Events, KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW and the Annenberg Foundation Announce Sound in Focus

KCRW and the Annenberg Foundation Announce

SOUND IN FOCUS
FREE, Outdoor, All-ages Summer Concerts
At the Annenberg Space for Photography

SATURDAY, JULY 15
MIGUEL
Gabriel Garzón-Montano
DJ Stretch Armstrong
Hosted by KCRW’s Anthony Valadez

SATURDAY, JULY 22
PAUL OAKENFOLD
Mondo Cozmo
Lo Moon
DJ sets by KCRW’s Jason Bentley

SATURDAY, JULY 29
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA
Natalia Lafourcade
DJ sets by KCRW’s José Galván

Santa Monica, CA (June 13, 2017) — KCRW and the Annenberg Foundation are pleased to announce the lineup for the 2017 SOUND IN FOCUS series — three, free, all-ages concerts held at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City.

The series kicks-off on Saturday, July 15 with a headlining performance from Grammy-winning R&B artist Miguel, an opening set by Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Garzón-Montano, and DJ sets by Stretch Armstrong. The evening will be hosted by KCRW’s Anthony Valadez. The series continues on Saturday, July 22 with a headlining performance from the legendary Paul Oakenfold, opening sets by East L.A.-based troubadour Mondo Cozmo and L.A.’s Lo Moon, and DJ sets by KCRW’s Jason Bentley. The series concludes on Saturday, July 29 with the guitar-slinging duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album, seven-time Latin Grammy winner Natalia Lafourcade, and DJ sets by KCRW’s José Galván.

“We are proud to partner with the Annenberg Foundation to build an exciting summer music series. My creative direction for the series is to represent a broad spectrum of tastes, reflecting the interests of the LA community at large,” said KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley. “Each concert has a different story and musical identity, yet the series as a whole resonates as a unified and thoughtful program.”

“Now in its fifth year, our partnership with KCRW has given the Foundation an incredible opportunity to celebrate art and music with the community at the Annenberg Space for Photography,” said Wallis Annenberg, Chairman, President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation. “We’re thrilled to share this stunning lineup with Los Angeles and look forward to three unforgettable nights of inspired creative expression.”

Admission to the SOUND IN FOCUS series is free; however, RSVP is required for entry but does not guarantee admission which will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registered guests must collect wristbands upon arrival at check-in to gain access to the concerts. Advance registration is available at KCRW.com/soundinfocus and is required for every show.

There will also be refreshments available for purchase from a wide variety of cafés and food trucks, and beer gardens for those 21 and over.

_____________

The 2017 SOUND IN FOCUS series launches on Saturday, July 15 with Miguel who first hit the mainstream in 2010 with the infectious single “All I Want Is You,” from the debut album of the same name. The song, which blended a stark hip-hop beat with Miguel’s creamy vocals to form a sound that was absent from the radio, established Miguel as one of the most unique and soulful voices in modern R&B. The album also featured “‘Sure Thing,” which hit #1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Miguel then released the critically-acclaimed, four-time Grammy-nominated, sophomore album Kaleidoscope Dream. The album featured his third US #1 hit single “Adorn,” and garnered him his first Grammy win for “Best R&B Song.” “Adorn” resided at #1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for more than 23 weeks, becoming the longest running #1 single in the history of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Miguel’s critically acclaimed third studio album Wildheart claimed the #1 spot on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Wildheart garnered Miguel two more Grammy nominations and topped a number of 2015 year-end lists including the #1 spot on Time’s Top 10 Best Albums, The New York Times’ Best Albums of 2015, Entertainment Weekly’s 40 Best Albums of 2015, and SPIN Magazine’s Top 50 Best Albums of 2015. New music from Miguel’s highly anticipated fourth studio album is coming soon.

Gabriel Garzón-Montano, dubbed “one of the most promising artists of 2017” by NPR delivers the evening’s opening live set. The Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released his critically lauded debut album Jardín via Stones Throw Records. His track “6 8” was sampled by Drake on “Jungle” from If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late. Garzón-Montano has toured throughout the US, Europe, and Japan – including supporting Lenny Kravitz on his 2014 European tour.

