Bum Rush, Yolk, Sana All
Bum Rush is an irreverent and sonically adventurous punk trio from Chicago that always delivers when they take the stage. Like if the Minutemen leaned more into their bebop influence and used fuzz pedals. Yolk is a Madison-based alternative rock band whose sound combines memorable melodies, noisy guitars, and layered production. For fans of Wednesday, Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr., and anything else that is grungy and loud. Sana All is midwest emo-adjacent music from Chicago. With catchy guitar riffs, driving bass lines, and existential lyrics, each song is a story to get lost in.
Ripworld, Moon Destroyer, Yucki Gross, A$tro $taxx
Captain of The Launch Pad Chi — Leader of the Alpha Centaurians.A$tro $taxx is an interrupter, a frequency shifter, and an all-around high-voltage being. Wrapped in marveled alien skin, $taxx is a Chicago-born recording artist blending cosmic imagination with raw urban energy to create a futuristic, genre-bending sound. From Englewood to the cosmos, she is building a movement for outsiders, dreamers, and aliens who were never meant to fit in… only to take off. Yucki Gross is a self-produced artist who blends genres and mixing a lot of melodic rap with shoegaze and ambient textures. Yucki has fun when he makes my music in his home studio and that’s captured in his live performances. Chicago based artist Moon Destroyer aims to be out of this world and up with the stars. Incorporating elements of pop, rock, alternative, punk, and electronic, Moon Destroyer highlights emotional themes with a large sound that incorporates influences like Paramore and Foster The People. Ripworld is an electronic rock act that mixes the noise and edge of late-70s post punk and 90s alt rock with the production style and sensibilities of contemporary dance, hip-hop, and indie rock music. Their 2024 debut album “FALLEN ANGELS” was written, recorded, mixed, mastered, and released alone in a cramped bedroom.
Sunset Contender, Airport ‘77, Star Funeral
Airport ‘77 is a new indie rock band from Chicago. Some songs Jingle jangle, some songs fuzzy buzz. Members of Bnny, Josephine, and Slow Mass. Star Funeral is the full-band solo project of Nikki Esposito. Hailing from Long Island, NY, Star Funeral walks a fine line between pleasant and somber tones, where dreamy guitars splash through plodding bass and drums with Esposito’s vocals driving forward through a flurry of aching longing and regret. This is Emo Shoegaze. Sunset Contender whistles a cheery tune.
partygirl, Truth or Consequences New Mexico, Harley Omega
If you’ve seen partygirl’s name before, the word “maximalist” is never far behind. Since bandleader Pagona Kytzidis formed the group in 2021, the kinetic six-piece has amassed a cult following for their relentless, inventive music. Whether you’re attending partygirl’s cathartic, emotional shows or discovering their new music online, you’ll find that the band is equally likely to enter a soaring chorus as they are an earthshaking breakdown. Listen past the pyrotechnics and you’ll hear the energy of scrappy upstarts with the sharp songwriting to match their brute force strength. Their debut record, I’m so charming, I forgot who I was, is the culmination of years fine-tuning and road-testing music, but it’s just the beginning for this immensely promising band. Theatrical, eccentric, and vulnerable all at once, it’s a wildly successful first effort from a band overflowing with creativity. Truth or Consequences New Mexico (TCNM) brings a signature style of overdriven alt-country (affectionately known as “crunchry”), with growling choruses, weeping slide guitar, and twinkling lead lines hanging over thundering, fuzzy rhythms. And, in case you’re wondering, they’re from Chicago. Harley Omega is an industrial project, fusing elements of metal, hip hop and techno. Harley seeks to create the soundtrack for the nightmarish dystopia we find ourselves in today.
Empty Heaven, Jason Shapiro, Collective Fictions
Empty Heaven is a project that asks you to get lost in it. Between the cavalcade of releases from the year 2025 (6 albums), the performances that are never the same twice, and a very broad emotional bandwidth, it’s Anthony’s internal world made manifest.Sometimes, it’s the 6-piece band version of Empty Heaven creating a dizzying sonic atmosphere, or it’s Anthony solo at the piano doing an interactive, freewheeling show. Either way, EH puts on a show to be remembered and mulled over. Jason Shapiro has burned bridges with such prominent acts as Frog, Florry, and Good Flying Birds. He is a licensed aroma therapist and splits his time between Chicago and Dubai. Combining the poetic with the blunt realities of life and a healthy dose of dark humor, Collective Fictions weaves together narratives depicting peoples’ tragedies, triumphs, and all the strangeness that lies in between.
