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★ ExComm’s Spooktober Playlist ★

03 Oct, 2025

playlists

Tis the season! In honor of this spooktacular time of year, our Executive Committee here at KCSB curated a playlist designed to scare your socks off! Read about our picks and listen below…      ★ MADDIE’S RECS ★ “Phantom Love” – Lisa Germano  This instrumental track off of Lisa […]

KCSB 2025 FALL ORIENTATION

17 Sep, 2025

Interested in college radio? Want to host your very own radio show?!!! Come  join us at the Corwin Pavilion on UCSB campus on Monday September 29th at 5:30pm to learn more about our station and all the ways you can get involved! Hear about how to become a news or […]

☆ExComm’s 2025 Summer Playlist☆

16 Aug, 2025

music / playlists

A few of the newest members of KCSB’s Executive Committee bring you some wonderful tunes to spin while walking on the beach, gathered around a campfire, swimming in a pool, or any other activity suited for a hot summer’s day.     ☆ EL’S RECOMMENDATIONS☆ “Window” by Coma Cinema <a […]

Vote KCSB-FM for Best of SB 2025 Reader’s Poll!

04 Aug, 2025

We’re so proud to have been nominated for “Best SB Radio Station” in the @sbindependent 2025 Reader’s Poll! You can show your love for KCSB by voting for us! To vote, simply: – Click this link – On the SB Independent site, scroll down & click the Media option – Select […]

An Interview with Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane

30 Jun, 2025

blog / interviews / music

Interview & photo by Kelly Darroch This June, Haley Dahl of chamber pop and experimental rock project Sloppy Jane appeared at the Carsey-Wolf Center on the UC Santa Barbara campus, wrapped in her signature blue ensemble. After a screening of Jane Shoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow, PhD student Alice […]

Show Review: Iceage at the Madonna Inn

30 May, 2025

blog / music / show reviews

words and photos by Kelly Darroch In the heart of San Luis Obispo at everyone’s favorite kitschy, pink hotel, Danish post-punk band Iceage graced the Madonna Inn’s Expo Hall. Although the hall doesn’t share the same floral-lined carpets and cherub decor as the rest of the buildings, the charming grounds […]

☆ 2025 AAPI Heritage Month Playlist ☆

29 May, 2025

blog / playlists

Playlist link   KCSB-FM returns with a playlist celebrating the contributions of Asian-Americans to the musical landscape. This playlist is not meant to be comprehensive, but serves as a snapshot into the vast world of Asian-American art. Read through to discover political charged folk tunes, cosmic electro-soul pieces, classic turntablist […]

Open Ears: Sounds of the Ojai Music Festival *Special Broadcasts*

23 May, 2025

music

Open Ears, Sounds of the Ojai Music Festival is coming to KCSB! The 79th annual Ojai Music Festival returns to Libbey Bowl and other Ojai venues on June 5th through the 8th, filling the town with new music from contemporary composers. This year, you can preview the festival by tuning […]

Shabang Festival 2025 Recap

23 May, 2025

blog / music / show reviews

KCSB’s Digital Media Coordinator, Avery, visited San Luis Obispo to check out the annual Shabang Festival! As 2026 tickets begin to go on pre-sale, we hope our review of this year’s festival gives you something to look forward to next spring. words and photos by Avery Morgan Those who love […]

Just Like Heaven 2025 Recap

20 May, 2025

blog / music / music reviews / show reviews

Just Like Heaven, a single day festival at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, is the place to be if you love the 2000s and 2010s era of indie music. Every May, Goldenvoice delivers a stacked lineup of acts that every millennial gasps at, with this year as their sixth (!) […]

AS Senate Recap – 5/14/25

19 May, 2025

This recap first appeared in the May 19 edition of the KCSB News Weekly Newsletter. The AS Senate is a group of elected student representatives which serves as the policy-making body of Associated Students. Every Wednesday at 6:30 PM, the AS Senate convenes to pass bills and resolutions, hear reports […]

Local Artist Spotlight: Magnetize

05 May, 2025

blog / interviews / music

words by Avery Kightlinger In the male-dominated sea of Isla Vista bands that remain predominantly surf-rock, indie group Magnetize takes a different approach with their music. Highlighting self-power and divinity in their music, they seek to illuminate the importance and vitality of femininity and knowing one’s self-worth to exude that […]

KCSB is Up for Reaffirmation!

28 Apr, 2025

blog

  UCSB STUDENTS! KCSB-FM is up for reaffirmation and seeking a fee increase this year. We are a college and community radio station located on UCSB’s campus, directly under Storke Tower. KCSB trains students and community volunteers in broadcasting every quarter. As a student-led campus radio, we are proud to […]

Of Ashley, Wolgamot, and the Languages of Art

04 Apr, 2025

blog / music / show reviews

words by Liam Hogan Last summer, I became completely obsessed with two major works of art: SMiLE by The Beach Boys and the book-length poem “In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven There Were Men and Women” by John Barton Wolgamot. The latter is discussed pretty significantly less than the former, […]

Keep the Beat: Into the Music of Breaking

02 Apr, 2025

blog / music / music reviews

Our Assistant Music Director Kai is here to shine a spotlight on the rhythm and soul of breakdancing music. From the gritty funk of the ’70s to modern-day mixtapes made for cyphers, discover how the beats that fuel breakers have evolved alongside hip-hop. These tracks are guaranteed to get your […]

☆ Women’s History Month Playlist ☆

31 Mar, 2025

blog / playlists

Playlist link   KCSB-FM’s Music Department is back again with a playlist celebrating some of the wonderful contributions gifted by women to the musical world. This playlist is by no means comprehensive, but is meant to highlight personal favorites and artists to keep an eye on. Read on and give […]

KCSB Off-Air Overnight from 3/27 to 3/28!

26 Mar, 2025

blog

Due to scheduled upgrades to the power grid serving the UCSB campus, KCSB-FM in Santa Barbara will be temporarily off the air overnight starting Thursday, March 27 at 9 PM. We anticipate resuming our broadcast by Friday, March 28 at 12 PM. Please note that our online streaming will also […]

Black History Month Playlist

28 Feb, 2025

blog / playlists

This February, KCSB-FM’s Executive Committee has come together to craft a playlist commemorating Black History Month. It cannot be adequately expressed how much black musicians have contributed to the musical world. This playlist is by no means comprehensive, but is meant to highlight some personal favorites. Read on for a […]

KCSB’s SBIFF Recap 2025

18 Feb, 2025

blog / news

Every year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) brings filmmakers from all over the world to our town. For 10 days in February, Hollywood professionals make their way to venues around State Street, making their way from Q&As, independent films, and creative panels, along with red carpet award tributes […]

2025 Valentine’s Day Playlist

14 Feb, 2025

blog / playlists

In preparation for Valentine’s Day, KCSB’s Executive Committee has put together a playlist of songs all about love. Read till the very end to check out some picks from our winter Assistant Music Directors, Rio and Kai! playlist link PARKER’S RECS  “I Love You Like The Way That I Used […]