v1r1s, NO.AH, ÅNGEL 004, Klypi, avas
Birthed online in the digital realm, V1R1S is a high-tech musician, visual artist, and experience. Programmed around early internet culture and life online, V1R1S augments and morphs together mutual chaos of anxiety inducing atmospheres, nightcore bubble gum melodies, and computerized vocals, to create her own new world of ‘cyberpop’. Self proclaimed Earth-pop artist NO.AH [no.dot.ah] from NYC, conjures queer catharsis through their performances of original compositions. NO.AH intends to carve space in the music industry through the creation of their own “genre” — inspired by the uninhibited and limitless imagination of childhood, the vitriol of darkness and horror, and the untapped natural world around us. NO.AH stakes their claim as a singular artistic voice to pay attention to in these oversaturated times. (@no.ah) ÅNGEL 004, currently based in Brooklyn, NYC graces Earth with an expansive Pop Performance spanning genres like Electronic, Club, HipHop, and Eurodance. More aptly labeled as ‘Freak-Pop,’ their multidimensional sound and vision seamlessly blend disparate elements into a cohesive and entertaining experience. Whether performing solo or with a fleet of dancers, ÅNGEL 004 operates within a quasi-Pop-and-Techno framework with performances that feature costumes, props, and choreography. Klypi (pronounced like the Windows paper clipoffice assistant) is the “pop-star” avatar of AC Carter, a multi-disciplinary artist from Birmingham, Alabama. Klypi is part electropop – part performance art. Now in LA, Klypi released their first self-produced LP in fall of 2024 (formatted to appear to be a giant floppy disk) through Lolipop Records.Klypi is described as an alien who travels to Earth in search for a better life, only to realize that what they were looking for was a myth in itself. Klypi quickly recognizes that the only way to survive as a human is to become a successful businessman (as well as to learn how to tackle a wide range of human emotions and experiences). Isolation and unrequited love are just a couple of themes that run through Klypi’s work.AC’s creative journey comes from the lineage of artists-turned-musicians past: DEVO, Brian Eno, Laurie Anderson, and Suicide. AC is interested in the immediacy of pop music, while simultaneously digging for something deeper and experimenting with those boundaries. Previously a painter and sculptor, AC has harnessed those skills to construct their sonic, visual, and conceptual world, while their songs have even been described as painterly: layered, vibrant, and textured. also featuring avas
Ira Glass, Gash, Crisis Actress
ira glass is a post-post-hardcore band from chicago, il. Gash makes Interesting rock music from Eau Claire, WI Also featuring Crisis Actress
Shotgun Funeral (release show), Woonds, Won’t Stay Dead, Boybrain
* Fever-dream core *SHOTGUN FUNERAL is a 3-piece alternative, emo, punk band from Chicago with post-hardcore elements. Three writers/vocalists, two guitarists, one bassist, & one firey drummer, who experiment and ultimately have fun bending genres to leave listeners feeling nostalgic for the past, yet ingrained in the present. Won’t Stay Dead is a horror-themed punk band from Chicago, IL that blends catchy hooks and harmonies with macabre lyrics. The band formed in 2017 in and has been playing with the current lineup since late 2024. They have drawn comparisons to Alkaline Trio, The Bombpops, My Chemical Romance, and Veruca Salt.In 2024, Won’t Stay Dead’s cover of the Enemy You track “Ex Machina” was featured on Red Scare Industries’ 20th anniversary comp.The band is looking forward to releasing their sophomore album and making their Gainesville Fest debut in 2025. Also featuring Woonds and Boybrain
Karass, PDA, Luck of the Draw
Karass is an alternative rock band that draws influence from the Smashing Pumpkins, Peach Pit, and more. We sound like leaving for college, starting a new job, and dumping an old shitty boyfriend. We’ve been a band for three years and are thrilled to finally be releasing music– as our relationships as bandmates and friends have grown over the years, so has our sound. Fresh off the release of their debut EP, Public Display of Affection, PDA has shown they’re not here to blend in and wash away into the murky waters of the Chicago music scene. Their mix of in your face vocals, destructive guitars, and heavy hitting drums makes a stand in the face of mediocrity, and leave your ears ringing with the sound of amps turned up to 12. Luck of the Draw is a fresh new ensemble dedicated to performing original music inspired by legendary artists from the worlds of Jazz, Blues, and Rock—such as Eddie Harris, Johnny Griffin, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Page, just to name a few. Each band member brings their own compositions to the group, crafting a dynamic set that promises a fulfilling musical experience. Rufus Parenti – SaxophonePark Dendy – GuitarConnor Sullivan – BassMason Lampa – DrumsSpecial Guest Vocalist? Maybe?!?
