LOS ANGELES (www.grandperformances.org) - KCRW and Grand Performances present
Sounds Eclectico on July 1 and July 29, featuring Latin alternative bands championed by the station in free live concerts at California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. On July 1st at 7 PM, KCRW DJs
Ariana Morgenstern and Liza Richardson will host an evening with KINKY and SIDESTEPPER. On July 29 at 8 PM, KCRW DJ Raul Campos will host an evening with NORTEC COLLECTIVE and BANDA.
Sounds Eclectico 2 will be the first major live performance by NORTEC COLLECTIVE with a full backing band.
89.9 FM KCRW has been championing Latin alternative music for years and gave both Kinky and Nortec Collective their first U.S. radio airplay. Several music shows on KCRW incorporate Latin sounds into the programming, including the station's signature music show, Morning Becomes Eclectic hosted by Nic Harcourt, Nocturna hosted by Raul Campos, and Cafe LA hosted by Tom Schnabel. Even though Los Angeles radio is dominated by Spanish-language radio stations, most do not play alternative music. KCRW stands out among the airwaves in its support of artists like Julieta Venegas, Juana Molina, Aterciopelados, Cafe Tacuba, Plastilina Mosh, El Gran Silencio, Ozomatli and many more. All of these bands can be heard on KCRW's most recent CD, "Sounds Eclectico," a compilation of live performances recorded during Morning Becomes Eclectic, released in 2005 by Nacional Records.
KCRW's partner for the Sounds Eclectico live events, Grand Performances, is Southern California's largest presenter of free performing arts programs with a primary focus on bringing together the diverse peoples of Los Angeles for concerts celebrating the cultural contributions of our community's peoples. KCRW and Grand Performances expect to welcome up to 6,000 people for each of the two Sounds Eclectico evenings at the California Plaza.
Sounds Eclectico media partner is Tu Ciudad Magazine, celebrating its one-year anniversary. The publication's "Best of Latino LA" issue names Raul Campos Best Non-Commercial Radio DJ. Raul hosts Nocturna, weeknights from 10 to midnight on 89.9 KCRW-Santa Monica, and weekends on www.KCRWMusic.com, the station's 24/7 all-music channel on the Web. Tu Cuidad says: "Raul Campos is a product of the eastside housing projects who worked his way up from Power 106 and as a KCRW volunteer to host of his own weeknight Nocturna mix show on the public station. With his live blend of choice underground tunes, he's a house-music tastemaker for the city - and nation."