NYC native Adrian Bartos p/k/a Stretch Armstrong is an internationally recognized DJ and cultural pioneer with an incomparable career. The 1990s hip-hop legend created and programmed the “Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show” on WKCR 89.9, which The Source magazine later named “The Greatest Hip-Hop Radio Show of All Time.” Stretch and Bobbito introduced the world to Jay Z, Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Eminem, and dozens of other seminal figures in hip-hop. Starting in the Summer of 2017 Stretch and Bobbito will bring their decades of experience as cultural influencers and tastemakers to the “Stretch & Bob”  NPR podcast series, shifting gears from their hip-hop radio format to instead engage cultural movers and shakers in art, music, politics, comedy, and sports.

KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez hosts the evening.

_____________

The SOUND IN FOCUS series continues on Saturday, July 22 with one of the true legends of electronic music Paul Oakenfold. 2017 marks the 30-year anniversary of Oakenfold’s famed trip to the white island of Ibiza. What followed that storied week was the birth of the dance and festival culture we know today and the emergence of one of the greatest DJs of our time.

Join Paul Oakenfold in his truest form, on two turntables and two CDJs, taking you on an extended journey through three GENERATIONS of dance music with an all new visual experience.

Drawing on influences ranging from The Verve, Primal Scream, Beck, Beastie Boys and Bob Dylan in a contemporary fusion of beats, guitars and attitude, the Philadelphia-born, Los Angeles-based Mohawk-ed and tattooed troubadour Mondo Cozmo has the attitude of the Manchester bands of the 90s…working class, honest, inspirational, cautiously hopeful, and socially observational. He hasn’t wasted any time positioning himself as one of 2017’s most promising new artists. Recently, he finished a run of sold out shows across the country and is performing at some of the biggest festivals including: Bonnaroo, Governors Ball, Boston Calling, Sasquatch, Firefly, Hangout Festival, and more.

Lo Moon are a three-piece band based in LA who’s debut song, a 7-minute sprawling anthem

called “Loveless,” is fast-becoming a radio favorite. The song has already had over two million streams since it was released. The band is currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album, and will be releasing a music video by Warren Fu (Daft Punk, Strokes, Killers) for “Loveless” shortly.

KCRW DJ Jason Bentley hosts the evening and spins sets prior to, and in-between the live performances.

_____________

The SOUND IN FOCUS series closes on Saturday, July 29 with a headlining set from international guitar virtuosos Rodrigo y Gabriela bringing to the stage their unique instrumental blend of metal, jazz and world music. Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have been playing together for more than fifteen years. First as young thrash metal fans in their native Mexico City, then as street musicians in Dublin, Ireland at the turn of the millennium, and finally as the globe-straddling, film-scoring, record-breaking artists they are today. Known for exhilarating live shows, Rodrigo y Gabriela have won the hearts of music lovers from the haciendas of Cuba to the Hollywood Bowl and festival fields of Europe, as they continue to weave their unique six-string magic. The extraordinary interplay between Sanchez’s fiery lead lines and Quintero’s phenomenal rhythmic battery is truly universal. Their most recent release 9 Dead Alive (2014), the duo’s first studio album in five years, features intimate songs and intuitive performances with spectacular results, bursting with melodic energy and rhythmic invention. The album captures the warmth and spontaneity of two great musicians riffing and jamming together, perfectly distilled and teeming with desire, elegance and gusto. The duo also recently released a 10-year anniversary deluxe edition of their debut album on ATO Records which features a 2-LP set including both a re-mastered version of the original album, and a 2006 performance, live from Olympia Theatre in Dublin. With career sales in excess of 1.5 million albums, blockbuster movie scores, and sold-out tours worldwide, Rodrigo y Gabriela have certainly made their mark. Their appeal is boundless, their scope limitless, and the music timeless.

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Natalia Lafourcade delivers the evening’s opening live set. Her music weaves sounds from her native Mexico with elements of jazz, rock, bossa nova and folk. At seventeen, she released her first, eponymous album of original songs to critical acclaim. Since then, her 15-year career discography includes the award-winning Casa (2005), Mujer Divina (2012), Homenaje a Agustín Lara (2013), and Hasta la Raíz (2015), which garnered a Grammy for “Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album” and four Latin Grammys. A charismatic performer, Lafourcade has toured extensively throughout the globe. For her latest project, she pays tribute to Latin American folk music in Musas, un homenaje al folclore latinoamericano en manos de Los Macorinos (2017), through organic recordings and videos that exemplify her mastery and maturity as a collaborative artist.

