TAL WILKENFELD
Tal Wilkenfeld is an Australian singer, songwriter, bassist, and guitarist. She has performed with artists including Jeff Beck, Prince, Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock, and Mick Jagger. In 2008, Wilkenfeld was voted “The Year’s Most Exciting New Player” by Bass Player magazine readers’ choice poll.
BEASTII
Occult rockers from another galaxy elaborating on the sacred sciences of punk & rock ‘n’ roll
JASON BLAKE OF AZIOLA CRY
Jason Blake is a Warr Guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. The Warr Guitar is a twelve-string instrument incorporating the range of a guitar and bass. It is played by tapping the strings, a technique known as touchstyle guitar.
Blake plays with the progressive metal trio, Aziola Cry (Sensory Records), Backward Sky Falling, and releases music under his own name (Wayfarer Records).
4L.QUAN
THE SNOZZBERRIES
The Snozzberries are a hi-energy psychedelic rock band based in Asheville, NC. Since their formation in fall of 2017, The Snozzberries have quickly gained notoriety for their electrifying live performances where melodic songcraft is interwoven with wild improvisation and technical wizardry.
Their infectious grooves have taken storm across the region, with 2019 highlights including Sweetwater 420 Festival, Resonance Music & Arts Festival, Warren Haynes Xmas Jam-By-Day, Dark Star’s Pisgah Jubilee, and many more. The Snozzberries hosted official afterparties for The Disco Biscuits, Lotus and Papadosio. The band also tours extensively, mesmerizing audiences across the states with their esoteric fusion of old-school rock with modern psychedelia.
MARVIN PHIPPS
Stand-Up Comedian
EM BROWN
Chicago native south side born and raised
MESSER CHUPS
The brainchild of Oleg Gitarkin/Guitaracula of St. Petersburg, Russia, Messer Chups was conceived in 1998 as a side project to his prime output Ein Messer Für Frau Müller. A guitarist extraordinare, he took his love of 50’s rockabilly and 60’s surf, wrapped it up in the sounds of the all-night inner-city grind-house and added the trashiest ingredient to the mix – himself. The Chups got into full swing with arrival of Zombierella – a bass player with the looks of a vintage pin-up model. The duo became the core of a band that, through various incarnations, would welcome many other talented collaborators. The group’s albums never fail to amuse, oozing musical cocktails that range from the electronic exotica of the band’s early work, Miss Libido and Crazy Price ( Ipecac), to the exotic surf of Hyena Safari and Zombie Shopping. The fact that they are the hottest band around is beside the point. Live they are simply beautiful: guitars drenched in reverb, snippets of horror movies and burlesque acts on the screen, bass and drums pumping a steady backbeat to their nocturnal emission…MC and their fans had their heads shrunk by late-night b-movies. Take any good old Dracula, throw in some Orgy of the Dead and Dance of the Damned, blend it with the surf beats of The Ventures and the like and you are not even close, but you are on your way. This is the sort of music you would expect to hear coming from a car abandoned in a graveyard at midnight during a real-life Twighlight Zone.
YADA YADA
TODAY’S CHILDREN
Today’s Children is the recording project of Nick Arger. The band’s roots can be traced to the DIY scene of Urbana, Illinois. The band consisted of Nick, Robert Audino, Cameron Kern, and Alex McAfee, all of whom were students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The boys started playing together in September 2018 after Nick started teaching the group some of his original songs. The band started to grow a small following by playing local house parties, bars, and clubs, and eventually they found their way up to Chicago, playing to escalating crowd sizes at Subterranean in Wicker Park, Safari Lounge in Rogers Park, and The Curragh in Edison Park for a benefit concert. Upon returning back to Urbana, the group booked two radio appearances, one for WEFT in Champaign, and the other for WPGU, the University of Illinois student-run radio station. After performing for 3 nights at The Canopy Club in Urbana towards the end of April, Nick, Cameron, and Alex graduated from the University and played one final show together at the Tonic Room in Chicago. After graduation, the band members are all in different locations, with Nick working in Chicago, Cameron and Rob still in Champaign, and Alex in his hometown of Peoria, IL. Now with a new lineup consisting of Nick, Derek Rice, Jake Kay, and Alex O’Malley, the band hopes to continue to grow its fanbase by playing shows all across the country and to steadily release new songs. As the primary songwriter, Nick has been steadily writing material for the band’s streaming debut. The first single, “Things You Wish,” was released on Friday, August 7, 2020.