The Living Head, Seek Hell, Dog Guitar
Named after an infamous, clandestine doomsday cult from the 1960s, The Living Head is an apocalyptic post-punk band from Chicago, IL. Dog Guitar has been called Egg Punk, Art Rock, and Nu Metal, but no matter WHAT you call us… Dog Guitar is a good time! Dog Guitar is like if The B-52’s and Korn had a baby and that baby was a transsexual. Dog Guitar is here to rock your world, funk you out, make you smile, and make you thrash. Coming to you live from several local homo and/or trans sexuals, WOOF WOOF WOOF!! AROOOOOO!! Seek Hell is grungey indie alt made by gay people
Bitter Thoughts, Sex Scenes (mke), Coronary, Shrike
Bitter Thoughts makes hardcore music Since 2016, Milwaukee band Sex Scenes’ snotty blend of thrash riffs, mid tempo hardcore and catchy hooks has made them a unique presence in both the hardcore and indie rock/punk scenes around the Midwest. Throughout their long tenure, they’ve played shows with everyone from Weedeater to Jack White; not being out of place on either bill. Although the band’s songs are unquestionably rooted in hardcore punk, their sound and presence are distinctly their own, and it’s that signature quality that makes them a fitting presence on most stages. The band’s lineup has shifted throughout the years, but has been fronted by Sarah Turbo since 2021. In late 2023, they released “Fed Up,” the first EP with Turbo on the mic. A full length album “Everything Makes Me Sick” is coming out May 9th through Big Neck Records. Coronary is Chicago style hardcore punk since 2015. New LP “M.A.D.ness” available now. “It’s not often I hear a band sound like Power Trip then Extortion then Look Back & Laugh then Bib then Bolt Thrower in the same minute-long song.” (Matt Korvette / Yellow Green Red) Shrike – We are a hardcore punk band from Chicago
Adjy, POWERPUP, Slow Riser
Adjy is the kind of band that released a 175 page hardcover book as their debut album. Musically they sound like the school marching band playing desperate indie rock hymns about a mythical summer camp love story set in the 00s; lots of voices yelling, mallet instruments, many drums and even a speak and spell from time to time. Born out of necessity, Chicago-based POWERPUP formed in 2016 with an unapologetic embrace of the full-spectrum experience of youth. With a playful curiosity through lyrical storytelling, these Pups offer up their melodic breed of pop with a tenacity that’s sure to draw you into the groove. Slow Riser is a Chicago-based dark indie-pop project comprised of two longtime musical collaborators, Ian Young and Claire Watkins (Scout Ripley, Morning Arms). On their nocturnal-themed debut album, Midnight Talks, the duo explores the ways age, mental state, season, and location inform our ever-changing relationship with the night. Underpinning their lyrical vignettes is a tapestry of reverb-drenched guitars, soaring strings, ethereal synths, and downtempo beats. The result is an emotionally and sonically dynamic album that occupies the liminal space between genres.
