Ivy Ford versatile, talented, an old soul. From singing the blues to being sultry, she is an indigo artist who’s gift connects those who are around her and those who listen. Whether leading a full band or serenading a small audience solo on stage, Ivy Ford commands an energy that is most magical.
Massachusetts-based rapper Millyz has cemented his reputation as a seasoned lyricist through his freestyles on Sway, Funk Flex, and live performances alongside Hip Hop heavyweights Jadakiss and Dave East to name a few. He has toured the United States and Europe, has millions of views online, and has a fan base that grows every day. What separates him from other artists is his authentic voice and versatility. With the ability to switch his style musically, he effortlessly floats over a wide range of beats from trap to melody Rap to classic East Coast Hip Hop. Infused in his music there is always the underlying theme of pain and hardship. He draws from his past and present, highlighting his neighborhood and the experiences that informed and impacted his world view.
Brutal Chicago Hardcore
Country, Folk, & Americana story-telling songs based in Gainesville, Florida.
Violence System was founded in 2015 by guitarist Joshua Curl and vocalist John Dernar originally as a studio project. The duo went on to release their debut EP “Instinct” in 2016, establishing their unique blend of brutal yet melodic death metal and orchestral elements. Following the release of the Instinct EP, the duo made the decision to form a full band, and make Violence System their main focus. Recruiting lead guitarist Brian Sawyer, bassist Harry Alvarez, and drummer Kendrick Van Deusen, the band was ready to take the Atlanta metal scene by storm. Violence System began writing for their first full length album, as well as playing as many shows as they could in the southeastern United States. Quickly developing a reputation as one of the most energetic and hardest hitting acts from Atlanta, anticipation for the full length album was growing. “Gehenna” was released February 15, 2019, further cementing Violence System as a metal act to keep an eye on. Since the release of their first full length album, the band has gone on to share the stage with bands such as Exodus, Kataklysm, Battlecross, Fallujah, Soulfly and Vatican, as well as become a national finalist in the “Battle For Wakken” international battle of the bands. Violence System is currently working on a follow up to 2019’s “Gehenna”.
Thrash metal from Greenville SC.
Slackjaw is an American heavy metal trio based in South Carolina. The band was formed when Dallas Young (vocals, rhythm guitar, bassist), also widely known online as Soup, met Brady Riggenbach (lead guitarist) in 2017. Jacob Rigdon (drummer) was added to complete the trio in July 2021. Despite various lineup changes, Dallas and Brady held the band’s vision together by taking on multiple roles in the studio, with Brady being the studio drummer on almost every track to date. Through a mutual interest in Black Label Society and Pantera, Dallas and Brady quickly started writing material. The band’s first single, “Caught in the Crossfire,” and their first studio album, “Ritual of Dissonance,” were met with astounding appraisal from old and new fans alike. When the band formed, they gathered an impressive online following with no management, label, or supporting tour. With influences such as Pantera, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Meshuggah, Black Label Society, Tool, and many others, there’s no question this metal band has one goal: to follow in their predecessors’ footsteps and make albums that will stand the test of time.
Have you ever dreamed of air guitar glory?
All competitors welcome! Whether it’s your first time, or you’ve graced the stage before, we invite you to join us for the 2025 Chicago Air Guitar Championships.
The winner receives a spot in the National US Air Guitar Championships in July with airfare.
To Sign-Up
Email: daniellemuerte@gmail.com
The Crooked Rugs are a psych-rock spaghetti-western band formed in Fort Collins, Colorado. They deliver a captivating blend of rock and roll that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Brining mysterious noise that manages to sound otherworldly and familiar at the same time.
Hailing from Fort Collins, CO these space cowboys are your musical guides on a journey to a universe of mystic psychedelic color. The Colorado quintet takes the compulsory ingredients of modern rock band instrumentation and creates something wonderfully foreign. Echoes of psych, prog, and garage rock resound, but each song is clearly the result of diligent experimentation.
Founded in 2019 by Jayce Haley, Nolan Brumbach, Jay LeCavalier and brothers, Rex and Finn Stowers, this band of brothers transitions smoothly through a variety of tunes to create an unforgettable experience that will take you on a journey through space and time. Releasing 5 albums in the past 4 years, the Rugs are known for their prolific output, telepathic connections, and filling the room with a swath of joyous emotion.
