EVENING UNDERGROUND
Rock bangers with a Southern Flair. The best hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today! 🤘
MODEL-J
GLITTER. GRIT. PUNK.
CHICAGO’S MOST GLAMOROUS GARAGE BAND.
JOHN INGHRAM BAND
John Inghram, an accomplished bassist, songwriter, and producer, has left an undeniable musical imprint on his native Appalachia and beyond. Renowned for his virtuosity on the bass, Inghram’s career has been punctuated by dynamic collaborations with a wide range of musical luminaries. From jazz with legends like mentor Bob Thompson, Larry Coryell, or Jane Monheit to country, rock, and jam artists such as Tim O’Brien, Sierra Ferrell, Fletcher’s Grove and Vince Herman, Inghram’s bass lines have been the backbone of many unforgettable performances.
As a songwriter, Inghram has woven genre-bending tales that resonate with emotion and depth. His writing prowess extends beyond basslines, showcasing a unique ability to craft sonic landscapes that linger in the hearts and ears of listeners. In the studio, Inghram is a skilled producer and brings a keen ear and creative vision to the forefront of any project he is working on.
Inghram’s multifaceted musical journey stands as a testament to his unwavering passion for the craft, leaving an enduring legacy that transcends genres and captivates audiences.
FRANK RAINES OF FUNKNIGHT
COUPLE 2 TRIO
Three members of the highly praised Chicago Latin Funk band ESSO join forces to present a mix of acoustic & electronic sounds coming from drums, bass, & sax; Couple2Trio has a firm foundation in the funk, a headspace facing towards jazz’z outer space, & you know we got love for these streets. If that sounds good to you, come give a listen to our particular brand of sonic brew.
LUSCIA JANE
Luscia Jane is a 6-piece Forest Funk band from Chicago with a unique style that blends soul, psychedelic rock, jazz, world, folk, and funk, embodies inspiration from nature, and holds environmental activism via spiritual connection at the helm of its message.
DOUG SHORTS W/ MASTER PLAN INC
Born Frederick Douglas Shorts and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Doug grew up surrounded by music. He came from a deeply musical family and was inspired early on by his six uncles, all excellent singers. Although they wouldn’t let young Doug sing with them, their rejection lit a fire in him that would never go out.
Doug was a member of several vocal groups, starting with The Mannequins, his high school group. Right out of high school, he joined Dakar Records’ recording group The Visitors. After a short tour, he left to form his own unit. While studying at the Jerry Butler Songwriters Workshop, Doug was mentored by legendary producer Calvin Carter.
In 1974, Doug and a group of friends formed Master Plan Inc., a self-contained funk band. They recorded for Brunswick Records, and their tune “Something to Be Done” became an underground soul classic. Master Plan Inc. toured the Midwest and Canada throughout the ’70s and ’80s before disbanding.
In 2012, Doug Shorts returned as a solo artist, releasing music on Cherries Records, Daptone Records, and his own label, Yawl’s Music Productions. His single “Get With the Program” opened many new doors and gained him fans around the world.
As a result of this renewed success, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year, with new releases coming via Love Touch Records (Toronto), Funk Night Records (Detroit), and Yawl’s Music Productions (Chicago).
Doug also has an ongoing collaboration with Chicago underground rapper Robust. Together, they’ve created several genre-blending tracks. Their single “Life Ain’t Eazy” was released in April 2025 on the Yawl’s label.
SUMMERBRUISE
Summerbruise was founded in 1969 by Paul Rangus in Indianapolis, Indiana. Paul built his business on the premise, “Quality is our Recipe®,” which remains the guidepost of the Summerbruise system. Summerbruise is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef*, freshly-prepared salads with hand-chopped lettuce, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty® dessert. The Summerbruise Company (NASDAQ: WEN) is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. Today, Summerbruise and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 6,600 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world’s most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at summerbruise69@gmail.com or on Twitter and Instagram using @summerbruise69, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/summerbruise69.
