French Inhaler, Side Hug, Kangaroo, JFK Healthworld
French Inhaler hail from Logan Square, Chicago. The trio play a blend of 80’s new wave synth-pop with a modern post-punk ethos. For fans of Joy Division, The Wedding Present,The Postal Service. On their debut album New Language, Chicago’s Side Hug encourages us to embrace change both in our lives and in their sound. Released on Easy Does It Records, it’s a bold reinvention of the band’s sound and spirit. The 10-track project is anchored in change — embracing it, surviving it, and emerging with clarity.New Language marks a sonic evolution for the band, moving beyond the nostalgic indie-folk of their earlier releases into the atmospheric textures of post-punk, shoegaze, and art rock. Produced by writing partners Allan Cardenas (guitar/bass/synth) and Lyd Landor (guitar/vocals), and engineered/mixed/mastered by Erik Rasmussen at Chicago’s Palisade Studios, the album is as raw as it is refined, fusing twinkling guitars, serrated basslines, and synth flourishes with emotionally resonant songwriting.“The album really focuses on this idea of change: accepting it, learning from it, and letting things go,” says Landor. “Things kind of suck right now, but they will get better. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”Following a string of transformations, from relationship upheavals to lineup shifts and newfound sobriety, Side Hug’s New Language mirrors personal growth with musical reinvention. The band crafts a new identity that’s moody, melodic, and defiantly hopeful. Kangaroo is a band of contrasts. They’re loud and noisy, but their songs are hyper-melodic and practically beg to be sung along to. They’re brain-pummeling rock and roll, but they tackle deeper subjects in their lyrics. They’re a punk band that has a nuanced view on religion and spirituality. Chicago’s JFKhealthworld blend shoegaze haze with emo heart, creating songs that are equal parts cathartic and catchy. Known for their choreography and Heelys, they bring sincerity and energy to every set. Fresh off their show with Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) and Emperor X, JFKhealthworld deliver a live experience that’s as heartfelt as it is unforgettable.
Javelin, Basement Party, Sattva Dog, Weaklung
Javelin – We are a noise rock/grunge band and this will be our first time at Coles! The Basement Party merges the raw high-end spirit of skate punk with smooth sun soaked vibes of surf rock Weaklung is a loud noisy rock band who grabs you by the throat with guitars, and hits over the head like a sack of door knobs with thick bass. Drums will poke at you all night. Weaklung are from Chicago and sound like it. Also featuring Sattva Dog
Hannah Frey, Nancy Whitaker, Holy Joke, Max Morton
Hannah Frey and her band play folk rock for lovers and sweeties. She feels like the luckiest girl in Chicago to play for you & hopes you leave with a little bit of that luck 💫 Holy Joke is a twangy rock band from Chicago, IL, drawing inspiration from the alt-country greats across the decades while incorporating contemporary indie-rock sensibilities. Nancy Whitaker is an art rock band containing Brooklyn’s best up and coming players with 60’s inspired vocal hooks and an attachment to grandiose widescreen sounding sonic decisions. For fans of fast parts, unconventional songwriting, and noisy things. Max Morton is songwriter based in Chicago, IL. In 2024, Morton released his EP titled “simply, time”: six lyrically-driven songs fabling the passing of people, places, and seasons.
Glad Rags, Cowboy Neal, Arm Candy
Glad Rags is a music collective from Chicago that blends chamber pop, psychedelic rock, new wave, electronica, and experimental jazz. Cowboy Neal is an energetic six-piece band from Chicago, IL. Bringing frenetic, diverse performances, you’ll hear music inspired by The Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Pom Poko, and black midi. Cowboy Neal has performed at many venues in the city: Bookclub, Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, the Burlington, and more! Come and dance with Cowboy Neal! Arm Candy is an energizing rock group that fuses ethereal, dynamic instrumentals with insistent, anthemic vocals. Like a sugar rush, Arm Candy is something you’ll crave again and again.
