Cocojoey, Insula Iscariot, Embrasa, Bliss Cemetery
Cocojoey is a Chicago-based producer and performer who operates within a unique blend of digital hardcore and digital fusion genres. Their 2022 album “COCOJOEY’S WORLD” features kaleidoscopic harmony, virtuosic keyboard shredding, and densely orchestrated electronic layers wielded in the pursuit of finding joy and self-acceptance.Known for highly energetic performances, Cocojoey has quickly become a local mainstay. In addition to 50 shows across the US in 2024, they have recently performed alongside artists such as HEALTH, Author&Punisher, Bubblegum Octopus, Lauren Bousfield, Bejalvin, and Fraxiom. Insula Iscariot is an audiovisual artist and producer based in Madison, WI who draws inspiration from the worlds of industrial, dance, and noise. Their work consists of dissonant synths and infested basslines, broken up by demolishing drums. All of this being a catalyst for their anxious whispers and screams to deliver a stark feeling of dread and desperation.Insula’s ever-mutating performances have included painting, destruction, and audience collaboration. They have previously only played in Madison and the west coast, but are now on tour in parts of the Midwest in the wake of their debut album. Embrasa is an art project situated in the space between Industrial, Noise, Pop, Metal, Contemporary Classical Music, and Dance. It’s ever-evolving group of core collaborators help bring to life large multi-disciplinary projects – ranging from simple and confrontational live solo performances and albums, to experimental theatre, books, sculptures, candles, perfumes, and whatever else might be called for. Bliss Cemetery lies somewhere between the sounds of teen suicide and machine girl. Heavily inspired by incorporating electronic music with instruments and cassette warping. The bliss cemetery concept is that, its a state of mind or a place in which the human experience is looked back on for all its serenity and lack there of.
Winter Lantern, Mortlach, Amon Lanc
Winter Lantern is freezing old school vampire black metal from north carolina, Evil and melancholy sounds from the USBM underground Mortlach is dark dungeon synth from an old count who wanders the ruins of an old castle. Evoking feelings of adventure, suspense and horror, Mortlach’s music takes you deep into the castle dungeons where who knows what you’ll find… Amon Lanc play dark dungeon synth hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Yoko Homo, Goose Harrington
Aesthetically, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat hates to tread water. At the same time, the Baltimore-based two-piece of vocalist Ed Schrader and bassist Devlin Rice won’t force their songs to fit a preconceived style. “The next album’s always gotta be different from the last one. We’re different people from record to record. So, writing authentically to ourselves will always bring our work to a place that we haven’t been to yet,” Rice said. Schrader added, “We’re terrified of turning into AC/DC. We never want to be married to one scene or time or sound. We want to be the Boba Fett of bands! Constantly altering the way in which we make records has been pretty key in that process.”For Orchestra Hits, the band’s latest, that alteration was welcoming longtime musical comrade Dylan Going into the fold as a co-writer and co-producer. A songwriter in his own right, a guitar sideman for ESMB on their last two tours, and a collaborate with Rice in the noise riffage band Mandate, Going had both a unique vision and an intimate familiarity with the ESMB vibe.Goose Harrington is experimental electronic party music summoned from the sky to terrorize your local park. Honk. Yoko Homo is Cathartic Dancefloor Angst
Model Living, Home Entertainment, Torch the Hive
Model Living are a Chicago-based post-punk quartet formed in spring 2023. Their angular songwriting & urgent-yet-poetic lyricism seek to capture life in Your City (USA) & the ever-encroaching doom surrounding them. Guitarist Jay Martinez, drummer Nico Ciani, & bassist Matt Ciani create a hazy backdrop of repetition & tension for vocalist Geoff Daniels’ frantic depictions of a city ravaged by displacement, restaurant groups, & Exponential Growth. Torch the Hive is a spawn of antifacist pro mental riffy punk that punches you in the throat Also featuring Home Entertainment
96 Cougar, Jim the Kid, Beach Trash
96 Cougar plays a deep-fried blend of punk rock with heavy alt-country and psych influences, kind of like if Ween grew up covering the Minutemen. Their new album “Forklift Rodeo” comes out on cassette on March 7, 2025, via Already Dead Tapes and Records. Jim The Kid is a recording artist based in Chicago, whose unique brand of synthesizer and guitar fueled rock-‘n’-roll sounds familiar yet hard to place. With a large catalog of songs both loud and quiet, hard-hitting and sensitive, dancey yet contemplative, Jim The Kid thrives in experimentation and self-exploration. Joined on stage by The Painkillers, his live show is one that’s filled with dancing and high-energy performances played from the heart to give the audience a night they won’t forget. Jim The Kid & The Painkillers are Jimmy Clarke on guitar and vocals, Victor Kamhazi on guitar, synthesizers and backup vocals, Tommy Nelson on bass, and Ranan Vales on drums. From deep within the Okefenokee swamp arrives Jacksonville Florida’s most sinister crime syndicate: Beach Trash is a progressive metal wrecking crew, armed and dangerous packing riffs, cheap beer, and just a little bit of LSD. Loud, sweaty, and unapologetically wild, they’re here to melt faces and crash on the couch.
Creature Fight, Quinine, Blous3, Universal Automation
Creature Fight is a Chicago post rock band who describes themselves as good music for moody people Quinine is a rock band from Sacramento formed in 2023. Taking an influence from early diy 90s alternative, the band has created a nostalgic sound that has a chaotic twistThey’re debut LP is being released in conjuction with the tour on Julias War and Cherub Dream records Blous3 is a Sacramento noise rock art-punk whatever band. Formed in 2021, Blous3 is chaotic and jagged in the best way. UNIVERSAL AUTOMATION is a DIY supergroup made up of the best songwriters in Chicago. Unofficially backed by the Teamsters, they only accept gigs at premier events where the drinks are flowing and the vibes are immaculate. Dependent on said vibes, they seamlessly drift between genres to deliver a once in a lifetime performance.
