BRIDEY, Alvin Flames, Mozey
BRIDEY is the project of singer/songwriter Bridey Hicks. Hicks moved to Chicago in 2017 and found her calling in writing, performing, and recording her own music. By 2021, she took the dive into the local Chicago music community and built her band from there. After relocating to Los Angeles, CA in late 2022, the project BRIDEY has now emerged as a captivating force in the American indie rock music scene. Whether it be the songs that focus on her alluring vocals or the songs that encapsulate a complete band, her versatile discography doubles as a soundtrack to potential crying sessions, make-out sessions, and/or moshing sessions. Alvin Flames is bedroom synth slop. Toe tapping, head bobbing songs sprinkled with beeps, boops and other noises. Also featuring Mozey
Evann McIntosh, Bonnie Brooks, Sasha Uvarova
Evann McIntosh is a Chicago based Pop/Rnb/Indie musician. They are sooooo cool. Sasha Uvarova – I am an acoustic guitar singer-songwriter, inspired by ethereal, hypnotic music Also joined by Bonnie Brooks
Coral Grief, Sleeper’s Bell, Double Double Extra Large
Seattle’s Coral Grief approaches dream pop with an original sense of momentum and imagination. The band is equally driven through melody and rhythm, with textured songs that bounce between krautrock and 90s indie. A strong local base and growing national audience has formed around their surreal, playful and catchy sound. The trio’s first full length, Air Between Us, is steeped in melodic textures and powerful rhythms, but it takes on a newfound strength through the songwriting. Both an ode and a eulogy to the Seattle area, Farr-Morrissey grapples with how her hometown has mutated, not into something better or worse necessarily, just different. The recordings capture the band’s exuberant & spirited live energy, which is balanced with thoughtful and layered production. Sleeper’s Bell spit-shines dive bar wisdom into polished folk rock. Also featuring Double Double Extra Large
sink, Conor Lynch, Dogcatcher
sink- columbus countrygaze / altcountry featuring members of villagerrr Conor Lynch – Just moved to Chicago from Detroit (as of Oct 1st), so this will be my first Chicago show as resident of the city. Alt Country/Folk Rock band, FFO The Band, Neil Young, MJ Lenderman. Dogcatcher – Since its inception as the songwriting project of Chicago-based Iowa expat Mitch McAndrew, Dogcatcher has grown into a dynamic, twangy, and agile starting 5 that isn’t afraid to crash the boards.
The Curls, SJOD, BAUGS
The Curls are an experimental rock band hailing from Chicago, USA. Described by Stereogum as “acid-fried Talking Heads,” their immersive live shows are a psychedelic celebration of unhinged love, paranoia, absurdity, rebellion and artistic freedom. The band has performed on large stages like Pitchfork Music Festival and have toured extensively playing with artists like Tame Impala, Post Animal, Wombo, Sunburned Hand Of The Man, Rich Ruth and David Nance. They’ve received praise from Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Talking Heads) and R Stevie Moore while drawing comparisons to Boredoms, CAN and Minutemen. The group’s debut LP American Blood is expected out early 2026 on Truth Zone Records.“I don’t know exactly how to describe the art-pop nightmare conjured in this…weird Grateful Dead squiggles meet post-punk fatalism? Dril fronting Devo? I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know I like it” -Jason P. Woodbury, editor for Aquarium Drunkard “Bbanghin track wow. unexpectedly anthemic. idk. this should be huge wot do i fuckin know. masterpiece bro. man, i dont usually do this, but a lil toke, and i’m off to share this massive longsong on me FB & TW. mynde blowne. KTC”-R. Stevie Moore on Curls single KILL THE CRINGE SJOD is an electronic musician, bandleader, cofounder of Truth Zone Records and the self-proclaimed preeminent livetronica jam-adjacent dark horse of Chicago. SJOD makes high energy, varying genre, and improvised electronic music with all live analog & digital hardware. No laptop, just hardware creating original electronic music and experimental performances. Inspired by Sun Ra, Aphex Twin, and the genre of trance-fusion, SJOD performances are communions to another realm and prayers to various celestial entities. BAUGS brings a distinct brand of toe-tapping dark pop through lush synthesizers L, spacey vocals, and the more-than-occasional harp.
Kali Masi, Gonies, Raccoon Junior
Kali Masi is an American punk rock band from Chicago. They’ve been heavily touring and self-promoting for the last decade; steadily evolving the heavy, emotive, and urgent sound found on their 2017 LP ‘WIND INSTRUMENT’ and the much anticipated 2021 followup ‘[laughs]’ Gonies – Cincinnati garage punk outfit, all about having fun with your friends and eating a ham sandwich. High energy, loud and goofy. Raccoon Junior is a Chicago-based indie rock band of scrappy 20-somethings. Drawing from 90’s Emo, Alternative, and Shoegaze, they live somewhere between the slacker jangle of Pavement and wall of sound of Sunny Day Real Estate.
