Long Beach, and Downtown Long Beach Buskerfest

Santa Monica, CA (May 23, 2019) – KCRW presents the 10th anniversary of its signature event series, Summer Nights, featuring free, all-ages, outdoor performances throughout the summer to communities in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond, featuring KCRW-curated bands, and the tastemaker station’s stellar DJs.

KCRW’s 2019 Summer Nights officially launch on June 1 with a live performance from Harriet Brown and a DJ set from KCRW’s Garth Trinidad. The concert takes place in the courtyard amidst the historic buildings of One Colorado Old Pasadena.

Returning for the 2019 season is KCRW HQ Summer Nights taking place at the station’s brand-new home on Santa Monica College’s state-of-the-art CMD Campus. Three nights of exceptional music, dancing, as well as delicious drink and food will take place on three Saturdays – August 3, August 10, and August 17. Talent to be announced.

KCRW’s longstanding partnerships with iconic museums and destinations across SoCal continue with the Hammer Museum, Chinatown, the California African American Museum, the Santa Monica Pier, and Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara.

KCRW’s Summer Nights expand its SoCal reach, unveiling brand-new partnerships with POW! WOW! Long Beach, and the ever-popular Downtown Long Beach Buskerfest.

For more information, please visit: kcrw.com/summernights

One Colorado Old Pasadena

KCRW’s Summer Nights kick-off on Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m., at One Colorado Old Pasadena featuring a live performance from Harriet Brown – artist, producer, composer and performer, creating his own genre of homegrown R&B. A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Harriet Brown’s productions are a slew of meticulous drum programming and heavy, synthesized bass intertwined with deeply intentional lyrics. He music is genre-bending, contemplative, and soulful – contemporary funk for the nostalgics. KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad opens and closes the evening.

On Saturday, June 15, One Colorado continues with Girlpool, the captivating music from Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. Both online and in the flesh, Tividad and Tucker practice radical openness to the point where it may even engender discomfort, and then show you how to figure out why you might feel it. This is achieved through their ability to empathize as best friends and partners in creation, with the intention of making music that provokes. KCRW DJ Chris Douridas opens and closes the evening.

One Colorado Old Pasadena is a collection of 17 historic buildings housing a curated mix of nationally acclaimed retailers and designers, unique local merchants, inventive restaurants, and a boutique cinema. It’s the retail centerpiece and favorite casual gathering place for the Pasadena community, with public events hosted year-round in its central courtyard.

Saturday, June 1, 7:30 p.m.
Harriet Brown + KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad

Saturday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.
Girlpool + KCRW DJ Chris Douridas

Chinatown

Part block party, part food event, Chinatown Summer Nights present an exciting hot spot for Angelenos. Dance in Central Plaza with KCRW DJs; sip on craft brews with live music in Mandarin Plaza; view giant outdoor video projections; shop local small businesses, and a craft and vintage market; taste the many culinary offerings of Chinatown restaurants, gourmet food trucks, and the Culinary Corner street food experience; and take part in hands-on, Chinese cultural craft workshops!

Saturday, June 8, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Novena Carmel

Saturday, July 13, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Garth Trinidad

Saturday, August 10, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Raul Campos + Mathieu Schreyer

California African American Museum

KCRW returns to the California African American Museum (CAAM) for a very special show featuring live sets from KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd and Garth Trinidad, on Friday, June 28, at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy a warm night and cool vibes with CAAM and KCRW, after-hours museum access including to CAAM’s smash summer exhibition, Ernie Barnes: A Retrospective, food trucks, a beer garden, and more.

The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park explores the art, history, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the West. In addition to presenting a dynamic slate of exhibitions and public programs, CAAM houses a permanent collection of more than four thousand works of art, artifacts, and historical documents, and a publicly accessible research library containing more than twenty thousand volumes. Admission is free.

Friday, June 28, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Garth Trinidad + Aaron Byrd

POW! WOW! Long Beach

KCRW’s 2019 Summer Nights expand to Downtown Long Beach for the first time, teaming up with POW! WOW! Long Beach to celebrate the week-long, city-wide annual public art festival (July 21-28) with one special show on July 27, featuring live sets from KCRW DJs Mathieu Schreyer and Anthony Valadez. Beyond murals and installations, the festival hosts artist talks, documentary screenings, art exhibitions, and much more. Now in its fifth summer, POW! WOW! Long Beach will have executed nearly 100 murals throughout the City of Long Beach by the end of July, creating a FREE public art experience unlike anything else in the country. Join the mural bike tour with Pedal Movement on July 27 and end your ride with Summer Nights! Detailed schedule to be announced shortly.

Saturday, July 27, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez + Mathieu Schreyer

Downtown Long Beach Buskerfest

KCRW is excited to team up with the beloved Downtown Long Beach music event, Buskerfest. Inspired by “buskers” (street corner musicians), Buskerfest is built around bringing music and music lovers to the streets of Downtown’s East Village for an evening of song, great food, flowing beer & community. Boasting four low-production stages, the event begins with a friendly competition featuring eight “minimally plugged in” local & regional bands. The winner receives a grand prize to advance their career, as well as bragging rights. Who will headline this year? That is yet to be announced, but past performers include Rival Sons, Cold War Kids, Delta Spirit, Terry Reid, The Blasters, Mike Watt, and Chicano Batman, so you know it’s going to be good.

