A Tribute to Kevin Diers
A Tribute to Kevin Diers
Let’s Talk About The Music is deeply saddened to announce the passing of a truly incredible individual, Mr. Kevin Diers of Loud and Local. Kevin was an icon of the PNW music scene and will be sorely missed. LTATM wrote about his accomplishments and the amazing man himself in this blog.
Blessed Be my friend, until we meet again.
"This is 99.9 KISW Loud and Local with Kevin Diers.” To the great regret of the Pacific Northwest music community, this vibrant host turned off his mic and hung up his headphones for the last time on May 8, 2025.
A local band promoter Ken Flash Connel expressed the sentiments of many with a post on Facebook:
"Damn, the local scene has lost its voice. RIP Kevin Diers. My first interactions with him were back at Hell's Kitchen when he was on KGRG. Always a positive force in the local scene making sure it was represented on the radio. You will be missed by many. Rest easy brother"
I saw this comment on my FB feed as I was drinking my morning coffee and getting ready to start my day of working on Let’s Talk About the Music. Now, I am one of those people who immediately investigates the truth of such statements, so I quickly checked the Load and Local Community Facebook group. I saw multitudes of PNW musicians pouring out heartfelt tributes and farewells to a man who has contributed so much to the local music scene.
I was just starting my redevelopment of LTATM at the KGRG radio station when I first heard about Kevin’s Local and Local podcast. (Although off the air now, KGRG was part of Green River College’s campus for over 50 years.) I don’t recall when Kevin and I first met, but I vividly remember feeling like we were old friends from the very beginning. We both shared a strong passion for promoting local independent musicians, from established legends to new and upcoming bands.
When I was part of KGRG from 2018 to 2023, Kevin frequently messaged me, asking how things were going and about the station’s future. As KGRG transitioned to 89.9theCurrent in 2024, he and several of the KGRG alumni were invited back for a final goodbye to the famous college station that kick-started many musical careers, including Nirvana’s.
I would listen to Kevin’s podcast on Spotify, as I always missed the live Sunday show on 99.9 KISW. When he promoted the Loud and Local Fest in 2024, I made sure I was there to support him and the musicians invited to perform, writing an enthusiastic review on LTATM—although I regrettably still cannot find my photos of the event.
Spotify lists 231 episodes of Loud and Local, but Kevin may have produced others before he departed from the stage for the last time. I am still in shock as I write this tribute, and I am fighting back tears as I read everyone's memories of this incredible individual. Many wonderful articles have been posted about Kevin Diers; one shares how Loud and Local’s place on the airwaves was secured when he won a contest on KISW—thus initiating his successful campaign to get local independent musicians the coverage and promotion they deserve.
Regrettably, KGRG left the air waves in 2024, but you can still access it on Tunein.
KGRG
The station that guided many of us in our careers, including Kevin
Kevin & Shels
Discussing podcasts.