KCRW DJ José Galván hosts and spins sets prior to and in-between the live performances.

_______________

The 2017 SOUND IN FOCUS concert series takes place at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City. The Annenberg Space for Photography will stay open until 11:00 p.m. on these evenings so that the concertgoers may enjoy both the concerts and GENERATION WEALTH by Lauren Greenfield, the current exhibition. The exhibition examines the influence of affluence over the last 25 years, illustrating the globalization of materialism, celebrity culture and social status. This timely, thought-provoking collection explores how “keeping up with the Joneses” has become Keeping Up with the Kardashians, magnifying the aspirational gap between what we want and what we can afford. The exhibit is not about the rich, but the pervasive desire for more. Lauren Greenfield is an internationally acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker and photographer who is considered a preeminent chronicler of consumerism, youth culture and gender identity. Her third collaboration with the Annenberg Space for Photography and first solo show, this exhibit is a revelatory cultural exploration that presents 195 color-saturated prints, 42 riveting first-person interviews and the accompanying multimedia projections and short films.

KCRW and the Annenberg Foundation first united in 2012 for a string of hugely successful summer music events to accompany the Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibit. 2014’s Country in the City series not only spotlighted emerging and established artists in the genre, but was part of the Annenberg Foundation’s 25th anniversary festivities. Last year’s series, which highlighted the acclaimed REFUGEE exhibition, saw thousands of concertgoers enjoy headlining performances by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Baaba Maal, and Nas.

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, via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/user/kcrw

About the Annenberg Foundation:
The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with innovative projects that further its mission of advancing a better tomorrow through visionary leadership today. Among them are Annenberg Alchemy, Annenberg Learner, Annenberg Space for Photography, explore, GRoW @ Annenberg and the Metabolic Studio. The Foundation encourages the development of effective ways to communicate by sharing ideas and knowledge.

Standard
KCRW Music Announcement, Station Announcement

Phoenix Perform Live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic the day they release their new album, Ti Amo

Phoenix Perform Live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic the day they release their new album, Ti Amo

Session will be streamed on Facebook Live

Tomorrow, Friday, June 9, at 11:15 a.m. PDT

Grammy-winning band Phoenix are set to perform live on KCRW’s flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic tomorrow, June 9, the day they release their new album, Ti Amo (Loyaute/Glassnote Records). A longtime KCRW favorite, the band – comprised of Thomas Mars (vocals), Laurent Brancowitz (guitar), Christian Mazzalai (guitar), and Deck D’Arcy (bass) will perform a selection of tracks from Ti Amo as well as a few fan favorites.

The session will be streamed via Facebook Live at 11:15 a.m. PDT.

Ti Amo is Phoenix’s first album since 2013’s critically lauded Bankrupt!. Produced by the band and recorded at La Gaîté Lyrique (Paris) with the help of long time collaborator Pierrick Devin, Ti Amo is – in the band’s own words – “an album about simple pure emotions: love, desire, lust and innocence, it’s also a record about our European, Latin roots, a fantasized version of Italy: a lost paradise made of eternal Roman summers (hyper-light, hyper-clarity, pistachio gelato), juke-boxes on the beach, Monica Vitti and Marcello Mastroiani, fearless desire and Antique marble statues.” The New York Times deems Ti Amo, “the band’s most unabashedly romantic record yet.”

Phoenix are currently in the midst of a world tour in support of Ti Amo. The U.S. leg culminates on Thursday, June 15, at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA with support from The Lemon Twigs, and Mac DeMarco.

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

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, via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/user/kcrw

Standard
Events, KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW and The Hammer Museum Announce Rebel Rebel

KCRW AND THE HAMMER MUSEUM ANNOUNCE REBEL REBEL

FREE CONCERT SERIES FEATURING ECLECTIC LINE-UP OF GROUNDBREAKING, FEMALE-FRONTED BANDS AND KCRW DJS

Live Music and DJ Sets at the Hammer Museum
Outdoor and All-Ages
Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20 & 27

KCRW and the Hammer Museum once again partner to present four free concerts of live bands and DJ sets as part of KCRW’s Summer Nights series, Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20, and 27. This year it’s Rebel Rebel featuring an eclectic line-up of groundbreaking, female-fronted bands and KCRW DJs. All concerts are open to the public, and all-ages, and held outdoor in the Hammer’s lively courtyard.