LEISURE HOUR
midwest emo/ pop punk from muncie, indiana
all for you, till we’re through
FACHOSO
Desde la tierra de la torta ahogada con ustedes FACHOSO
NOTHING BUT SILENCE
Post-Punk/ New Jack wave band.
Southside, Chicago
Edgar Torres- Bass
Rudy De Anda- Guitar
Eric B- Lead Vox/ Guitar
CARLY COSGROVE
Rising from the fiercely DIY Philadelphia underground, CARLY COSGROVE graft achingly vulnerable lyrics atop a bed of mathy rhythms, intricate guitar work and a penchant for indie-rock cool meets emo authenticity. Their debut album, 2022’s See You In Chemistry, was the sound of figuring life out in real time, tracing personal growth through anxiety, depression, and self-actualization – heavy subjects for a band originally formed as a low-stress side-project stopgap in 2018. “Every record feels like me answering the question, ‘How are you doing?’” says singer/guitarist Lucas Naylor. “I don’t know much, but I know myself better than basically anything else.”
That quest for the answers to life’s big questions is once again front and center on the band’s second album, THE CLEANEST OF HOUSES ARE EMPTY, as Naylor, bassist Helen Barsz, and drummer Tyler Kramer find themselves face to face with the chronic emotional struggles of life in the modern age. From the stop-start polyrhythms of first single “You Old Dog” and garage-rock sheen of “Random Dancing” and “What Are You, A Cop,” which sounds like Motion City Soundtrack filtering “Everlong” through their idiosyncratic rock tilt, The Cleanest Of Houses is the type of record Carly Cosgrove simply couldn’t have made last time – not musically, and certainly not emotionally. They needed to live, through hard touring and harder life experiences.
ENDY B
Poet📓 Screenwriter 📝 Rapper 🎤
Im Not A Rapper, I Just Like To Write ✍🏽
MYEKEHL
mikey from da midwest.
CHAIRMAN ALLEN
PosterBoy
Father – Husband
Unifier – Connecter – Revolutionary
T STAR VERSE
T Star Verse is a rapper and entertainer from the south and west sides of Chicago, she began her music career at 12 years old and has been able to get people to have fun, feel like a boss b***h, and speak their truth. Being that T Star Verse is a female rapper from Chicago, a lot of people expect her sound to be either drill or hypersexual, but she is big on expressing her authenticity and experiences through her story-telling and array of flows. Her sound is versatile filled with high energy and some vibey moments. Welcome to the T Star Verse!
RECOECHI
Recoechi was born and raised on the south-east side of Chicago. He grew up during the Chief Keef era of Chicago Hip Hop. When he discovered other artists like Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole it unlocked another dimension for him and inspired him to use music as a way to describe and change his environment and those around him. Recoe is heavily involved in community organizing – working with Healthy Hood Chi and his own EastSide Collection , which was co-founded by the producer C-Sick.
Musically, Recoe’s name has been bubbling in the Chicago music scene since late 2023 when he linked up with producers such as C-Sick, Renzell, and Thelonious Martin, as well as caught the eye of Sway Calloway and local outlets like Illanoize Radio and The Chicago Reader.
MARTI X
Marti X is a visionary hip-hop artist whose music weaves soulful melodies with unapologetic storytelling. Raised in Chicago, Marti’s artistry reflects the heartbeat of his community and a deep connection to his roots. His lyrics often champion Black identity, resilience, and unity, delivering a bold and authentic sound that uplifts and inspires.
Influenced by legends like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Kanye West, Marti’s work blends introspection with sharp social commentary. From the revolutionary themes of Conscious Spirit Thug to the creative versatility of Ditties Vol. 1, his discography reflects his evolution as an artist and his commitment to elevating the culture. With his forthcoming project, The Breakup Pack, Marti explores love, heartbreak, and healing with the same fearless honesty that defines his craft.
Marti X’s music is a celebration of Black excellence and individuality, offering listeners a journey that is as empowering as it is entertaining.
