The Rides, featuring the legendary Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg, made their debut on Sunday, Nov. 3, joining performers Lucinda Williams and LP for public radio station 88.5-FM KCSN/Los Angeles’ 2013 Benefit Concert at the Valley Performing Arts Center. Photo by Jeff Fasano Photography.

The third annual KCSN/88.5 FM Benefit Concert, held at California State University, Northridge’s Valley Performing Arts Center, brought another great lineup to the San Fernando Valley on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The event, attended by more than 1400 people, kicked off at 7:30 p.m. with Los Angeles-based LP. LP and her band were followed by famed contemporary artist Lucinda Williams. Taking the stage as the final act was the debut band, The Rides, comprised of the legendary Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg.

“We are grateful to everyone who supported the KCSN Benefit Concert No. 3,” said KCSN General Manager and Program Director Sky Daniels. “Our deepest appreciation goes to The Rides — Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Barry Goldberg — Lucinda Williams, LP,  and their labels and management. Our thanks go to the great staff of the Valley Performing Arts Center, a true treasure for the  Los Angeles music community.  We send a special thanks  to all of the fans that came to the show. It was a magical evening of ‘true believers’ gathering together to celebrate music.”

Los Angeles-based performer LP. Photo by Jeff Fasano Photography.

LP’s appearance at the concert continues KCSN’s tradition of showcasing the most promising of local Los Angeles talents. LP began her music career as a songwriter for pop stars such as Rihanna and Christina Aguilera. In 2004, she released the album “Sprawl and Alcohol,” but it was her South by Southwest performance of “Into the Wild” that grabbed the attention of many labels. Eventually signing on with Warner Bros. Records, she released the album “Into the Wild” in 2012. While singing, LP plays a ukelele to the beat of her band. Esquire and Vogue magazines last year both featured LP as an “artist to watch.” She has been described as “a cross between a young Bob Dylan and Marc Bolan.”

Lucinda Williams. Photo by Jeff Fasano Photography.

Lucinda Williams is a KCSN icon and has been hailed by Time magazine as “America’s best songwriter.” In the last 30 years, she has made a name for herself, starting with her Grammy-winning album “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road.” Her next two Grammys were for her song “Get Right with God” and for writing Mary Chapin Carpenter’s hit, “Passionate Kisses.” The three-time Grammy winner’s most recent effort, “Blessed,” was nominated for “Best Americana Album” at last year’s Grammys. Along with her recent nominations, the song “Kiss Like Your Kiss,” found on her “Blessed” album, is featured on the hit HBO series “True Blood.”

Launching a new chapter in the storied careers of its members, The Rides — which Stills dubs “the blues band of my dreams” — is powered by the explosive addition of bassist Kevin McCormick and Shepherd’s longtime drummer Chris Layton, who is also a veteran of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s band Double Trouble. The Rides’ debut album, “Can’t Get Enough,” helmed by longtime Shepherd producer Jerry Harrison, demonstrates the guitar-hero status of both Stills and Shepherd, featuring a hard-hitting mix of Stills-, Goldberg- and Shepherd-penned blues/rock originals, and classic blues tunes.

Past annual KCSN Benefit Concerts have featured such celebrated artists as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Jackson Browne.

As a service of California State University, Northridge, KCSN offers a 24-hour, commercial-free blend of rock, Alternative, soul, blues and Americana, including a wide range of artists such as Adele, Bruce Springsteen, Mumford & Sons, Arcade Fire, Steve Earle and Kings of Leon. The station’s programming is also available on the station’s HD1 channel and online at KCSN.org.

KCSN, LP, Lucinda Williams, Stephen Stills, The Rides