You may have heard that we recently acquired a radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are now ready to go live on the air at 92.7 FM in the Bay, starting March 19!
This exciting development is yet another in our efforts to sustain a space in the music industry where discovery, human curation, and most of all connection through the power of music reign — and remain — supreme. We may have started as a college radio station over 50 years ago and it’s true that our home base is still in Seattle. But over the last five decades, we’ve been moved to find that our approach to music resonates with people, so much so that KEXP is funded by music lovers around the world.
It’s our belief that music is better when we listen together, and we’re extremely grateful that you’re here. Not only do our followers, listeners, and donors power everything we do, but there’s nothing we love more than sharing an amazing artist with all of you — whether that be through our podcasts or our broadcast, our interviews or our Live on KEXP sessions.
If you’re in the Bay Area, we’re excited to be making KEXP Radio available to you terrestrially! But no matter where you are, if you believe that music matters, you’re welcome at KEXP. And if you have friends or family in the Bay and you think they could use more great music in their lives, let them know we’re coming!
We’re just a few days out from launching KEXP Bay Area, 92.7 FM! Wondering what the back story is? Allow us to explain…
If you’re seeing this post or following us, we’re guessing you’re probably tired of algorithmic playlists and algorithm radio. Same. KEXP began as a college radio station at the University of Washington over 50 years ago and since then, a community of amazing humans have donated consistently (over decades!) to sustain a place in the music-listening landscape where humanity is at the heart of curation.
Our community has allowed us to expand our reach far beyond Seattle. Not only do we get on the ground in places like Argentina and Iceland with remote broadcasts, we’ve made it possible to experience music discovery the KEXP way wherever you are in the world — through our podcasts, interviews, live sessions, and of course a global stream of KEXP Radio.
We exist to introduce you to new tunes, to break down barriers between you and the artists who make them, and be a place where strangers become friends by sharing the music that moves them.
Recently, an opportunity to do exactly that in the San Francisco Bay Area arose and — after submitting a winning bid in a bankruptcy auction and a rigorous process with the FCC — we’ve been granted permission to change 92.7 FM in the Bay from a commercial radio frequency to a non-commercial one.
That means one less radio station serving up algorithm-driven playlists and endless ads. And one more radio station committed to introducing you to new songs and making your life better through music.
If you’re in the Bay Area, tune in KEXP Bay Area at 92.7 FM starting March 19. If you’re not in the Bay Area but you have friends or family who are, let them know we’re coming!
In this month’s column, KEXP Staff Reporter Martin Douglas spends an afternoon with Power Strip, the musical alias of Nellie Albertson.
Albertson has been an instrumental figure in Seattle’s DIY scene, and through Power Strip, they explore the depths of their subconscious through engrossing, largely improvised experimental music. Martin speaks to Albertson about South King County, finding inspiration at the Evergreen State College, and much more.
Read their conversation and more about what's happening in the Pacific Northwest music scene in this month's Throwaway Style. Link in bio.
HAPPY PRIDE!!!!!! 🏳️🌈
We’re soundtracking the weekend with back to back special broadcasts from KEXP and @thewildrosebar . Live from the station on Saturday, June 29, DJs @larryslounge and @lisadleclair will kick things off before DJ @alivinghumangrrrl delivers a special Pride Audioasis. On Sunday, June 30, DJs @brithansen.biz , @larryslounge , @djyaddy , and @reverend_dr_dj_riz will be delivering tunes all day at The Wild Rose!
Join us at our Seattle station on Saturday, at The Wild Rose on Sunday, or via our app where we stream listener-powered KEXP worldwide!
Info at the link in our bio.
🎨: by @goldsuit#Pride
In a recent interview on Sound & Vision, @sharlese_m chats with Mel (@enby_faerie ) and Hanna (@mx.pinky ) of the @exude___ project, a platform for music + art by our trans* community.
