TROY ANDERSON BAND
MAURA WEAVER
Maura Weaver has been honing her flexibility, creativity and knack for writing an addictive hook for over a decade, and on her latest record Strange Devotion (Feel It Records) she fully steps into her power as a songwriter. Strange Devotion blends big pop, twang and rock sounds with beautiful lyrics on desire, loss and resilience, and the collection shows Weaver’s songwriting prowess across genres. “This time around it was most important that I made a record that I was happy with,” explained Weaver. “Feeling comfortable saying, ‘This is what I think, and this is what I want.’” And that self-assuredness reveals itself in the enamoring ten tracks of Strange Devotion.
FUTURE TEENS
boston bummer-pop here to rock for u
PLAIN SUITE
Plain Suite is a rock band from Chicago, blending raw energy, powerful vocals, and driving rhythms. In May 2025, we released our debut album, Sweet Lady—an 11-track ride through passion and discovery, featuring songs like “Want It”and “No More Doubt.”
AVERY SPRINGER
Avery makes music. Avery used to make music in the band Retirement Party. Now she makes music here. She hopes you like what you hear.
VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST
CHRISTIAN SHIELDS
Christian Shields is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer.
PARKER BARROW
Parker Barrow, the blues-infused Southern rock band led by husband and wife duo Megan Kane (vocals) and Dylan Turner (drums), supported by the formidable Alex Bender (guitar) and band Will Tipton (Guitar), Bo Howard (Bass), & Eric Safka (Keys), is a powerhouse group, taking the stage by storm as anything from a 6-piece to a 10-piece band – boasting a distinctive musical style. Forged from an immediate connection, the band finds inspiration in the infamous duo of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Kane and Turner aim to infuse their music with the iconic energy of a dynamic duo, portraying a narrative where, instead of evading the law, they are a dynamic pair in pursuit of their rock ‘n’ roll dreams.
Drawing significant inspiration from The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Whiskey Myers, Parker Barrow seamlessly incorporates blues into each arrangement. The band’s true brilliance emerges in their live performances, marked by lively flights and a showcase of their grounded charisma. Turner and Kane, bound by a shared vision, genuine passion, and a love for life on the road, hold their relationship in high esteem through music and faith. As kindred spirits, they eagerly anticipate continuing to create and perform together in this next chapter of life. Whether in intimate acoustic sets or impactful full-band shows, it’s clear that the couple is precisely where they should be.
GOODBYE JUNE
Fusing hard rock licks with deep South blues and gospel swing, the three cousins are fueled by their desire to craft timeless, catchy and anthemic rock songs. The band formed after the death of Tyler’s brother in June (hence the band name), vowing to honor his memory with their soulful and life-affirming sound.
Since the release of their major label debut ‘Magic Valley’, the boys have earned the endorsement of Rolling Stone, contributed “Liberty Mother” to a high-profile Budweiser TV campaign as well as a WWE theme song, packed shows across the United States and Europe with Greta Van Fleet and ZZ Top, and racked up 110 million+ Spotify streams in the process. After notching placements on ESPN, NFL, NHL, Need for Speed, and Madden (EA), the band landed a #1 placement on the UK Rock Chart with their 2022 studio release ‘See Where The Night Goes.’ Now, the band is forging ahead with their 2024 follow-up album ‘Deep in the Trouble.
SALIVUS
Ass Kicking Thrash Metal from Indiana⚡️
CYNNAMON!
CYNNAMON!, is a passionate artist who creates music that resonates with life’s moments. Dive into my world of melodies and emotions and experience the magic of storytelling through music.
SARAH KROHN
Sarah Krohn is a Chicago-based indie pop-rock musician whose songs blend catchy melodies with confessional lyrics about identity, longing, and social awkwardness. She is a creative octopus involved in every step of her process—whether it’s producing in her bedroom, directing friends on camera angles, or performing on stage.
LACELES
Coming from New Orleans and Los Angeles, the Chicago-based group joins the tradition of female-fronted grunge that arose in the early 90’s.
AIYA
Chicago neosoul band
KACIE BROWN & THE VISION
Kacie Brown is a Chicago-based vocalist, songwriter, and frontwoman of Kacie Brown & The Vision, a band that carves out its own space within the neo-soul landscape. With a voice that is effortlessly a blend of sultry, soulful, and romantic tones, she invites listeners into her world of passion, love, and life’s big questions. Described as a “blend of Minnie Riperton, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu,” her sound transcends genres, captivating audiences with a range of delicate, intimate vocals and powerful, soaring belts that leave a lasting impression. Kacie’s music reflects her curiosity and emotional depth, exploring the chaos of life, personal struggles, and the idea of holding onto hope.
