blog

featured stories

☆2024 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH☆

30 Sep, 2024

blog / playlists

It’s Hispanic Heritage month, and down at KCSB the music department has been putting together a playlist to showcase the wonderful and unique music that’s come out of many different Spanish-speaking countries! There’s so much music to cover and this list is by no means comprehensive, these are just some […]

Our 10 Favorite Sets from Pitchfork Fest 2024

20 Aug, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

With the summer sun in the sky and a verve for live music, KCSB was on the scene to witness a wonderful weekend of live music at Union Park in Chicago. Here were our 10 favorite sets of Pitchfork Chicago 2024. words by: Will Bacaj    Rosali Situated on the […]

An Interview with Jeffrey Lewis

06 Aug, 2024

blog / interviews / music

KCSB-FM’s Digital Media Coordinator, Avery Morgan, sat down with Jeffrey Lewis after his set at the Troubadour to have a conversation about changes in DIY culture, his creative process, and inspirations. Photos by Avery Morgan Jeffrey Lewis is a musician and comic book artist, and when he performs live, he […]

Cruel World 2024

14 Jun, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

Production Coordinator Will and Publications Coordinator Galilea took on Huntington Beach’s Cruel World Festival this past month, ready to report back to KCSB’s audience with all the scintillating details. Check it out.  words by: Will Bacaj and Galilea Trujillo photos by: Will Bacaj Mark Almond of Soft Cell Duran Duran, […]

☆PRIDE MONTH PLAYLIST☆

14 Jun, 2024

blog / music / playlists

As the end of the 2023-2024 school year approaches, so does LGBTQ Pride Month! KCSB’s Music Department wanted to highlight some wonderful Queer musicians to celebrate and uplift these artists. This is just a small portion of all of the work that LGBTQ artists contribute, we hope that these picks […]

Just Like Heaven 2024

29 May, 2024

blog / music / music reviews / show reviews

If you’re longing and looking to tap into your indie-centered nostalgia, Just Like Heaven is the place to be. Every May, Goldenvoice puts on their annual Just Like Heaven festival, and this year marks 5 years since the first edition. It’s the time of year where you can bring back […]

A Guide to Slauson Malone 1

23 May, 2024

blog

Our spring Assistant Music Director, Parker, is here to take you through his discovery of Slauson Malone 1’s skillful and alluring discography. Read on for his exploration, and don’t forget to take a listen while you read.  Words by: Parker Doti Slauson Malone 1 (previously known as just Slauson Malone) […]

May Add of the Month: BEAUTIFUL SEIZURE by volcano!

23 May, 2024

add of the month / blog

For May’s Add of the month, KCSB’s External Music Director, Bella Genolio, highlights a retroactive add, the album Beautiful Seizure by volcano! Words by: Bella Genolio; Photos courtesy: Every week the Music Department here at KCSB (Marion, Ryan, and I) have a show on air called Dispatches from the Library […]

☆AAPI Playlist☆

23 May, 2024

blog

In celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Month, the Music Department at KCSB put together a playlist in order to highlight some of our favorite songs by AAPI artists. Though this is by no means a definitive or exhaustive list, we hope that you will discover some great new […]

Shabang 2024: The Framers, No Drout, & The Walters

20 May, 2024

blog / music

words by: Carly Kalunian Shabang, San Luis Obispo’s yearly music festival, celebrated its 10th anniversary this May. The all-ages event attracts many college students from around California, but of course is very popular with those attending Cal Poly SLO and UCSB thanks to its’ close proximity to campus. This year’s […]

Local Bands Take On Shabang Music Festival

17 May, 2024

blog / music

KCSB’s Clarissa Rios reviews Shabang’s locally featured Saturday acts, including Santa Barbara’s own The Framers. Read on for her insight into the performances.  words and photo by Clarissa Rios San Luis Obispo’s Dairy Creek Golf Course was home to dozens of musical acts over the May 3-4 weekend as part […]

Reviewing George Clanton @ Shabang Festival

17 May, 2024

blog / music

KCSB sent our top music journalists to Shabang in San Luis Obispo to recap and review the festival. Multidisciplinary electronic musician George Clanton’s performance was one for the books… and Avery is here to take you back in time with her.  words and photos by: Avery Morgan Despite not being […]

☆Spring Playlist☆

17 Apr, 2024

blog / playlists

Spring has sprung in Isla Vista! The sun is out and Santa Barbara’s students are taking on their final quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. This April, KCSB’s Excomm put together a track list of songs to accompany our students and community members this spring. Whether you’re exploring the bluffs, […]

April’s Add of the Month – All Heartbeat by Flung

17 Apr, 2024

add of the month / blog / music

Words by: Marion Suchowiecky (Internal Music Director 23′-24′) Kashika Kollaikal’s newest project, All Heartbeat, represents a brimming and glittering cacophony of emotions bound together  by her musical artistry. Kollaikal was inspired by the powerful sense of limbo she felt as she found herself trapped at Seattle airport by an ever-delayed […]

El Vive Latino 2024

11 Apr, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

Words by: Angel Lopez Photos courtesy El Vive Latino El Vivo Latino music festival happens once a year, usually on the 3rd weekend of March in Mexico City. This year had 5 stages, 1 surprise stage, a comedy stage and a Lucha Libre ring. 88 bands performed in the span […]

Thank You, Donors! Fund Drive 2024

01 Apr, 2024

blog / events

It’s been one month since the end of our annual Fund Drive! Yes, we’re having withdrawals. We want to share our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude with everyone who dialed in and donated. Thanks to you, we surpassed our $25K goal! Expect a ton of live and electric events, special programming, […]

☆Women’s History Month Playlist☆

19 Mar, 2024

blog / music / playlists

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the KCSB music department, with the help of our Assistant MD’s and members of the Executive Committee, have put their heads together to bring you a curated playlist featuring some of our favorite women musicians!  This playlist aims to show that the power and prowess […]

An Interview with Fire Trail

19 Mar, 2024

blog / interviews / music

KCSB-FM’s Assistant Music Director Maya Widom sits down with Berkeley band Fire Trail to discuss their album “One of the Two” and their upcoming projects. Fire Trail is a four piece band made up of current and former students of UC Berkeley with a rock backbone.“One of the Two” was […]

KCSB’s SBIFF Recap

06 Mar, 2024

blog / news

Each year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) brings filmmakers from all over the world to our little town. For 14 days, you can spot Hollywood professionals walking up and down State Street wearing SBIFF badges as they make their way from independent films to panels, and even to […]

Music Committee February Reviews

28 Feb, 2024

blog / Music Review Committee

KCSB’s Music Committee volunteers review so many albums every week. Keep reading for some of their reviews! Florist – Florist Reviewer: Sarah Ndawula Label: Double DoubleWhammy Records Focus Tracks: 4, 11, 14,  19 (clean) The album I picked out to review is titled “Florist.” I found this album to be […]

Shabang 2023 Festival Review

29 Jan, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

KCSB’s program director, Naila, visited San Louis Obispo last year to get our audience the scoop on Shabang! As the 2024 lineup begins to make its rounds, we hope this review of last year’s festival gives you an idea of what to expect and look forward to. words and photos […]