THE SURREALISTS
UR MOM
Rock band from Park Ridge, IL
MIKE REEB
SPARKLE CARCASS
JABARI ZAKEE
CHAI TULANI
Influenced by the style and swagger of hip-hop as well as the soulfulness of R&B and singer-songwriters like Bob Marley and Tracy Chapman, soul hop is a new genre of music unlike any you’ve heard before.
But soul hop as a genre is fairly new and Tulani, who began working full time as a musician two years ago, had a long journey toward the sense of purpose he now feels in his work.
Tulani was born in Kenya and came to the United States at age 4. His mother is Kenyan but his father is from Chicago, so his family eventually moved here. Tulani grew up in the Roseland neighborhood before moving to the south suburbs at 15
Music has been a passion of Tulani’s for most of his life. His father was a percussionist and Tulani largely grew up listening to music from the Congo. Tulani’s parents wanted him to play piano to acquire a variety of music-making skills beyond guitar or voice. Tulani took the leap to a full-time music career in 2014 at 19, after receiving approval from his parents. He’s now 24. “I hate doing the same thing every day, but I do like the adventure of being an artist,’ he said. His diverse musical and cultural background led Tulani to create soul hop, a name that came to him a year into his career.
“I would often get the question, ‘How would you describe your music?’ And I had the hardest time describing to people what it was,” Tulani said. “It made me want to make up a name for it instead of having that generic answer in which I kind of rap or kind of sing.” He calls it Soul Hop. (Chicago Tribune)
IVEY AMOUR
CAVEMAN CULT
MR.PHYLZZZ
One really weird guy named mr.phylzzz, say F l YZZZ. Still cant tell if hes dead or alive.
GruvXperiment
TY RIGGS
Known for his edgy and unorthodox style, Chicago native Ty Riggs has no problem putting you in his shoes and giving you a tour through his hilarious world. From politics to relationships, he has something to say about it all. He is one of the original Martin Luther Kings of Comedy and can be seen all over the city killing the stage with his unmistakable hair and voice.
CHLOE MATONIS
leader of the Grassroots Movement to Revive in-Person Pickup Culture
TIM LEFEBVRE & NATE SMITH
Throughout his wide-ranging career, Tim Lefebvre has amassed a reputation for being one of the world’s most innovative bassists. The Foxboro-native’s creative playing style is an addictive blend of jazz improvisation, rock undertones, and electronic grooves that can be heard on his appearances on over 150 recordings, ranging from Grammy award-winning albums such as David Bowie’s Blackstar to the soundtracks of classic films such as The Departed. From 2013 to 2018, Lefebvre was the bassist of the dynamic blues rock ensemble Tedeschi Trucks Band, and he can be heard on their three most recent releases, Let Me Get By (2016), Live From The Fox Oakland (2017), and Signs (2019). Before joining the group, he worked with artists such as Uri Caine, Chris Botti, and Leni Stern. Now based in Los Angeles, Lefebvre is currently the bassist for numerous groups, most notably with jazz-fusion guitarist Wayne Krantz, improvisational free-jazz group Whose Hat Is This?, and his Blackstar bandmate Donny McCaslin. He has recently performed with Chris Potter, Jon Batiste and Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Empire of the Sun, Carole King, Ben Platt, Knower, and Matisyahu as well. Lefebvre is also the producer for a diverse range of projects, which includes singer-songwriter Rachel Eckroth’s When It Falls (2018), The Garden (2021) and XXXX by Wollny Parisien Lefebvre Lillinger
For nearly two decades, Nate Smith has been a key piece in reinvigorating the international music scene with his visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming. He holds a diverse and ample résumé — which includes work with esteemed jazz leading lights such as Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, José James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, and Somi among many others. His 2x GRAMMY-nominated debut album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop. He’s also ventured into the pop/rock world with recent collaborations with Vulfpeck spinoff band The Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and performances with songwriters Emily King and Van Hunt. In recent years, through a series of viral videos, he has emerged as one of the most influential and popular drummers of his generation. His videos have been viewed millions of times and have inspired countless musicians and fans. In September of 2018, he released his first ever solo drumset album Pocket Change.
