DOG.EAT.DOG is a Chicago based trio bringing a dynamic blend of alternative, pop, and rock sounds. Joined together from different bands, they combine their influences to create a fresh and energetic experience on stage. Their first two releases “Lost For Words” and “Beautiful Evil” mark the beginning of a nonstop flow of new music.
Kal-El is the fuzzed-out step-child of hard rock and heavy metal, often with hints of pyschedelic and blues rock as well as doom metal. Songs typically feature a bass-heavy groove, detuned guitars and mind-expanding lyrics…
Who are The Brothels???
The Brothels from Austin, Texas are a continuation of rock n roll punk/ ska band Avenue Rockers. Established in 2006, Ave Rockers toured the US, toured with Svetlanas, Dead Kennedys, Reagan Youth and played festivals including Upstart Fest, Punk Rock Bowling, etc. before a hiatus. Luna (vocals) sang for Reagan Youth for a couple of years before assembling The Brothels, they have one streaming album simply called “The EP”, which was released August 14th, 2024. This date would have also been the 3rd week into a 2 month US Tour directly supporting Dayglo Abortions, in which the tours “booking agent” never applied for Dayglo’s work visas, stole $6,000+ from promoters then disappeared. The Brothels gained much momentum, fans and viral notoriety worldwide for keeping the 2 month US tour going with no headliner, no money, no guarantees, just their new punk rock soundtrack for a broken summer tour and a hell of an underdog story. They are currently recording an album to be released next year, will be direct support for MDC’s 2024 winter tour kicking off NYE in Austin and looking forward to extensive touring for 2025- Listen to The Brothels “The EP” on any music streaming platform now!
Abbigale Blaze is a Chicago gal by way of Indiana. She’s been writing plays & poems forever, but is newer to standup as Comedy Gazelle’s 2024 Rookie of the Year. God only knows what she’ll say and she doesn’t even believe in him.
Shawn Banks (he/him/they/them) is stand-up comedian and drag performer who has performed all over the midwest for the past 5 years. Shawn considers himself an observationalist, and loves to critique the world around him through a very ironic, yet vibrant lense. Shawn has not only performed, but also headlined at some of the most well-established entertainment clubs/venues all over the Midwest; such as:
• The Second City
• IO Theatre
• The Comedy Bar
• Zanies Comedy Club
• The Lincoln Lodge
• The Laugh Factory
• The John F. Kennedy Center
Shawn has also participated in Comedy festivals all over the country including:
• The DC Queer Comedy Festival
• The World Comedy Expo
• The Midwest Queer Comedy Festival
A female-fronted celebration of Nirvana! 🤩🤘🏻Authentic instrumentation and a party vibe! 🎉
Chicago Slam
St. Louis Thrash Metal Born in 2023
Void is a ferocious five-piece thrash metal band from Lafayette, Louisiana. Formed in 2019 by vocalist Jackson Davenport, the band quickly made a name for themselves across the Gulf Coast with an unmistakable sound rooted in tradition but fired with modern intensity.
After building regional momentum with local shows and their first Southern U.S. tour in late 2022, Void released their debut album Horrors of Reality in early 2023—a raw and relentless fusion of Bay Area thrash aggression and the band’s sinister themes. Their summer Haunted Madness tour followed, capped by the Halloween release of their single “Silent Onslaught.”
The following Summer of 2024 saw the band embark on their “Spectral Aggression” tour of the US, and after brief venture out west to open for thrash legends Whiplash, the band returned with a revamped lineup and evolved sonic identity. November’s “Return of the Phantom” showcased a matured, more dynamic approach and was met with critical acclaim.
In early 2025, Void entered the studio to record their sophomore album Forbidden Morals and toured the East Coast with Louisiana icons Exhorder. May’s single “Apparition” showed a darker, more layered direction, just ahead of their Breaking and Entering summer tour.
From Chicago to New Jersey… 100% Pure Hardcore
Artist/Producer/Multi-instrumentalist
John Primer (born March 5, 1945, Camden, Mississippi, United States) is an American Chicago blues and electric blues singer and guitarist who played behind Junior Wells in the house band at Theresa’s Lounge and as a member of the bands of Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Magic Slim before launching an award-winning career as a front man, carrying forward the traditional Windy City sound into the 21st century.