💬 "exude is a project that I found out about while spending time in Berlin and getting to know the members of the music community. This new project was created to platform music + art by our trans* community. They are trans and produce raves that include trans DJs, mutual aid fundraisers for trans-related issues such as gender-affirming care and awareness resources that include our current political state and they also have a mix series that features trans and queer DJs.
They are queer trans artists that are communing to shape experiences of art + music in an atmosphere of care and exude their love letter to raves and connection through sharing with others around the world." - Sharlese
Listen / read at the link in our bio.
📸: @madakya
🚨 OUT NOW: Episode 6 of El Cancionero de Kurt, hosted by El Sonido's @albinacabrera
En este episodio, analizaremos discos fundamentales en la escena musical del noroeste estadounidense con Superfuzz Bigmuff de los originarios de Seattle, Mudhoney; no uno, sino tres discos de los vecinos de Portland, Wipers: Is This Real?, Youth of America y Over The Edge; y Jamboree, el icónico álbum de Beat Happening de Olympia. También exploraremos el puente intercontinental creado por estos álbumes y cómo las experiencias de Sub Pop y K Records inspiraron sellos independientes en todo el continente. Como bonus, celebraremos el 35º aniversario del álbum debut de Nirvana, Bleach, que no solo marca el comienzo de la banda que llevaría este sonido al mainstream, sino que también sirve como un mapa sonoro para toda una generación. Jack Endino, productor del álbum, se une a este episodio para contar la historia completa desde ambos lados del Pacífico, confirmando que Seattle y Chile tienen mucho más en común que solo un continente compartido.
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In this episode, we’ll look at defining records in the Northwest music scene with Superfuzz Bigmuff by Seattle's own Mudhoney; not one but three records from Portland neighbors Wipers – Is This Real?, Youth of America, and Over The Edge – and Olympia's iconic Beat Happening with their album Jamboree. We’ll also explore the intercontinental bridge created by these albums and how the experiences of Sub Pop and K Records inspired independent labels across the continent. As a bonus, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Nirvana's debut album, Bleach, which not only marks the beginning of the band that would bring this sound to the mainstream but also serves as a sonic map for an entire generation. Jack Endino, the album's producer, joins this episode to tell the full story from both sides of the Pacific, confirming that Seattle and Chile have much more in common than just a shared continent.
Link in bio.
The Decemberists #LiveonKEXP | Portland’s @thedecemberists return with their first record in six years — As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. The sharp release comes packed with poetically timeless folk rock tracks charged with the band’s classic yet matured sound.
Watch them perform songs off the album in our latest listener-powered in-studio session. Link in bio.
📸: thumbnail image by @melissadeaunphoto#AsItEverWas#TheDecemberists#KEXP
Boeckner #LiveonKEXP | Boeckner!, the self-titled debut from multi-disciplinary artist and musician Dan Boeckner, finds the Vancouver-rooted punk rocker basking in the thrill of young passion and discovery.
In a recent visit to the KEXP Studios, the @subpop artist shared string-filled tracks off the record with host @djcherylwaters .
📸: thumbnail image by @photobakery
𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄! Come get weird with us 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 at the 𝐊𝐄𝐗𝐏 Gathering Space for a 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐨𝐟-𝐚-𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 recording session! Call in sick to work! We need you!
𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟑𝐑𝐃, it’s a 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 in the public gathering space, and the one and only Cheryl Waters will be hosting!
We’ll be playing some brand new songs while also diving into the catacombs of our repertoire to revive some old favorites, with you there with us, deep in the mix!
Don’t miss this one—𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 and 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞 as we record our new live album that will be released on vinyl specially for 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!
📺 @siobhan_____mccarthy
#Cobain50 | On the podcast this week: Seattle's own Jack Endino! June marks the 35th anniversary of Nirvana's debut studio album, Bleach, which @jackendinoseattle produced.
For this month's RoundTable, he joins @dusty__henry , @theedouglasmartini , and @albinacabrera to discuss the unmistakable imprint of the Northwest sound. Listen at the link in our bio, and subscribe for new episodes weekly on your podcast feed.
