KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas

Last updated
KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
Genre Rock, Metal, Punk, Post-hardcore, Ska, Alternative rock
Datesmid-December
Location(s) Universal Amphitheatre (1989–1997, 2000–2012)

Shrine Auditorium (1998, 2013)
Honda Center (1999, 2019)

Contents

Kia Forum (2014–2018, 2022–present)
Years active1989–2019, 2022–present
Founders KROQ-FM
Website KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas

Almost Acoustic Christmas is an annual concert run by the Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. Like the radio station's other festivals (including the Weenie Roast, LA Invasion and Epicenter), it is a festival organized by KROQ-FM to raise money for a charity, and promotes a variety of rock music from the radio station's format, including alternative, indie, punk, pop, dance and hard rock/heavy metal. [1] [2] [3] [4] Since its first show in 1989, the Acoustic Christmas has traditionally been held either the second or third weekend of December, with the exception of a three-year hiatus between 2019 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overview

The festival's origins trace back to a December 1989 concert that was called the KROQ Xmas Bash. [1] By the mid-1990s, the festival had become bigger and attracted increasingly popular alternative rock bands and singers. The Almost Acoustic Christmas takes place over a weekend in mid-December, and has in recent years been broadcast for free on KROQ-FM's website. [5] The festival started off as a one-day event, and every year between 1992 and 2019 (with the exception of 1999, which was a one-day event), it was held as a two-day festival. Since its return in 2022 after a three-year hiatus, the Almost Acoustic Christmas has been held as a one-day event.

From 1989 through 2012 the show took place at the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, except for 1998 where it was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, and in 1999 where it was held at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. After the Universal Amphitheatre closed in September 2013, the show performed again at the Shrine Auditorium in December 2013. In 2014 the event was moved to Kia Forum (then-The Forum) in Inglewood. In 2019, the show took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim and returned to the Kia Forum in 2022.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas concerts benefit Para Los Ninos and the Al Wooten Jr Heritage Center, plus other local charities.

In 1999, a compilation of live recordings, The Best of KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas, was released.

On December 18, 2009, KROQ-FM released a compilation called KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2009, a benefit album with proceeds benefiting Para Los Ninos and the Al Wooten Heritage Center.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas did not take place in 2020 and 2021.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas returned to the Kia Forum on December 10, 2022.

Line-ups

Bands listed in alphabetical order (or, if known, in reverse order of night's performance).

DateLineup
December 1, 1990 Dramarama, the Havalinas, Chris Isaak, the Posies, Social Distortion, Soho, the Trash Can Sinatras
December 21, 1991 Ian McCulloch, Alison Moyet, School of Fish, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Smithereens, This Picture, the Wonder Stuff
December 12–13, 1992 Adam Ant, David Byrne, Cause and Effect, the Cult, dada, Duran Duran, EMF, the Farm, Michael Penn, the Rembrandts, Seal, Soul Asylum, the Soup Dragons, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Suzanne Vega, the Violent Femmes
December 11–12, 1993

Night 1 (Saturday): Bad Religion, Belly, Tony Bennett, Cowboy Junkies, the Cranberries, 4 Non Blondes, General Public, Nick Heyward, Billy Idol, the Lemonheads, They Might Be Giants, the Wonder Stuff

Night 2 (Sunday): Belly, Blind Melon, Cracker, the Cranberries, Porno for Pyros, Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Henry Rollins, the Smashing Pumpkins, US3, the Violent Femmes,

December 10–11, 1994

Night 1 (Saturday): Stone Temple Pilots, Hole, Liz Phair, Mazzy Star, Live, Meat Puppets, Veruca Salt, Bad Religion, Luscious Jackson, Sunny Day Real Estate, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Brian Setzer Orchestra

Night 2 (Sunday): Simple Minds, the Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, Candlebox, the Cranberries, Live, Seal, Weezer, Love Spit Love, Dinosaur Jr.

December 17–18, 1995

Night 1 (Sunday): Bush, Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Joan Osborne, Oasis, Sonic Youth, the Presidents of the United States of America, Porno for Pyros, Foo Fighters, Toadies, No Doubt

Night 2 (Monday): Bush, Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Joan Osborne, Silverchair, Radiohead, Goo Goo Dolls, Garbage, Wesley Willis, Tripping Daisy, the Rentals

December 13–14, 1996

Night 1 (Saturday): Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, Garbage, Jewel, the Cardigans, Fiona Apple, Poe, Tracy Bonham

Night 2 (Sunday): Bush, 311, the Presidents of the United States of America, Beck, Orbital, Cake, Eels, Republica, the Wallflowers

December 5–6, 1997

Night 1 (Saturday): Jane's Addiction, No Doubt, Scott Weiland, Sarah McLachlan, Beck, Matchbox Twenty, Rancid, Fiona Apple, Smash Mouth, Blink-182, Sneaker Pimps, Chumbawamba

