Dead/Awake was formed in late 2017 by members Michael Campa (guitar, vocals), Payton Kuhn, (drums) Anthony Schlickman (bass), and Noah Lopez (vocals). Since then, the band has acquired two additional members; Morgan Earp (guitar) and Dillon James Hare (vocals). Dead/Awake has recorded multiple songs which feature noteworthy guest vocalists, such as Frankie Palmeri (Emmure), Tyler Shelton (Traitors), Kyle Anderson (The Afterimage, Brand of Sacrifice), and Dave Simonich (Signs of the Swarm).
Born in the fevered jam scene of Chicago, Silvertone brings an eclectic blend of groovy rhythms, powerful licks, and soulful lyrics to rock music. Energetic foot-tapping riffs fuse with catchy head-bobbing melodies to create a unique “rock and roll you can dance to”.
Fresh punk from Brighton, England. Upstroke with a heart. The Bar Stool Preachers released their first album, “Blatant Propaganda,” in 2016, sharing stages with artists like The Slackers, Jaya The Cat and Die Toten Hosen. In support of their second album “Grazie Governo” (2018), they toured all around UK, Europe and North America performing in sweaty sold-out clubs as well as stadiums supporting The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bouncing Souls, The Bronx and The Interrupters, to name but a few. The band’s progressive message of community, charity and change has remained the same since the start but the delivery has never been stronger! You’ll regret not seeing this explosive live band next time they come through your town.
Etherius is an American instrumental progressive metal band based out of New Jersey. Members include guitarists Jay Tarantino(of Angel Vivaldi) and Jon Perkins, bassist Chris Targia, and drummer Zaki Ali. With all members having extensive experience in songwriting, studies, and live performance, Etherius is sure to provide ear candy to music enthusiasts from a wide variety of genres. Writing styles include guitar driven neoclassical melodies, soaring leads, complex fast paced riffs, and use of odd time signatures. Etherius’ second album, “Chaos. Order. Renewal” will be released on April 17, coinsiding with a US tour supporting Allegaeon, Fallujah, and Entheos.
Void Vator is a hard rock/heavy metal band based out of Los Angeles, CA. The band describes it’s sound as “Riffs, Hooks and Leads”. After years of turmoil, the band truly took form when founding members Lucas Kanopa (guitar/vocals) and ex-White Wizzard/Gypsyhawk guitarist Erik Kluiber joined forces with Lucas’s childhood friend German Moura on drums and Sam Harman on bass. Piecing together their debut EP, Dehumanized with Grammy nominated hard rock producer Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Deftones, Metalocalypse) and releasing on his WURMgroup label in July of 2017, the band had the world at their feet.
Hitting the road hard and often after having teamed up with Hiwattage Booking (now Atomic Music Group) in summer 2018 the band purchased their own van, driven by a desire for even more. Within a year they had racked up 4 tours, starting to firmly establish their presence as scene newcomers who could go for the throat.
Building their live approach on hard hitting rock and roll riffage rather than the stoned vibes of many of their peers, Void Vator have quickly developed a reputation as a take-no-prisoners live act. Highlights of 2019 were touring with Haunt and a West Coast jaunt with underground legends Slough Feg. Void Vator also passed the test on KLOS Los Angeles’s massive “Stay or Go” radio show. The band was unanimously voted to “Stay” by guest judges from the rock band Dirty Honey, the radio hosts, and all the call in listeners. This wouldn’t be a big deal, except that it’s never been done before.
With hardly a moment to breathe, Void Vator recently dove back into the studio with world renowned producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, DRI, Bodycount) in North Hollywood to record the 8 song LP Stranded released by Ripple Music on November 22nd 2019. Eager to once more take to the wicked ways of the road, Void Vator is currently booking a Spring tour for 2020. Determined to take the world by storm and driving to ever more twisted heights, Void Vator are balls out rock and roll and they are here to stay.
What do you get when you cross punk, rockabilly and four stranded castaways with an affinity for blood, gore, rock-n-roll and monster movies??