Raised in Buffalo and now based in Chicago, Kacie’s love for creating with others and sharing art through community forms the foundation of her artistry. She honed her skills while studying at Columbia College, where she met the members of her band. The Vision—composed of pianist Miles Pretel, guitarists Chris Ihrig and Stephen Ryan, bassist Sam Nesin, and drummer William Penne.
THE LOVE GRANTS
Rnb/Soul band out of Nwi/South Chicago
LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS
Long Beach Dub Allstars formed in 1997, rising from the tragedy of Bradley Nowell’s passing to carry on the spirit of the reggae-rock movement that Sublime helped pioneer. Founded by Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, alongside Long Beach music staples Opie Ortiz, Miguel Happoldt, and Marshall Goodman, the band became a driving force in blending reggae, dub, ska, punk, and hip-hop into a sound that shaped an entire generation.
Their early albums, Right Back (1999) and Wonders of the World (2001), were foundational for the reggae-rock genre, bridging Sublime’s legacy with a new wave of artists. Their sound captured the raw energy of Southern California, blending reggae grooves with punk attitude and hip-hop rhythms, influencing countless bands that followed.
After a hiatus, LBDA reunited with fresh energy, dropping their self-titled 2020 album and solidifying their place as torchbearers of the reggae-rock movement. Their latest record, “Echo Mountain High”, takes their sound to new heights—mixing psychedelic elements with reggae, ska, and dub, while staying true to the signature Long Beach sound. Written during the pandemic, the album was crafted in Opie Ortiz’s backyard before coming to life in the studio with an all-star lineup, including Chris Dowd (Fishbone), Jesse Wagner (Aggrolites), and Devin Morrison (Expanders). The result is an album that pays homage to their roots while pushing the genre forward.
With Opie Ortiz (vocals), Miguel Happoldt (guitar), Tim Wu (horns), Roger Rivas (keys), Ed Kampwirth (bass), and Gil Sharone (drums), Long Beach Dub Allstars continue to evolve, proving their music is more than nostalgia—it’s a living, breathing force. From headlining festivals to inspiring new generations of musicians, their influence is undeniable—keeping the sound and spirit of Long Beach alive and thriving.
RETIREMENT PARTY
rock band from chicago
AARON WEST AND THE ROARING TWENTIES
Sweating under the spotlights at a ritzy club in Hollywood, scrappy frontman Aaron West of emo-Americana ensemble the Roaring Twenties, a bit out of his element, starts to slur his words. He’s lost more than he can count. His face burns with mounting anger––at the label, at his weary bandmates, at the sorry state of the world as it sputters back to life like a ’67 Mustang hot off cinder blocks, but above all at himself. The whiskey’s all he can do to quiet the pain in his hand as he strums, busted from pouring concrete. Even surrounded by the people who’ve taken him in when no one else would, this family he’s been given, he can’t seem to get it right. “Fuck building a bridge, I’m burning it down,” he screams on high- voltage rocker “Spitting in the Wind,” booze rough in his throat, “I’ll see you in the water.”
But he’ll be okay. After all, he doesn’t really exist.
The alcohol is iced tea, and the man in the Buffalo Bills shirt is an Eagles fan. Ten years ago, Dan Campbell, frontman of the Philadelphia rock outfit The Wonder Years, masterminded a new character as a tutorial for himself––could he achieve the pathos of his autobiographical ballads in the world of fiction?––but also in the inviolability of the human spirit. Aaron’s story centered on one impossible, perfect question: when we have nothing left, why keep going? It started with just one song, an experiment with collaborator Ace Enders, of the Early November, about a man whose wife loses a baby. But soon Campbell realized the story couldn’t begin or end there, that there was an entire person he needed to know.
So Campbell took Aaron across the country, Long Island to southern California to Savannah, guided him through bar fights, a table of divorce papers, the church piano bench beside a nephew he’s grown to love like a son, beaches and highways and couches and phone booths, all in an attempt to understand what it is that allows a person to continue in the face of catastrophe. When he has nothing else, he has his guitar, the stage, the lights. He has the music.
