VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 9 | September-October, 2021
19
CATHRYN BEEKS
Listen Local
The hardest working woman in San Diego? It’s a long list of potential candidates for that accolade, but near the top would have to be Cathryn Beeks. A performer herself, with multiple SDMA nominations to her credit, as well as a band member of both Calamity and The Desert Drama Club, she’s involved in many aspects of the arts community as a photographer, film maker and event producer, and even has a vintage clothing business. However, Beeks is perhaps best known as the host and producer of the long running Listen Local online radio program What sets her show apart from other local radio shows? “Well, my show has always offered a wide variety of genres and unless the audio quality is unlistenable, I include every song that is submitted,” Beeks said. “So there are really slick professionally produced studio tracks as well as some pretty lo fi home recordings.” She notes that she also uses the term “local” loosely these days “since many of my favorite artists have left San Diego, so my show includes unsigned music from all over the world. I think the most unique aspect of the show, however, is that each song is introduced by the songwriter or band which I find engaging as it gives me a deeper appreciation of the song.” Beeks has been broadcasting since 2005, co-
producing her first Listen Local program with Tim Flack of Idynomite Media in 2005. She next hosted The Homegrown Hour on 102.1 KPRi from 2009 to 2015 and had a short stint on KNSJ in 2016. “Since then I’ve been producing a monthly show and you can hear every episode from anything I’ve ever done on www. Soundcloud.com/listenlocalradio,” Beeks said. There you will find over 700 local music themed episodes from various shows over the years. “Some exciting recent news is that I’ll be hosting an hour show the first Sunday of every month on Jack’s Tracks on KPRi 93.1fm Pala Rez Radio beginning in September.” Beeks focus is on San Diego, though currently she resides in the high desert, at Hart Acres. “It’s named in honor of my dad, Hartley Beeks, who we lost in December of 2019,” Beeks said. “It’s a private campground/event space that we’re carving into the sand on my parents 2.5 acres in Lucerene Valley. So far we’ve built a putt putt golf course, horseshoes and bocce ball, a fancy water closet, outdoor shower, added camping sites and remodeled our RV into a comfy and creative space where folks can write songs, paint, or just relax in the magical Mojave.” This Fall Hart Acres will be offering The Songwriter Sleepover and Chick Camp retreats as well as a Berkley Hart songwriter’s retreat and a special Halloween weekend event. Despite the hard work, Beeks is happy to support the area’s artists. “San Diego’s local music community is a family,” she said. “It’s supportive and nurturing while still being cool and full of legit rock stars.” She considers that she is still discovering the High Desert’s music community,
“but the Joshua Tree area certainly feels similar in that everyone, no matter what skill level, seems to appreciate and respect each other and seem willing to help.” She notes that it takes many things to nurture a vital music scene. “I’ve always felt that a music community’s vibe comes from how supportive the media are in including their city’s music and, most importantly, those special venues that we all know and love in each town. San Diego has a few very supportive journalists and we’ve had so many venues that feel like home, the kind of legendary places that make a scene.” With decades in the music biz, what drives Beeks? “Even though there is no benefits package or 401K, I view music promotion as a job and it’s a job I love,” she said. “I am fortunate to have loyal and supportive sponsors and subscribers via Patreon who make it all possible. Besides my vintage clothing gig and photo work here and there this is literally how all of the Listen Local programs and I survive. It is those folks who encourage me to continue and allow me to do so,” Beeks said. “My goal is to increase listenership and subscribers so I can offer more services, more programs and share more stuff. www.Patreon.com/listenlocalradio www.HartAcres.info www.cathrynbeeks.com
NEW RELEASES “It’s not only fun to replay and reimagine that material; I believe it’s important to remember and honor where we came from and how we got here.”
• Jason Mraz is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his independently released album, Live & Acoustic. Recorded live at legendary venue, Java Joe’s in Ocean Beach, alongside percussionist Toca Rivera, the new edition, out November 5, will be highlighted by two unreleased songs from the original recordings – “Water” and “What We Want.” The album has been remastered and will be available on vinyl for the first time. “Live & Acoustic celebrates the poetry, harmony, and humor that became the foundation for my entire career,” Mraz said.
• Hip hop fans will want to hear Riston Diggs new album out this month, 35. “The cover represents the year I was born,” he noted. The seven-song album is produced by Banyon Bachman of the saxophone band, One Hot Planet. Any special guests? “None at all,” Riggs said. “This is a full solo project of me!”
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soon, but “we’re still deciding on doing an album,” said Bloodstone. His next solo album is already in the works, set to be called, Holy Micromony.
• Bloodstone the Street Preacher returns this month has a new album, My Testimony. Meanwhile he’s formed a new all-star hip-hop combo, Da GRINDAZ, made up of Bloodstone the Street Preacher, BMSD and AD Walker. The trio have a new single out now, “Slap It In Ya,” with a video on the way. “We were all brainstorming on doing a song,” said Bloodstone. “Once we got the idea, I said we should just make a group called da Grindaz, because we’re all working hard.” Second single “Where da Party at” is due @LocalUmbrellaMedia
• Alternative rockers Evening’s Empire debut album, Alive For Us, is out now. “It reflects the long journey we’ve taken coming together and taking on the challenges of life when you lose your way,” says the band. “Our next single we’re releasing to mark the album and that journey is appropriately called “Fall Behind.”
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