Why, The Ghouliganz, of course!!!
Started by the fearless crew members of the ship-wrecked Psycho Minnow, with Ghoul Egon aka the OG (upright bass), and Skipper too (drums), later joined by Professor (guitar), while stuck on an uncharted desert isle somewhere in Chicago, the Ghouliganz searched long and far for a suitable lead singer until the fateful arrival of Scary Ann (screams), who became a permanent part of the band as of 2018.
Having recently played the Underground Lounge and Moe’s Tavern to name a few, they’re ready for their latest diy release titled ‘Island’, and are planning to set sail for yet another unforgettable three hour tour near you!
– “They’re welcome to play here anytime. They trashed my bar! Oh, no, wait,
they actually cleaned up a little. Good for them.” ~Moe, Owner – Moe’s Tavern
Violinist of 22 years, classically trained with experience in scottish/celtic, metal, punk, bluegrass and folk music.
I improvise and play by ear, so sitting in with new bands is one of my favorite things! If you ever want to add violin for a show or recording hit me up 🙂
Old time stomp music from the one man band, King Strang.
BLACK TARPOON
Beware all you sinners. Black TarPoon, with their distinct horror hellbilly sound, will steal your soul by playin the most unholy of Americana Roots music.
The hobo drifter, son of a grifter, Johnny Lawhorn, makes his way through speakeasies and gutters across the underbelly ofAmerica. While in Kansas City, Missouri, he starts the bluegrass group, The Pentagram String Band.
Lineup: banjo, mandolin, stand-up bass, washboard, and hillbilly harmonies.
AUSTIN POSSUM
Austin Possum is an alt folk artist from Knoxville Tennessee. Bringing a one man band guitar/banjo, percussion combo, with the occasional harmonica lead slipped in there. Austin Possum writes songs about the struggles with depression, alcoholism, and some touching on subjects like dysphoria, anarchism, and loving your friends. “Brown Eyed Recluse” album coming out soon!
HAVIAH MIGHTY
Haviah Mighty didn’t need to change her birth name when she decided to dedicate her career to music. In fact, Mighty couldn’t be more accurate a word to describe the artist, named one of XXL’s 15 Toronto Rappers You Should Know in 2019.
Raised in a musical household in Brampton, Ontario, Mighty started singing at the age of 4, rapping at 11, and producing at 15.
Well-known for being one of the three MCs who make up The Sorority — a hip-hop group born during an all-female cypher on International Women’s Day in 2016 — Mighty is making equally large waves as a solo artist.
Haviah has been releasing music independently since 2009, but it was her project, Flower City (2017), that propelled her solo career into further success. To date, Mighty recently released Polaris Prize-winning album, 13th Floor (2019), her most fully-realized project to date – making history as the first hip hop artist and the first black woman to ever receive the award. Garnering overwhelming praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Billboard, Hot New Hip Hop, and Lyrical Lemonade to name a few, Haviah continues to carve out spaces that boldly defy gendered expectations for women in hip hop.
Haviah’s explosive live show, filled with in-your-face intensity and her fast, technical flows, has also quickly developed her reputation as one to keep an eye on, earning her opening slots for acclaimed artists like Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Redman and Method Man, Sheck Wes, Nelly, Desiigner, and Kranium.
CAVALRY COLT
BRIAN KRISTMAS
PSYCHEDELIC BLUE
Blending psychedelic rock with blues rock, from the Swinging Sixties to the present day, Psychedelic Blue comprises singer Melodye Buskin whose forays into rock, reggae, country, soul, and R&B have also included drumming as well as recording backing vocals for George Michael and Sinéad O’Connor; English award-winning rock journalist and New York Times bestselling author Richard Buskin who sang lead with Melodye in London blues-rock group The Coyotes; acclaimed drummer Joe Valentino who’s spent the past four decades demonstrating his musical versatility both locally and overseas; Serbian guitarist Sasha Brusin who’s performed onstage and in the studio with acts ranging from Bruce Dickinson and Ginger Baker to Ian Paice and The Buddy Rich Big Band; Brazilian blues/rock guitarist Joseph Silva, a regular on the Chicago scene since 2017; bassist Mitch Straeffer whose work has immersed him in blues, rock, folk, Latin, country, and jazz; and David Bugher, an equally eclectic keyboardist who’s also an accomplished percussionist.