After ten years, two albums, an EP, and a single, the answer to Aaron’s brutal seeking comes in the form of his triumphant third chapter, IN LIEU OF FLOWERS. Not a collection of elegies so much as a concept opera, an ode to the underdog, à la the Mountain Goats’ All Hail West Texas or the Weakerthans’ Reunion Tour, Campbell and the band take AW20’s signature dynamics to new heights, marrying the crash of punk percussion and power chords with the roots twang of banjo and pedal steel, tracing the imaginary heartbreak-nomad’s turbulent arc toward healing, from the bottom of bottles in ashy motel rooms and desecrated basement venues––“gig’s in an abandoned church in Glasgow, the irony’s a little on the nose,” he sneers over plaintive fingerpicking on “Alone at St. Luke’s”––to the disorienting tarmac where he staggers on and off tour, to the passenger seat of a car with an old friend and new love, and, eventually, to the rehab facility where he gets his voice back.
Longtime fans will recognize the bursts of Springsteenian horns, led by Chiemina Ukazim’s bombastic, stirring saxophone, that keep the pulse and grit of the working class East Coast close at hand. Louder and brasher than ever, and elsewhere even more intimate, more devastating, with keepsakes and callbacks––shorebirds, the hue of a certain citrus fruit, theinterpolation of past horn arrangements––for those who’ve accompanied him on his journey from the beginning, Aaron West manages to stay as clear-eyed and wry as he’s ever been, the acid-spit humor that comes only from tragedy. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS isn’t about perfect choices, perfect endings, perfect people, it’s about fucking up, and learning how to be held again.
In the record’s shocking final moments, Aaron, wrung out and made new, returns to the beginning of his story, a place he never fathomed he would ever go again. But if you know how to look, every return to the past promises something previously unimaginable, something new. Like Aaron says, “Ain’t that the fucked up thing about hope?”
THE CRIBS
Gary, Ross and Ryan Jarman.
“Isn’t it good to have The Cribs back? Their best album in a decade.” – NME ☆☆☆☆☆
“A study in elegance in the face of adversity” – DIY 9/10
“A chaotic bundle of charm and romance realism and poppy experiment.” – MOJO 4/5
“A tight, focused, powerful effort by one of the most underrated bands in the world… a minor masterpiece.” – The Line of Best Fit 8.5/10
“The words magnum and opus come to mind… welcome back lads. You may have saved 2020.” – Gigwise 10/10
“An honest heartfelt snapshot of the band in 2020.” – Louder Than War 4/5
“Offering a warming hope, it feels like a step towards something better.” – Dork 4/5
DESCARTES A KANT
Descartes a Kant (DAK) returns with a new studio album titled After Destruction. Released in all physical and digital formats, this conceptual work proposes a narrative arc exploring the cycles of existential creation and destruction.
After Destruction portrays psychic discomfort in a compulsively hyper-communicative but emotionally isolated society, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, destructive guitars, synthesizers and soulful melodies.
Lampooning contemporary emotional consumerism, the band integrates an automaton character into their lineup: The DAK, an innovative machine designed to repair emotional damage, which appears through interludes both on the album and in the live act. Looking to restore your life after a catastrophe? Turning your pain into a work of art has never been easier.
In 2024 the band started releasing a video collection of the full album in their youtube channel, directed by Persia Campbell, and started playing shows in support of this album with two tours in Europe, one in the United States and one in Mexico, playing in festivals such as Pohoda (Slovakia), InMusic (Croatia) Aftershock (United States), Pitchfork Music Festival (Mexico), Fusion (Germany), Louder than Life (United States). In early 2025 the band will release a KEXP Live Session, and will continue touring in South America, Mexico, Europe, USA and Canada.
SELECTOR KING TONY
THE SHAPE I’M IN
Covers and Originals performed by Greg Woods Band featuring Paige Kizer
Greg Woods is a singer/songwriter based in Chicago. A mainstay in the Chicago music scene as both a keyboardist and vocalist, Woods has been producing and touring his original music all around the United States & Canada for the last fifteen years. With a new record in the works, The GW Band is excited to return to the stage to play through songs from his debut record “Hello, Goodbye, & Later On.” alongside a set of music by The Band.
TAMIR BRYANT
Tamir Bryant is a rising stand-up star from Austin to Chicago, blending grit, humor, and resilience after a career-ending injury. Viral comic. Former athlete. Always unapologetically real.
OSAMA BASAL
A Syrian stand up comedian who uses his quick wit and sharp observational humor to paint a picture of what it is like to be a refugee living in America.