Night 2 (Sunday): David Bowie, Green Day, 311, Live, Sugar Ray, Third Eye Blind, Portishead, Save Ferris, Everclear, the Aquabats

December 11–12, 1998

Night 1 (Friday): Korn, the Offspring, Hole, Blink-182, Barenaked Ladies, Reel Big Fish, Sugar Ray, the Cardigans

Night 2 (Saturday): Depeche Mode, Billy Corgan, Garbage, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Goo Goo Dolls, Cake, Everlast, Semisonic, Soul Coughing

December 11, 1999

One Night (Saturday): Bush, Blink-182, Rob Zombie, Beck, Tori Amos, Foo Fighters, 311, Oasis, Fiona Apple, Save Ferris, Powerman 5000

December 16–17, 2000Night 1 (Saturday): Papa Roach, No Doubt, Deftones, Weezer, Moby, Incubus (w/ orchestra), Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Coldplay, At the Drive-In

Night 2 (Sunday): Green Day, Papa Roach, No Doubt, Deftones, Weezer, Moby, Incubus (w/ orchestra), Everclear, Disturbed, Linkin Park

December 8–9, 2001Night 1 (Saturday):Linkin Park, Blink-182, Staind, System of a Down, Bad Religion, P.O.D., Sum 41, Puddle of Mudd, Alien Ant Farm

Night 2 (Sunday):Linkin Park, Staind (acoustic), Bush, Foo Fighters, 311, No Doubt, Coldplay, Nickelback, Pete Yorn, Remy Zero, Travis (canceled)

December 7–8, 2002Night 1 (Saturday): P.O.D., Disturbed, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Sum 41, the Used, Zwan, New Found Glory, Trust Company, Taproot

Night 2 (Sunday): Creed, Coldplay, Beck (w/ the Flaming Lips), Jack Johnson, Dashboard Confessional, Good Charlotte, Jimmy Fallon, the Vines, Jurassic 5

December 13–14, 2003Night 1 (Saturday): Linkin Park (headliner), the Offspring, P.O.D., AFI, Pennywise, Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle, Thrice, the Distillers

Night 2 (Sunday): Korn (headliner), Blink-182, Jane's Addiction, 311, Staind, Rancid, Brand New, Jet, Trapt

December 11–12, 2004Night 1 (Saturday): Jimmy Eat World, Interpol, the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Gwen Stefani (special guest), Modest Mouse, Muse, Taking Back Sunday, the Shins, Keane, Snow Patrol, the Music

Night 2 (Sunday): Green Day (headliner), Velvet Revolver, Incubus, Social Distortion, Papa Roach, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, the Used, Chevelle, My Chemical Romance, Hoobastank (canceled)

December 10–11, 2005Night 1 (Saturday): System of a Down (headliner), Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice, Rise Against

Night 2 (Sunday): Depeche Mode (headliner), Coldplay, the White Stripes, Jack Johnson, the Bravery, Death Cab for Cutie, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf

December 9–10, 2006Night 1 (Saturday): Foo Fighters (headliner), AFI, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Papa Roach, +44, Wolfmother, Saosin

Night 2 (Sunday): Foo Fighters (headliner), the Killers, Beck, the Raconteurs, Evanescence, Panic! at the Disco, Angels & Airwaves, Gnarls Barkley, Snow Patrol, She Wants Revenge

December 8–9, 2007Night 1 (Saturday): Linkin Park (headliner), Bad Religion, Avenged Sevenfold, Rise Against, Serj Tankian, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore

Night 2 (Sunday): Muse (headliner), Jimmy Eat World, Modest Mouse, the Killers (surprise appearance), the Shins, Silversun Pickups, Feist, Spoon

December 13–14, 2008Night 1 (Saturday): The Offspring (headliner), Stone Temple Pilots, Rise Against, AFI, Staind, Three Days Grace, Slightly Stoopid, Hollywood Undead

Night 2 (Sunday): The Cure (headliner), the Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Paramore, Kanye West (Surprise Appearance), Franz Ferdinand, Scott Weiland, Snow Patrol, Vampire Weekend

December 12–13, 2009Night 1 (Saturday): AFI (headliner), Rise Against, Alice In Chains, Sublime with Rome (Surprise Appearance), Thirty Seconds to Mars, Three Days Grace, Dead By Sunrise, Anberlin

Night 2 (Sunday): Muse (headliner), 311, the Bravery, Slightly Stoopid, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Cage the Elephant, Metric, White Rabbits

December 11–12, 2010Night 1 (Saturday): The Smashing Pumpkins (headliner), Social Distortion, My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World, Bad Religion, Cake, the Dirty Heads, Anberlin, Switchfoot, A Day to Remember

