Hailing from The United States of America, HEATHENSUN is an up and comingNumetal band with a penchant for writing banging tunes and dynamic narratives. Comprised on 3 immensely talented individuals. Johnny Anthrax Vocals, Drunkndonuts Strings, and Lo-Key Percussion. HEATHENSUN is already climbing the charts with their single BEACH ranked #7 on the Apple iTunes top 100 Metal USA Charts
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991, by DGC Records. It was Nirvana’s first release on a major label and the first to feature drummer Dave Grohl. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind features a more polished, radio-friendly sound than the band’s prior work. It was recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, and Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, in May and June 1991, and mastered that August at the Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California.
Chicago based self proclaimed non-binary rock princess. Taking influence from pop-punk, grunge, and alternative styles of music that were popular during the 90’s and early 2000’s, Rise of Leo looks to create music where people of all backgrounds can feel united and heard. Dealing with the struggles of acceptance and past struggles of gender identity, Rise of Leo has always sought to express that in their songwriting and music playing to give a positive environment for their listeners, just as their music influences had done for them.
Rise of Leo started in the local Chicago scene with former band The Last We Heard. After such time Rise of Leo left the scene to reinvent themselves in a way that would fit their vision and artistic values. They set out to establish themselves with this new mission during the summer of 2023, starting with their debut single, “Nobody Wants You”, to try and be the most unapologetic and energetic artist they can be.
Bum Rush is a loud, energetic and irreverent punk trio based around Chicago, Illinois. They sound like all of your favorite bands rolled into one, but with more kick. There’s never a dull moment when Bum Rush steps up to the plate. They play shows often and sometimes release music, which you can check out anywhere you listen to music.
Invoked from the crypts of Washington DC, Goetia have arisen to wreak havoc on all who dare to lay ears upon them. Theirs is a relentless assault of pummeling drums, razor sharp riffs, and otherworldly vocals that spew a never ending barrage of curses from beyond on those unfortunate enough to get caught in their wake.
ASCENDED DEAD is a Death Metal band from San Diego, California.
The group was founded in the summer of 2011 by J. REIDER, I. LAWRENCE, AND C. KORYN.
Each of the band’s releases explores a different realm, but maintains the energy band sought to create since it’s inception.
Dark, chaotic, demonic, bestial Death Metal, without limitations.
ASCENDED DEAD is C. KORYN (drums), I. LAWRENCE (guitar), J. REIDER (guitar/vocals), K. SCHREUTELKAMP (bass).
Sissy Spacek is an American noise band founded in 1999 in Los Angeles, California, United States, and currently consisting of official members John Wiese and Charlie Mumma, along with several collaborators both past and present. Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2001, they have released a considerable catalogue encompassing genres which include harsh noise, noisecore, grindcore, free improvisation and musique concrete.
Kevin King is a Woodwindist and Composer from the south side of Chicago, Illinois. King honed his skills on the Chicago music scene under the tutelage of Chicago Legends Willie Pickens, Bobby Broom, Orbert Davis, Ari Brown, and Diane Ellis. King is an improviser on all of his instruments including, Oboe, Bassoon, Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone. Kevin King is most known for his Saxophone, Flute, and Oboe playing. King has played all over the country with countless artists including Arturo Sandoval, Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, The Temptations, Marcus Strickland, Marquis Hill, Joel Ross, Arturo Sandoval, Willie Pickens, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Buddy Guy, Reginald Chapman, Adam Neely, Larry Gray, Corey Wilkes, Renee Baker, Steve Gorn, Junius Paul, Bobby Broom, etc. The Kevin King Regime is a culmination of King’s vision of creating a “Heavy Metal Instrumental Band with improvisation” or “Heavy Metal saxophone”. King always uses the description “if Pharoah Sanders was the frontman to Black Sabbath instead of Ozzy Osbourne”. “ The Kevin King Regime is influenced by every sound known and unknown to man creating a sound unlike anything heard before. The original compositions I write are in many ways a symbol of the values I live by. An urgency to improve the world we live in with the art of sound creation, experimentation, and exploration. The music is a reflection of the world itself.”