Featured for headlining comedians such as Kristen Toomey, Jenny Zigrino, Nimesh Patel and Adam Ray. Recent festivals and credits include:
2020 LaughFest Comedy Festival
2022 Rogue Island Comedy Festival
Featured on NPR’s What’s Funny Detroit Comedy Showcase 2022
Finalist at the 2022 42nd Seattle International Comedy Competition
2024 Tree Town Comedy Festival
2024 Columbus Comedy Festival
HEX
CHICAGO HARDCORE
HOME INVASION
Chicago hardcore punk
JID
Born and raised in East Atlanta, J.I.D — a name adopted and adapted from what his grandmother called him as a jittery child — first appeared on the Atlanta hip-hop scene with his debut EP, Dicaprio, in 2015. Growing up, J.I.D’s first connection with music was through his parents’ collection of classic funk and soul LPs. After a stint at Hampton University playing football, J.I.D also hooked up with fellow MCs as part of the Spillage Village collective. By 2012, he had dropped out of college to focus on music, and in 2014 he headed out on what would be a productive tour with EARTHGANG, Bas, and Ab-Soul. Touring allowed J.I.D to craft his skills, and a year later he recorded and dropped the Dicaprio EP, which saw him team up with a host of producers, as well as EARTHGANG. While keen to distance himself from the generic abrasive trap sound that had dominated the Atlanta scene, J.I.D wanted to deliver something that was more than just about a beat, and instead focused his time and effort on lyrics as well. In 2016, J.I.D, alongside the rest of the Spillage Village crew, released the album Bears Like This Too Much, which saw the rapper honing his unique delivery and inspired lyrics. In 2017, he announced that he had signed to J Cole’s Dreamville label (a connection made with the rapper via J.I.D’s part in the 2014 tour with Bas and J Cole’s friend and producer Cedric Brown), which released the single Never and full-length The Never Story at the beginning of the year. ~ Rich Wilson, Rovi
RYAN BORENS
THE CODE NOIR
The Code Noir is
Jayh Johnson – Vocals & Guitars
Dan Craig – Drums
Tony Porfirio – Bass
Quentin Poynter – Guitars
RB Green – Guitars
THE MENDENHALL EXPERIMENT
“If you asked me why I want to be a rock star…it’s not about the fame or money,” guitarist/ songwriter Brandon Mendenhall states. “I have a unique opportunity to inspire people and kids with disabilities with my playing, my music and my story. I truly believe that’s what I was put on this earth to do.”
Born with Cerebral Palsy, an incurable neurological disorder affecting movement, coordination and, balance; Brandon Mendenhall faces numerous challenges. With limited movement on his left side and zero mobility in his left hand, the odds were stacked against him from birth.
However, inspired by acts such as Korn and Pantera, Brandon taught himself how to play guitar at the age of 19, rehabilitating his left hand without surgical intervention. “Once I was able to get a guitar in my hands, it changed my life,” he says. That passion for music sparked something in his soul and a dream began to form…a dream that was thought to be impossible: Brandon wanted to play guitar and form a band. He recalls, “My grandfather told me,‘You’ll never be a guitarist. Don’t even try.’ And that crushed me. Those words lit a fire in me. I was determined that I could do this.”
The Mendenhall Experiment was born as Brandon’s own personal aspiration to be in a world-famous band while working within the limitations of Cerebral Palsy, knowing full well that the cards were stacked against finding musicians willing to work with him. Possessing a fierce desire to succeed, Brandon went to visit a friend in the Rock & Roll Mecca of Los Angeles- and never left, pursuing his dream with relentless tenacity and bulldog determination. Failure was not an option.
Formed in 2008, The Mendenhall Experiment also features bass player Nathan Stockton, who overcame a disability of his own-childhood deafness-through the power of music. He and Brandon are joined by Alyce Hayes on vocals, Mike Lira on guitar, and Justin Lubeck on drums.
Based in Southern California, TMX has been regularly performing on the infamous Sunset Strip in addition to gigs throughout the region opening for the likes of such metal mainstays as John 5, POD, Alien Ant Farm, Kill Devil Hill, Fear Factory, Prong, Flaw, Metal Allegiance, Smile Empty Soul, Cold, and more. In 2013, the five-piece performed at the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, sharing the stage with Korn, Megadeth, and Five Finger Death Punch.
A breakthrough occurred on June 17, 2014, when TMX made it to the final round of The Battle of the Bands for Warped Tour. After an electrifying performance that left the audience screaming for more, The Mendenhall Experiment took second place. The subsequent buzz reached the discerning ears at Liquid Bit Music Productions and in August 2014 TMX inked a publishing deal with the company, six years to the day after the initial incarnation of The Mendenhall Experiment performed its first show in Brandon’s hometown of Kankakee, Illinois. Shortly thereafter, the quintet put pen to paper again to sign their first development deal with Lucent Records, including national digital distribution through Universal Music Group.
