Everyone says there's something special about a Pop-Up Magazine event. Everyone, that is, who's actually attended. The rest of us have to take their word for it, since one of the hallmarks of a Pop-Up Mag event is that nothing gets filmed, recorded or preserved for TED-esque posting upon the digital morass of YouTube, Facebook or Instagram.
But you don't have to miss out. For this month's Pop-Up Mag event on Sept. 30 – a collaboration with indie music promoters Noise Pop – KQED is giving away two pairs of tickets to this one-night only show at Berkeley's scenic Greek Theater.
In honor of the anniversary of the famed “Golden Record,” a copper LP of music and salutations sent into space on the spacecraft Voyager, the evening is billed as 'The Golden State Record,' and features stories and presentations from musicians, music writers, editors and more.
At the top of the lineup is Lil B, the East Bay rapper who parlayed brief success with his regional rap group The Pack into one of hip-hop's strangest and most endearing solo careers. There are many reasons to see Lil B, which we've enumerated before, but after the reviews of his lecture at NYU a few years ago, a spoken-word appearance by the Based God himself should be utterly memorable.
Other musicians on the bill include Bethany Cosentino, from the surf-punk band Best Coast; the Southern California soul singer Georgia Anne Muldrow; head-turning electro singer Shamir; the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and more. Authors and writers include Naomi Zeichner, editor-in-chief at Fader; Al Letson from Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting; and writers for the New York Times, Mother Jones and more. (Full lineup here.)