The 8-Bit Boyz are a collective of musicians who perform the music to your favorite games live while you play. We are the FIRST live super smash band of our kind and Nintendo’s best in 5 player action.
Members of the Milwaukee and Chicago Symphony Orchestras join pianist Marianne Parker and composer-guitarist Jason Seed to form the Jason Seed Stringtet, which has been performing Jason’s unique chamber music since 2008. The group formed alongside the Independent Music Award-winning Jason Seed Elixir Ensemble, a larger group which had a rock/jazz band sensibility. The more intimate Stringtet now brings Seed’s eclectic collection of classical crossover pieces to a wider audience. Some of the music has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Lake Effect, in the film Everglades of the North and more. With some pieces composed in recognizable traditional forms and others in as yet un-named categories, the music constantly surprises.
JASON SEED composition, guitar
DAN ARMSTRONG bass
SCOTT TISDEL cello
HELEN REICH viola
GLENN ASCH violin, viola
MARIANNE PARKER piano
“A lot of people – fans of art-rock, jazz, classical and global sounds – are going to love this album. It’s one of the year’s best, whichever category you might think it fits (and realistically, it doesn’t really fit any, which helps explain why it’s so enjoyable).”
CD review of In the Gallery in Lucid Culture
The Blueshift Big Band is a 17-piece jazz orchestra lead by Joel Baer and Chris Parsons that plays original arrangements based on jazz standards, American songbook tunes, pop music and video games.
Mount Atlas’s bubbling sound of the Hammond organ, their rough guitar riffs as well as the floating melodies will bring you back to the 70s and 80s. At the same time, they manage to maintain their individual sonority. They alternate between spherical sounds and heavy doom riffs, which sound as if played whilst wearing equally heavy leather jackets.
Although the band was only recently founded (2016), they have already achieved successes, such as being featured on Rock Hard’s sampler “Lauschangriff #54”, interviews and reviews in all of the renowned German-speaking rock and metal magazines, radio interviews, gigs all over Germany supporting, among others, The Weight, Dead Lord and The New Roses.
Their first record “Titan” has been leaving its marks on the international rock and metal scenes since April 2017.
The new EP “Mistress” will be released on Vinyl, CD and digitally in April 2019.
THE METEORS started thirty years ago as a reaction against the soft rockabilly that was popular at that time, and they have now evolved to become the acknowledged “Kings of Psychobilly”.
Their audience has continually expanded, and includes not just psychobillies, but everybody from rockabillies and punks, to bikers, and most alternatives. They are the original creators of Psychobilly Music, and although they have spawned hundreds of imitations, THE METEORS are proud to be the only pure Psychobilly band ever. Their songs are inspired by their personal experiences and interests; Horror, Perversion, and Death in general. They list their hobbies as motorbikes, rock’n’roll, and burying the living; amongst their heroes are Michael Myers, Charles Manson and Mark Chapman the man who shot John Lennon.
They have now made no less than 40 official albums, and countless singles, not to mention dozens of compilations and re-issues. Many were made in their own recording studio, “In Heaven” a fully working pro studio used by 100’s of bands including some very famous household names and lead-man PAUL FENECH has also released six successful solo albums. (They have also featured in many films and numerous TV shows) Worldwide sales have increased steadily over the years, and they have toured almost continuously to support these releases.
Their live show is wild and addictive, (they have done it over thousands of times in fact this year passing their four thousand five hundredth) and has been seen in just about every country in the world, including Japan, several tours of America, and every major city in Europe and Scandinavia even spending a sell out week in Israel, Everybody is welcome at THE METEORS show, and the band make a point that THE METEORS Live is a political or religious free zone. People should come to enjoy the music, and to wreck if they are brave enough! It’s wild and sweaty, but nobody gets seriously hurt.