King’s Debut Album Call To Action will release in the fall of 2024.
A dynamic force and Chicago Music Award Winner for “Best Female Vocalist,” seamlessly integrates her roles as a Professional Singer, Makeup Artist, Actress, and Alopecia Advocate. Since officially launching her career in 2016, she gained widespread recognition when a cover song went viral, amassing 1.3 million views in a week. Keya’s journey includes opening for Grammy Award-Winning artists like Chrisette Michele, contributing background vocals for Lupe Fiasco, and starring in notable theater productions, including “Lady Sings The Blues” and “Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire.”
In the realm of advocacy, Keya is dedicated to spreading Alopecia Awareness, evident in her involvement with NAAF (National Alopecia Areata Foundation) and BaldieCon. Recently featured in Vogue Magazine for her impactful contributions to the hair loss community, Keya’s overarching mission is to instill confidence through her multifaceted artistry and genuine connection with every audience member in the grand stage of her life.
Christian Royce was born in Ypsilanti, MI on 4/20 in 1992 the son of a factory supervisor and a school paraprofessional. A true child of the suburbs, Christian got his start at comedy at a vegan pizza shop in Ann Arbor, MI and he’s been crushing sets ever since. He moved to Chicago in 2019 where he’s a regular at the Chicago Laugh Factory, Zanies & Comedy Bar. As a comedian, he makes light of a wide range of topics including politics, social trends, and current events. Ultimately his goals are to make you laugh, sometimes cry, and even question your own belief system. At times controversial, but always thought provoking.
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released on 22 October 1993 in Canada, 15 February 1994 in the United States, 24 May 1994 in Japan, and 14 August 1994 in Australia. It was produced by Pierre Marchand in Montreal; McLachlan wrote most of the album while living in a small house near Marchand’s studio.
The album was an immediate hit in Canada, where McLachlan was already an established star. It was slower to become her breakthrough album internationally, however; in some countries, most notably the US, it stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years. As of November 2003, the album had sold 2.8 million copies in the US.
Jephté Kweto (professionally known as jev.) is a Congolese-Canadian refugee who considers himself a loner. The loner theme aims to highlight the positive aspects of being someone who paves their own path. Having lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Canada, jev lacks a specific home city to pay homage to, thus he gravitates towards a more worldly and individualized sense of home. As a citizen of the world, jev aims to bring people together from all walks of life through his “it’s okay to be different” overarching message and his experimental music, which incorporates various styles and genres (particularly alternative hip-hop, classic hip-hop, and R&B). Inspired by legends like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Andre 3000, Nas, YMCMB, and Jay Z, jev is vying for his own spot upon the Mount Rushmore of the genre.
He released his first EP “The Color Grey.” in December 2022, and his lead single from the project reached #1 on the Spotify US Viral 50 chart less than a month later. This inspired jev to quit his day job, hire major music firms for his management and legal representation, and continue releasing consistently towards another and even stronger body of work. “The Color Grey.” garnered attention from prominent media outlets such as Lyrical Lemonade, Pigeons & Planes (Best New Artists of 2023), and Sheesh Media. He also landed on the cover-photo for two major editorial playlists: Northern Bars and Alternative Hip-Hop between April and June 2023, and appeared on Mellow Bars, Most Necessary, Fresh Finds: Hip Hop, and many more since gaining traction on TikTok and Reels. Jev has amassed over 15 million streams on Spotify alone, as well as 4.5 million aggregate views with 2 million aggregate likes across his TikTok and Instagram reels content. Jev also teamed up with local Toronto Film School students to shoot his music videos free-of-charge, which has led to him growing his YouTube following from the ground up to almost 10k subscribers. The emerging rapper’s plans for the second half of 2023 include a six-song EP, a Pigeons & Planes NYC showcase as his debut show, and his debut album, when angels cry. He is also being featured by Spotify as a Radar Canada artist for the entirety of Q3, landing him a major city-centre billboard in Dundas Square beginning July 14th.