Opening for national touring acts from around the country such as The Babe Rainbow, Boogarins, Worn-Tin, Spoonbenders, Ron Gallo, Monsterwatch, Connor Kelly & The Timewarp, Hooveriii, The Bobby Lees, Imarhan, and more. The Band participates in regional festivals such as SXSW, Treefort, Desert Reverie, Endless Fest, Lincoln Calling, Psych’s Peak, & WHAT! Fest.
Biitchseat was formed in 2017 by best friends Talor Smith (she/they) and Kristin Schmit (she/her) not long after they met in college orchestra. Swapping out their cellos for guitars, they ended up with a genre-bending sound that blends the aesthetic of 90s alt-rock icons like Liz Phair and The Cranberries and re-engineers it into something as catchy as it is complex and timeless.
Biitchseat finds themselves riding through the peaks and valleys of emotional waves as they explore new depths in their sophomore album, Float. An album that is about how every aspect of what it means to be alive is simultaneously so hollow and so very full, and the beauty that resides in between. The unabashed pop and shimmer in their music is only matched by their live performances, which are always energetic and, at times, captivating and vulnerable.
Kat and the Hurricane is an all-queer and trans synth rock/indie-pop band from Madison, WI composed of guitarist/vocalist Kat Rhapsody (they/them), keyboardist/vocalist Benjamin Rose (they/them), and drummer Alex Nelson (they/them). The band has stirred up a storm across the Midwest since 2017 thanks to their energetic live shows, strong sense of community, and genre-defying songwriting. While preparing their debut full length album, Got It Out, the trio has appeared at several regional and national festivals, completed 3 regional and national tours, and received the coveted Artist of The Year award from their local Madison Area Music Association.
Got It Out, released in October 2024, represents a new high in Kat and the Hurricane’s craft of catharsis. Seamlessly weaving elements of synth rock, pop punk, indie-pop, alternative rock, indie-folk, and hip-hop across ten tracks, the band speaks to the growing pains of mental health and trauma healing. From the raucous stadium rock anthem, “Therapy,” high-energy pop-punk confessional “Caffeine & Alcohol,” and lush indie-pop closer, “Smoke,” Kat and the Hurricane illustrates how, even with some healing and a lot of getting it out, pain never truly goes away – it simply shifts.
So Chicago,I bleed Mild Sauce🤣
Stand Up Comedian
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of bluegrass and Americana, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon-based 5-piece composed of Joe Suskind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Brian Alley (banjo), Kaden Hurst (mandolin), and Ben Ticknor (bass). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other.
Indie Rock | Chicago IL
Michael Whalen
Brian Samuelson
Ian Houts
Tyler Herrmann
Seattle based folk n’ roll band, Forest Ray, has been described as “spaced-out, down to earth” and “Brit-pop gone country” that sounds like “the band covering Beatles songs no one knew existed”. Through a consistent touring and recording schedule, they have become one of Seattle’s most known active bands. Their sixth studio album, Windfucker (Jebivjetar), was released in January 2024.
Under his moniker Orillia, Andrew Marczak follows the long tradition of folk music’s more progressive stewards, commanding audiences with his unique bracing tenor and skeletal arrangements. His debut record, which was tracked live at Jamdek in his hometown of Chicago, marries the quotidian poetry of Sam Shepard with the sparkling twang of 90s alt-country.
💄the sapphic seductress of chicago💄
•❤️🔥 delightfully dark, yet refined ❤️🔥
Welcome to the homepage of Chicago’s Next Befouling Queen of Trash.
International Burlesque artist.
Sweetest monster you’ll ever meet 🖤 On stage I’m Batty Page
Chicago-based Alternative model | Artist | Burlesque dancer | Drag burlesque | Fire performer 🔥
We are a hardcore punk / power violence band from Neenah, WI. Spreading Anarchy wherever we go
weirdo funk metal from the chicago suburbs
Dekalb County IL Punk
Black Metal Horror from Nashville
Trhä: Thét Älëf, Nönvéhhklëth detna hacëntera Trha, Jôdhrhä dës Khatës, Dlhâvênklëth fëhlätharan ôdlhënamsaran Ebnan
Chicago-based blues band specializing in Chicago-style blues Led by guitarist Ricky D, the group boast a rich Brass section and revels in juke joint classics that get the fun flowing and the room movin’!
Mr. Oh Yeah
blues man from Tokyo Japan.
Keith Scott and Friends
Keith Scott Returns with Tony Mac, RB Green and Blues Legend Billy Prewitt for a great night of Street Side Blues. Keith Has been working the Chicago scene for over 30 years and has performed Worldwide and released 8 Albums to date! Website
Seth Hunt is a singer-songwriter hailing from the small town of Gananoque, Ontario. With an honest sense of storytelling and an undeniable stage presence, Seth has captured the attention of fans around the world. His music has earned praise from industry heavyweights like The Tragically Hip, Glorious Sons, NOFX, Simple Plan, MXPX and more. Over the years, Seth has toured extensively, performing to sold-out crowds in major cities including Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York City.