They are supported by a flourishing fan base, with thousands of supporters worldwide, who are kept in touch by the website www.kingsofpsychobilly.com which is updated daily with tours, band news and new merchandise, and there are several internet web sites devoted to them. And they receive daily e-mail from fans from the 4 corners of the earth. Although there have been line-up changes over the years, (PAUL FENECH being the only original member) the search for the perfect combination is now over. THE METEORS are a known name, experienced, professional working band, with an established audience. Their most recent release is “Hell Train Rollin’” from 2009.
At the depths of the earth substances of a repulsive nature dwell. Over millions of years creatures have disintegrated and decayed until taking on ghastly new life as petroleum. Like a return of the undead, petroleum has wrought cross-cultural conflict, environmental pollution, and economic distress. “In The Flesh” re-interprets petroleum’s sinister insinuation into our everyday lives.
Attic Salt is a band from Springfield, IL. Fred Malcom (drums), Andy Harmon (guitar/vocals), and Alyssa Currie (guitar/vocals) started playing together in late 2015. Lanny Durbin (bass) joined up in early 2017. Our first full length album (S/T) is out now.
Some nice things said about us:
“Attic Salt is one those bands that comes out of nowhere and blows you away Their sound is a mix of power pop that fits in the indie rock world as well as a resurgence of 90’s college rock. They are aggressive and melodic, everything a rock band should be.”
“I’m really digging this local-to-Springfield (IL) band called Attic Salt. Good crunchy, melodic, hooky rock with alternating male and female vocals. Right on.”
Barry J. Fontenot is a Louisiana-born, Chicago-based soul musician with a love of pushing boundaries and a flair for the dramatic. Raised in the “Deep Soul” and “Delta Blues” musical traditions, Barry’s vocal style brings to mind the strong, rich tenor notes of legendary singers such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. In his original compositions, however, Barry reveals the eclectic influences that have followed him throughout his musical journey—he strives, in his own words, to “write em’ like Jazz songs, play em’ like Rock songs, and sing em’ like Soul songs.”
Originally a Classical Tenor specializing in choral music, Barry decided to return to his musical roots in 2013, forming a Soul Band called “Barry Fontenot and the Hurricanes,” which performed mostly covers of the great Motown performers who had so inspired him in his youth. In 2014, while drunk and bleeding in Mexico, Barry wrote his first original song, “Desiree.” While the circumstances surrounding the song’s writing were less than glamourous, as Barry himself often explains (at-length) on stage, the experience of writing and performing original music was one that affected him to the extent that he now performs primarily his own songs, and has written upwards of three hours of performance material.
Upon moving to Chicago, Barry met The Fountains members, together they created a solid bond, smoothly complementing Barry’s voice and songs. Barry and The Fountains performing regularly in different venues and events around Chicagoland. Their debut single is about to be released soon.
Nevada Hardware’s debut EP, No Future, has been described by I Die:You Die as “classic cyber-rave samples and passes meets modern club programming” and by Rafał Sowiński of Popmoderna as a “multi-threaded, intelligent, and self-aware album”.
Klack is the “New New Beat” project of Madison, Wisconsin’s Eric Oehler and Matt Fanale. Klack released Synthesizer as a one-off collaboration in 2017, receiving significant acclaim and fanfare amongst fans of early EBM and New Beat, and also from the Berlin techno community. Klack went to work and two months later released their debut EP ‘Do You Klack?’ to even more acclaim.
CONFORMCO, not trading on NASDAQ as (CNFCO), is led by the innovative investors of CEO Sean Payne, the venture capitalist behind such industrial corporations as Cyanotic and Vampyre Anvil and Chairman Chris Harris who’s firm, PROJECT .44, was acquired by Invisible Records in the early 2000’s; but after an internal insurrection, was eventually returned to its rightful owners after several years of corporate ownership. Board member/collaborates include Jim Marcus (Die Warzau/Go Fight!) and Charles Levi (Thrill Kill Kult/Pigface).