Tom Buckley has 50 years of professional musical experience providing the low end to virtually every style of band and musical venue on the planet. Originally from the West Englewood neighborhood of South Side Chicago, Tom cut his teeth in the Chicago blues scene as bassist for Eddie Taylor
(Jimmy Reed’s guitarist and collaborator) throughout the 1970’s. Tom backed many of the great Chicago blues artists of the day, among them: Jimmy Reed himself, Howlin’ Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Johnny Littlejohn and J.B. Hutto.
One Man Band
In this case, it’s a musical duo composed of Author TM Shaw and Christina Forever. Since their debut performance on the Big Island of Hawaii in February of 2023, BEYOND the STARS has followed the edge of inspiration, and a significant portion of I-80, across the US, in search of momentary glimpses of human community and a welcoming place to park.
Having grown up in different times and different places, Tim and Christina found communion with one another in the depths of a conversation that began late one evening in a hallway of a hotel in the City of Angels. It is a conversation that continues to this day. Their sound, born of radical differences and deep kinship, developing through vocal harmony and the interplay of two guitars,or the pairing of guitar and electric piano, is uniquely their own. It is familiar, yet not reducible to any particular genre or era.
In the right situation, live shows unfold long narrative arcs, spontaneously discovered in-between the songs. In such moments of shared discovery we might arrive, for a moment, BEYOND the STARS.
Tom West is an Australian singer, guitarist & songwriter performing with a distinctive, androgynous vocal style, finger-picked guitars, stories intricately woven into music for immersive shows.
Originating from the hills and surf-worn coast of South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, West’s journey has been marked by extensive touring across both the USA and Australia as a musician, tour bus driver, entertainer and guide:
From the Oodnadatta track to the I-65 and back again: adventures inspiring emotionally rich songs that hum with a strange kind of wonder.
Post-pandemic West found himself based in Chicago working on music with grammy winning producer Ryan Freeland and some of that city’s finest musicians.
From this unexpected location he spent two years immersed in writing, recording & producing from a third story bedroom of a historic Chicago brownstone: absorbing the essence of that historic musical city and diving deeper into his compositions and experiences than ever before.
West’s discography includes the much-loved album Antarctica, produced by Allen Tate of San Fermin, which was written during a period following the death of his father from motor neuron disease / ALS whilst taking his first bewildering steps as a touring artist in the USA. This album, born from personal loss and extensive travels, showcases his ability to invite audiences into his world, sharing stories that are as personal as they are universally relatable.
2025 will see West return to the touring circuit, releasing new music, celebrating the ten year anniversary of the release of his EP ‘Oncoming Clouds’ and hosting a first of its kind Outback Songcamp.
Singer, songwriter and self-proclaimed optimist, Claire Kelly, has been on a mission to brighten every corner she steps in with the music she creates. From concerts in living rooms to critically acclaimed festivals and everything in between, she’s opened up for acts like Colbie Caillat, Anderson East & 49 Winchester. She’s also shared the bill with legendary Nashville songwriters like Shane McAnally, Josh Osbourne, Tony Arata and many more through songwriting showcases Backstage Nashville and Bluebird on 3rd. When she’s not on the road, Claire writes with other artists in Nashville, performs regularly at The Bluebird Cafe and teaches songwriting workshops at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
In an occasionally dismal world, Claire Kelly sings about a radical amount of gratitude, love & kindness and Nashville is taking notice. Her song “Tapestry”, a song about the people who change you for the better, won the Bluebird Golden Pick Songwriting Contest in 2022 and “Drunk Girls”, a lighthearted anthem about being kind to strangers, placed her in the Top Ten of the 2024 Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) songwriting contest. She’s also been a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival, Songwriter Serenade, and International Songwriting Competition thanks to her songs “Dandelion Wine” and “Running Out” from her 2022 album, The Scenic Route.
