Live, in Photos: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2024 at Kia Forum

EventsLive, In Photos

Live, in Photos: Audacy’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2024 at Kia Forum

The Smashing Pumpkins, Franz Ferdinand, The Linda Lindas, Jimmy Eat World, and more from the annual LA event’s 33rd year.

Words: FLOOD Staff

Photos: Skylar Watkins

December 16, 2024

For those who were raised in Southern California in the ’80s and ’90s, KROQ was just as much a part of the music culture as the artists they played were. Dating back to 1989, the station has celebrated that connection with their annual Almost Acoustic Christmas concerts benefiting local charities. While the “acoustic” part was likely tossed aside the moment the likes of Rage Against the Machine and Bad Religion graced their stages in the early days, they’ve long hosted a who’s who of alternative, indie, pop, and rock royalty over the years, including Radiohead, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Oasis, Depeche Mode, and Jane’s Addiction.

Almost Acoustic Christmas returned to the legendary Kia Forum this past weekend for their 33rd annual concert, featuring some familiar names from the ’90s including The Smashing Pumpkins (who’ve played the event multiple times over the past 30 years), Beck (another Acoustic Xmas vet, returning for his eighth appearance!), 311, and Sublime, along with some artists who weren’t even alive when those artists made their KROQ debuts (The Linda Lindas and bby). This year’s edition benefitted two great organizations: Para Los Niños and the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center.

FLOOD photographer Skylar Watkins was in the house to document the proceedings. Check out highlights below.