Author: Parker Harris
On Saturday, Oct. 2, Eagle Rock will transform from a sleepy enclave to a bustling urban neighborhood. With many people walking in the streets and music floating through every inch of available space, the place we call home will become a foreign land.
There is, however, a great advantage to this seeming chaos. The transformation is the result of the 12th annual Eagle Rock Music Festival, a local, independent display of culture, art and music. Colorado Boulevard will be closed to all forms of motor traffic from Eagle Rock Boulevard to Argus Drive. In place of hybrids and minis, people will flood the pavement. They will come from all over the city and county to enjoy the local spice that has put Eagle Rock on the map in recent years.
KOXY started working with The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock last year in hopes of presenting concerts together. Brian Martinez, the events director for the center, loved the radio station, and after the positive experiences the two groups had previously working together on events last spring, Martinez suggested co-curating a stage at the festival.
Throughout the summer, KOXY formulated the experimental stage. The lineup is as follows: Geneva Jacuzzi, SASSAS Sound Shoppe, Sun Araw, Speculator, LA Vampires, Tygerstrype, Asura and Ana Caravelle & Santa Cecilia Orchestra. The stage will be located inside the Center for the Arts at 2225 Colorado Blvd., from 4-11p.m. on Saturday. Everyone, regardless of musical preference, should stop by to hang out and navigate the many aural, visual and culinary distractions.
Additionally, many different bands will be playing elsewhere around the festival. If you are into hip-hop, the famed Low End Theory is hosting a stage and will feature Free the Robots, Nosaj Thing, The Gaslamp Killer, Nobody, SAMIYAM and others. If you like indie music, locals The Soft Pack, Lucky Dragons and Rainbow Aarbia are always worth seeing. The list goes on and on.
As is always a problem in L.A., how does one get there? Fear not, ye carless students, this is one activity that you can walk to.
In fact, it would probably take you longer to drive and find parking than to walk from campus with some friends. With Oxy’s bike sharing program, cycling up the street is also an option. The distance is less than a mile.
Technically admission is free; however, there is a $5 suggested donation. This money goes directly to the Center for the Arts and helps provide a space for the Arts in Northeast Los Angeles. Considering how many bands you get to see for that price, you are getting a terrific deal.
For the first time in the history of the festival, both the college and KOXY have partnered with the Center for the Arts to coordinate the event. While each group’s involvement serves differing purposes, Occidental is venturing beyond its bucolic hillside and into the community. A remarkable aspect of our school is how it fosters intellectual growth in a secluded setting while simultaneously offering students the ability to interact with the vibrancy of Los Angeles.
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