Her latest album, released October 2024, Can’t Start Loving You Again, includes her song “Together Again” which was used in the trailer for Sundance award winning film, I’ll Be Your Mirror. Claire’s music has also been heard on ABC Network, Max, Hallmark TV, the Miss Universe Pageant, and the hit Netflix series Love is Blind. She supported the latest record release with a European tour through Germany, Poland and Denmark.
Ryan Alexander is a producer, artist, and musician from the South Side of Chicago. As a keyboardist, and drummer, he merges his musical talents to produce stories in musical form. Performing locally and nationally, he has been able to create a platform not only for himself, but also for local artist in Chicago, with his covers series, #CoversWithRyanAlexander. Check out his latest original music, and share with a friend today!
Winyah combines introspective storytelling with catchy melodies to create their distinctive indie alternative sound. It can best be described as the soundtrack to late-night drives and carefree adventures. Their upcoming singles, set for release from fall to winter, showcase Winyah’s evolution as a band and their journey to finding their unique sound since their debut single “Feel It All Again.” After moving from the Carolinas to Nashville and releasing their latest tracks, they had the incredible opportunity to perform at Bonnarooo 2024. This milestone marks a significant step forward in their dream to launch their music career.
Barely 20 years old, the Atlanta-based emo-folk duo hey, nothing – Tyler (he) & Harlow (they) – wades through complex emotions with sharp wit and humor.
2024’s Maine EP – written, fittingly, in a small cabin in the middle of Maine – was a major breakthrough moment for the band, incorporating earnest and cutting lyrics that pull directly from their experience of the hardships of growing up too early, too fast. Their newest EP, 33°, showcases their honest portrayal of grief as it blends emotional, raw storytelling with powerful soundscapes to depict the story of a young boy and his untimely death. Most recently, their single “Waiting Room” is an intimate exploration of anxiety, fear, and emotional vulnerability, continuing the duo’s signature blend of poetic lyricism and heartfelt emotion.
They have sold out runs of headlining shows, garnered notices from the likes of NPR Music, Alternative Press, Pigeons & Planes, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, & more. hey, nothing is set to perform at several major festivals this year, such as 2025’s Kilby Block Party, Bonnaroo, Summerfest, Lollapalooza, Hinterland, Bumbershoot, Shaky Knees Music Festival, All Things Go, Austin City Limits, and they’ll be announcing more 2025 tour dates soon.
Erosions :: Fuzzy and scuzzy. :: Musick. From the Midwest.
Credited by none other than original gangster Ice-T as “the forefather of gangsta rap,” Schoolly D is a hip-hop pioneer also for having produced, released, and distributed his early recordings, such as “P.S.K. ‘What Does It Mean?'” (1985). The West Philadelphia native’s confrontational nature and willingness to shock — using terms and themes that became common in hip-hop years after he made a name for himself — might be most frequently associated with his mid-’80s breakthrough, but he has cultivated a formidable discography crossing four decades, far beyond foundational LPs such as Schoolly-D (1985), Saturday Night! The Album (1986), and Smoke Some Kill (1988). In addition to the enduring relevance of his early work through samples and lyrical references by younger generations of producers and MCs, Schoolly D is known for having performed the original theme for the animated television series Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
DJ For Ice T Always Official.. Internationally Known Locally Accepted Get @ me! Dm me for Festival or Bookings.
Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop and heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he released his debut album Rhyme Pays. The following year, he founded the record label Rhyme $yndicate Records (named after his collective of fellow hip-hop artists called the “Rhyme $yndicate”) and released another album, Power (1988), which would go platinum. He also released several other albums that went gold, including The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech… Just Watch What You Say! (1989), O.G. Original Gangster (1991) and Home Invasion (1993).
Ice-T co-founded the heavy metal band Body Count in 1990, which he introduced on O.G. Original Gangster, on the track titled “Body Count”. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1992. Ice-T encountered controversy over his track “Cop Killer”, the lyrics of which discussed killing police officers. He asked to be released from his contract with Warner Bros. Records, and his follow-up solo album, Home Invasion, was released through Priority Records. Ice-T released two more albums in the late 1990s and one in the 2000s before focusing on both his acting career and Body Count, who have released eight studio albums to date, the latest being 2024’s Merciless.