Calico Plaid, Girl Cologne, Shotgun Funeral, Carnivore Mommy
Camille is from a border town in Texas, Nic is a Chicago local – together they make inanely melodic alt rock as Calico Plaid, littered with as many guitar solos as possible. The rest of the group is made up of 3 power houses who all front their own projects and bands in the Chicago scene. We like to mosh and get weird! Girl Cologne is an alt/punk rock group from Cleveland, Ohio.Their sound and lyricism expertly capture the feeling of nostalgia associated with the singer/songwriter genre and the cinematic, head banging musical nature of classic punk and grunge bands. Not only do they bring it musically, the group advocates for LGBTQ+ rights as most of its members identify as queer. They also spread awareness about chronic illness as the band’s lead vocalist has POTS. SHOTGUN FUNERAL is a queer 3 piece alternative, emo, punk band from Chicago with post-hardcore elements. Three writers/vocalists, two guitarists, one bassist (and a slew of rotating drummers) who experiment and ultimately have fun bending genres to leave listeners feeling nostalgic for the past, yet ingrained in the present. Ever wanted the theatrics of emo and the horror of queercore to smooch a little?Maybe you’re a lil’ freak who desperately wants to be Mommy’s favorite?May we introduce to you, Chicago’s very own eerie, dancey, sick, and scream-soaked…Carnivore Mommy.
Rat Tally, Social Cinema, Liska
Rat Tally makes sad music for sad people. Or happy people. Or whoever. Whether it’s due to their years as touring musicians, gradually honed songwriting and stylistic ambitions from scrappy, garage-y roots, or some combination of all of the above, Social Cinema makes an immediate impression with seasoned beyond their years songwriting chops and a road-hardened work ethic and resolve to match. Since adopting the Social Cinema banner in 2021, the alternative/indie rock quintet has issued four EPs — 2022’s Causing Scenes and Repeat, Get Along, and Stay Numb in 2023 — and a number of singles highlighting the outfit’s multifaceted songcraft prowess, and has shared bills with the likes of Metric, Saint Motel, Slothrust, The Velveteers, Spiritual Cramp, Bad Bad Hats, Sego, THICK, PUP, The Macks, and more. With Briggite Bardot hair, psychic abilities, and enough broken hearts to inspire an entire discography, Chicago’s-own Liska has all the makings of a “pop girly,” the Gen-Z-originated internet term of endearment reserved for the most iconic of icons. Liska fans appreciate her signature, Gwen Stefani-esque pout and her impish lyrics. Both her vocal delivery and the topics she sings about are unapologetically girlish. With inspirations stemming from Charli XCX, Evanescene, Britney Spears and No Doubt, there’s a little bit of something for everyone
King Sans, Frozen Charlotte, The Metalliques
King Sans is Chicago’s Gothic Noisepunk Duo Frozen Charlotte is the newest project from Madison, WI based multimedia artist Sigra DeWeese. Blending DeWeese’s signature airy coloratura vocals with a heavy, hardcore infused production and catchy, pop sensibility, Frozen Charlotte boasts a dynamic sound for fans of Lung, Deftones and Lingua Ignota. Live show supported by the musical talents of drummer Samwise Baker, second bassist Quintin Bovre, and Keyboardist Riley Rentfro. Local cosmic act The Metalliques have a cinematic, sultry and surfy sound with lounge and spaghetti western elements that would be equally at home in a David Lynch film or 70s soft core escapade.
Rhea the Second, Manasseh, MVTE, Marcus Darling, KOVU (DJ Set)
Born on the east side of Detroit and now thriving in the city of Chicago, Rhea the Second is an Alternative Pop and R&B artist who has quickly cemented her place as one of the most exciting talents in the city’s vibrant music scene. Her star-studded resume includes working with artists like Noname, Leon Bridges, Eryn Allen Kane, Akenya, Durand Jones & The Indications, Neal Francis, and Tony Moran, to name just a few. Her latest projects, ALT POP RNB and Mama’s House (a dynamic collaboration with rapper MVTE), are bold declarations of her artistic vision and have already earned praise as two of the year’s most distinctive and thrilling releases. Manasseh, a South Side Chicago native, has honed his musical gift since childhood, nurtured by his vocalist mother and shaped by years in the church choir. Today, he thrives as a Music Supervisor, curator, vocal coach, background vocalist, and songwriter, collaborating with a wide range of artists. MVTE (pronounced mute) is an up-and-coming artist from Chicago, with a style as distinct as her voice. Following the city’s rich lineage of important and unique voices, her music is refreshing yet familiar. From jazz influenced slow burners to hard hitting gritty boom bap to Chicago flavored anthems, her sound is a rich, diverse mosaic allowing her space to explore. Her music is unique, fun and filled with feeling, transporting the listener into her world. And in her world, contrary to her stage name, MVTE has a lot to say. Marcus Darling is a genre-defying, soulfully rebellious artist who fuses revolutionary rock with a DIY lofi aesthetic. Their sound—a self-described “black-folk music”—blends electronic soul, R&B, psychedelic rock, jazz, and folk into something both intimate and expansive. Each song feels like a dreamy journey, exploring moods more than messages, with polished melodies woven through reflective silences. Kovu is an Artist, Curator, Designer + anything he sets his mind to. From Detroit to living in Chicago for 14 years, KOVU focuses on a blend of Afro House, Deep House, and Yoruba Soul.