Mr. Blotto was born in Chicago as an off-night vehicle for musicians who loved each others playing but were in different bands at the time. The only rule was that they would only play what they loved. That philosophy continues today and has led Mr. Blotto into unique musical situations.

Mr. Blotto takes the Jam band asthetic into areas unfamiliar to the standard Jam Scene. They have been known to cover entire albums by Led Zeppelin and the Who as well as perform entire shows of Country and Reggae. Artists as diverse as the Grateful Dead, the Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson and The Velvet Underground have seen their material interpreted by Mr. Blotto in the 2000+ shows the band has performed in the last 15 years, yet covers only pepper the bands hefty catalog of original material stemming from five studio albums and other unreleased crowd favorites.

TnJ is a 7 year old professional improv psychafunk project, started as a Jason and Toast / drums and synths improv power duo act, with some new blood that will knock your socks off with lazer guitar solos, funked out bass lines, dance beats from heaven and synth magic that will melt your mind! Jason and Toast, who was the last drummer for The Heavils, decided after an improv duo jam session one night to present their brass balls to the world! The music sounded so raw that night that they decided to Just Do IT and book a show a month, for a year, and did it! At the time they were both playing in The Reggie, a rockin reggae group in Rockford, IL with two RAMI awards. They only practiced once more as TnJ in that whole year! They also invited a different guest artist or two, that they knew could handle it, per show to add to the fun. They pulled it off Gloriously with radical reviews then took a break for a few years as they concentrated on other projects.. Jason completed his first solo album last year which definitely kicked TnJ back into high gear! They’ve recently added Shawn Williams and Jose Suarez who fit right in with their improv skills, style and killer imaginations! Let’s dance!!

The SoulBillys plays American roots rock & originals. The band was formed in 2013 by Ray Ramirez and Lloyd Brodnax King. They are often accompanied by satellite members Sara Allen, Chuck Sansone and Johnse Holt.