TMX’s inspiring and energetic performances strive to bring a positive message to the masses. They stand strong for disability awareness in support of Brandon, who observes, “At our shows, we are starting to see the impact of our mission to inspire others on a consistent basis. Our fans and supporters come to us and give their personal testimonies and praise about how we are touching their lives, and the lives of others with disabilities.” The music and lyrics resonate far beyond the disabilities, inspiring people to seize every day and celebrate life.
The Mendenhall Experiment began recording their current EP in various studios in Los Angeles with the help of some very special guests: James “Munky” Shaffer (Korn) and Danny Lohner (NIN/A Perfect Circle). The EP is available everywhere online and the debut single, “Seize the Day”, has received over thirty-thousand views on Vevo/YouTube.
The music video was acclaimed Video of the Year at the 2015 LRT Music Video Awards in Hollywood,California, celebrating independent music, while Brandon was deemed Trailblazer of the Year at the 2015 United Cerebral Palsy Los Angeles Art of Care annual event. In addition, he was also named celebrity ambassador for Day Trippers, a UK-based charity assisting disabled people in Great Britain. A feature documentary film detailing Brandon and the band’s story, Mind Over Matter, was released in 2019; directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Paquet (Korn,Wounded Warriors). In 2016 TMX made a triumphant return to the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, graduating to the main stage and playing to over four-thousand wildly enthusiastic fans. TMX has also performed at the 2017 Rocklahoma festival. So far the band has completed six tours which are comprised of three headlining tours and three national tours. In 2019 they released the singles “Unwanted” and a surprise acoustic version of “Nothing Good Came Easy” to much acclaim from fans. Currently The Mendenhall Experiment is back in the studio and have just finished shooting a music video for “Prosthetic” which features Munky from Korn. The Mendenhall Experiment is also currently sponsored by Monster Energy, Ibanez Guitars, EMG Pickups, SIT Strings, and InTune Guitar Picks.
Brandon maintains a vision for TMX that some may deem unrealistic: “I am confident that as The Mendenhall Experiment brand continues to grow and see greater success, we can begin to inspire people on a global scale with our music, touching not only the lives of individuals but also changing the global perception of people with disabilities.” But considering all that he’s overcome thus far, it would be difficult to bet against Brandon and “The Experiment” that bears his name fulfilling those goals!
The Mendenhall Experiment is:
Brandon Mendenhall – Rhythm Guitarist
Alyce Hayes – Vocalist
Mike Lira – Lead Guitarist
Nathan Stockton – Bassist
Justin Luebeck – Percussionist
SENYA
Hey! I’m Senya, a musician from the Chicagoland area.
BLEH!
Dope punk rock band from Chicago!
LAIKAA
Laikaa, a five-piece band of teenagers from Berwyn, Illinois, released a self-recorded debut EP, ‘Pouring Youth’, in February 2023. It’s a reaction to late 80s – early 90s alternative and underground music, portraying nostalgia from the perspective of kids born on the Internet.
Josh, Baron, Dakota, Diego, Josh 2
Photo by Al Dundo Productions
CHART ATTACKS
CHART ATTACK: The World’s Oldest Cover Band
Calling all Elder Emos and Punks! Get ready for a nostalgia-packed, high-energy experience that blends your favorite chart-topping hits with a pop punk and punk rock twist. We’re here to bring the party, make you feel young again, and prove that just because you’re old doesn’t mean you still don’t ROCK.
TODD HEMBROOK & THE SEANCE
Deal’s Gone Slack is a collaboration of members from Deal’s Gone Bad (Chicago) and The Slackers (NYC)
MID-AIR
Started in the summer of 2024, this project is Sachio Nang’s full blown vision of the perfect mix of jazz, funk, fusion, rock, and gospel. With a 5 piece horn section, and tunes that are equal parts groovy as infectiously catchy, Mid-Air delivers with electric solos, immaculate grooves, and thrilling live arrangements.
Sachio Nang started recording music in mid 2018, gradually upping his production value as he expanded his skills, eventually leading to his most recent release, a full blown jazz funk/fusion album entitled “Portraits”, in which he played Saxophones, Flutes, Clarinets, Guitars, Bass, Keys, and Drums, but also composed, arranged, mixed, and mastered all of tracks. An avid multi-instrumentalist, Sachio is never afraid to challenge not only himself, but the musicians around him.