A band from Galway, Ireland.
Max McNown creates the kind of songs that perfectly soundtrack our most intimate moments: times of intense heartache and tremendous loss, immense upheaval and life-changing revelation. Within just a year of teaching himself to play guitar, the Oregon-bred, Nashville-based musician turned out three EPs spotlighting his emotionally potent yet nuanced lyrics—an element beautifully displayed on his breakout single “A Lot More Free,” a track that landed on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and greatly expanded his grassroots following. Anchored in the charmingly warm vocal presence he partly honed by busking at the beach in Southern California, McNown’s debut album Wandering brings an even deeper sense of purpose to his songwriting—and, in turn, reveals his extraordinary capacity to ease the mind and strengthen the soul.
At 23, McNown has already been on a storied musical journey. Taking control of his future and drawing inspiration from his brother who was bravely fighting cancer, McNown packed his bags and drove from remote Oregon to Southern California. From there, videos of him busking on a pier made an impact online and eventually grew into a legion of supporters on TikTok.
After attracting interest from major TV talent shows, McNown auditioned for one and then decided it wasn’t for him, and gracefully turned them down as he knew he needed to walk his own path. His loyal fanbase then helped McNown amass 80 million streams and a spot on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart with his breakout single, “A Lot More Free,” which was recently #1 on the TikTok Breakthrough USA chart.
When wrestling with inevitable moments of self-doubt in the creative process and his fast moving career, McNown looks back to insight shared by his mother. “When I was younger I sang around the house all the time—I’d sing in the shower or before I went to bed, I’d always sing in the car,” he says. “My mom used to tell us growing up that singing means you have a happy heart. Even if the song’s about something difficult or painful, I still have a happy heart when I sing.
Doom Metal from Cape Fear North Carolina
Jeffrey Owens
Marcus Bryant
Cj Sholtis
Sounds like 400 watts of tubes coming out of 16 speakers running over your head.
Blackend Hardcore Band from Chicago IL.
Photagraphy by Sean Becker.
Chicago Death Metal.
Embittered by the burdens of being.
Hands in the dirt, eyes to the skies.
Nick Karcher is back with his most vulnerable release yet. “In Another Life” (out April 25) marks a major sonic shift for the pop punk artist, trading distortion and punchlines for acoustic guitar, piano, and raw, gritty vocals. The track builds from a stripped-down ballad into a soaring rock anthem. Hailing from Chicago, Karcher turned heads in summer 2024 when pop-punk legends We The Kings jumped on a remix of his breakout single, BIOTU . Released in July, the track didn’t just create waves—it dominated Spotify’s All New Rock editorial playlist and racked up over 200,000 streams across all platforms in record time. With multi-platinum producer Michael Bono (renowned for his work with Blink-182 and Avril Lavigne) steering the ship, Karcher delivered a string of electrifying singles that cemented his place as a rising voice in pop-punk. Tracks like “Mr. Obsessive” a fiery, unapologetic breakup anthem reminiscent of Avril Lavigne’s golden era, and “Second Chance” a heartfelt collaboration featuring Joey Fleming of In Her Own Words, show Karcher’s dynamic range. Together, these releases have amassed over 200,000 streams and earned him coverage in tastemaker outlets like New Noise Magazine and idobi Radio. Now, with industry co-signs, a growing catalog of infectious hits, and a steadily building fanbase, Nick Karcher isn’t just staking his claim—he’s proving he’s here to stay.
Ripcord is four dudes who met on the sexy side of the internet. Their sound has indie and punk influences with catchy vocal hooks.
Ben Aquino (lead guitar), Mike O’Brien (drums), Alex Archibeque (bass & vocals), and Jack O’Shea (guitar & vocals)
Dark Electro from Portland, OR
SCYTHE is DJ Scythe, also of Artifact Corruption.
A Cloud of Ravens is an American rock duo, based in Brooklyn, NY, comprised of Beth Narducci, and Matthew McIntosh.