Night 2 (Sunday): Phoenix (headliner), Vampire Weekend, Brandon Flowers, the Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, Neon Trees, the Temper Trap, Broken Bells, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

December 10–11, 2011Night 1 (Saturday): Blink-182 (headliner), 311, Social Distortion, Sublime with Rome, Bush, Chevelle, Young the Giant, New Found Glory (Cancelled: Incubus)

Night 2 (Sunday): Jane's Addiction (headliner), the Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Death Cab for Cutie, Florence and the Machine, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Cage the Elephant, Foster the People, the Naked and Famous, Grouplove

December 8–9, 2012Night 1 (Saturday): Linkin Park (headliner), Rise Against, Bush, Garbage, Slightly Stoopid, Awolnation, the Lumineers, Walk the Moon, the Gaslight Anthem, Two Door Cinema Club, Youngblood Hawke

Night 2 (Sunday): The Killers (headliner), Jack White, No Doubt (surprise appearance), fun., M83, Neon Trees, Passion Pit, Grouplove, Of Monsters and Men, Alex Clare, Imagine Dragons

December 7–8, 2013Night 1 (Saturday): Kings of Leon (headliner), Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age, AFI, Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, Grouplove, Foals, New Politics

Night 2 (Sunday): Arcade Fire (headliner), Phoenix, Lorde, The Neighbourhood, Capital Cities, Fitz and the Tantrums, Portugal. The Man with special guest Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, Bastille, Atlas Genius

December 13–14, 2014Night 1 (Saturday): System of a Down (headliner), Linkin Park, Incubus, Fall Out Boy, Bush, Rise Against, Walk the Moon, New Politics, Royal Blood

Night 2 (Sunday): No Doubt (headliner), The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Tears for Fears, Imagine Dragons, Modest Mouse, Interpol, Alt-J, Vance Joy (Canceled: U2)

December 12–13, 2015Night 1 (Saturday): Disclosure (DJ set), Weezer, Twenty One Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Bastille, Silversun Pickups, Awolnation, X Ambassadors, Foals, Halsey, The Struts

Night 2 (Sunday): Fall Out Boy (headliner), Of Monsters and Men, Chris Cornell, Cold War Kids, Panic! at the Disco, The Neighbourhood, The 1975, George Ezra, Elle King, James Bay, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

December 10–11, 2016Night 1 (Saturday): blink-182 (headliner), Kings of Leon, Jimmy Eat World, AFI, M83, X Ambassadors, The Strumbellas

Night 2 (Sunday): Green Day (headliner), Beck, Weezer, Bastille, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Phantogram, Bishop Briggs, The Head and the Heart

December 9–10, 2017Night 1 (Saturday): Muse (headliner), Thirty Seconds to Mars, Queens of the Stone Age, Rise Against, Prophets of Rage, Run The Jewels, Cold War Kids, Judah and the Lion, Royal Blood

Night 2 (Sunday): The Killers (headliner), Weezer, The Lumineers, Foster the People, Phoenix, Walk the Moon, Franz Ferdinand, X Ambassadors, Vance Joy (Cancelled: Morrissey)

December 8–9, 2018Night 1 (Saturday): The Smashing Pumpkins, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Third Eye Blind, Greta Van Fleet, Bad Religion, The Interrupters, AFI, AJR, Badflower

Night 2 (Sunday): Florence + The Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Bastille, Mike Shinoda, Billie Eilish, Young the Giant, Chvrches, Mike Posner, Lovelytheband

December 7–9, 2019Night 1 (Saturday): Cage the Elephant, Beck, Jimmy Eat World, Young the Giant, Angels & Airwaves, Cold War Kids, The Head and the Heart, Catfish and the Bottlemen

Night 2 (Sunday): Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, The 1975, The Raconteurs, Of Monsters and Men, The Interrupters, Lovelytheband, Matt Maeson

December 10, 2022One Night (Saturday): Imagine Dragons, The Black Keys, Social Distortion (replaced Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Death Cab For Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Yungblud, Måneskin, The Interrupters, Wet Leg
December 9, 2023One Night (Saturday): The Offspring, 311, Garbage, Portugal. The Man, Bleachers, Cannons, Lovejoy, Bakar, The Beaches (Red Hot Chili Peppers were slated to headline; however, on December 5, 2023, it was announced that one of the band members (John Frusciante) was injured and unable to perform for six weeks, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were replaced by 311. The Red Hot Chili Peppers played a makeup show on March 2, 2024 at the Kia Forum dubbed ‘KROQ’s March Two Re-Do’ with openers Alexsucks and Irontom.) [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Offspring</span> American rock band

The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn. The Offspring is often credited for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the 1990s. During their 40-year career, the Offspring has released 10 studio albums and sold more than 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling punk rock bands.