ED SCHRADER’S MUSIC BEAT
On Riddles, Music Beat begins their new life. Working steadily for two years in the apartment studio of close friend, electronic-pop maestro Dan Deacon, three evolving musicians pushed through an intense period of personal tumult and found purpose in the sounds they were committing to record. The result: a polished and passionate masterpiece of nuanced alt-rock.
MELT-BANANA
MELT-BANANA is a band based in Tokyo JAPAN.
Members are YAKO and AGATA.
Some people say they are noise band, some people say they are so-called no wave band, some people say they are hardcore band, some people say their music is like roller coaster in an amusement park… It is hard to categorize their music, but basecally they are rock band with a spice of punk taste.The easiest way to find out is to listen to their music and you will find out.
THE SMITHS “THE QUEEN IS DEAD”
The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by English rock band The Smiths. Released on 16 June 1986 in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records, and on 23 June 1986 in the US by Sire Records, it spent 22 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number two.
STOLEN SUN
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Stolen Sun blends elements of metalcore and hardcore to create a truly unique sound that is both aggressively energetic and chaotic. FFO: Every Time I Die, Slipknot, Norma Jean, & Stray from the Path. Chaos, dissonance , and mayhem are what we strive for. Stolen Sun is Anthony Ofenloch (vocals), Cooper Kleinke (guitar), Michael Krupp (guitar), Dakota Newman (bass), and Bobby Dalheim (Drums). More Money Riffs Per Capita.
GREEN DRUID
The cosmic death lingers ever closer, looming in the back of all of our minds, channeled through our amps, drums and guitars. Playing these riffs is a form of life affirmation to us. To remind us that we are still alive and we have the power to wield our pain through the catalyst of our instruments.
THE BEATLES “LET IT BE”
Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, almost a month after the group’s break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name.
STAR2
Asian-American singer, songwriter, rapper
IKE RHEIN
“Summer Breeze” OUT NOW🏝🏝
PLANET BOOTY
Somewhere between sermon and strip tease…old school funk and dj dance club… sincerity and innuendo… lies Planet Booty. Live shows leave unexpecting audiences soaked in sweat and inspired as Planet Booty’s unrelenting energy and sexual positivity infuse their explicit, highly charged dance anthems and occasional heartfelt ballad. Their ability to transform any venue into an inclusive, sexually charged safe space catalyzed by a never ending fountain of showmanship has earned them a fiercely dedicated, cult-like fan base across North America and Europe, and opening spots for Lizzo, Big Freedia, Ninja Sex Party, Sisqo, Peaches, K Flay, Capital Cities, TWRP, Escort, and Turquoise Jeep.
Planet Booty’s core trio — Dylan Charles Germick, Josh Cantero and Rob Gwin — combine multiple live instruments and electronics into a mixtape of pop, R&B, 90’s house, 70’s funk and classic hip-hop that might have been made by your strangely attractive high school gym coach. Their fourth full-length album “YES”, released in September 2021 and featuring an all-star cast of national and Bay Area musicians, is Planet Booty’s most mature and articulate delivery of their unique brand of irreverent west coast party funk preaching body positivity and acceptance.
ESCULIS
An exciting rock band from the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, with a full length album!