Broom, Bitcrush, Brian Seyler
broom is a NYC based ambient-shoegaze outfit. sad guitar and saxophone through a bunch of pedals and loops. chicago debut. Bitcrush is an electronic jazz duo founded by Charlie O’Neill and Leo Buczkowski in 2022. Drawing from a wide variety of influences from the jazz, electronic and avant-garde idiom, Bitcrush has carved a unique space for themselves in the Chicago music scene with their eclectic live performances and 2024 album We Regret to Inform You. also featuring Brian Seyler
May + the Ladies, Basal Jones, Night Beach, Emily Rach Beisel
May Klug is a composer based in Minneapolis, MN. Her project May + The Ladies celebrates high-femme pop spectacle, drawing from her experimental synthesizer practice, past as a frontwoman in queercore bands, and deep love of house, bubblegum bass, and electroclash. Joined by Jared Hemming and Cleo Pupillo, this is May’s heartfelt, desperate, and misguided attempt to make extremely likable music. Basal Jones – I am a rap artist who has a taste for different sounds and cultures. This EP will include everything from a medieval bop to a crash course into the City Girl lifestyle. Night Beach is a 4-piece band playing creative indie songs about love, identity, and a life in common. FFO Elliot Smith, Parquet Courts, & Yo La Tengo. Expect new chords, sweet melodies, and seismic revelations on the nature of reality (DISCLAIMER: revelations not guaranteed) Emily Rach Beisel is known for visceral performances blending extended vocal and instrumental techniques with analogue electronics. Their works is described as “heavy stuff, sounds retrieved from the deeper places… Beisel pokes around in the sonic depths and brings leviathans out to play. (A Jazz Noise)”
Jonah Eggleston Live Album Recording
Jonah Eggleston Live Album Recording Jonah Eggleston is a standup comedian based in Chicago by way of Appalachia. His comedy is a mix of storytelling, anxious confessions, and doom-spiralling over slight inconveniences. He has performed throughout Chicago (The Lincoln Lodge, Zanies) as well as across the country (Comedy on State, DC Improv.) He’s a nice guy once you get to know him. with support from Sam Dicke & Kristi Durkin
The Metric Ton, Mr. Clit & The Pink Cigarettes, Maneaters, Nightfreak
The Metric Ton – A conglomerate of sounds from Cincinnati, Ohio, embarking on a celebratory tour of our latest album, Can’t It All Be So Simple? Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes are three loser nerds with a love of cinema and music. Influenced by the B52s, Pee-wee Herman, The Cramps, and girl groups of the 60s. They mix punk with camp, femininity with aggression, pretty and ugly, snot and candy. Upon formation they started touring the US, which led to multiple international tours, including Canada, China, and France. Who is Mr. Clit? They dont know, but who is Hootie? NightFreak – Blood, sweat, and beers. We play fast, loud, and frantic heavy metal tinged punk. We have a sold out LP on Big Neck Records and have toured a ton which has helped us build up a loyal following. We are known for our wild and energetic live shows! For fans of Annihilation Time, Motorhead, Gang Green also featuring Maneaters
Slugscape, AAAYYYAAA, Morbid Circle
From playing in bands to standing solo, slugscape brings a soundscape of industrial hitters and trip hop ballads AAAYYYAAA – MIDWEST INDUSTRIAL Morbid Circle is a dark electronic artist that blends punk, EBM, and darkwave into a unique sound of catchy melodies and powerful vocals. Performances end up being an in your face mosh dance that helps strengthen the connection between artist and audience.
Big Chemical, Disaster Kid, Growing Boys
Big Chemical is a twangy indie rock band formed in Ann Arbor and currently based in Chicago. They take inspiration from The Band, Dear Nora, and The Replacements to bring a complex and high energy performance. Chicago Nostalgia rock trio Disaster Kid finds reflection at the core of their music. Packed together by vivid detail and passionate melodies, their cathartic indie rock sound is lined with lyrical storytelling which puts an emphasis to the mysticism in the mundane. Growing Boys, a folk and alt band, is the brainchild of two best friends whose harmonies are as tight as their bond.