While Long Beach Public Radio (KLBP) officially hit local airwaves in 2018 via 99.1FM, the station now has its own studio in the basement of Shannon’s on Pine, and they’ve invited the public to help them celebrate the opening starting Friday.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with tours of the new space offered through 8 p.m. On Saturday, tours will be offered throughout the day, with a grand opening party at Shannon’s At The Top, complete with performances by Khmer-rock band Dengue Fever, rising rap star Seafood Sam, shoegaze outfit Highlands and multi-instrumentalist Ellen Warkentine, plus KLBP’s DJ Hitchcock Brunette and &SOUL.
“We are so proud that we can finally open up this space to our community,” President of Long Beach Public Media Ashley Aguirre said in a statement. “This studio reflects several years of hard work and dedication by our board, volunteers, and most importantly, the Hodges family who believed in our vision and invested the time and resources to make this a reality.”
Shannon’s owner Ron Hodges donated the studio space to LBPM, as well as covered the costs of designing and building out the space.
Long Beach Public Radio hits the airwaves with a chorus of local voices
With a focus on uplifting the community, the public is also invited to stop by the studio during the two-day open house to record station identification scripts, as well as learn about upcoming workshops and trainings.
“The station is a space for anyone interested in podcasting and radio, from novice to expert level,” said Interim General Manager Danny Lemos in a statement. “We are education focused and hope that the public will discover that KLBP is their radio station.”
If you’d like to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, make sure to RSVP here. To take a tour of the new studio, beneath Shannon’s on Pine at 209 Pine Ave., stop by between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. The grand opening party will take place Saturday at Shannon’s At The Top.
Things to do in Long Beach this weekend including… pickles, pizza and excellence!