Mall Drag
Let’s go to the mall! Coming all the way from New York City- Miss. Ma’amShe brings her iconically hilarious homage to days of Juicy Couture & Jeans. Come see a stacked drag show full of your favorite Chicago Drag Artists giving you exactly what you need… some mall drag! Hosted by Miss. Ma’amShe and Neutral Gena Starring Helvetikah Blak, Peeper Johnson, and Detox Music by Miss Toto
Oh My Lover, Judson Claiborne
Oh My Lover is a passionate homage to the incomparable PJ Harvey, paying tribute to the raw, unapologetic energy that defined her illustrious career. Formed from a shared love for Harvey’s groundbreaking soundscapes, Oh My Lover is more than a mere tribute band; they are torchbearers of her legacy, channeling the essence and spirit of PJ Harvey’s music with electrifying authenticity.Oh My Lover is a collective of Chicago music scene veterans, Christy Nunes (the Locals), Ripley Cane (solo), Joanna Vassilatos (The Punch), and Carlan Johnson (The Addy Janes) who meticulouslyrecreate the sonic tapestries that made PJ Harvey an icon. From the gritty, angst-laden tracks of ‘Dry’ to the evocative, soul-stirring melodies of ‘Rid of Me’ and the experimental brilliance of ‘To Bring You My Love,’ Oh My Lover flawlessly captures the essenceof Harvey’s diverse discography. Their live performances are a visceral experience, transporting audiences back to the ’90s alternative rock scene with a thrilling blend of searing guitar riffs, thunderous rhythms, and raw, emotive vocals. Each show is animmersive journey through PJ Harvey’s evolution as an artist, leaving fans both mesmerized by the authenticity of the tribute and awestruck by the band’s ability to revive the raw intensity that made Harvey’s music so iconic. Judson Claiborne is the folk-rock music project of Chicago-based songwriter and DJ Christopher Claiborne Salveter. Raised in a Missouri river town-turned suburb, his earliest musical influences were the androgynous voices on oldies radio and MTV’s 120 Minutes. The Chicago indie record labels and bands of the late 90s beckoned him to relocate there in 2000. Soon after, he started the group Low Skies, who released four records and toured as the support act for Neko Case, Explosions in the Sky, and Band of Horses. Low Skies’ final record, All the Love I Could Find (2006) received an 8.1 on Pitchfork.Salveter’s storytelling ranges from the romantic to the heartbreaking, from the autobiographical to the biographical, and from the tender to the gritty. Now eighteen years and five Judson Claiborne records in, Salveter is set to release Live Active Culture, Vol. 2 in Spring 2025.
Apres Pompeii, Jennifer Femme, Dear Jamie
Do you yearn? Are you in awe of the world around you? Do you feel sexy and a little haunted? Ask your doctors about Apres Pompeii. Apres Pompeii is a singer-songwriter known to treat these symptoms, and more. Side-effects of listening to Apres Pompeii include existentialism, falling in love with everyone you meet, and feeling like The Main Character in your life. Some listeners of Apres Pompeii may find themselves moved by the soaring vocals and poetic lyrics, genre experimentation may cause dizziness–if necessary, swoon into the arms of the person next to you. You can find Apres Pompeii on all streaming services and social media and at The Music Box Lounge in Chicago for their monthly open mic. Jennifer Femme is telling stories. Stories about love. Stories about her dramatic internal world. Stories about rain, the sun… and a man named Big Willy. With a background in jazz guitar and classical violin, she tells her stories with a voice both earthy and soaring, heart-wrenching and tongue-in-cheek. She has made a name for herself in Chicago playing countless shows around the city (both solo and with her band), hosting open mics, and founding The Purple Teapot: a DIY performance space which offers queer artists of many disciplines a place to hone their craft and make connections. You can listen to Jennifer Femme on all major streaming platforms. Her discography includes an EP, a live album and “Rain,” the newest single off her debut album which is set to release later this year. Dear Jamie is a force made up of colorful passions and talents. They are currently taking a break as a mental health therapist to explore human connection and healing through alternative mediums; music and drag. Their songwriting and performance style is heavily influenced by their unique and/or completely relatable experiences that derive from living life through the lens of a queer, neurodivergent, AFAB, Korean first-generation immigrant. They believe that their intersectionality brings a fresh perspective into their art, and with their powerhouse voice and open vulnerability, Dear Jamie aims to make their audience be unafraid to feel their emotions.