The Kilograms are a new project formed by Joe Gittleman(The Mighty Mighty Bosstones , Avoid One Thing), Sammy Kay , Michael Mcdermott (formerly of The Bouncing Souls , Joan Jett & the Blackhearts ) and J Duckworth (Newport Secret Six ). After meeting at a festival and keeping in touch, trading song ideas and mixes, Gittleman and Kay decided to collaborate on a new studio project, tracking their first song to benefit a friend who lost their home in the hawaii fires. The ease and excitement of the collaboration brought in Mcdermott to play drums, and Duckworth into the fold on guitar, as well as producing and mixing the first batch of songs.
Their debut self titled EP is 5 tunes dripping in the old and new. With three generations of musicians creating together, the Kilograms are pulling a sound that pays respect to where they all laid their roots, while establishing a tone that is truly their own.
The Lords of Altamont bring forth raw rock and roll fury birthed from the ultimate end to the era of peace and love. What was billed to be the “Woodstock of the West “, the infamous Altamont Free concert on December 6th, 1969 was highlighted instead by heavy drugs , motorcycle chains and brass knuckles and later punctuated with shoving matches and fist fights. This palpable sense of bawdy foreboding resulted in four births, four deaths and extensive property damage.
While the hippies had been grooving and mellowing out in the Bay Area, the forefathers of the Lords of Altamont were playing high energy rhythms in the beer soaked venues of Detroit and the dingy clubs along LA’s Sunset Strip. Mid-60s London RnB shares equal space with the scruffy 70s NYC Bowery among the influences of The Lords also. They take their other cues from kids banging out primitive riffs on cheap guitars all across the USA in garages alongside chopped bikes and American v-8 muscle, lingering exhaust fumes mixing with sweat to conjure the rare elixir of real rock n roll.
The story of the band who would come to be known as The Lords of Altamont gets a proper start in late 1999. A son of Southern California and a veteran of the SoCal music scene, Jake Cavaliere – with numerous bands and projects from garage to punk dating back to the late 80s under his belt – enlisted fellow motorcycle rider and bandmate of the instro/surf sensation The Bomboras, Johnny Devilla, to form something new. Max Eidson, Doran Shelley, and Gabriel Hammond rounded out the original lineup known as “The First Five”. Besides holding their first show at the legendary venue The Garage in Hollywood, high points include touring as the support act for their primitive rock n roll idols The Cramps, infamous rock gods The Who as well as counting the late Michael Davis of the MC5 as a past member.
Through personnel changes and various adventures over the past 20+ years, The Lords of Altamont continue to release albums and Jake “The Preacher” Cavaliere , along with his assemblage of gritty and talented personalities, continues to captivate audiences with unparalleled hard driven performances the world over.
By The Thousands is a progressive metal band hailing from the Twin Cities. Their music is a fusion of complex rhythms, technical guitar and bass work, and deep, powerful vocals. It is the perfect blend of the aggressive, hard-hitting technical metal that the Midwest is known for, and melodic riffs and solos with newly incorporated clean vocals.
By The Thousands released their self-titled debut EP in 2014, and followed it up with their 2015 full-length album, “Connect.” They released their highly anticipated second full-length album, “Visions of Inner Depth,” on May 11th, 2018.
By The Thousands has made a name for themselves by touring relentlessly and bringing their fans an intense, high-energy live performance that leaves them begging for more. They have developed a reputation as a must-see “live band” that will crush even the highest of expectations. In today’s day and age, many bands struggle to produce a live sound that matches the quality of their recordings. With By The Thousands, that is not the case. Their crisp album sound is flawlessly replicated and is complemented by a passionately driven, fierce performance. By The Thousands is constantly reminding the metal community that nothing will stop them from being the preeminent band that their fans have grown to know and love.
Ilango Gopalan is a standup comedian based in Chicago. He came to America at a young age, thus depriving an Indian village of their idiot. Ilango is sardonic, sarcastic, sinister, and cynical. He has been told he has a “radio voice” (and face) for the past 25 years, and today discusses the city, parenting, marriage, martial arts, news, corporate tomfoolery, and how it’s OK to hate SOME Asians. Ilango hopes to one day defeat Marc Zuckerberg in Brazilian Jiujitsu (current purple belt) in order to get his Facebook account reinstated.
