Freakin' Neighbors

Although music on local television has not had much staying power, KNSD-TV resumed its weekly “Concerts on the Square” last month.

Taped outdoors at Horton Square (225 Broadway, next to the station’s studios), the music series is part of KNSD’s Streetside San Diego program and airs every Friday at 11 a.m. between May and October. Thirty artists take part each season. Playing under a canopy, performers do one song on air and then a full lunchtime set, which is broadcast live via the station’s website. The concert is free to the public.

Concerts on the Square has been a part of KNSD’s programming since 2002 but was integrated into Streetside San Diego in 2005. The concert portion of the show is cosponsored by KPRI-FM. This season, KNSD brings aboard Astra Kelly, the host of KPRI’s Saturday-night Homegrown Hour music show. Kelly will handle band segments, including interviews.

“She fits into our demographic,” says producer Shanna Schwarze, “which includes a bit of everything from college students to housewives.”

According to Schwarze, the artists included in the series are chosen by KPRI and generally fit into the station’s Triple A (adult album alternative) format. Although the musicians taking part are primarily local, national acts are worked into the schedule.

Schwarze, who is a former DJ at SDSU’s student-run radio station KCR, notes that “We have a lot of neighbors, so we have noise issues…that’s why there isn’t any heavy metal.”

– Bart Mendoza