The series kicks off on Thursday, July 6, with a headlining set from the 19-year-old force to be reckoned with Grace Mitchell. The Portland-raised Mitchell whose genre-bending tracks combine R&B, pop, and electronic sensibilities, made her Coachella debut this spring and is set to perform at some of the biggest summer festivals including Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Hangout Fest, and more. KCRW DJ Valida starts the evening, followed by a set from WARGIRL, a percussion-centric ensemble combining danceable, jammy grooves firmly rooted in Latin music and Afrobeat with nods to later Clash, The Upsetters, and even some Sade.

On Thursday, July 13, the series continues with headliner Niia whose slow-burning and intimate debut album tips its hand towards sounds as disparate as the glory days of trip-hop, mid-tempo disco, and misty jazz, while retaining an impressively unified mood evoking modern noir. KCRW DJ Anne Litt opens the evening, followed by a live set from Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter SPELLES aka Kathryn Baar, whose forthcoming second EP titled Skeleton Coast I swings from stomp-y and tribal to delicate and haunting.

On Thursday, July 20, the L.A.-based, electronic/alternative one-woman show ELOHIM commands the stage with a headlining performance guaranteed to grab your attention. A Coachella darling, the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer presents a musical vision that is unique and intriguing. KCRW’s Marion Hodges starts things off with a DJ set before Suzi Analogue delights with her live vocal and DJ performance against a backdrop of original visuals created by the Never Normal team.

The series closes on Thursday, July 27, with headliner Amber Mark who recently released her self-produced debut EP 3:33 AM, a deeply moving and meditative collection of earthly experimental pop. Within a matter of months, of uploading “Space” to Soundcloud, the song landed on the iTunes homepage and climbed to #35 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart. KCRW DJ Liza Richardson launches the evening followed by a set from former Los Abandoned lead singer Maria del Pilar performing intimate pop songs that boast bilingual lyrics, odd-meter tempos, infectious hooks, and her beloved ukulele.

Happy hour with food and cash bar starts at 6:30 p.m., and music starts at 7:30 p.m.

The museum’s gallery hours will be extended to 9:00 p.m. so guests can enjoy the Hammer’s newest exhibitions, including the west coast premiere of Marisa Merz: The Sky Is a Great Space. The exhibition brings together five decades of work by the Italian painter, sculptor, and installation artist. Also on view is Living Apart Together, a collection show featuring John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger, Sharon Lockhart, and Daido Moriyama, among many others.

For more information, please visit: https://events.kcrw.com/events/category/summer-nights-hammer-museum/

Details:  

KCRW and the Hammer Museum present Rebel Rebel., four free nights of live concerts featuring an eclectic line-up of groundbreaking, female-fronted bands/artists and DJs. The museum’s gallery hours will be extended to 9:00 p.m. so guests can enjoy the Hammer’s six summer exhibitions.

Doors at 6:30 p.m., Music starts at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 6
Grace Mitchell + WARGIRL + KCRW DJ Valida

Thursday, July 13
Niia + SPELLES + KCRW DJ Anne Litt

Thursday, July 20
ELOHIM + Suzi Analogue + KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

Thursday, July 27
Amber Mark + Maria del Pilar + KCRW DJ Liza Richardson

LOCATION
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION
Event parking is available at 11020 Kinross Ave (UCLA Parking Lot 36)  with a flat rate of $5 payable by credit card or cell phone through the Park Mobile App.  Enter Lot 36 from Kinross Avenue between Gayley and Veteran Avenues. The Hammer Museum is located one block east.

It’s also easy to reach the Hammer by public transportation. The 20/720 buses and Santa Monica and Culver City Bus Lines all stop within one block of the museum. You can also take the Metro Expo Line to Westwood/Rancho Park and transfer to the northbound 8 bus, which stops just outside the museum.

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, via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/user/kcrw

About the Hammer Museum:
The Hammer Museum at UCLA offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art, as well as programs that spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas. Through a wide-ranging, international exhibition program and the biennial, Made in L.A., the Hammer highlights contemporary art since the 1960s, especially the work of emerging and under recognized artists. The exhibitions, collections, and nearly 300 public programs annually—film screenings, lectures, symposia, readings, music performances, and workshops for families—are all free to the public. Visit hammer.ucla.edu for details and livestreamed and recorded programs.