Revered for use of reverb-laden guitar work, creative synth structures, and dynamic vocals akin to the style of many shades of 80’s and early 90’s pop-darkness. Hailing from Sacramento, California. The lineup includes – Ean Clevenger (vox/programming), Barry Crider (guitarist), David Wright (synth/drums) , & Kyle Vorst (bassist).
In late 2017, Creux Lies completed their first full-length album via Cleopatra, “The Hearth”, recorded at the creative fantasy-land known as Earthtone Studios (Tera Melos, So Stressed!, King Woman) in their home city under the creative care of producer/engineer extraordinaire Patrick Hills.
Seminal performances for Creux Lies include appearances at WGT, Absolution Fest, Murder of Crows NY, and several other shared stages and tours with a roster of notable acts such as AFI, The Soft Moon, Clan of Xymox, Drab Majesty, Soft Kill, Gene Loves Jezebel, Actors, Vowws, Twin Tribes, and others. Creux Lies is poised for 2021 with the release of their second full-length via the international Freakwave label. Headlining performance antics will ensue promptly. Catch them soon on tour throughout the reaches of the planet.
Old School Metal
Mik Dempsey – Vocals
Tapedeck – Guitars
Jose Salazar – Bass
Chris Avgerin – Drums
The Band “Knott Us” was birthed from Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides free performing arts education and training for youths ages 12-18. This dynamic performance band is comprised of multicultural pre-teens and teens who have wowed audiences all over our great state of Illinois. Their setlist consists of classics originally performed by Aretha Franklin, Santana, Chuck Berry, BB King, Queen and Al Green just to name a few. So, if you’re looking to take a toe tapping, finger snapping, sing-a-long musical journey down memory lane, then Knott Us is your band of choice. This band has been dubbed “The Young Band with An Old Soul!”
Wretched Blessing is a band formed in Chicago by KV and RA in 2023 as a close and fully collaborative duo. It is an intentional and unrestrained effort to explore the vast spectrum of metal, punk, and experimental music without microgenre commitments.
From the shadowy desolated woods of Borlänge, Sweden and the rusting urban lechery of Amsterdam, The Netherlands comes Dödsrit, a maelstrom of soul tearing blackness and cacophony.
Dödsrit entered the worldly realms in 2017 as a sole venture that would produce both the self-titled debut in that same year and the subsequent ‘Spirit Crusher’ in 2018. Following this second full-length, the project expanded into a full-fledged group with the addition of three new members, a change that would sharpen the band’s course into the potent force that stands today.
Whether painting landscapes of storming riffs, crescendos of pulsing intensity, or immersing mournful wails, Dödsrit’s crushing devotion to the visceral element in men and nature allured from its very inception. While rooted in the Black Metal milieu, the group’s sonic traits expand wide and beyond, from repetitive and atmospheric upsurges of misty ambiance to melancholic yet triumphant infused outbreaks, a pallet of sorts that provides this journey with an uproar of emotions. Such features find their most precise outcome on their latest opus, ‘Nocturnal Will’, a step forward in the direction of the abyss, and a definitive illustration of Dödsrit’s treacherous display of ghastly emanations for and to the strife and suffering of our feeble world, and it’s nocturnal flame.
Line-up:
Christoffer Öster – Guitar & Vocals
Georgios Maxouris – Guitar & Vocals
Jelle Soolsma – Bass
Brendan Duffy – Drums
Discography:
Dödsrit (Full-length 2017 / Alerta Antifascista & Wolves of Hades)
Spirit Crusher (Full-length 2018 / Prosthetic Records)
Mortal Coil (Full-length 2021 / Wolves of Hades)
Nocturnal Will (Full-length 2024 / Wolves of Hades)
Few artists in recent memory have swept through the dark underground with the excited fervour that Lamp of Murmuur has achieved since first appearing with a string of demos in 2019.
Despite the project’s quick rise to renown, little is known about the band except that the project hails from Los Angeles, CA, and is led by an enigmatic man known as M.
There is no shortage of raw black metal projects around the world but the way that M. approaches the genre sets Lamp of Murmuur on a different path than many of its contemporaries. With two albums already under his belt (and a third one set to be released early in 2023) M.’s explorations in black metal stray enough to keep his approach fresh and mysterious, without compromising the extreme core of the project.