DEAD LANGUAGES
Music that gets heavy sometimes.
Jeremy Sutton: Guitars | Ben Emricsson: Guitars | Tom Mazur: Drums
BLACK FLAK
Post-Rock,
Progressive Alternative
Experimental Story Telling Through Walls of Sound.
THE HELL CATZ
Chi-Town hard psychedelic rock band with Latin roots.
TINY WARS
The New Wave of Pittsburgh Heavy Pop.
Sue – vocals & synth
Abby – guitar & vocals
Aaron – bass
Rocko – guitar
Dennis – drums
TOILET BOYS
Toilet Boys, the infamous neo-punk Glam Rock band
GILDED CAGES
Alternative rock music from Rockford Illinois.
SCREAMER
Forged in steel in the dark woods of rural Sweden, Screamer flies their banner high! With their feet firmly planted in the deep traditions of Heavy Metal, Screamer never lose sight of what’s really important; good tunes, good brew and good times! ‘Cause with Screamer every night is Friday night and every Friday night deserves to be a party!
As ruthless Swedish peasants, the band grew up on meat and potatoes on their plates, and that’s what’s blazing out of your speakers when putting on any of the Screamer albums. That’s why Screamer never strays far from the proven sound of roaring guitars and pounding drums that works equally well in the war pit in front of stage as when blasting through your stereo. In their music you can hear the classic foundations laid down by the hard rocking heroes of old. With a combination of straight-forward choruses of the likes of Dio, guitar works in the style of ‘Maiden or ‘Lizzy on speed and the pounding beat of Judas Priest, Screamer has carved out their very own essence of heavy metal that stands the test of time.
With their latest album the songwriting has become even more focused and hard hitting. For the first time the band has been able to build on the last release with an intact set of members. This has really allowed them to build on their strengths and grow as a song writing unit. And, also for the first time, they’ve been working with an external producer, Gustav Hjortsjö from Bullet, who has really helped hone every song to be the best that they can be. Whether it’s the brutal Halo, the sing along friendly Out of the Dark or the anthem-like title track Highway of Heroes, all songs truly carry their own weight and together they fulfill the bands goal and war cry for this album; “All hits, no fillers”!
This also goes hand in hand with Screamers continuous efforts to play their music for all and everyone who dares hear it. So far those efforts have had them playing on countless stages in North America, Japan and of course all around Europe! To this date Screamer been on tour with Bullet (2012 and 2018), Striker (2013), Evil Invaders (2013), Night Demon (2018), Satan (2019), RAM (2019) and many others. They’ve also played festivals such as Headbangers Open Air (2013), Rock Hard (2014), Summer Breeze (2014), Muskelrock (2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019) and Bang Your Head (2019). And this is only mentioning a tiny portion of everything and everywhere they’ve played, by now they have well over 300 shows under their belt. And rest assured that whenever and wherever Screamer plays, they always deliver an energetic show and a good time!
Still, they are not done yet by a long shot! Having previously released the albums Adrenaline Distractions (2011), Phoenix (2013) and Hell Machine (2017) on High Roller Records they have now decided to switch to The Sign Records for the latest album to get the ball rolling even faster!
So grab a cold one, crank the stereo to eleven and join Screamer on an epic journey down the Highway of Heroes!
Screamer is:
Andreas Wikström – Vocals
Anton Fingal – Guitar
Dejan Rosić – Guitar
Fredrik Svensson Carlström – Bass
Henrik Petersson – Drums
HELL FIRE
From San Francisco, California. Hell Fire pulls influences like the twin guitars and soaring vocals of New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the late 1970s combined with the speed and intensity of the early 1980s Thrash Metal Scene
WAS & WHEN
B00ty
FERNANDO ROSA
Fernando Rosa has gathered his extensive musical knowledge and research for the launch of his new Project ALIVE: taking to the live stage his own versions of hit songs alongside a trio including Jamiroquai’s drummer Derrick McKenzie.