Twitter | twitter.com/hammer_museum
Facebook | facebook.com/HammerMuseum
Instagram | instagram.com/hammer_museum

Standard
Events, KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Presents 8th Season of Summer Nights

KCRW Presents 8th Season of Summer Nights

Free, All-Ages, Outdoor Shows to Take Place Across Southern California Throughout the Summer

Series Begins at Pasadena’s One Colorado with
Chico Mann & Captain Planet + KCRW DJ Marion Hodges (June 3)
Chicano Batman + KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez (June 17)

KCRW Expands Series Announcing Brand-New Partnerships with the California African American Museum and Metro Arts Presents

KCRW Continues Longstanding Partnerships with the Annenberg Foundation, Hammer Museum, Chinatown and Santa Monica Pier

KCRW presents the 8th season of its signature event series, Summer Nights, featuring free, all-ages, outdoor shows throughout the summer to communities in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.

The series launches on June 3 with a live performance from Chico Mann & Captain Planet, the merging of two of the biggest names in contemporary alternative Latin sounds, and a DJ set from KCRW’s Marion Hodges. The concert takes place in the courtyard amidst the historic buildings of One Colorado in Old Pasadena.

This year, the public radio station announces two brand-new partnerships – with the California African American Museum for a concert to highlight the powerful exhibition No Justice, No Peace: LA 1992, and with Metro Arts Presents to bring two shows to one of L.A.’s historic landmarks, Union Station.

KCRW’s Summer Nights series also continues last year’s expansion into communities beyond Los Angeles, presenting concerts at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara and Center City Anaheim, as well as longstanding partnerships with the Annenberg Foundation for the fifth year of Sound in Focus, the Hammer Museum, Chinatown, and Santa Monica Pier.

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

___________________

One Colorado:

KCRW’s Summer Nights kick-off on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m., at Old Pasadena’s One Colorado featuring a live performance from Chico Mann & Captain Planet. Night Visions, their new album, highlights the creative symbiosis of two of the biggest names in contemporary alternative Latin sounds. It is a collection of stories which dance alive over an infectious blend of Afro-Latin rhythms and contemporary dancefloor beats. The result is a truly unique sound that speaks as much to listeners who don’t understand Spanish as it does to old abuelos. The feelings and rhythms that flow through these songs are universal, appealing to hearts and hips all around the world. KCRW DJ Marion Hodges opens and closes the evening with DJ sets of some of her favorite tracks.

On Saturday, June 17, One Colorado continues with Chicano Batman – four young men in vintage formalwear, who came out of L.A. playing songs that blended Brazilian Tropicalía with early ’70s psychedelic soul and the romantic pop of bands like Los Ángeles Negros. It was an immediately addictive sonic brew, and their reputation grew fast. Since forming in 2008, Chicano Batman have released two full-length albums — a self-titled 2009 debut, and 2014’s Cycles Of Existential Rhyme — as well as two EPs. The band has performed at Coachella and toured with Alabama Shakes and Jack White, among others. Now, they’re making their boldest statement yet with Freedom Is Free, their third album and ATO Records debut. KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez opens and closes the evening spinning some of his favorite tunes.

One Colorado 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 3, 7:30 p.m.
Chico Mann & Captain Planet + KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

Saturday, June 17, 7:30 p.m.
Chicano Batman + KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez

___________________

California African American Museum:

KCRW announces a brand-new partnership with the California African American Museum (CAAM) for a very special show featuring KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd and Garth Trinidad on August 19 at 6:00 p.m. This first-time CAAM edition of Summer Nights offers food trucks, a beer garden, and after-hours museum access to all of their summer exhibitions including the powerful No Justice, No Peace: LA 1992.

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 always free.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles uprisings, CAAM presents No Justice, No Peace: LA 1992, an original exhibition that examines one of the most notorious episodes of urban unrest in American history. With powerful photographs and videos, historic documents, posters, flyers, and other ephemera, this exhibition considers decades of complex socio-political history that contribute to underlying tensions among L.A.’s’ marginalized groups and communities, and examines race relations, socioeconomics, and equality in America today.

