The KCRW World Festival will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer, and will feature performances from Toro Y Moi, Chromeo. Micheal Kiwunka, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Damian Marley and Noname. The event will kick off on Sunday, June 16, and will continue weekly until September 29, featuring different performers each day.
The first performance will feature the aforementioned Chromeo, Toro Y Moi, Noname and Ian Isaiah for their performance. KCRW’s Music Director Jason Bentley, who has worked in that position for well over a decade will be the host of this inaugural event.
On July 7 the festival will hold the Reggae Night XVIII featuring Third World, Kabaka Pyramid and Damian Marley. Garth Trinidad will be the host of this event. Later that same month Nadia Lafourcade and Gustavo Dudamel will be conducting the LA Philharmonic on July 21.
Their will only be one performance the following month on August 4, featuring Lord Huron, Shakey Graves and Yola, with Anne Litt as host. Then in September their will be two separate performances, one with Cafe Tacvba, and artists that arer still to be announced on September 15, with another on September 29 featuring Gary Clark Jr, and Michael Kiwanuka.
Throughout its two decades of operation numerous artists have performed at the bowl on behalf of the acclaimed Santa Monica radio station. Past acts include: Adele, Arcade Fire, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, David Byrne, Erykah Badu, Hot Chip, Janelle Monae, Kraftwerk, Lauryn Hill, Massive Attack, M83, Robyn, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Sade, Santigold, Solange, Spoon, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, The Flaming Lips, Pixies, Underworld, Willie Nelson, Zero 7 with Sia and many others. .
The event is a long time collaboration with the KCRW Radio station, based out of Santa Monica, on behalf of the local Santa Monica College and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. These festivals bring a large array of artists from various genres, from electronic, hip hop, soul, Afro Beat, Latin, and jazz from from various eras.
Last year mxdwn covered the performances by indie rock staples Bon Iver and Tu Dance for KCRW’s World Music Festival. According to Mxdwn’s Drew Pitt: “Bon Iver has always excelled at defying expectations, and Justin Vernon’s collaboration with Tu Dance does exactly that. The masterful combination of his already emotionally intense music and the narratives allowed by dance made for an unforgettable combination.”
Music Editor Matt Matasci covered the festival’s conclusion last September, which featured performances by Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio. As Matasci explains: “Both Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio delivered sets that were professionally-executed, deviating just enough from the recorded material without changing too much.”
One of the headliner’s for the inaugural performance, Toro Y Moi recently released his latest album Outer Peace last month. This latest album follows a more dance oriented trend for the artist, who started off his career on the ever expansive chill wave trend in the early 2000s.
The main headlining act Chromeo are famous for blending their style of synth and dance music, into heart pounding funk. Their latest release Head Over Heels, came out last year.
Photo Credit: Mauricio Alvarado
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