Born and raised in the suburbs of São Paulo, he learned to play at the age of 8, beginning his professional career as a 14-year-old. An artist who remains truly authentic, Fernando plays whatever he feels like playing. A clever researcher, he goes beyond music. During the pandemic, he began producing dozens of videos for his social media pages, all of which are as simple and creative as they are powerful and revolutionary.
Just him, his bass and a camera travel through the universe of classics from Black, Funk and Disco Music.
MATEYKO
From John Coltrane to Flying Lotus, Mateyko Jazwinski blends an incredibly wide variety of influences into his music. Mateyko has played in prominent venues such as SFJAZZ, has appeared on ABC 7 Chicago’s Windy City Live, and hosted a 10-week residency at Andy’s Jazz Club. Mateyko has also performed at several charity events for Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Children’s Heart Foundation.
Born with the heart condition Tetralogy of Fallot, he could not engage in contact sports with other children while growing up in a sports-heavy community. Music gave him an outlet to express himself and connect with other people. Mateyko’s dedicated passion for upright & electric bass, composition, and performance provide a sense of escape and exploration to those around him. Mateyko is currently pursuing B.M. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He studies with Matt Brewer, Scott Pingel, and Sharay Reed.
THE BAND ROYALE
The Band Royale was born out of love for big guitar riffs, an appreciation for the finer things, and a mutual obsession with science fiction. And they are able to sneak these things into their sound without scaring off the opposite sex.
Since it’s release on New Years Day, …As Long As The Money Lasted has sold in over 59 countries worldwide and featured in SPIN, Consequence of Sound, AV Club, NYLON, Chicago Tribune, Modern Drummer, Bass Player Magazine & more.
Brothers Joel, Nate, and Zach Bauman grew up in the working-class town of Kalamazoo, MI, each with an immediate passion for music (passed down from their parents — their mother, a music teacher and their father, a school principal). At an early age, their shared obsessions with music, sports, and culture made the pursuit of playing in a band together an obvious choice. Once they moved to Chicago, they teamed up to make the heaviest music they could that would inspire some serious baby-making.
Our music will always be free because your money is not why we do this. The Band Royale’s goal is to redefine what being a “successful” band means in the New Music Industry, and using the Internet and social media to put our music in people’s hands whether or not they’re in the same hemisphere we are. The world is a smaller place than it used to be, and the “old ways” of promoting your band simply don’t matter to us.
PHOELIX
theMIND
Born Zarif Wilder, theMIND is an alternative R&B and hip-hop artist from Philadelphia. He began writing music when he was 9, as a means to cope with being in and out of different foster homes; eventually, he was taken in by a teacher, who supported Wilder’s dreams of pursuing a music career. He moved to Chicago to study music business at Columbia College in 2007, and subsequently forming the production group @THEMpeople the following year with 4 other friends. Though a Philly native, Chicago has adopted Wilder. Since moving here, the singer has worked with a handful of notable Chicago artists, including G- Herbo, Mick Jenkins, Noname, and Chance the Rapper and so many more. As theMIND, Wilder released his latest tape Summer Camp in 2016, and recently released the single “Miss Communication” with Soulection producer @Da-P, via Zane Lowe. Wilder’s forthcoming project “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” is out now.
LITTLE DIPPER
Little Dipper (stylized “little dipper” because I mean what year is this c’mon) is the latest project from musical human being Ilan Haskel.
BACKGROUND CHARACTER
420th Wave Ska from Chicago
The Best Band In the World™
It’s Just a Prank, Bro
ERICA DENIECE EXPERIENCE
Aries; Eastern Star; Woman of God; Mother of 4; Singer; Songwriter; Composer
JETT
THE DISTRACTIONS
Drawing on the anthems of Face to Face and Midwestern pop punk, The Distractions have carved out their own niche of melodic punk. The band has been writing and playing the type of music that they find personally appealing with little consideration for a trendy stylistic approach.