PRINCE DRIVE
Prince Drive’s music is a heartfelt, eccentric, fun approach to lyricism. The vision is to keep hiphop alive but never confine to one genre as an artist. The music he makes reflects the issues of life and worldly issues viewed through personal own experiences and perception. As for some who like to run away from their individuality, he runs, towards it.
LUMINATOR
Luminator is a fantasy power metal band based out of Seattle/Tacoma WA.
BLIND OATH
Wretched Warriors and Devout Defenders of the TrÜest of Faiths.
Tulsa, OK USA
FIRES IN THE DISTANCE
Melodic Death Metal from CT, USA
WANTED
Formed in the summer of 2021, WANTED is a band with the distinct goal of resurrecting traditional loud, and melodic styles of heavy metal that ruled the airwaves in the mid to late 1980s. The band’s main influences consist of Dokken, Ratt, and Van Halen. WANTED was put together in the VERY small town of Leonard, MI (a mile east of Oxford, MI).
Initially consisting of Jon Rochefski (Vocals), Jameson Clark (Drums), Alan Mares (Lead Guitar), Christian Shonts (2nd Guitar) and Nathan Reschak (Bass guitar), the band played local restaurants and organized backyard parties throughout late 2021. After a few months of doing so, the band went to the studio to record their single “Let Me”, released in February of 2022
Paul Slezak was picked to take on the spot as bassist in March of 2022
Nate Peck was recruited as lead vocals in May of 2022 in order to better fit the sound the band was aiming for. After some cool success with American Idol, Nate had to leave and work on a different project in Nashville , granting Sterling Primeau the spot as lead vocals
The band put out their album “Cutting Edge” on June 27th, 2025, and it has been their most recent effort since.
(Current Lineup) Lead Vocals – Sterling Primeau Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals- Alan Mares Rhythm Guitar – Christian Shonts Bass Guitar – Paul Slezak Drums – Chris Rajt
TROUBLE
Trouble is an American metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s. A critically acclaimed group, their first two albums, Psalm 9 and The Skull are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, Trouble has released nine studio albums including their latest release,”The Distortion Field” (July 2013 on FRW Music) featuring new singer Kyle Thomas. “The Distortion Field” was listed in CMJ’s Top 50 Rock Albums of the Year and came in at #125 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums Chart, and #25 on the Top New Artist Albums Chart (Heatseekers).
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
For more than thirty years, fans of symphonic melodic metal act Rhapsody Of Fire have been able to rely on one thing: there’s nothing half-hearted about this band. Rhapsody Of Fire mastermind and founder Alex Staropoli looks back at an impressive record of 14 studio albums, three EPs and two live recordings to date, all marked by lots of heart and soul, passion and a virtually inexhaustible wealth of ideas. Since 1993, the Italian keyboardist has been hailed as the creator of the film score metal genre and his band as one of the most charismatic acts worldwide. In addition, Staropoli has enlisted a highly creative first-rate guitarist in Roby De Micheli, who joined the fold in 2011, contributing lots of gritty metal riffs and virtuoso solos to contrast the band’s symphonic orchestral style. Their latest studio album ‘Challenge The Wind’ is marked by Staropoli and De Micheli’s zest and energy, but also by a number of surprises. The most obvious one: “Compared to all previous Rhapsody Of Fire releases, the current album consists exclusively of up-tempo numbers, not a single ballad in sight,” reveals the composer and keyboardist. “None of our other records have featured as much pure, unadulterated metal as ‘Challenge The Wind’!”
UNCLE SEXY AND FRIENDS
Featuring members of : Pat Egan and the Heavy Hearts, Harlem Natural, Rocks off, Tongues Unknown, The Magpies, The Deadbolts and more!
THE TREETOPS
We play music and also our skin feels weird on our bodies | Chicago
HENRY HOLDEN
Henry Holden is an indie-folk singer-songwriter originally from San Francisco and now based in Chicago. He began writing music in college and released his first EP in 2019, followed by his debut full-length album in 2021. Henry first gained traction on TikTok and Instagram by posting performance videos, which helped him build an early audience.