Blending both old and new musical sensibilities, Mid-Air will certainly have something for everyone. Constantly pushing the boundaries of genre, Mid-Air can execute anything from a prog-rock tune to melt your face off, or even a reggae chart to kick back and relax to.
HR SHOVENSTUFF
Based out of Chicago, HR Shovenstuff is a genre-bending fusion of blues, funk, hip hop & edm that harnesses the Chicago summer vibe. Friends since grade school and began creating music in 2007. Their musical journey has led them to winning contests to play at Summer Camp Music Festival and open up for GRiZ at the Heatwave Official After Party. They have also been blessed to play alongside acts such as Jimkata, Evanoff, SayWhat?!, Levity, Phyphr and Josh Teed.
WARREN ZEVON “WARREN ZEVON”
Warren Zevon is the second studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. This album was recorded in 1975 and released on May 18, 1976, by Asylum Records.
HALF PAST DEAD
Good old fashioned rock and roll!
DESECRATED UBIQUITY
Two piece progressive brutal death metal from Ankara/Turkey.
EMBODIED TORMENT
Blasting brutal death metal inflected with mournful atmospheres, enhanced with lore from ancient and medieval texts.
Sacramento’s Embodied Torment unleashed their debut assault Liturgy of Ritual Execution (2015) on renowned extreme label New Standard Elite, followed by tours with the likes of Disentomb, Cerebral Effusion, and Omnipotent Hysteria. They returned in 2023 with a new lineup featuring Mark Chandler (Orchidectomy), Alex Cohen (Malignancy, Contrarian), and Andrew Smith (Splattered) for the long-awaited follow-up Archaic Bloodshed. The three-track EP heightened the contrast of dismal melody with unrestrained aggression and has pointed to an even darker future to come.
After a successful return to the stage in 2023 and a triumphant leveling of Chicago Domination Fest 8, Embodied Torment recruited permanent drummer Alex Lopez (ex-Fallujah) and released Tongue of Iron MMXXIV on the eve of a new era of live incursions. The band continues to prepare new material for their next full-length.
Official merch is available on Bandcamp.
MOLESTED DIVINITY
Sheer Brutal Death Metal worship from Ankara, Türkiye.
SPEED THERAPY
Chicago punk/post-punk
IVY DRIP
Ivy Drip is good ol’ Chicago rock. Got drunk in a loft and started a band. Ate the scorpion at the bottom of the tequila bottle and he’s been writing their music ever since.
ELECTRIC HAWK
Instrumental. Heavy. Odd Meters
THE KILLERS “HOT FUSS”
Hot Fuss is the debut studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on June 7, 2004, in the United Kingdom and on June 15, 2004, in the United States by Island Records. The album’s music is mostly influenced by new wave and post-punk. Hot Fuss spawned four critically and commercially successful singles: “Mr. Brightside”, “Somebody Told Me”, “All These Things That I’ve Done” and “Smile Like You Mean It”.
The album reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart. As of December 2012, Hot Fuss had sold more than seven million copies worldwide, including more than three million in the United States and more than two million in the United Kingdom. It has also been certified platinum or multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The album and its first three singles went on to garner five Grammy Award nominations at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005.
COLDPLAY “A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD”
A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by the British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 26 August 2002 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and a day later by Capitol in the United States. The album was produced by the band and Ken Nelson, and makes greater use of the electric guitar and piano than the band’s debut album, Parachutes(2000).
LADY HATCHET QUARTET
Lady Hatchet Quartet features:
Lady Hatchet – guitar, lead vocals
Jade Tremba – bass, backing vocals
Jenny Whiskey – saxophone, backing vocals
Katherine Stock – drums, backing vocals
A satellite band of Rude Girl Revue, Lady Hatchet Quartet does more with less, reinterpreting her real ska-inspired sound with a slimmed-down 1950s rock’n’roll lineup, big 1960s girl group harmonies, and a healthy helping of that 1970s revolutionary girl attitude.
The Quartet made its electric debut opening for The Slackers and The Bandulus (featuring Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites) on their recent East Coast December holiday shows and already have bookings into 2025, as well plans to record a full-length album early in 2025. They are currently seeking offers to open for touring bands on the East Coast, as well as long-term goals of touring in North America and beyond upon completion of their album.
JAKE STIRN AND THE DOGPACK
Just a guy trying to find his way in the world. Come jam with me.
NIVEOUS
Frozen black metal exploring dark mythologies and cosmic evil entities.