Starting as a fairly orthodox one-man endeavor, it was soon apparent that behind the ghastly mist of rabid riffs and ominous synths there was a far more complex and enigmatic beast dancing behind a veil of shadows.
After the gothic explorations in “Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism” (2020) and “Submission and Slavery” (2021), the project seeks to redefine itself once again with “Saturnian Bloodstorm”.
Lamp Of Murmuur’s new album is a statement of might and power, destroying all preconceptions the project had made in the past, while also serving to cement its position as a driving force in modern-day underground metal.
Blackbraid is a solo indigenous black metal project from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came…
The music of Blackbraid is inspired by the forces of nature in the land around us, overpowering emotions of rage and sadness, and the deep spirituality of the project’s creator, Sgah’gahsowáh; a southern native raised in the mountains of the northeast. His stage name was chosen to honor the Mohawk land which inspires much of Blackbraid’s music.
Blackbraid is a fiercely independent artist, viciously carving a new and inspiring path for indigenous people & underground musicians alike.
nashville experimental pop artist
Arlie is a band created by singer-songwriter, composer & multi-instrumentalist Nathaniel Banks. It began in summer 2015 as a solo bedroom project and grew to incorporate a full-band live show by fall 2016. Since Arlie started playing live, Adam Lochemes and Carson Lystad have been part of the performing ensemble on drums and guitar, respectively. Ryan Savage joined on bass in 2018. During the pandemic and the year prior, everyone involved in the group wound up going through some of the hardest times of their lives, in one way or another. But despite some major setbacks and challenges, they managed to come together and finish a debut full-length album as a team, with Ryan and Adam as co-producers alongside Nathaniel, Carson as a trusted go-to perspective, all together bringing a new batch of Banks’ songs and demos to full fruition. After finishing the record, the group added Noah Luna to the performing ensemble as a backing vocalist and multi-instrumentalist to complete the live show.
Violet Waves in an Alt/Shoegaze band from Chicago,IL
Fast melodic punk band from Madison, Wisconsin, and Rockford, Illinois. From ACAB to AARP.
form (an object) out of malleable material 🇵🇪
Sylvia Dieken is a queer, independent Minneapolis based singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She takes inspiration from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Taylor Swift, and Elliott Smith. Her lyrics feel nostalgic and specific while the instrumentals derive from americana, folk, and indie rock influences.
Shravan Raghuram is a musician, visual artist, videographer, artist manager, event organizer and indie workaholic based in Chicago, IL. Raghuram’s project ‘When the Wall Breaks Down’ is an exploration into the areas between artist and audience, and the ideas between cosciousness and the subconscious. ‘When the Wall Breaks Down’ is many things: a YouTube channel, a DIY cassette tape label, a music blog, and, on nights like these, an improvisation-based musical venture.
Now making music in Philadelphia by way of small town Texas, Grace Gardner is pushing the boundaries of the singer/songwriter genre with thoughtful, self-done production. Their writing takes on an evocative nature, unafraid to “say the ugly thing” while making well-crafted observations and takeaways in their lyrics. While their music adopts many of the genre’s characteristics, Grace found inspiration in their parents’ taste in 70s and 80s rock, in the folk roots of their southern upbringing, and in the jazz they were surrounded with while residing in New Orleans.
Grace’s inspirations started with eclectic powerhouse women from the 1970s — namely Carole King and Stevie Nicks. The works of Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, and KT Tunstall swarmed through their wired earbuds in middle school. As Grace started honing in on their own musical style, finding the intersection between soft rock, indie, and folk, she’s taken even more inspiration from artists like Madison Cunningham and Adam Melchor.
Grace incorporates live complex instrumentation with experimental (by way of self-learned) production. Grace plays ten instruments – primarily and most fondly, guitar – and weaves orchestral, brass, percussive, sampling, and software-based elements into their creations. Along with being a singer, songwriter, and instrument player, Grace is also a producer, music educator, composer, and arranger.