The 806, Los Black Dogs, Rotten Mouth
The 806 is not just a band, they are a mysterious musical force. Feel the euphoria of their harmonies, the raw energy of their guitars, and the hypnotic rhythm that binds us all together in rock and roll. Join The 806 on this journey of sound and soul, where the music becomes a ritual and the stage a sacred space. Let the magic of their performance transport you to a realm where only the devoted listeners can truly belong. Dive into the enigma. Los Black Dogs – We’re a Mexican Psychedelic rock band with influences of 70s rock but still feeling fresh and energetic. We bring a good stage energy with our uplifting music and mesmerizing moments when we let loose. Rotten Mouth is a 4-piece Dirty / Groove Rock band that guarantees to bring all of their jamtastic energy to every song they write and to every live performance. Through brain-liquefying guitar solos, earth-rattling drum rolls, and a deep, gritty tone that will eternally shake your soul, the band brings a unique twist to modern rock n’ roll music. Through the use of powerful, improvisational extended jamz, their music transforms into an avalanche of sound and emotion, and ensures that your body will undoubtedly feel like a wonderland.
Gatsbee, Pale Sommer, kt wheels
Gatsbe is a three-piece rock and roll band from Chicago. They blend the genres of punk, rock, and pop, all while bringing the energy of a house show. Pale Sommer I have a sound influenced and rooted in the 60’s but with a more modern alternative spin. We are a very energetic band and like to constantly put spins and improvisation into every song to give new life to songs and musical self expression that hopefully keep people wanting more. I put 100% of myself into every song I play and that is always visible for every show I play. To me, it’s not about playing the same sets over and over again to get people to fall in love with the songs. My goal with playing live for this project is to have people fall in love with the performance and come back for that reason. ktwheels is a new singer/songwriter on the scene in Chicago. Heavily influenced by powerhouse female guitarists and songwriters such as Madison Cunningham, Soccer Mommy, Courtney Barnett, and Snail Mail, ktwheels isdriven by cool syncopated riffs and alternate tunings. Best described as crunchy singer/songwriter indie rock with hints of folk, ktwheels will surely make you want to dance and maybe cry a little after.
PDA, Atta Guns, Superkick
PDA is an alternative rock band from Chicago. They draw influence from acts such as The Pixies, Interpol, and Grouplove. Atta Guns is 5 piece band from Chicago with an energetic sound that sits on strong rhythmic foundations and weeping leads. AG integrates influences from western garage rock bands such as The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, as well as Japanese rock staples such as Asian Kung Fu Generation, The Pillows, and Tricot. The result is a sonic bridge between two worlds: a performance that is teeming with novelty and emotional depth. Superkick is Alternative PowerPop Trio from Chicago IL. Superkick is Vocalist and guitarist Mike Vaughn, Vocalist and Bassist Joey Youngs, and Drummer Tom Ruby. They bring together a wide range of influences from bands like Jawbreaker, The Strokes, The Cure, The Descendents, and more. The band name Superkick came to fruition when they realized they all shared a mutual love for ridiculous spectacles. They thought of no more beautiful of a spectacle than Sweet Chin Music, AKA a Superkick.
Bug Charmer, Horror Movie Marathon, The Violet Hearts
Bug Charmer is an indie folk-rock group based in Chicago. With comparisons to trailblazers like Big Thief and Weyes Blood, the group doesn’t shy away from their genre blending songs combining aspects of folk, indie rock and slow core to create their unique sound. They find inspiration in nature and their personal experiences. Their music is defined by Kristin’s haunting vocals and visual lyrics, Evan’s cozy guitar solos, and Dan’s sensitive drumming. The songs on Horror Movie Marathon’s new album, Discount Death Mask, paint a colorful swath of human emotion, but what solidifies their staying power is the synergistic magic produced by Will’s stripped-down guitar parts and Dash’s tender-yet-confident performance on the keys. The instrumentation presents as its own fraught family dynamic, while Rutledge and Flach’s vocal harmonies melt into one another with a palpable sense of trust, love, and understanding. The atmosphere of the records runs the gamut between speedy, tongue-in-cheek punk songs (“NYC Traffic” & “Crying & Laughing”), bluesy piano rags (“Did It Do Anything At All” & “Conners Color TV”) and hauntingly tender ballads (“Living Hard” & “Town Car Death Drive”). The Violet Hearts is a genre-bending collective of friends who love to swap instruments and try new things.