Ducks are swimming birds in the Anatidae family, known for their broad blunt bill, short necks and legs, and webbed feet. DUCK!! is a math rock 4 pc band known for their hot licks, beefy drums, and thundering bass. (WE ARE) DUCK!!
Bomethius is the baroque pop project led by Jonathan Hodges, a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter based in Chicago. A dynamic vocalist and capable composer who’s equally skilled on the piano, violin, and guitar, Hodges draws from decades of classical training to craft a mischievous brand of chamber rock that echoes the sounds of Andrew Bird, Randy Newman, and Elliott Smith. Released on Chicago’s Oakley Avenue Records, Borrowed Time (2024), Bomethius’ seventh LP since 2017, rolls out a new studio lineup of Jeremiah de la Peña on drums, Dan Kristan on bass, and Taylor Voss on guitar, accompanied by a call sheet of new and longstanding guest contributors on trumpet, pedal steel, and more.
Deeply Rooted in this thing called life….. Jerm Theory brings an infectious blend of music. Made up of long time best friends from Geneseo, IL Jerm Theory’s energy and love for music is incomparable……..
Jeremy Mills – Drums
Rob Orendorff – Bass
Hal Stadtwald – Guitar
Cameron Hodgson – Guitar
Frog – Keys/Synths
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. Largely recorded in California in 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. The band wanted to expand on the commercial success of their eponymous 1975 album, but struggled with relationship breakups before recording started. The Rumours studio sessions were marked by hedonism and strife among band members that shaped the album’s lyrics.
Hailing from Grand Rapids Michigan, Potionseller has spent nearly 3 years honing their unique blend of emo-flavored pop-punk through vibrant single releases and passionate performances, seamlessly blending the nostalgia of 2000s pop-punk with the intricate nuances of modern emo. Signing to PNWK records in 2023, the band released their second EP “When They Get Old” in the summer of 2024, paired with energetic shows and festival appearances across the state of Michigan.
Sun Junkies are a 4-piece band from Brantford, Ontario. In 2018 freshly out of high school the band formed with sole intention of playing as many shows as possible. Cutting their teeth in the Southern Ontario indie scene as well as touring the USA and Canada’s east coasts, the four best friends have had plenty of time to hone their songwriting abilities and become a strong unit. Over the course of almost 5 years, Sun Junkies have self recorded and released a full length LP, a 7 track EP as well as various singles.
Having just finished recording their magnum opus: “Parachuting”, the band’s sound and image are more realised than ever before. Sun Junkies’ sophomore LP discusses the detrimental nature of the romanticization of one’s past, the existential dread that comes with measurable time and the pressure of fully utilising your fleeting youth. Although it’s mainly about time, “Parachuting” has many other recurring themes and deals with topics such as the soul crushing monotony of the 40 hour work week as well as the coping mechanisms and anxiety that come with such a mundane reality. Featuring an orchestral arrangement of pianos, violins and horns juxtaposed with growling feedback and distorted guitars, these songs feel like the most introspective party you’ve ever been to.
Blending the fast, melody-forward nature of modern indie with the raw feeling and emotion of punk and emo music, the band brings forth a fresh and versatile sound. With an almost masochistic dedication to the tried-and-true ethics of DIY, Sun Junkies record, produce, and mix their own material. They spend their remaining hours honing the craft of their explosively fun live performances, turning every crowd into a dance floor or a mosh pit. You do not want to miss out on the experience that is Sun Junkies.
T Star Verse is a rapper and entertainer from the south and west sides of Chicago, she began her music career at 12 years old and has been able to get people to have fun, feel like a boss b***h, and speak their truth. Being that T Star Verse is a female rapper from Chicago, a lot of people expect her sound to be either drill or hypersexual, but she is big on expressing her authenticity and experiences through her story-telling and array of flows. Her sound is versatile filled with high energy and some vibey moments. Welcome to the T Star Verse!
Danielle Crim is a 20 year old singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. They have two self produced albums and an EP under her belt. Crim has accumulated multiple awards for her talents including a Madison Area Music Award, as well as an NAACP ACT-SO Gold medal. Some of their biggest inspirations are Labrinth, Melanie Martinez, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars.