The heavy metal scene in San Antonio, TX was in full swing. Books have been written about the phenomenon. College courses were created to study it. Amongst the hordes of chaos, were the thrash warlords, Valkyrie. After releasing a cult classic demo, and playing shows throughout the state of Texas for a three year stint, they simply vanished.
Joe Gregory went on to get a finance degree from UTSA, start a family and is the author of six novels.
Scott Stine went on to play with multiple high profile touring acts. He was a Shrapnel Recording Artist whose album “Broke” received worldwide recognition and was featured on Liquid Note Records Compilation CD “The Alchemists” spotlighting 27 of the world’s greatest guitarists. He’s a clinician and pioneer for Ibanez’s 7 string guitars. Also, under the Shrapnel label, he contributed, wrote and performed with Crimeny, Haji’s Kitchen, Eniac Requim, and Tommy Lamey. Scott’s endorsements include Ibanez, Rocktron, Hughes and Kettner, SIT Strings, and Swiss Picks. For the last twenty years, Scott co-wrote, arranged/produced, and recorded several CD’s for his church. He still plays weekly for church services, weddings and various jazz ensembles and tribute bands.
In 2018, a renewed interest for San Antonio heavy metal bands, mainly from the eighties, progressed to a resurgence of local bands getting back together and performing again. Missing the good old days and camaraderie, Joe contacted Scott to see if he had any interest in performing or recording again. Thankfully, Scott said, yes! Needless to say, Valkyrie had unfinished business to tend to and release a proper offering for their fans. With that, the Choosers of the Slain EP was recorded and released in 2019 to the delight and praise of fans and critics alike.
The San Antonio thrash-metal pioneers are back with a blistering and unforgiving effort. If you’re a fan of old school thrash metal and today’s modern metal, you’re going to love this band’s unique sound.
Völtage is a NWOTHM/Speed Metal hybrid from Atlanta,GA. Influenced by NWOBHM greats with dual axe attack and a gut punch of speed. Hit us up for booking. We have fun and will travel.
With a virtuosic guitar attack, a rumbling rhythm section, and powerful, soaring vocals, Portland, Oregon’s Silver Talon is razor sharp and ready to become a major force in heavy metal. In February of 2018, Silver Talon released their first demo track “Devil Machine.” The track offered a small sample of Silver Talon’s ability to masterfully blend hook, melody, and technical ability into fist clenching, head-bangable heavy metal. Their second demo release, “Warrior’s End,” showcases more of Silver Talon’s dexterity in riffs, bent time signatures, and lush melodies.
Vain is an American heavy metal band from San Francisco Bay Area, California, formed in 1986. As of 2018, the lineup consists of Davy Vain (lead vocals), Joel Proto (guitar), Ashley Mitchell (bass) and Tommy Rickard (drums).
Pittsburgh punk brats World’s Scariest Police Chases are on a quest to ensure that all discussion about them ends in a confused and frustrated state, according to a statement issued by the band.
BONG MOUNTAIN
Somewhere there exists a dreary village at the base of a mighty mountain. The village is populated by people or elves or some shit, all of whom are totally miserable all the time, their lives are super boring. The mountain, for reasons no one knows, they call Bong Mountain.
Formed in 2016, High Reeper is made up of Zach Thomas, Justin Di Pinto, Pat Daly and Shane Trimble. With a sound deeply rooted in modern stoner rock while still giving a nod to the earliest Sabbath records, High Reeper’s first offering is driven by pounding rhythms, thick guitars and soaring, screeching vocals.
Matchbox 420 (Dom the Matrix & Barz Mitzvah) is a Chicago based Meme Rap duo that fully supports free samples of carpet squares so that you can get a better sense of what a rug would look like in your home.
Matt Griffo is an internationally touring musical comedian, combining music with comedic lyrics. Griffo sings and plays ukulele and piano. He’s been featured on FunnyorDie and Buzzfeed. His performances are “both toe-tapping and rib-tickling” (Chicago Sun Times). You can check out his music online at www.mattgriffo.com
Amber Autry is a Comedian, Writer, and Producer in Chicago. She brings to the stage her great energy and relatable stories, accompanied by occasional dance moves. You can see her all over the city including the Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, and many local shows. Follow her on Facebook/Instagram @amberautrycomedy to keep up with her future performances!
