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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 […]

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 […]

An Interview with Karl Blau

03 Feb, 2025

blog / interviews / music

Karl Blau is a musician, songwriter, and producer whose career spans over three decades, rooted in the music scene of Anacortes, Washington. His work has ranged from solo 4-track recordings to collaborations with artists like Laura Veirs & Phil Elverum and bands such as D+ and Old Time Relijun. After […]

An Interview with Margaritas Podridas

21 Jan, 2025

blog / interviews / music

Margaritas Podridas is a three-piece grunge and shoegaze band from Sonora, Mexico. Carolina (bass and vocals), Erubiel (drums), and Rafael (guitar) opened up for Etran De L’Aïr at the Lodge Room on October 12th with an electrifying performance–their screams and instruments practically bouncing off the intimate venue’s walls. KCSB-FM’s Monica […]

iaminconstantflux! five year anniversary celebration

13 Dec, 2024

blog / conversation / life / music

𝓱ₐ𝐩𝐩y (belated) 𝚋ᵢᵣ𝚝𝓱𝚍ₐy iaminconstanflux! words by applemartini / images by trankis This year, iaminconstantflux! celebrated its fifth year since its first air date on KCSB-FM, September 13, 2019. iaminconstantflux! was born out of a desire to break the confinements I had limited myself with on my first radio show. Its […]

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 […]

Concert Review: Foo Fighters @ BMO Stadium

19 Aug, 2024

music

words and photos by: Logan Martin Starting as a humble solo project of Dave Grohl’s after Nirvana broke up, Foo Fighters has evolved into a decade-spanning giant of rock n’ roll. Along with 15 Grammy wins, Dave Grohl became a double-inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (following […]

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 […]

☆ExComm’s 2024 Summer Playlist☆

22 Jul, 2024

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. PARKERS’S RECS  “Not Like I Was Doing Anything” by The […]

Pre-Fest Excitement for Pitchfork Festival 2024

18 Jul, 2024

music / show reviews

  In honor of Pitchfork’s infamous 0.0-10.0 ratings scale for albums, KCSB’s Will Bacaj scores his most anticipated sets of the upcoming festival weekend. words by: Will Bacaj After Conde Nast fired several of Pitchfork’s editors and placed the website under the umbrella of GQ Magazine in January, outside observers […]

Cali Roots 2024

19 Jun, 2024

music / show reviews

KCSB programmer Marley Jay takes to Monterey to give you an inside look into the 2024 Cali Roots Festival. Read on for the inside scoop into a weekend of love, reggae, and community.  Words and Photos by Marley Jay I sat amongst like-minded individuals of the California Roots Sol Tribe, […]

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 […]

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 […]