AARON THOMPSON
NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA
ERICA IOZZO
THE DIEMAKERS
NY Waste- “a nod to the underground 60s rock steady beat”
Windy City Rock- “great for fans of rock and roll”
Babysue- “Cool heavy pop/rock”
The Diemakers are a dynamic power trio in the tradition of Cream that deliver gritty rock-n-roll with scalding guitar riffs and infectious melodies. The Diemakers’ first release, Assault All Your Senses, was recorded by the legendary sound engineer Jim Diamond of Ghetto Recorders studio in Detroit, Michigan. Bands such as The White Stripes, The Sights, and The Ponys have recorded with Diamond. For the past decade, Dominic Harris (guitarist/singer/songwriter) and Jay Harnish (bass) have been playing in bands that have rocked renowned stages throughout the Midwest. The trio is completed by their new drummer, Sharon Harris.
FLUID IMPULSE
SILHOUETTE RADIO
KALEIDOSCOPE
Alternative Groove Rock band from Chicago. Kaleidoscope blends many different styles to give you just what you want to hear.
KILLMEDIA
MIKE MAIMONE
Mutts frontman Mike Maimone “goes from zero to a hundred quicker than most,” according to Daytrotter. Choose Chicago says, “He plays the piano with his feet. He swills whiskey between songs. He shouts and howls. He is an unstoppable music force.” Vern Hester of the Windy City Times adds, “The man has the keyboard style of Fats Waller and Jerry Lee Lewis combined, and a vocal style that clearly recalls Tom Waits and Warren Zevon.”
Maimone has averaged over 100 tour dates each year since 2007, primarily with his band Mutts and as a solo artist, as well as on keyboards for Company of Thieves and Los Colognes. He has opened for Imagine Dragons, Weezer, OK Go, Blues Traveler, and The Hold Steady among others, played Lollapalooza, Sasquatch, Riot Fest, Last Call with Carson Daly, and at notable venues across the country, from The Fillmore in San Francisco, to Emo’s in Austin, to the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
Maimone released his solo debut LP Open Mic Nights, Empty Bottle Mornings in 2008. Going on to form Mutts with bassist Bob Buckstaff in 2009, Maimone has subsequently written and self-released 4 more albums and 4 EPs. In 2017 Mutts were named to WXRT’s Local Anesthetic Best-of list for the second time. The most recent LP from Mutts, Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4, is their fourth consecutive album to chart on the CMJ Top 200. More Mutts music is on the way in 2018, as well as a follow-up solo release featuring his new brass band.
Mike Maimone endorses Lewitt microphones and Nord keyboards, performing at the latter’s NAMM exhibition in 2018.
NOISEAR
MIND ERASER
PETER MURPHY
LIVAN
THE PIRATE TWINS
The Pirate Twins are the DJ team of Scary Lady Sarah and William Faith.
SUBHUMANS UK
Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and original of the evolving UK punk scene; they were based in England, Musical influences were a mix of Sex Pistols, Damned, and similar punk originators, and prepunk bands like King Crimson and Frank Zappa, which led to a style of punk more intricate in its structure than their contemporaries, without losing the base energy and dynamics of punk. Dick’s lyrics, at once socially aware and heavily critical of social norms, placed them in the anarcho-punk area of the ever-expanding UK punk scene of the early 80s, alongside Crass, Antisect, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians.
DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
“Daylight Robbery: Sounds like their records come with a spool of police tape that raps around your stereo as it plays. It cordons off a crime scene, sets the place in noir-ish blacks and whites, expands to ten times its original volume, and carefully inspects and detects.”
-Todd Taylor, Razorcake
ANAMANAGUCHI
We are Anamanaguchi. We make hyper-active, hyper-positive 8-bit jams that epicly wail with guitars and drums.
COBALT AND THE HIRED GUNS
DARLING
A ROCKET TO THE MOON
HARRY BREITNER
MAGIC CHILD
THE STEEL CHOPS
The Steel Chops are bringing rock back to the people. Real music from the heart without prejudice. We are part of the new revolution to regrow the roots and give the ears of the world something to talk about.
GREEN ROOM ROCKERS
From the Muddy Banks of the Wabash River comes the Soul Sonic, Blues Drenched, Sounds of Reggae and Ska that is the Green Room Rockers. Tuff concrete for your dancing feet thats served hot by the slice, for the Right Price.
Honest, raw sounds in an age of plastic and bling. This is the Hoosier Homegrown.
It all began in the (219) around 2001 with a few bedroom sessions (which happened to be painted green) between a few friends. After years of neglect and what could only be explained as providence, GRR became a reality in 2006.
Including members of Indiana Finest bands (Counteractive, the management, the Jims Jims, the Modern Kicks, and Recticide),GRR has come to bring Music with Soul back to the fore front, one basement at a time.So tell your friends, there something new growing amongst the corn…
SAMANTHA AXTON
PREDATOR
Predator is a Progressive Thrash Metal band from Chicago IL.
JOEY PASTERSIK
ANDREW FRANCIS
SEEKING ZERO
THE SPACE JAM SOUNDTRACK
STEREO SINAI
KELSEY MONTANEZ
Kelsey Montanez is one of Chicago’s best kept secrets. Both intimate and ecstatic, smokey and scorching, her potent blend of blues, pop, and psychedelia has been turning heads for over a decade. Among the singer-songwriter’s many talents, it’s Montanez’s arresting voice that has captured a devoted fanbase.
OLD OLD FASHIONED
PHOENIX RUDOLPH
BIG WIG MECHANIC
Big Wig Mechanic got their start on the southside of Chicago in 2007. Quickly after getting together, the upbeat trio gained momentum playing local bars and venues all all over the Chicago area. They built a grassroots following by rocking out packed bars and venues, and battling out to the top of multiple “Battle of the Bands” contests. (Their most recent feat was out of 30 bands)
Their style is a pleasant mix of pop/rock thats is infused with a funky reggae vibe. In a typical show you can expect the staple reggae covers (Marley, Tosh, etc) but also a fresh take on unexpected past covers (think Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” into Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”).
But their cover’s is only one aspect of the Big Wig Mechanic sound. What makes them stand out is their original music. Their original tracks are of such high quality that it’s hard to tell the difference as to what’s an original and what’s a cover of a timeless classic when they are playing a live show.
The band members individual talent really shines through in a cohesive concert experience. Don’t be surprised to see a spontaneous instrument swap between members or an all out improv percussion jam with all involved. Their wide array of musical knowledge and styles as well their unique approach on their own material blends together seamlessly, and creates an experience that fits in any setting. Whether its a packed pub of drinkers waiting to hear their favorite hits to shout along to or a late night club looking for a funky dance party, Big Wig has it all. They even do the occasional acoustic orientated sets for fundraisers, charities and family events. And every crowd exposed to it sees that magic, and can’t help but move. Big Wig Mechanic is young and still relatively new to the scene, but expect to see a lot more of these guys in the future!
THE NATION
MASON AVENUE
BEYOND TERROR BEYOND GRACE
THYATEIRA
DA ROYALTY FAM
MONSOON
TAMARIE GUNN AND SHOWTIME
SCINTA
IDEALIST
Columbia Band
FUCKED UP FRIDAY
SKYLER MENDOZA
ACTION/ADVENTURE
Chicago, IL’s Action/Adventure combines punchy Pop Punk lyricism with the heavy tones into one complete package brimming with pure energy. The intricacies of their writing paired with a lineup composed of characters from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities makes them truly stand out amongst the Pop Punk genre.