He started recording music in his apartment, and every song on Spotify is fully self-recorded and self-produced. His first album, Playing House, marked a turning point, and his second album, Runaway Child, followed in 2023. He is currently working on his third album, with plans to release it in 2026.
Influenced by Bon Iver, John Mayer, Noah Kahan, Jim Croce, and James Taylor, Henry’s style blends modern indie-folk with classic songwriter roots. As a member of the SoFar Sounds Chicago artist community, he regularly performs at venues across the city, bringing a reflective, heartfelt presence to every stage.
STANCZYK
thomas max erik keaton jon
BLUFF CITY
Bluff City an R&B group that consists of 3 humble down south young men. Frank, Trevante, & Keem. Using their vocal versatility in their songs sets them a part and puts them in their own lane currently. R&B groups have been underrated for sometime now but these fellas have the formulas and the substance to bring it back full force! Check Bluff City out now on all social media outlets at @itsbluffcity
KIDD KENN
Kidd Kenn is finally growing up. The Chicago rapper, named in homage to his idol Nicki Minaj (you know, like Barbie’s boyfriend), broke out when he was just a high school freshman with gleefully gay twists on street hits from his hometown, most virally FBG Duck’s “Slide.” He built on the hype with a string of projects—Childish, Child’s Play, and Problem Child—that lean into the image of a precocious rascal flinging spitballs and texting your boyfriend from the back of the bus. But now, after years of nurturing his rep as a problem child, Kenn realized something about himself. “I’m old as fuck,” the 19-year-old says with a laugh. Kenn’s new EP on 4th and Broadway/Def Jam Recordings, Grown, fashions a new mold. He’s rapping with the wisdom and self-understanding of an adult
YDOTGDOT
OutwestFreak & SouthsideFreak & EastsideFreak
Inspired by rap icons; such as T.I./Tupac /Young Jeezy and Jay Z. YdotGdot learned by the age of 15, how to rap like the best and entertain like the greats.
SHERRIONN
ᑕᕼIᑕᗩGOᔕ ᖇᑎᗷ ᗷᒪᑌE ᑭᖇIᑎT🧸
Singer | Songwriter | Entertainer
Lil M.U.
Lil M.U. is a rising female rap artist from the heart of Chicago’s South Side—Englewood—bringing raw energy, authenticity, and culture to the mic. Having officially launched her rap career in October 2024, Lil M.U. is already carving out a lane that’s all her own. Her sound is a vibrant fusion of her roots, rhythm, and resilience. With a deep background in dance and DJing, Lil M.U. doesn’t just make music—she creates a full-bodied experience that hits hard in the streets and on the stage. Her lyrics reflect the real stories of her community, blending sharp flows with beats that celebrate her heritage and hometown hustle. Whether she’s spitting bars or spinning tracks, Lil M.U. stands for movement—of bodies, of minds, and of culture. She’s not just repping the South Side—she’s redefining it.
AREN’T WE AMPHIBIANS
Aren’t We Amphibians make chaotic and cathartic anthems for anyone who finds beauty in the world despite all the reasons not to. On their debut full-length, Parade! Parade!, the San Diego-based trio transform the emo playbook into something weirdly joyful and instantly memorable. The act of “parading,” in the band’s context, is the opposite of wallowing; taking all of your past experiences, good or bad, and using them as a means to appreciate the fact you made it this far at all.
Formed by lifelong friends Joshua Talbot (he/him; vocalist and guitarist), Brandon Cunningham (he/him; drummer) and his brother Tyler Cunningham (he/him, bassist), Aren’t We Amphibians–AWA–is a true testament to growing up with your band, not just bouncing from one to the other. Every awkward phase of life has led to the creation of Parade! Parade!, and they’ve experienced it all together. This album marks both their mission statement and a map to their future; a commitment to continue finding light amidst the wreckage of life.