Saturday, September 7, 5:00 p.m.
KCRW’s Raul Campos, host

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara

Enjoy a summer night art party at Curated Cocktails: Summer Nights with KCRW, two unforgettable evenings of art and music inspired by the current exhibition Bloom Projects: Brian Rochefort at Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. After-hours museum access, signature cocktails, interactive art-making, and exclusive live sets by KCRW DJs Dan Wilcox and José Galván make for a memorable summer night party on the beautiful Paseo Nuevo Upper Arts Terrace. The events take place on on August 1, 2019 and September 5, 2019 as part of Downtown Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursdays.

Thursday, August 1, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox

Thursday, September 5, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJ José Galván

Hammer Museum

KCRW is proud to continue its long-standing collaboration with the Hammer Museum featuring a diverse array of musicians and DJs and a pre-concert happy hour in the museum’s idyllic courtyard. This year’s three-night series will take place on Thursdays; July 11, July 18, and July 25. Talent to be announced shortly.

KCRW HQ

After the smashing success of its inaugural year, Summer Nights return to KCRW’s HQ at Santa Monica College’s state-of-the-art CMD campus for three Saturday nights of exceptional music – August 3, 10 and 17 – featuring live bands and KCRW DJs! In the rotation will also be food trucks, tasty libations, fun summer photo ops, and some of LA’s best record vendors. Talent to be announced shortly.

Twilight on the Pier

KCRW is the official public media partner for Twilight on the Pier, now in its 35th year. Twilight on the Pier brings together a mix of classic-meets-contemporary artist sounds, and features art installations, culinary offerings, beer garden, games, multiple stages, stand-up comedy, and more. For 2019, Twilight on the Pier moves to Wednesdays; August 21 and August 28, and September 4, 11, 18, and 25. Talent to be announced shortly.

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING
KCRW’s 2019 SUMMER NIGHTS
10TH ANNIVERSARY
All concerts are free, outdoor and all-ages

Saturday, June 1, 7:30 p.m.
One Colorado
Harriet Brown + KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad

Saturday, June 8, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Novena Carmel

Saturday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.
One Colorado
Girlpool + KCRW DJ Chris Douridas

Friday, June 28, 7:00 p.m.
CAAM
KCRW DJs Garth Trinidad + Aaron Byrd

Thursday, July 11, 6:30 p.m. (happy hour), 7:30 p.m. (concert)
Hammer
Talent TBA

Saturday, July 13, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Garth Trinidad

Thursday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. (happy hour), 7:30 p.m. (concert)
Hammer
Talent TBA

Thursday, July 25, 6:30 p.m. (happy hour), 7:30 p.m. (concert)
Hammer
Talent TBA

Saturday, July 27, 7:00 p.m.
POW! WOW! Long Beach
KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez + Mathieu Schreyer

Thursday, August 1, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASB)
KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox

Saturday, August 3, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW HQ
Talent TBA

Saturday, August 10, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW HQ
Talent TBA

Saturday, August 10, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Raul Campos + Mathieu Schreyer

Saturday, August 17, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW HQ
Talent TBA

Wednesday, August 21
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

Wednesday, August 28
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

Wednesday, September 4
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

Thursday, September 5, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASB)
KCRW DJ José Galván

Saturday, September 7, 5:00 p.m.
Downtown Long Beach Buskerfest
KCRW’s Raul Campos, host

Wednesday, September 11
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

Wednesday, September 18
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

Wednesday, September 25
Santa Monica Pier
Talent TBA

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, San Luis Obispo, and Berlin, Germany, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, or online at kcrw.com.

KCRW Music Announcement

James Blake Performs “I’ll Come Too” at the First-Ever Live Session from KCRW’s Brand-New Annenberg Performance Studio

Santa Monica, CA (May 21, 2019) – Today, in celebration of the first-ever live session at KCRW’s brand-new Annenberg Performance Studio, James Blake performed a seven-song live set, and spoke with KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, on the station’s tastemaker music program, Morning Becomes Eclectic. Joined by bandmates Rob McAndrews and Ben Assiter, Blake’s live performance featured songs from his latest album, Assume Form, including the title track, “Barefoot In The Park,” “I’ll Come Too,” and “Don’t Miss It.” Blake also treated listeners and a live in-studio audience to his hit song “Retrograde,” as well as an encore of a stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.”

Blake’s gorgeous live version of “I’ll Come Too” can be seen and heard here:

The critically acclaimed Assume Form features collaborations with Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, André 3000, Moses Sumney, and Rosalía. Blake, a founding member of the 1-800 Dinosaur label collective, was first introduced to the world with his self-titled debut in 2010. In 2013, he released his follow up, Overgrown, which earned him a Best New Artist Grammy nomination. His 2016 album The Colour in Anything was a bracing continuation of his work that bent the borders between electronic music, R&B, and U.K. soul. Throughout his career, Blake has established himself as both a highly respected solo artist and one of the music industry’s most influential collaborators, working alongside everyone from Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Oneohtrix Point Never, Mount Kimbie among others.

Los Angeles’ premier public radio station, KCRW, recently moved into its new headquarters, the KCRW Media Center on Santa Monica College’s CMD Campus. The 34,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility acts as both a media hub and a cultural one, servicing the greater Los Angeles community, and beyond.

Morning Becomes Eclectic, hosted by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, is the station’s signature daily music program (9:00 a.m. – Noon) featuring new releases from emerging and established artists, underappreciated gems, live performances and interviews.

KCRW Press Room

Monthly Archives: May 2019

KCRW Presents the 10th Anniversary of Summer Nights

James Blake Performs “I’ll Come Too” at the First-Ever Live Session from KCRW’s Brand-New Annenberg Performance Studio