On the 20th anniversary of his death, KEXP is celebrating the life of one of Seattle's greatest musicians. On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain took his own life but left an indelible legacy for musicians and fans across the world. Throughout the day on Friday, April 4, KEXP DJs are playing a variety of s…
KEXP, STG, and Starbucks kicked off the new year with another fine edition of our benefit series, Little Big Show. On January 31st, we joined together to raise money for Reel Grrls, a program where girls ages 9-21 can learn media production skills from volunteer professionals and voice their indivi…
Each time we've gone back to Iceland over the past five years, we've been fortunate to discover and share with KEXP listeners quite a few bands who might not otherwise leave their shores. For every Sugarcubes and Sigur Rós, we found dozens of others, like Hjaltalín, Ásgeir, Of Monsters and Men (bac…
Next on KEXP live from KEX Hostel at Iceland Airwaves was an insane set from Icelandic band Grísalappalísa. The band, whose name means "pig-legged Lisa," plays raucus music that genre-jumps like nothing I've ever seen before. Vocalists Gunnar Ragnarsson and Baldur Baldursson scream and grunt, with …
“The idea behind Youth had a lot to do with me suddenly getting married. Ever since I can remember... the thing that I was compelled by, was the bond that two people can share, how strange and elusive and compelling that is,” Wild Cub frontman Keegan DeWitt told Paste Magazine last August. Wild Cub…
Anacortes: gateway to the Washington's San Juan Islands. Home to artists like Karl Blau, Phil Elverum and The Lonely Forest. Soon to be know for another new band, BellaMaine. The young indie rock group, led by married duo Nick and Julianne Thompson, immediately caught the attention of KEXP's Mornin…
Their name spoofs the The Shangri-Las, their songs check the sounds of the 60's, from British Invasion to West Coast country rock -- the record store rats of Allah-Las have long been interested in contextualizing the history of rock with the music of today, both with their on-going, lost classics-u…
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, we are featuring Christmas…
On the last day of KEXP's broadcast from Upstream, local four-piece Versing filled Little London Plane to the brim with post-punk perfection. Whether channeling the layered guitars of Built to Spill or the raw emotionalism of Modest Mouse, there was also something quintessentially Northwest about t…
Leading up until the Upstream Music Fest + Summit, KEXP will be featuring a new local artist from the lineup with an interview and suggested tracks for where to start. Today’s post features Seattle indie rocker Ruler, performing Saturday, May 13 on the Barsuk stage.
It's been almost two decades, but it's finally here: the latest from Australian band The Avalanches! KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes the album as "another impressive full-length of cut-and-paste collage-pop incorporating a dizzying multitude of samples, field recordings and guests vocalists…
There's a lot more to the Ballard SeafoodFest than just salmon! Founded in 1974 to celebrate the neighborhood's Nordic roots and connection to the fishing industry, the event has since blossomed into a FREE two-day festival with arts and crafts, a beer garden, and an amazing musical line-up. (And, …
Not only is today Earth Day, but we're also on the cusp of music festival season. As we take time to celebrate our planet on this day, think about carrying that spirit with you all summer long: carry a reusable water bottle, or bring your own forks. Our planet will thank you!
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, unrealeased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the …
This Labor Day weekend, the Northwest Film Forum presents the Seattle premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!, a documentary chronicling one of the most challenging years in the life of Sharon Jones (of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings).
When it comes to teen films, writer/director John Hughes and actress Molly Ringwald reigned supreme throughout the '80s, and weirdly enough, they share the same birthday -- February 18th, 1950 for him and 1968 for her. In honor of their birthdays, KEXP has compiled a roundup of songs that the two p…
It's a great week for local music. The latest from Olympia-via-Seattle artist Briana Marela is what KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "her strongest set to date of adventurous electro-pop. Co-produced by Juan Pieczanski and Ryan Heyner of Small Black, the album features a brighter, more dynamic …
Here in the Northwest, our love of biking is right on par with our love of local music. The Gigantic Bicycle Festival is the ideal intersection between these two passions, and then some. On August 18 to 20th, the festival returns to Snoqualmie with three days of energizing PNW bands, locally produc…