Coolidge began as a power trio vehicle for singer & guitarist Chris Smail to craft and deliver his brilliant pop gems. The original trio was born from the ashes of midwestern fan favorite Johnny Socko and started gaining regional attention for their high-powered performances. The rock was always there, but a delicious cake only gets more decadent & complex with frosting: enter the two piece horn section. All of the combined years of touring and songwriting has made for a very substantial collection of pop infused rock for people that still love music.
Galactic Empire is the galaxy’s foremost instrumental Star Wars cosplay heavy metal John Williams tribute band. Their first music video was a viral hit, gaining over 10 million views with national press coverage including Huffington Post, Guitar World, Entertainment Weekly, and MSNBC, along with a live TV performance on E! Entertainment during their coverage of the 2016 Academy Awards. The band has released two full-length albums with Rise Records (produced and mixed by Carson and Grant), along with four more music videos. They’ve toured extensively, headlining multiple national and overseas tours, including Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia, along with appearances at major festivals, comic cons, sporting events, and supporting arena acts Ozzy Osbourne and Babymetal. In 2022 the band signed with Pure Noise Records, and released their third studio LP “Special Edition” May 3. The band is primed to continue their journey toward becoming the ultimate power in the universe.
Kathleen Lane is a professional Vocalist and Independent Artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Lane has written and performed her own music since a young age and now holds a degree in Vocal Performance with a focus in Jazz repertoire from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Lane blends classic rock and indie influences to create her heartfelt, melancholic sound within her original music. She released two singles ‘Pearls’ and ‘Secondhand’ in January & February of 2023 in anticipation of her debut album ‘Fat Chance’ released in March 2023.
Lane has performed as part previous groups and solo at various Chicagoland venues including Foundation Room, Wire, Pierogi Festival, Rockopelli Music Festival, Elbo Room, Beat Kitchen, Underground Lounge, and Cubbie Bear.
Danny Severance is a soul/indie/folk singer, violinist, and songwriter based in Chicago. Danny Severance has led bands and recorded in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Orlando, and has been back in his native Chicagoland for about a year and half, having performed recently in Chicago at spots such as the Hairpin Arts Center, Ropa Cabana, and Fallen Log. Danny creates soulful, dynamic songs with emotional, thought-provoking lyrics. Danny Severance has played violin for thirty years and has been exploring soul, indie, folk, and blues styles on violin/fiddle for over fifteen years. On violin, he has recorded and performed with artists such as Prateek Kuhad (NYC/India), Baby Alpaca (LA/NYC), and Valley Shine (LA). Danny currently performs and records violin with alternative soul band Barry & the Fountains while also playing and singing in his own band.
At the end of January 2024, Danny released his edgy blues indie rock single “Make Believe”, which is available on Spotify and all music platforms. He looks forward to releasing another single called “Nice” in March, which will be more of a soul/pop/singer-songwriter style. In summer of 2023, Danny released a single “Lightning” online and released a music video for “Lightning” which is currently available on Youtube. Plans are in place to release an EP in the summer of 2024.
The Emily Chloe Quinn Ensemble is a “Baroque-Pop” musical group based in Chicago and the surrounding areas, formerly known as the Emily Chloe Quinn Quartet which formed in late 2022. The songs feature prominent arpeggios, with heavy piano, mellotron, and flute, with a modern spin on a classic-but-stilted, Baroque-infused style, with pointed story-like lyrics, and infectious melodies and lyrical concepts that stick with you. Members of the new iteration of the ensemble, formed in Spring, 2024 include singer-songwriter Emily Chloe Quinn on voice, piano/keys, Paul Vincent on bass and backing vocals, Caylee Wells on flute and Tom “Tubs” Jasek on drums/percussion. They plan to record a full album in due time amidst performances.
Longing to discover what lies beyond, through the pain, misery, and beauty that are universal to human existence. It is eventually essential to face one’s own thoughts and emotions directly.