FOOTBALLHEAD
Footballhead is a Chicago-based alternative rock band headed by Ryan Nolen. At its heart, the band is a vessel to toil forward through internal and external insecurity. It also serves the unrelenting spirit of new-millennium Midwestern youth, with MTV and skatepark dreams in the core of their memories. By blending pop structures with alt and emo sounds, Footballhead channels the frantic, dramatic, and anthemic to map the pressure points of existence. It’s outcast music, revitalized in search of a modern, blissful awakening.
Nolen was a skate kid from the western Chicago suburbs; the one who only kicked it with older neighborhood kids. The punkish attitude of late-90s and early-aughts alt-rock galvanized Nolen, from the infectiously fun music down to the fashion. A teenage relocation to Palm Springs, CA coincided with Nolen inundating himself with all the music he could: Warped Tour, 411 videos, Limewire and the like. The Footballhead ethos comes from this comfort zone of pop impulses and raucous energy, carried by a DIY spirit that grants Nolen the autonomy to facilitate honesty and reflection.
Joined by Snow Ellet, Adam Siska, Liam Burns, and Robby Kuntz, Footballhead crafts supercharged rock songs like brief, open secrets. However weathered one is from their struggles and mistakes, this music offers unbridled fun as a reprieve, and salves for the shaken. These are your old friends inviting you in to commiserate, elevate, and believe.
RILEY!
the motherfucking band.
GOKUMON
The band ‘Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai’ is a three-piece band formed in Japan in 2004. While active within Japan under the kanji name ‘打首獄門同好会’ (Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai), representing Japanese culture, they operate internationally under the more easily pronounceable name ‘GOKUMON.’
Featuring a mixed-gender lineup with a male guitar/vocalist and a female rhythm section, the band is known for its unique style that combines a heavy sound with a 7-string guitar and 5-string bass. This distinctive musical approach, coupled with laid-back lyrics infused with a sense of everyday life, has established a new genre known as ‘Seikatsu Micchaku gata Loud Rock’ (Life-Immersed Loud Rock).
In their live performances, the band incorporates VJ (visual jockey) elements, projecting visuals and lyrics on screens synchronized with the music. This not only enhances the auditory experience but also provides a visually captivating aspect.
As they celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2024, the band is embarking on their first US tour, covering five cities.
DREAMLINE
A Chicagoland based tribute to Rush!
CABEZA DE CHIVO
Cabeza de Chivo is a psychotropical band emerging from Chicago. With infectious rhythms and a driving percussion section; guitar, bass, and organs blend seamlessly to deliver addictive dance instrumentals with an emphasis on melodic riffs.
TRAFFIC “THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS”
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is the fifth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in 1971. The album was Traffic’s most successful in the United States, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and becoming their only platinum-certified album there, indicating sales in excess of one million. However, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. The album features the minor hit “Rock & Roll Stew” and the title track, which received heavy FM airplay.
MOONTOWER
take care of yourself, take care of each other
ONE FOR THE DITCH
Ex-Avondale Ramblers play Celtic rocknroll throughout Chicagoland.
LUNGSPLITTER
Sacrilegious sludge metal from the great lakes.
JAMES TAYLOR “GREATEST HITS”
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in November 1976 by Warner Bros. Records. It remains Taylor’s best-selling album, with over 11 million units being sold in the United States, making it among the best-selling albums of the 1970s.
ALFONZO JONES EXPERIMENT
Alfonzo Jones’ love of music started in church, watching and imitating every move and sound of the drummer at the age of 3. Once Alfonzo’s mother and grandmother grew tired of finding damaged pots and pans, they placed a drum set in front of him and he has been banging away at his future ever since. Everyday, Alfonzo played along with tapes and videos and watched every drummer he encountered intently in order to learn. From there, Alfonzo was not only playing drums at school, but also the church he grew up in, Liberty Temple.