Forum or The Forum may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oingo Boingo</span> American new wave band

Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous. Their highest-charting song, "Weird Science", reached No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall</span> Large event venue in Los Angeles, California

The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles, California. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1975, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

KROQ Weenie Roast is a multi-artist music concert, presented annually in May by the Los Angeles, California, modern rock radio station KROQ-FM. Since its beginning in 1993, it has been traditionally held on a Saturday in May or June, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no editions of the festival since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kia Forum</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, U.S.

The Kia Forum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located on West Manchester Boulevard, with Pincay Drive to the south and between Kareem Court and Prairie Avenue to the east and west, it is north of SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Park Casino, and about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Amphitheatre</span> Indoor amphitheatre, formerly located at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Amphitheatre was an indoor amphitheatre located in Los Angeles, California within Universal City. It was built as an outdoor venue, opening in the summer of 1972 with a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. It was remodeled and converted into an indoor theatre in 1982 to improve acoustics. The amphitheater closed on September 6, 2013 and was demolished for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touring the Angel</span> 2005–06 concert tour by Depeche Mode

Touring the Angel was a 2005–06 concert tour by English electronic group Depeche Mode in support of the act's 11th studio album, Playing the Angel, which was released in October 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KROQ (1500 AM)</span> Radio station in Burbank, California (1952–1984)

KROQ was a radio station licensed to Burbank, California, serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

<i>Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace</i> 2008 studio album by the Offspring

Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band the Offspring, released on June 11, 2008, by Columbia Records. It was the band's first album of new material in five years, following 2003's Splinter, marking their longest gap between studio albums at the time. The Offspring had been working on new material since the fall of 2004, but showed no further signs of progress until November 2006, when they announced on their official website that they had begun recording with producer Bob Rock. The writing and recording process, spanning four years and three recording studios, was finally finished in April 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre</span> Former amphitheatre in Irvine, California

Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre was an amphitheater operating from 1981 to 2016 in Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Version 2.0 World Tour</span> 1998–99 concert tour by Garbage

The Version 2.0 World Tour was the second world concert tour cycle by American/Scottish alternative rock group Garbage, which took the band throughout North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia and Australia in support of its second album Version 2.0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jingle Balls</span> 1999 promotional single by Korn

"Jingle Balls" is a song recorded by the American nu metal band Korn during sessions of their third studio album, Follow the Leader. It was released in Australia as an exclusive sampler, along with the track "Wake Up", in 1999.

The KIIS-FM Jingle Ball is an annual concert produced by the Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM that takes place in early-to-mid December. Since 2000, the concert series has been staged at various venues around southern California, including the Shrine Auditorium and Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the Honda Center in Anaheim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KROQ-FM</span> Alternative rock radio station in Los Angeles

KROQ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Pasadena, California, serving the Greater Los Angeles. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format known as "The World Famous KROQ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">System of a Down Reunion Tour</span> 2011–15 concert tour by System of a Down

The Reunion Tour is a concert tour by American rock band System of a Down, celebrating the band's reunion, after going on hiatus in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Active Set</span> American rock band

The Active Set is an indie/alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 2007. The band consists of Matthew Stolarz, Alen Racedo (bass) and Jason Friday (guitar).

<i>California</i> Tour 2016–17 concert tour by Blink-182

The California Tour was a headlining concert tour by American rock band Blink-182 in support of the group's seventh studio album, California (2016). The tour began on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California and ended on September 22, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to the tour, the group embarked on the We Are Pirates Tour, performing at several festivals and amphitheaters between May and July 2016. Support acts on the initial, first leg of the California tour included A Day to Remember, and the All-American Rejects and All Time Low on certain dates. A second European tour in mid-2017 included guests Frank Turner, the Front Bottoms, and SWMRS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speed (Billy Idol song)</span> 1994 single by Billy Idol

"Speed" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, originally included in the soundtrack of the eponymous film. It was written by himself and by guitarist Steve Stevens, and released in August 1994 as the film's main song through Arista Records worldwide and Chrysalis Records in the United States.

The Cleopatra World Tour was the second concert tour by American folk rock band the Lumineers, in support of their second studio album, Cleopatra (2016). The tour began in Bristol on April 14, 2016, and concluded on December 10, 2017, in Inglewood.

References

  1. 1 2 "Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garbage and The Offspring lead KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2023 line-up". NME.com . Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. "Ninth Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas". variety.com . Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  3. "KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas". variety.com . Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  4. "12 of the biggest acts and surprises to happen at KROQ's Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas". ocregister.com . Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  5. "The World Famous KROQ". Kroq.com. 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  6. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=895880191902338&set=a.287820276041669 [ bare URL ]
  7. Kelli Skye Fadroski (December 10, 2023). "KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas: The Offspring, Garbage, 311 and more rip through Kia Forum". Daily Breeze . Retrieved December 10, 2023.