Slamdance: '40 Watts From Nowhere'

In a previous life, I hosted a pirate radio show in San Francisco, so this new documentary is a particularly exciting story for me — and anyone who longs for a simpler time on the airwaves. L.A.’s pirate radio station KBLT was at its height in the late '90s and footage from that era is the subject of 40 Watts From Nowhere, showing at the 2025 Slamdance festival this Saturday and Monday. The film is the story of a young woman “who loved music but hated commercial radio” and her fledgling operation grew into a station that eventually hosted live performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. It’s a unique slice of L.A. music history captured on film.

Written by our Best Things To Do columnist, Laura Hertzfeld. See her full columns here.