While in high school, under the tutelage of Phillip Crews, he gathered a wide range of influences including Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Carter Beauford, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Cobb. In 2002, with Alfonzo as the drummer, his high school was chosen as one of the top 15 best high school bands by the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition, garnering opportunities to study with Wynton Marsalis, Herlin Riley and other members of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. In 2012, Alfonzo was selected as one of the top 10 drummers in the country for the Roland V-Drums drumoff contest, and has participated and progressed far in other national drum competitions.
Throughout his career, Alfonzo has worked in several genres, and has shared the stage with established artists and musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Brian Courtney Wilson, James Fortune, Vicki Winans, Wycleff Gordon, Orbert Davis, Martha Munizzi, Tye Tribbett, Kierra Sheard, Pinqy Ring and more. Aside from playing at Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church, Alfonzo can be seen playing with the band Left.Jones, Mike Zabrin’s Funktastic, National recording artist Nikki Lynette and the O’my’s.
Alfonzo hopes to create his legacy through music, but also by being a good human being. As a shining example to aspiring drummers, he’s well on his way to that goal
ROOSTER BLUE
Rooster Blue is a brand new project which was started by a few members of local rock band Elephant Lore. They pull influence from blues, rock, and funk.
CAVERNOUS
WEIRDO DEATH METAL
CRYPTS OF GOLGOTHA
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEATH METAL
DØUBLE IDENTITY
DØUBLE IDENTITY (previously known as Double Identity Band) taps into the nostalgia of distorted 2000’s pop rock guitars and sugarcoats it with confident and catchy vocal melodies, accumulating in a genre fans have affectionately dubbed “Disney pop-punk.”
With biting lyrics like “I don’t want you back, you slimy little psychopath,” from the taunting and not-at-all-starry-eyed track “Honeymoon Phase” and “honestly it’s a little embarrassing that I was ever with you (a little?)” from fan-favorite “All On You (You’ll Still Hate Me When You’re Sober),” twins Arden (guitar/vocals) and Courtney (drums/vocals) Kurhayez approach their storytelling with an addictive mix of raw honesty and angst.
Their latest EP, “Talking to Ghosts: Act II,” a hard-hitting and vulnerable follow-up to the 2022 EP “Talking to Ghosts: Act I” was released in October 2023.
NOT A TOY
A suicide squad of 4 artists on a mission to write the soundtrack to your escapism
WORLD’S FIRST CINEMA
RIKKI LUMI
After being banished from her home planet of Venus for her inability to love, Rikki Lumi arrived on Earth to portray the version of herself she wanted others on Venus to see. When she arrived, she discovered Earth’s moon, and its relation to the ocean and tides – the only things she’s ever felt anything for. She’s met some humans and has tried to fit in by singing love songs and forcing herself to try to love the way her ancestors on Venus wanted her to, but she simply hasn’t been successful. Rikki is very interested in the human psyche and how not fitting in is encouraged, not frowned upon. She’s also picked up on habits through the “human music” she’s discovered throughout the few months she’s been here and are often the inspiration for her own music (when she’s not praising space and the ocean of course)
MARYJO
maryjo is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter with an unforgettable voice made for heart-melting piano ballads. Known for her emotional range and vocal agility, she moves effortlessly from full-throated belting to fragile, crackling vulnerability. Though born in Knoxville, she grew up in Cleveland, where she quietly nurtured her passion for songwriting and piano after becoming shy about performing.
It wasn’t until she began posting performance videos online that maryjo started to break through her fear. Her raw talent and emotional vulnerability quickly drew a loyal following of over 1.4 million TikTok fans and landed her on season 19 of American Idol. She then signed a major label deal and debuted with “Love Fools” – a stripped back, emotionally rich, ballad produced by ACM Award-winner Gordon Mote. She followed it with standout singles like “Don’t Call Me” and “Nothing to Lose”, further cementing her as a breakout voice in pop. Her collaboration with global artist CYRIL has surpassed 100 million streams. Now fully independent, maryjo is reclaiming her narrative and leaning deeper into the soul-stirring sound that first made the world listen.