“The story of Medanos began in 2017 in Santiago, Chile, when Vladimir Ron (guitar and vocals) and Jesús Ramírez (bass and backing vocals) came together to create their sound that fuses the energy of rock with the intensity of alternative music.
After several years of developing their sound, the band decided to take the big leap and move to Chicago, Illinois, in search of new opportunities and challenges.
In the Windy City, the band was reconfigured with the addition of Jorge Rodríguez on lead guitar and Ringo on drums.
The band is currently working on new material. With their unique fusion of alternative rock and Latin energy, Medanos is ready to make their mark on the music scene.”
“La historia de Medanos comenzó en 2017 en Santiago de Chile, cuando Vladimir Ron (guitarra y voz) y Jesús Ramírez (bajo y coros) se unieron para crear su sonido que fusiona la energía del rock con la intensidad de la música alternativa.
Después de varios años de desarrollar su sonido, la banda decidió dar el gran salto y mudarse a Chicago, Illinois, en busca de nuevas oportunidades y desafíos.
En la ciudad del viento, la banda se reconfiguró con la incorporación de Jorge Rodríguez en la guitarra líder y Ringo en la batería.
La banda está actualmente trabajando en nuevo material . Con su fusión única de rock alternativo y energía latina, Medanos está lista para hacer su marca en la escena musical”
We are The Tragedies! Welcome Everyone! Before checking us out. You need to know us just like we want to know you! We are punk rock band from the Southside of Chicago. We established as band in Feburary 2021. From the day forth we became the crispy three piece band that you know today as The Tragedies. The members of the band are Ed Tragic (guitarist/lead vocals), Rocky T. (bassist/back vocals), and Myke Tragic(drums/back vocals). We have since played at many well known venues aroun Chicagoland area such as, Brauer House, The Darkroom, Cobra Lounge Subterranean, Livewire, Burlington WC Social Club, and many others. The states we played at are as follows IL, WI, IA, IN, OH, OK, MO and CO. In 2023 The Tragedies have the pleasure to become an international band traveling to Ontario, Canada.
The bands from Chicago that inspire us are Alkaine Trio, Mest, Rise Against. Classic Rock and Punk bands such as Sum 41, Blink 182, The Ramones, NOFX, The Offspring, Black Sabbath, Rush, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters and Ozzy Osbourne. These bands are the inspiration that got us to where we are and created what we love.
We have several social platforms you can find us on Youtube, Apple Music, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, linktree, tiktok, and many more.
We can wheel, we can deal, we can oversee hostile takeovers. You name it. The Lou Bega of punk rock. Steve, Avery, Garrett, Anthony
ECHO PILOT IS A DYNAMIC FOUR-PIECE ALTERNATIVE ROCK BAND FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXPLOSIVE SOUND AND ELECTRIFYING STAGE PRESENCE, THE GROUP FEATURES RYAN VAN ABEELE (VOCALS/GUITAR), AARON SMITH (GUITAR), ANDREW STUART HOWSMON (BASS/BACKING VOCALS), AND DAN RUSSELL (DRUMS).
KNOWN FOR THEIR HIGH-ENERGY, CHEMISTRY-DRIVEN LIVE PERFORMANCES, ECHO PILOT HAS CULTIVATED A DEDICATED AND RAPIDLY EXPANDING FAN BASE. THEIR SHOWS ARE A MASTERCLASS IN MUSICIANSHIP, SHOWCASING THE BAND’S TECHNICAL PROWESS AND COHESIVE ARTISTRY. WITH A SIGNATURE BLEND OF POWERFUL TONES OVER MELODIC ARRANGEMENTS, ECHO PILOT DELIVERS A SOUND THAT IS BOTH SONICALLY DIVERSE AND UNMISTAKABLY THEIR OWN.
FOLLOWING THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, A DAY LIKE THIS, IN 2022, THE BAND’S SOPHOMORE ALBUM, NOTION, WAS RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2025.
“Become the voices in my head…”
Lost, despairing, angry, abandoned, haunted…we are BACHELOR’S GROVE. Many have told stories of this small cemetery located on the outskirts of Chicago, however, nobody was ready for what was to come when ghosts leave their graves. Through the sound of chilling vocals, eerie guitars, and frightening drums, Bachelor’s Grove has made it their mission to bring back to life the metal scene that had been long gone in Chicago with a sound that sounds like no other.
