Three years ago, deep in the pandemic, I wondered: Is there a single source where you can learn about all the music coming out of the Bay Area? I wanted to know because, even as someone born and raised here, I had internalized the “fact” that music here is dead. All the best bands already moved to LA. Nobody can compete with New York. If you’re serious, you would already be in London or Berlin. We started White Crate to see if all that was really true.
Not sure it’s possible to be more wrong. Within a month of creating the White Crate newsletter, I was drowning in new music from Oakland, San Francisco, the entire Bay Area. And the quality was astounding. Starting out clueless in my own backyard, I began to find my way to new artists creating inspiring, boundary-expanding music from the heart. Week after week after week. Three years later, and this hasn’t changed: We continue coming across more great artists every week. The only thing that has changed? We’re no longer surprised.
In celebration of the third anniversary of this project, we’re hosting a party at Mothership next Saturday, November 18. We’re super proud to be joined by a few of our favorite DJs from some of the most deeply caring and connected local crews:
SWALK
Lonald J. Bandz
DJ Juanny (Amor Digital)
Ritchrd (No Bias)
Huge love to everyone who has inspired us to keep White Crate going. Thank you to all the curators and tastemakers here that have been doing this long before us. Thank you to all the people providing infrastructure—venues, publications, labels—for local music. Thank you to all the music lovers following us here. Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter. Thank you for listening to our Lower Grand Radio show and attending our events. Thank you for coming up and saying hi randomly and expressing your love for what we do. And the most massive heartfelt thank you to all the artists—you’re the only reason this project exists.
Bay Area Music Love!
💜 White Crate is lovingly run by Elliot Engel and Ronny Kerr with support from Elise Mills, Jody Amable, and many more amazing people.
🍉 We’ll have the first-ever White Crate t-shirts for sale at the anniversary party, and we’re donating all proceeds to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. We never forget that the Bay Area is native land, and the struggle for indigenous liberation is intertwined across continents. Free Palestine.
See you next Saturday!
