Meet Kim Grant | Freelance Music Publicist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Grant and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kim, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
You don’t get rich working in the music business! Most people end up in the business because of their love for music, the sense of community it brings, and the thrill of discovering new acts.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I came to Los Angeles in 2001 with a background in event planning. I came with no job, but had dozens of job interviews lined up and felt pretty confident in securing employment. A month after I arrived, 9/11 happened and my job prospects just went away. No one was throwing parties that year. I was working in the service industry when my friend Pam Moore approached me. She told me she knew a booker at The Echo nightclub, Liz Garo, who was looking for creative ways to draw people out on Sunday nights. So we three got together and cooked up an idea for an early show on Sunday nights that focused on country and Americana music. We called it The Grand Ole Echo and it took off organically. It was a hit. As a matter of fact, the GOE is in its 20th year this season, which just kicked off on April 6th. I am no longer the promoter/booker for the show, that honor goes to Ben Reddell who took over for me in 2012.
I really liked working on the GOE, and so began looking for a job in the music industry. I took a year’s internship at Fly PR with Ilka Erren Pardinas learning the ropes of publicity. Ilka was a fantastic boss and mentor, not even batting an eye at my age. I was 40 at the time, so a bit long in the tooth for an intern, but let that be a lesson not to play by anyone else’s rules! Eventually, musicians I worked with discovered that I was working in publicity and began asking me to work campaigns for their new records. It snowballed from there and now I’ve been freelancing in the music publicity business for 16 years. There are tedious parts to the job, but there is also fun! I get to hear live music a lot as part of my job and once a year I head to Nashville for a really fun week during Americanafest, where I get to meet up with friends in the music business and musicians from all over the world.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Right now, my partner (drummer Justin Smith) and I are displaced from Altadena, CA due to the Eaton Fires. Unfortunately, we lost our house as did many. We’re in temporary housing in Temple City which is a suburb I was unfamiliar with, but I’ve been exploring around here. For some of the best Thai food I would say try President Thai on Rosemead Boulevard. Justin gets the Prik King and I’m a fan of the Crying Tiger. There’s also a place called The Dive that’s walking distance from where we are staying. I highly recommend the oysters and they have a great hot dish of mussels and clams that is out of this world. A little further down the road in Alhambra, we discovered an excellent Mexican food restaurant called, Spanglish Kitchen. There’s no dining in, you just pick it up, but everything on the menu is good. Also in Alhambra is an ice cream parlor that’s been open since 1941 called Fosselman’s. It’s the only place I’ve been able to find banana ice cream.
As far as outings, if I’m going out to meet friends for drinks it will probably be in the SGV (San Gabriel Valley)! We’re trying to support Altadena and the small businesses that have reopened there, so definitely hit up The Good Neighbor Bar (2311 Lincoln Ave, Altadena, CA 91001) and you can pop in next door to the wine shop they own, West Altadena Wine Shop and get a bottle or two from their knowledgeable staff. I also meet friends at Lucky Baldwins in Sierra Madre, and you can pop across the street to The Bucaneer and catch locals bands. A couple of Justin’s bands, Generic Clapton and Old Californio play there frequently.
The live music scene is alive and well in Los Angeles. Some of my favorite places to catch bands are The Regent Theatre in downtown L. A., The Escondite downtown, Gold Diggers Bar in hollywood, Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, Zebulon Cafe in Frogtown, and of course, The Grand Ole Echo Sunday nights (doors at 4pm) in Echo Park!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to Ilka Erren Paradinas of Fly PR and Cary Baker of Conqueroo PR (now retired) and music promoter, Liz Garo for mentoring me. A big shoutout to the Americana music community at large and to the tight knit scene we have here in Southern California of which I consider myself a part of.
Website: https://kgmusicpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kgmusicpress/ or @kgmusicpress
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimgrantkgmp/
Twitter: NOPE!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KGMusicPress/
Image Credits
All band photos taken by me on my iphone
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