Formed in late 2018, Bachelor’s Grove has evolved into the ominous metal band that it is today. Taking from many subgenres of metal such as melodic, symphonic, and alternative, this band is able to embody many different emotions ranging from melancholic darkness to manic intensity. The band has been able to make the most of uncertain times by releasing EVPs that would intrigue the ears of many, and so far they have. Bachelor’s Grove currently holds over 75,000 streams across all platforms.
Our debut album “EVP”is OUT NOW for streaming! Check out our music video for our song “Voices” Available on YouTube!
The band is currently working on their sophomore album…are you ready for the stories they were told not to tell?
THE BAND: Vocals: Abby Schultz // Lead Guitar: Aidan Halm // Rhythm Guitar: Lauren Conner // Drums: Nic Addelia
Bachelor’s Grove would like to thank you for helping us through this journey. Your support is very special to the band.
We are a hardcore band from the Fox Valley of Wisconsin.
3 stinky bastards from the south side of Chicago! Formed in 2017 by Dan G Pisser, Ken E Thrasher, and Philthy Mess! Junkers… you will fear…
Tormentor is a Hungarian black metal band formed in 1986 in Budapest. They recorded their first album, Anno Domini, in 1988, but were unable to release it until the end of communist rule in Hungary. The album reached Norway through the tape-trading community.
DOG GUITAR IS WOOFING ROUND CHICAGO WITH SICK TUNES AND SICKER ANTICS. AROOOOOOOO!
A loud, fast , heavy , rock and roll band from the far north suburbs of Chicago. Punk, Metal , and Rock and roll greybeards . We are STIFF. We will come to your town and party it down.
Zach -guitar , vocals
Jake – guitar , space wizardry
Joel -Bass , lead snark
When darkness engulfs the world, NITE sets the sky ablaze with white-hot, blackened heavy metal.
The San Francisco Bay Area has a history steeped in forward-thinking, technically dazzling metal, and NITE carries that torch with pride. Founded in 2018, their blackened heavy metal barrels towards the peril of an unknown future, while looking to the days when blistering leads once ruled the land. Guitarists Van Labrakis (Satan’s Wrath, Mencea) and Scott Hoffman (Dawnbringer, High Spirits) let loose galloping riffs and harmonies that evoke the classic sounds of the N.W.O.B.H.M., with Labrakis’ grizzled voice driving their dark, melodic metal into the modern era. Drummer Patrick Crawford (Older Sun, Mustard Gas & Roses) and bassist Avinash Mittur (Wretched Stench) make up a rhythm section that’s fierce yet breathlessly precise: a freewheel pounding reminiscent of heavy metal’s earliest days.
Having completed their journey through the stars and the skies on Voices of the Kronian Moon, NITE now faces the abyssal and shadowy mythology that has long laid dormant on their third album, Cult of the Serpent Sun. Fans who yearn for the days of molten guitar leads, chest-rattling bass and stadium-shaking drums flock to NITE’s circle, and stay for the snarling vocals that speak to metal’s esoteric underground.
On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE guards the altar of blackened heavy metal with sharpened blades and axes raised.
Emerging from the chaotic heart of Los Angeles comes Authors of Fate, a band that’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face, wielding their brand of metalcore like a weapon of mass disruption.
Comprised of metal veterans—Elan Mlagenovich shredding the guitar while moonlighting as the group’s master planner, Robert Brunelle’s vocals, which can only be described as a demonically possessed preacher, Levi “Gizmo” Henderson slapping the bass like it owes him money, Bob Skau demolishing drums, and Joe Williams, the guitar maestro creating riffs that could summon the dead—Authors of Fate is an unstoppable force.
Their creative process is akin to a democratic dictatorship, led by Elan but fueled by each member’s passion and insanity, ensuring that every track is a collective piece of art. It’s organized chaos at its finest, a method to the madness that results in music that’s as unpredictable as it is unapologetic. But how did this band of brothers in metal come to be? Picture this: seasoned warriors from the realms of Kaustik, The Slow Forward, Killix, and Ruach, each bearing scars from battles past, coming together with a singular vision—to create music that’s not just heard but felt. Music that punches you in the gut, then offers you a beer.
Their influences are as eclectic as the band’s sound, drawing inspiration from the darkest corners of metal, the grittiest depths of punk, and the occasional existential crisis. It’s a melting pot of heaviness (and madness), resulting in a sound that’s distinctly, unapologetically their own.
Lights Out is the sixth studio album by English rock band UFO, released in 1977. All songs are band originals except “Alone Again Or”, a cover of a song by the band Love. Reaching number 23 on the Billboard 200, it is the band’s highest-charting album in the United States. In the UK, it hit number 54 and stayed on the chart for two weeks.