SAM SOMEBODY
A versatile musician and accomplished saxophonist based in Chicago. As both a passionate educator and performer, Sam brings his deep love for music to the classroom and the stage. A graduate of North Central College with a degree in Music, he has dedicated himself to sharing his expertise with the next generation of musicians.
Sam’s career has been marked by collaborations with internationally renowned artists, including Burna Boy and Rex Orange County, as well as performances at major festivals such as Coachella and Camp Flog Gnaw. These opportunities have allowed him to showcase his exceptional talent on some of the world’s most celebrated stages.
Beyond touring, Sam has worked with an impressive lineup of artists, including Lupe Fiasco, Miki Howard, Solange, Randy Newman, 10,000 Maniacs, and Tyler the Creator, solidifying his reputation as a highly sought-after musician in the industry.
With a dynamic blend of performance experience and a dedication to education, Sam Somebody continues to captivate audiences around the globe and inspire a love for music wherever he goes
ANELLA
Anella Herim is an artist from Trinity, NC. Popularly known for his upbeat music and personality.
THE CHONDRIACS
Brand spankin new
SLUGSCAPE
sometimes your knight in shining armor. thank you and welcome and enjoy
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIN:
Rin Peisert is a conceptual and performance artist whose work disorganizes the relationship between performer and audience, favoring unscripted interactions that challenge societal norms and reconfigure connections to objects, spaces, and behaviors. With a background in visual art, butoh, and theater, her practice rejects representational modes in favor of direct engagement, often breaking the fourth wall to examine the reciprocal gaze between artist and audience.
Her approach avoids traditional performance contexts by operating in public and pedestrian spaces—street corners, tunnels, rooftops, and markets—where the work interrogates its own role within everyday environments. These site-responsive performances frequently involve sound, improvisation, and spontaneous collaboration, prioritizing process over outcome and dismantling conventional hierarchies between artist, viewer, and place.
Rin is the creator and director of Relative Intensity Noise, a durational performance series that situates multiple artists in shared spaces, generating unpredictable interactions and emergent dynamics. Her projects have been presented in institutions such as the Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Power Station of Art Shanghai, Defibrillator Gallery, and The Momentary, as well as bomb shelters and basements.
Rather than prescribing specific interpretations, Rin’s work allows for multiple contextual readings, relying on the chance engagement of audience interaction to determine its evolving significance. Her work emphasizes the relational and contingent nature of performance, situating meaning as a reciprocal process shaped by the conditions of its presentation.
CV
NICOLE ALONSO
DEADNAMED
Chicago-based QT industrial rock DIY band. Can’t wait to see us? Book us! We want friends 🙂
IMADE
J LEE
KID RO
KID BODE
Connect with Kid Bode on various platforms, from his electrifying live performances to his social media updates. Stay in the loop about upcoming shows, releases, and initiatives that continue to define his dynamic presence in the music scene.
JUST JALEAL
GOLDY HEAD
Named after a line in a poem by Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, Goldy Head is a multi-genre artist operating in several dimensions.
SCRHACHEE
schrachee is a collaborative studio project based in chicago and led by schrachee. hitmakers for singers, rappers, and soloists.
the debut album “red flags”. 8 songs. 8 dives into the psyche. they’re your problem now.
featuring seth on vocals, which have been described as “unique” and “so, so him”.
DJ DECEPT
CHATO VATO
MOORE
Moore is an emcee, producer and multimedia artist from the northwest Chicago suburbs – Elgin, IL. He got his start as a founding member of the Hip Hop collective Watch City. Since the groups inception, Moore has released a vast catalog of music as a solo artist and toured the United States multiple times. His mission as an artist is to create innovative music that stands out in the Hip Hop community and beyond, and to promote peace, love and prosperity within his works. Moore blends elements of modern and golden age rap music with his background in rock, electronic and jazz music to create a sound that is both nostalgic and undeniably fresh.