Saturday, August 19, 6:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd + Garth Trinidad

___________________

Metro Arts Presents at Union Station:

KCRW announces a brand-new collaboration with Metro Art Presents for two Summer Nights at the historic Union Station in Downtown L.A. Dancing, games, food and drink will flow at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks offering a chance to explore the architectural treasure. While you’re there, you can check out one of the many artworks at the station, including one that sings to you called “A-Train.” If you whisper certain words into a spot in the wall the artwork will sing songs by the likes of Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, and The Beatles.

Friday, August 11, 5:30 p.m.
KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez + Valida

Friday, August 25, 5:30 p.m.
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Travis Holcombe

__________________

Chinatown:

Part food festival, part summer party, Chinatown offers an exciting hot spot for Angelenos. Taste the many culinary offerings of Chinatown and L.A.’s gourmet food trucks; sample the neighborhood’s wares; watch Chinese chefs perform cooking demonstrations; experience large-scale, outdoor video projections; take part in hands-on, Chinese cultural activities presented by local organizations and museums; sip on craft brews and dance in Central Plaza with KCRW DJs.

Saturday, July 1, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Aaron Byrd

Saturday, August 5, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Jeremy Sole + Garth Trinidad

Saturday, September 2, 8:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Raul Campos

___________________

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara:

KCRW’s Summer Nights is back for its second year at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. Enjoy the beauty of warm summer nights, art, and music with live sets from KCRW DJs on the beautiful Paseo Nuevo Upper Arts Terrace in the heart of Santa Barbara. Curated Cocktails: Summer Nights with KCRW feature unique themes inspired by the current exhibitions Free Play and takepart | makeart: arte para todos, with after-hours museum access, signature cocktails, and interactive art making.

Thursday, June 1, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJ Mathieu Schreyer

Thursday, July 6, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJ Karene Daniel

Thursday, August 3, 7:00 p.m.
KCRW DJ Raul Campos

___________________

Center City Anaheim:

KCRW is back in Orange County for the second year, moving across the street from The Packing House to Center City Anaheim’s Carnegie Plaza and Center Street Promenade. Two shows will feature KCRW DJs, a beer garden, and hand-picked food and retail vendors.

Center City Anaheim is a vibrant mix of authentic restaurants, retail, residences and offices in the heart of Anaheim. Its dozens of destinations include Center Street Promenade, with outdoor cafes, unique eateries and boutiques, the local Farmers Market, seasonal art shows and street fairs, historic Carnegie Library, Muzeo Museum, and the Frank Gehry-designed Rinks Anaheim Ice. Just steps away is the Packing District, anchored by the 1919 Anaheim Packing House: a classic food hall featuring over 25 unique food and beverage artisans reminiscent of the great public markets of South America and Europe.

Saturday, June 24, 5:30 p.m.
KCRW DJs Dan Wilcox + Valida

Saturday, September 23, 5:30 p.m.
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Jose Galvan

_________________

Annenberg Foundation and Hammer Museum:

KCRW also continues longstanding collaborations with the Annenberg Foundation for Sound in Focus, a series of three blockbuster concerts held in conjunction with the exhibition Generation Wealth at the Annenberg Space for Photography on Saturday nights in July, and with the Hammer Museum featuring a diverse array of musicians in the Hammer’s courtyard on Thursday, July 6, July 13, July 20 and July 27 held in conjunction with the exhibition Marisa Merz: The Sky Is a Great Space. Talent for both series to be announced shortly.

___________________

Twilight Concert Series at Santa Monica Pier:

KCRW is proud to be the official public media partner for the Twilight Concert Series at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, now in its 33rd year. Straddling both the Pier and the beautiful stretch of beach beyond, concertgoers will enjoy an eclectic array of artists while waves crash and the ferris wheel lights up the warm summer night. For dates and artists see below, or visit kcrw.com/summernights.

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING OF 2017 KCRW’s SUMMER NIGHTS SERIES:

All concerts are free and all-ages

GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA:

Saturday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.
One Colorado
Chico Mann & Captain Planet with KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

Saturday, June 17, 7:30 p.m.
One Colorado
Chicano Batman with KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez

Thursday, June 22, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Khalid + Bibi Bourelly + Hosted by KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez

Thursday, June 29, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Lemaitre + Coast Modern + Hosted by KCRW DJ Valida

Saturday, July 1, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Aaron Byrd

Thursday, July 6, 6:30 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Talent TBA

Thursday, July 13, 6:30 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Talent TBA

Thursday, July 13, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Marcia Griffiths + Jah9 + Hosted by KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