Originally founded in 2011 by Josh Moran (guitar, vocals) as a solo project, the desire to take the Vacant Eyes songs into a live setting led to a full band forming in 2013. The band have dedicated themselves to boundlessly crafting their own brand of heavy music, cloaked in themes of despair, loss, nonexistence, and seeking truths often left unspoken. “I find a certain beauty in depression and darkness. It’s as real as it gets, and I have the utmost respect for it.” Moran explained.
Dead Rhetoric said “Vacant Eyes as a unit understand that you can still be engaging at a plodding pace, and keep building the arrangements in elegance, grace, and sophistication through subtle magnification,” and describes the band’s scope as spanning “From slow, sorrowful melodies drenched with emotion, to heavier, more up-tempo movements…” Metal Injection featured the band in their Funeral Doom Friday series, describing the band as having “all the hallmarks of funeral doom-type bands like Clouds and Swallow The Sun, yet the melodic sensibilities of bands like Insomnium.”
Their goal is always to evolve, always to be free in their songwriting, to look into the ether, and to capture the essence of anguish.
JOSH MORAN (Guitar, Vocals, Cello)
ALEX SMITH (Guitar, Backing Vocals)
MIKE BESSETTE (Guitar)
ERIC GEMBORYS (Bass)
CHRIS KUDUKEY (Drums)
MARK RICHARDSON (Keyboards)
Hailing from the western burbs of Chicago, Radar Waves has been preaching trash rock to the masses since 2011 when founder and guitarist, Charlie Thornton, first took the stage.
After years of gigging, releasing music and numerous lineup changes, this power trio is finally complete and consists of Charlie Thornton (Guitar, Vox), Rob Wash (Bass, Vox), and Mikey Cervenka (Drums).
Radar Waves is a melting pot of sounds culminating from the members’ large list of influences. If you like, The Beatles, Local H, Foo Fighters, Alkaline Trio, Motörhead, or Limp Bizkit…chances are you will find something to enjoy in Radar Waves.
The Citrosonics are on a mission to find any and all earthlings who are willing to hit the dance floor and embrace the weirdness inside. With an attitude and energy that rivals even the hottest suns, we hope to light some spark in beings from all corners of the universe. So hop on this intergalactic spaceship that will take you to unknown planets of pop, where the funkiest of friends can be made. Become a space cadet, where everyone can be themselves. After all, The Citrosonics are alien, just like you.
With members across the state of Indiana, rock n roll band ‘Free Joel’ adds a breath of fresh air to the historic rock scene by utilizing heavy riffs, the blues, and psychedelic elements in their music. Further inspired by upbeat dance tunes from the seventies and onwards, ‘Free Joel’ explores everywhere between classic rock and blues to funky grooves that you can’t help but dance and bob your head to.
In 2023, the band compiled five original songs to release their first EP, titled “No Future.” One of the singles off the album, “I Wanna Keep It” continues to catch the interest of modern blues-rock listeners around the world after landing a spot on a Spotify-curated playlist.
Members Noah Martin (vocals, guitar), Jillian Burton (vocals, bass, keys), Kyle Krawczyk (drums), and Reid Webber (guitar) met in 2021 in their mid-size college town of Muncie, Indiana. More recently, the band has settled down in northwest Indiana and surrounding Chicagoland, where two of the members are from originally. Here, the group continues to grow as songwriters and entertainers.
Hailing from their Midian in Milwaukee, WI, this Ka-tet is currently comprised of….
Jon Liedtke
Guitars
Jeremiah Messner Drums
Julie Brandenburg
Vocals
Chris Ortiz
Bass
Performing as a live act since Sept. 2017, LTOTM has shared the stage with well known acts such as Trouble, Today Is The Day, Black Tusk, Immortal Bird, Doomstress, Ails, Savage Master, Dreadnought, and Vanishing Kids.
Migg knew his purpose was greater than his block. Using the booth as an alternative for therapy, the pain and heartache captured in his music is palpable. Now, with several projects worth of heat, top-tier visuals alongside production from rising Chicago producer JTK, as well as heavy weights London On The Track and Chase Davis in the vault, Migg is poised to cement his trajectory .