Earlier this month, Sufjan Stevens released his long-awaited full-length, Carrie & Lowell, to rave reviews. Today, he shares the non-album track "Exploring Whale," which he's been selling on 7" during his current tour. Stream the track below, and get your copy on Wednesday, June 10th or Thursd…
Our first live act of the day at Kex Hostel from Iceland Airwaves is fresh off a plane from Amsterdam. But you'll surely recognize them as Seattle's own garage surf outfit La Luz. We've been spinning this all female quartet's 2013 Hardly Art/Sub Pop album It's Alive and done several in studio sessi…
Ever since Portland band The Shivas blew us all away at the 2013 MusicFestNW broadcast, we've been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to their outstanding release, White Out, on K Records. Today, KEXP proudly presents an online stream of their latest album, You Know What To Do — and the title says it all…
What's better than hearing local music at a local festival? One of Seattle's most definitive contemporary indie acts, The Head and the Heart, are known for playing an infectious live set. Between the hand-clapping and the harmonies, they're a hometown favorite not to be missed live. The band, signe…
With today being Canada Day and Friday the Fourth of July, the music industry world is kinda quiet this week, but there are still some stellar releases worth shooting fireworks for. Highlights include the comedy album 2776: A Millennium of American Asskickery, the brainchild of Conan/The Daily Show…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. This week, all Song of the Day podcas…
Set against the illuminated backdrop of the many pallets of Chrome Satan at the Hilliard's Beer Taproom, The Faint, during their performance, looked like dance-punk dictators, rulers of some Mad Max dystopia in which beer's more valuable than gold. In case you missed it, or in case you just wanted …
From late night TV to KEXP: Swedish songstress Lykke Li took to Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night to perform a track from her latest album, I Never Learn, as well as her contribution to the soundtrack for the film The Fault in Our Stars. Watch her perform the single "No Rest For The Wicked" below, and…
This week, KEXP is broadcasting for the third year in a row, during Iceland Airwaves Music Festival. Now through Friday, November 1, we're bringing you five bands a day performing live at KEX Hostel in Reykjavik, including Emilíana Torrini, Moses Hightower, Petúr Ben, John Grant, Ásgeir and many ot…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. This week’s featured songs come fr…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. This week’s featured songs come fr…
The COMPLETE lineup for the Pitchfork Music Festival was announced today! On July 19-21 Chicago's Union Park will be saturated with killer live music. Joining the already impressive lineup include- Glass Candy, Yo La Tengo, Phosphorescent, Metz,Julia Holter, M.I.A. and MANY more. A full, detail li…
Scottish indie band Franz Ferdinand are releasing their first album in five years, Always Ascending, in early 2018. Today they've shared the video for the title track and lead single. Directed by Parisian collective AB/CD/CD, the slick video features the band members quite literally ascending thro…
Swedish sister act First Aid Kit are releasing their first album in three years, Ruins, at the beginning of the new year. Today they've shared the third single from the album, "Fireworks." They've previously shared the songs "It's a Shame" and "Postcard." The duo also shared a one-off single for I…
The endlessly prolific Ty Segall has released a new track today called "The Main Pretender." The song is the latest in a stream of songs including "Alta," "Meaning," "My Lady's on Fire," and a cover of the Squidbillies theme. Mikal Cronin is featured on the song, playing sax. All the new singles s…
The Pacific Northwest and the mid-Atlantic will converge again on Saturday, October 14th at Reykjavik Calling, presented by KEXP. As the musical leg of the Taste of Iceland festival -- which celebrates its 10th anniversary this week -- Reykjavik Calling pulls together some of the most exciting musi…
Composing great dance music is more than just choosing the right beats per minute and finding a catchy synth patch. It's about capturing an emotional impulse in the groove – that indescribable, wordless "something" that resonates beyond how it booms out the speakers. It's an idea that Seattle produ…
They say there's a day for everything, and maybe they're right, because today happens to be National French Fry Day. It's been said that french fries date back to the 1600s, when the residents of a region formerly known as the "Spanish Netherlands" (currently: Belgium) had the custom of accompanyin…
It's hard to believe, but west coast one-time wunderkind Beck turns 45 years old today. The junior high school dropout has gone from self-released cassettes, to a surprise smash hit with "Loser", to Grammy Award-winning artist. He's tackled styles from the soulful slide of Midnite Vultures to the N…
10:15 on a Thursday morning, and today happens to be the birthday of Robert Smith, godfather of goth (even though he hates that term) and legendary frontman of The Cure. It's hard to believe, but The Cure will be here Memorial Day weekend, headlining the 2016 Sasquatch! Music Festival. Throughout h…