Alternative Rock Band based in New York, recorded their first EP with Aaron Sprinkle “Pink Roses”. They are planning the first tour for Fall 2019. New music coming soon!
The Lay-Down Ramblers are a Chicago-based five-piece progressive Electric blues band (2 guitars, drums, bass, vocals/harmonica) , with some pop, rock, and country thrown into the mix. Although the Ramblers formed relatively recently (Fall 2018) after crossing paths at Chicago’s famous Old Town School of Folk Music, , the members have long performance histories that include national and international tours. Richard P. Bennett, who fronts the band, has sung at venues such as the Kennedy Center Opera House, Lincoln Center, and on and Off-Broadway. The Ramblers put their own spin on some classic songs and have a few cool originals they like to share, too. The Lay-Down Ramblers goal is to make sure everyone in the audience has as much fun as possible.
Richard P. Bennett, Vocals and harmonica
Peter Hodes, Guitar
Bob Siebecker, Guitar
Paul Eberly, Bass
Jeff Grunewald, Drums
I’m a singer/performer and I just love my job. I’ve also added songwriter to the list of my credentials. I do big festivals to small intimate clubs. I’ve worked with rock bands, jazz and reggae bands so I can do most genres of music. willing to travel.
flesh of the stars is a doom metal band from chicago, illinois, formed in 2014 by songwriters matt ciani and mike fox, bassist travis marmon, and drummer nico ciani. flesh of the stars is heavy, melancholic, and surprisingly melodic. they have released four lps – Hide, Hosanna, Anhilla, & Mercy.
The 3rd Sunday String Band plays Old Time music — Appalachian and Midwestern fiddle tunes and songs, as well as a selection of early Country, Folk, and Bluegrass songs.
The band had its beginnings in the summer of 2002 as a monthly jam organized organized by students from the Old Town School of Folk music. Initially, the jam was held every 3rd Sunday of the month in Grant Park in Chicago.
As time went on, we began meeting weekly to build up a repertoire. Being a very inclusive lot, our numbers soon swelled, and since then the group has included from ten to fifteen members at any given moment, playing various combinations of fiddles, mandolins, banjos, guitars, upright bass, and flutes & whistles.
Prelude to Ruin is the culmination of several years’ of laziness and inaction, finally come to fruition after Ruiz became dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. Old-timey and unconcerned with the feelings of others, Prelude to Ruin writes music that it, and only it, likes.
LENNY LASHLEY is a household name in New England, and beyond. Whether it’s performing on stage or slinging drinks at The Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plains (MA), Lenny is a star – regaling the world with Boston history and decades of tour stories like no one else can. His voice is as Boston as it gets – and as identifiable as any other frontman out there. Lenny’s even narrated movies and done voiceover gigs to help sustain being a diehard rock and roller first and foremost.
A longtime fixture in the Boston punk scene, Lenny has been playing and touring for 20 years. With more energy and clarity than ever before, Lenny has been playing solo acoustic shows, reinvigorating a New Darkbuster, making cameos with Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and even joining the Boston powerhouse Street Dogs. Lenny is staying busy, rocking and rolling, and living life to the fullest.
Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One is hands-down the best example of the talent and creativity pouring out of this incredible soul. It’s illuminating and insightful, passionate and beautifully crafted. Timeless and unclassifiable songs that illustrate the story of a well-travelled thoughtful American wearing his heart on his sleeve, never afraid to speak his mind, stand up for his fellow man, and be an example of always striving to be the best human you can be.
Whether they are played solo on a barstool or as a 7-piece in an arena supporting Dropkick Murphys, these songs and Lenny’s performances are legendary. They cut through a room (or even an arena) and get right in your face – conveying a desperately needed soul-filled message for today’s turbulent world.