Since the release of his debut album, Moore has kept expectations high through collaborations with MillerCoors and Vans and a slew of high-profile appearances including:
-Performances with Twista, Slick Rick, Layzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone, Trevor Daniel, Manic Focus, Lyrics Born, Mac Lethal, Masta Killa, MC Eiht, PMD and more
-Festival appearances at Milwaukee Summerfest, South by Southwest, Elgin Fringe Festival and more
-Tours with GLC, Jeru The Damaja, Security Culture, DJ Risky Bizness and Mic One
-Collaborations with Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious), Blake Rules, Watch City, KASZ, Low Key Beats, Banks The Genius, Coolout Chris, Blue Future and many others
Find videos, tour dates and more at http://moorewatchcity.com
WELLES MADDINGLY
MOECYRUS
Chicago Hip-Hop & Boom Bap
EARTH TONGUE
Earth Tongue is a heavy psych rock two-piece from Wellington, New Zealand. Guitarist Gussie Larkin is a master of the fuzz-smothered riff, and along with Ezra Simons’ off-kilter drumming, they’ve been sending punters into transcendental states since their emergence in 2016. Their debut album ‘Floating Being’ (Stolen Body Records, 2019) quickly became an underground hit, seeing them embark on multiple tours across Australasia and Europe in the years since its release. Along the way they’ve picked up high praise from BBC Radio6, Bandcamp and headbangers all over the world.
After touring with American multi-instrumentalist Ty Segall, the duo caught the attention of iconic Los Angeles based rock’ n’ roll label In The Red Records – an imprint that has released albums from the likes of Thee Oh Sees, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Wand and Ty Segall himself. In The Red promptly signed them, and released their second album Great Haunting in June 2024. Written during the pandemic lockdown era while holed up binging on 1970’s and 80’s horror movies, the nine-track album is a doom-soaked overload — conjuring vast sonics from just guitar, drums and yowls.
Earth Tongue have hit the road time and time again, playing over 50 shows throughout Europe and the UK in 2024 and sharing stages with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, IDLES, Ty Segall, Acid King, Brant Bjork and Kikagaku Moyo. Earth Tongue’s live show is a powerful, cult-like experience – the perfect mix of throw-your-horns-up heavy, and can’t-stop-listening catchy. Their third studio album is set for release in September 2025.
CRICKET!
Cricket! is your favorite Chicago based DIY folk punk bug themed musician. Performances are loud, energetic, and deeply emotional; especially for a solo performer. Cricket! is a proud mental health awareness advocate, and his song writing brings catharsis to those struggling with social seclusion, self hatred, and all those other nasty things. In his spare time he enjoys long walks on the beach, rogue-lite RPGs, and dragging himself against the grain of cultural normality. Cricket! started his musical career with his release of the album Thinking About Bugs (2021), took a long break, then came back for a massive step up with the punchy yet heartfelt album Lucky Cricket (2023). He is most well known for his song Simple Science off his latest and most successful album Self Sufficient (2024) which all explore the complexities in self seclusion, different vices used to escape reality, and the dangers of thinking you don’t need help. While taking much inspiration from classic fast paced folk punk bands (Such as Days N Daze, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, and AJJ) Cricket! takes the raw energy from full band folk punk acts and compresses in nicely into one single explosive performer.
PERCEPTION CHECK
The Chicago Tabletop Gaming Association (CTGA) proudly presents its inaugural Artist Spotlight, featuring an exclusive screening of Perception Check – a documentary by local filmmaker Nick Garcia, recently honored as an official Feature-Length Film Nominee at the GenCon 2025 Film Festival!
Perception Check follows the journey of several first-time players as they embark on a campaign that stretches over 3+ years. From beginning initiates to seasoned adventurers, you can follow the group as both they and their characters develop over the course of their campaign!
Attending this event is a great way to connect with fellow artists, designers, and TTRPG enthusiasts who are shaping Chicago’s vibrant gaming culture. Critically, 100% of proceeds will directly support our featured artist and will support their work on future projects! This will be a great opportunity to prove your support for local artists and filmmakers in our ttrpg community!
As the first in CTGA’s Artist Spotlight series, this event embodies our commitment to uplifting local creators. Space is limited for this event – get your tickets while they last and help us support creators in our community!
THE OXYS
Live performance and live shows. Sleazy, snotty, and catchy as hell — The Oxys, formed by Ginchy (Dead Boys, Sylvain Sylvain) and Phil D., blast out late-70s gutter rock, punk, and power pop with sharp hooks and raw energy. Known for explosive live performance and live shows, they’ve hit the road hard behind A Date With The Oxys and Generation Irrelevant.Get addicted to the Oxys infectious sound.
HEELS
somewhere in chicago
ESKELETOS
Hardcore punk from Chicago !
BITCHLOVER
Chicago metal
HINAYANA
Melodic Death/Doom metal from Austin, Texas.
Casey Hurd – Guitar/Vocals
Erik Shtaygrud – Guitar
Daniel Vieira – Drums
Michael Anstice – Keyboard
Matt Bius – Bass
LEAVING TIME
RESTRAINING ORDER
BEN QUAD
emo band and also butt rock band.