Nurse Julie, Average Joey and the Rabble Rousers, Roaming Bear
Nurse Julie are an instrumental chamber ensemble from the sprawl between Chicago and Milwaukee that subscribe to the ethics of punk rock, with a sound that lies somewhere within the realm of post-rock.Average Joey is a full time traveling songwriter and musician, living perpetually on the road sharing his mix of storytelling folk songs, mischievous country tunes, danceable string band music, and punk rock banjo. When joined by the Rabble Rousers, Average Joey is able to bring these songs to life backed by fiddle, jazz guitar, and Tuba. Roaming Bear is a name that is synonymous with fun and adventure to his small cult of loyal followers; the “Roaming Bear Militia.” Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago and Milwaukee, Bear was inspired by the riff-heavy midwest emo bands that shaped the Chicago music scene, but also the lyrically comedic acoustic folk punk ballads of Milwaukee sweethearts the Violent Femmes.
The Knee-Hi’s, Ted Tyro
Roselit Bone, Reverse Cowboys, Craig Brown Band, Leased
Sin, Scam Likely, Tommy Kessler, Doloroso
Blanky, A Cursecharm, Hydrodate
Prison (NY/Drag City Records), Glyders, Mike Donovan
Kasual OWNLY, Christian JaLon, S.o.m.i.
Crystal Canyon, Allen Epley
Cry Of Love, Fin Talbot, Jane Hobson
CryOfLove the “most handsome band of Chicago”, heavily inspired by Jimi Hendrix they mix 60s psychedelic rock to modern jazz with a sprinkle of electronic music.Fin Talbot is a unique blend of Chicago’s grit and Dublin’s charm.Started by Sean Fagan and joined by brothers Dan and John Glines, their indie rock landscape is shaped by influences ranging from ’70s glam rock to early 2000s indie rock.Jane Hobson, a singer-songwriter originally from Madison, Wisconsin, blends post-punk, indie rock, and folk to create her unique sound.
Luke Frees & The Shadow Band, Hannah Frey, Andrew Parkkila
Luke Frees is based out of Chicago and writes songwriter-driven rock music. His group, The Shadowband, is celebrating the release of their new album, Tomorrow’s Lucid Dream for this show. Their styles blend Americana with influences from 90s grunge and the 70s proto punk eras. Hannah Frey is a Chicago-based vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist who charms listeners with emotive lyricism, melodies that linger long after listening, and a voice noted for its “retro-smooth tonality (Little Village Magazine).” Her sound is a melting pot of midwestern rural and urban influences. While some might call it folk, Americana, or indie pop, Hannah lovingly refers to the music she makes as rock music for sensitive people. Andrew Parkkila plays sad songs that he hopes will make you feel bad.