New Groove Revolution, Kacie Brown And The Vision, SoulTribe, and DJ Chris Robbin
New Groove Revolution are a funky groovy R&B and neosoul band that specializes in putting a new spin on all favorite hits! — Kacie Brown and The Vision is a Chicago band formed in 2023, inspired by the sounds of neo-soul, R&B, and pop influences. Led by vocalist Kacie Brown, she and her bandmates met at different points while attending music school at Columbia. The band, which has been evolving for around three years, also includes Miles Pretel on keyboards, who has contributed to production and arranging, Stephen Ryan on guitar, Chris Ihrig on guitar, Khalif Alston on bass, and William Penne on drums. They’ve been performing around the city, bringing fun vibes and original music inspired by neo-soul. Most recently, they played at City Winery in Chicago. — Meet SoulTribe a dynamic fusion of R&B, funk, and modern soul that turns any crowd into a dance floor. Led by vocalist AJ Grayce fresh off her debut album Having My Way, SoulTribe has delivered big-energy performances built on deep grooves, bold arrangements, and magnetic chemistry.From sold out shows to electrifying festival appearances, SoulTribe has quickly become a favorite for fans craving a show that feels like a celebration. Their genre-bending approach transforms well-loved songs into vibrant new experiences — while their original music showcases the heart, storytelling, and modern edge of a new generation of soul.More than a band, SoulTribe is a family — a space where everyone belongs, where music lifts spirits, and where everyone can vibe.One Soul. One Tribe. — “Chris Robbin’, a name you’ve heard or face you’ve seen performing with his unforgettable live band or solo around the city’s venues. Running open jams like “Unfamiliar Sessions” at Coles and BYOS in Hyde Park and Wicker Park. If you haven’t seen him live, you might’ve also heard his producing stylings on tracks like “half a joint and jazz” and “#DAWG” by KAICREWSADE, or “ACORNS & BRAMBLEBERRIES” and “NOT LIKE ME” by WINDOW to name a few.” – These Days Mag
Lunde, Sitrus Sol, Favelas
Influenced by the melodic, straight-ahead sound of bands such as The Beach Boys, Boston, and America, Lunde is part of a growing movement bringing authentic rock ’n’ roll back to the forefront—emphasis on ROLL. Sitrus Sol is a four-piece Midwest Dream Rock band blending dreamy textures, jangly guitars, and emotionally charged melodies into a sound that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Formed in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois out of the city’s thriving DIY basement scene, the band draws from dream pop, Midwest emo, alternative rock, and classic indie influences to create warm, immersive, and engaging songs. Favelas is a renowned Chicano band from Chicago’s south side, boasting a diverse set list that spans Reggae, Cumbia, Punk, Ska, and Hip Hop. We have had the privilege of opening for esteemed international Latin artists such as El Tri, Molotov, Los Caligaris, Maldita Vecindad, and Gondwana.
Astrid Pierce, Street Dove, Suzy Lee
Astrid Pierce makes loud and messy emo pop, and is from the Chicago Suburbs originally. Waukegan, Illinois is the town. This show is to promote her upcoming album “perfect storm” which comes out April 17th! Street Dove is an indie pop / art rock project out of Chicago, writing dreamy and punchy songs. Like the pop of Vampire Weekend, the hazy polish of Beach House, and the grandiose of the Flaming Lips, but with our own charm baked in. Suzy Lee is energetic and vibrant punk-pop/power pop Chicago band known for their emotionally driven lyrics and powerful vocals and drums. Music for pretty people!
Mike Bandanna, Shravan Raghuram, The Feat, Slugscape, Morbid Circle, hungu
Merging their backgrounds in hiphop and punk, Mike Bandanna became to be known as the rapper with a band with a sound unlike many before them. Forged in the fires of the underground house shows, the band grew to add members Casey Powell, masterclass guitarist, and Dj $weetboy, the eclectic disc jockey. Mike Bandanna grew to be a shining name in the local scene and on to headline two successful indie tours. With a style blend from dark, choatic rage, to drug fueled croons and ballads, and lyrics venturing through introspective thought and aspirational gusto, songwriter Mike Bandanna delivers a sound that challenges its very own identity while still remaining true to it’s roots. Shravan Raghuram of When the Wall Breaks Down // spontaneous, shapeshifting, ever-evolving improvised music from Chicago. Chicago’s THE FEAT – Craig Woods (Towers, Peter and Craig), Justin Wexler (Stillwell, Engines), and Matt Vicars (Ghost Towns, Sore History) – have created a sound that exists somewhere within their shared collective experience of independent and punk music. From playing in bands to standing solo, slugscape brings a soundscape of industrial hitters and trip hop ballads. 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 Hungu is a Chicago-based DJ and producer playing the full spectrum of house from basement classics to modern bangers and everything in between. Expect smooth blends, unexpected cuts and whatever else the night brings.
Teens in Trouble, The Dreaded Laramie, + Friends
Specializing in catchy hooks, heavy guitars, and disarmingly direct lyricism, Teens in Trouble is the bright-blazing indie-punk project of Asian-American singer, guitarist, and songwriter Lizzie Killian. Blending the melodic confessional snap of Weezer with the Pixies’ loud-quiet punch, the band makes anthemic, emotionally driven indie rock built for shouting along to big choruses. Killian’s writing cuts straight to the point: vulnerable, sharp, and delivered with a cathartic vocal power that’s distinctly hers. The Dreaded Laramie delivers high-energy hooks and first-rate musicality, with trademark guitarmonies that scratch a very specific itch. Their intersection of glam-rock and power-pop kind of feels like lighting a ‘90s coming-of-age official motion picture soundtrack on fire. Or like, if Randy Rhoads went through a really big Weezer phase.