Thursday, July 20, 6:30 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Talent TBA

Thursday, July 20, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Eric Burdon & The Animals + Mr. Elevator + Hosted by KCRW DJ Gary Calamar

Thursday, July 27, 6:30 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Talent TBA

Thursday, July 27, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Miami Horror + Cleopold + Hosted by KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox

Thursday, August 3, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Valerie June + Irma Thomas + Hosted by KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd

Saturday, August 5, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Jeremy Sole + Garth Trinidad

Thursday, August 10, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Mon Laferte + Buscabulla + Hosted by KCRW DJ Raul Campos

Friday, August 11, 5:30 p.m.
Metro Arts Presents at Union Station
KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez + Valida

Thursday, August 17, 7:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Warpaint + TBA + Hosted by KCRW DJ Karene Daniel

Saturday, August 19, 6:00 p.m.
California African American Museum
KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd + Garth Trinidad

Friday, August 25, 5:30 p.m.
Metro Arts Presents at Union Station
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley + Travis Holcombe

Saturday, September 2, 8:00 p.m.
Chinatown
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Raul Campos

SANTA BARBARA:

Thursday, June 1, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
KCRW DJ Mathieu Schreyer

Thursday, July 6, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
KCRW DJ Karene Daniel

Thursday, August 3, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
KCRW DJ Raul Campos

ANAHEIM:

Saturday, June 24, 5:30 p.m.
CtrCity Anaheim
KCRW DJs Dan Wilcox + Valida

Saturday, September 23, 5:30 p.m.
CtrCity Anaheim
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Jose Galvan

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, via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/user/kcrw

Standard
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.

_______________

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.

________________

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

Standard
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

 

Standard
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

Standard
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

Standard
KCRW Music Announcement

Ty Segall Performs Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic

Previewing Tracks from His Upcoming Self-Titled Album

Watch the Stream on Facebook Live

Tuesday, January 24, at 11:00 AM PST

Santa Monica, CA (January 24, 2017) – Today (Tuesday, January 24) at 11:00 AM PST, KCRW presents prolific garage rocker Ty Segall, performing a preview of tracks from his upcoming eponymous album, live from KCRW studios, on the station’s flagship music program, Morning Becomes Eclectic. Segall’s new self-titled record – out on January 27 via Drag City – was recorded with him backed by a full band – Emmett Kelly, Mikal Cronin, Charles Moothart and Ben Boye. The collaboration produced a new group sound, as well as some of the most visceral and penetrating vocal passages yet heard from Segall, including the sublime debut single, “Orange Color Queen,” a KCRW fave.

Listen live on-air at KCRW 89.9, or stream via Facebook Live.

This week on MBE continues on Friday, January 27, at 11:00 AM PST, with a live set from Canadian quartet BadBadNotGood and special guests. BadBadNotGood made a name for themselves applying their classical jazz training to hip hop music. With big name fans and collaborators, their star continues to rise.

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

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

Standard
KCRW Music Announcement

Jim James Delivers Live On-Air Set from The Village on Morning Becomes Eclectic

Wednesday, January 18, at 11:00 AM PST

Santa Monica, CA (January 18, 2016) – Today (Wednesday, January 18) at 11:00 AM PST, KCRW presents Jim James live from The Village in Santa Monica, on the station’s flagship music program, Morning Becomes Eclectic. James, frontman of Grammy®-nominated My Morning Jacket, performs tracks from his latest solo project, Eternally Even, released November 4 via ATO/Capitol Records.

Purposefully released in the midst of possibly one of the most politically controversial elections to date, James’ new music is a call to action. James says of the album “I’m just trying to be a part of the discussion and encourage people to speak out for equality, to not be afraid to speak out for peace and love. All of us feel afraid at times in these absolutely insane times, but it’s important we speak our minds, cast our votes, and do not give in to fear and hatred.”

Co-produced by Blake Mills (Alabama Shakes) and Jim James, Mills describes the album as “the beautiful sounds of a violent collision between someone’s past and future.”

Listen live on-air at KCRW 89.9, or online at KCRW.com.

This week on MBE continues with acclaimed a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Thursday, January 19, at 11:00 AM PST, sharing a selection of uplifting favorites from throughout their incredible career. The band’s mission is to “spread peace, love and harmony all around the world through song.”

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

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

Standard