Nude Franklin, Smooth Rogers, Oux
Nude Franklin is new Chicago-based alternative rock band led by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Dylan Barnett. Drawing inspiration from eclectic, genre-bending artists like Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, Prince, St. Vincent, and King Krule, Nude Franklin blends new wave, funk, and psychedelic rock in their incendiary live performances. Expect raucous guitar solos, bewildering lyrics, 80’s inflected synth pop, and funky drums. The band plans to release their debut EP January 22nd, 2026. “oux “/ɒ/” is an alt-pop band from chicago. while you could call their music “experimental pop”, that hardly does justice to the profusion of genres and ideas they weave into their songs. oux’s debut full-length, “necronym” balances prickly idiosyncrasies with sleek earworms, and unraveling its layers is part of the fun. Smooth Rogers is the brainchild of Chicago-based musician, Zac Bron. Combining elements of psychedelic pop, dreamy alt-rock, and funk, Smooth Rogers takes you on a journey through lush soundscapes and danceable grooves.
La Croix Mystique, Alpine Subs, Gatsbe
La Croix Mystique combines garage rock stylings à la Guided By Voices and Pavement with driving motorik beat and psych rock intuition of Can and Neu! Alpine Subs – Chicago rock ‘n’ roll for fans of garage, jangle and psychedelia. Gatsbe is a three-piece rock and roll band from Chicago. They blend the genres of rock, punk, and pop, all while bringing the energy of a house show. “These guys are awesome!” says lots of people.
Two Piece Fest: Copies, Kafiza, in shining armour, Calico Loco, Sun King Ba
Copies is a guitar-drums-voice duo from Chicago. They play loud and noisily and try to have a lot of fun doing so. “Then, under the raw glow of makeshift spotlights, two figures emerge on the “stage.” They bulldoze through 30-odd minutes of screaming guitar riffs and deafening drum fills. So, this is KAFIZA.” – these days magazine in shining armour – rock music from aidan and seth Calico Loco will melt your face off Sun King Ba is an instrumental sludge/stoner metal band from Chicago, IL. The duo of Anthony Santoro and Calvin Schaller employ pummeling riffs, intricate leads and thundering rhythms to narrate the legend of the reptile demigod Sun King Ba.
MINKA, 4×4 Animal Style, C.H.E.F., King Sans
Well, there’s really no way to fully capture the experiences and sounds of Philly-born band, MINKA. But if you want to let your imagination run wild: Let’s pretend some scientists got in the lab and crossed Bowie with Prince, and then sprinkled in some Talking Heads. King Sans – Chicago’s gothic noisepunk duo. Imagine two feral rats scurrying around you in the shadows of an alley. They’ll shriek and run, but then sing you a lullaby. 4×4 Animal Style is an Alternative Soul-Art Rock band from Chicago. Their sound ranges from an explosion of fast, loud, time bending tracks to soulful, gentle ballads. They got their start in the DIY Central Illinois College scene, playing living rooms, backyards and basements. It was here that they refined their bombastic stage presence and showmanship. They have since moved back home to Chicago, and have played a variety of the popular venues in the city. Their latest EP, Movement & Form, was released April 2025. C.H.E.F. brings a jam-centric groove to the table by mixing elements of psychedelia, funk, and indie-rock to hit all your sonic taste-buds. Come kick it late-night with a Cuppla Homies Emitting Frequencies
Squiggle, Moon Goons, A Mammoth Task
Hello! We’re Squiggle, a funk-metal duo from the Chicago suburbs. We take heavy influences from bands such as Primus, Mr. Bungle, Slipknot, and Slayer to create our own original sound. We always strive to create a fun yet chaotic atmosphere at every one of our shows. Moon Goons is Indianapolis’ premier goblin-core psych-prog act. Known for playing songs about worms, wizards, and ghosts. Always on time for dinner. FFO: King Gizzard, Primus, BTBAM, Osees A Mammoth Task – Chicago’s angeriest prog-punk
Friday I’m In Love
It’s Friday I’m In Love Hosted by Vampurrra Come celebrate Valentine’s eve (Friday the 13th) with a Cure DJ sets by Heaven Malone, a Robert Smith lookalike contest, and a Cure Video Dance Party.
Cameron Davies, Leili Grzybowski, Karl Kirkpatrick, The Devil Said Jump
The Devil Said Jump is a queer Americana band from Chicago. An artist whose music evokes the punch and soul of Joe Cocker along with the sensitivity and self reflection of Jeff Buckley, Karl Kirkpatrick’s sound has found its home all across the Chicagoland area. Backed by Henry Carpender, Phineas Gleber, and Aval Stanley, Karl has been an active member of the singer-songwriter community of Chicago since 2021 and has performed at venues such as Schuba’s, Reggie’s, and Fitzgerald’s. Leili Grzybowski’s sound transforms through every new piece- one of her songs may be solemn and reflective, while others are wistful and full of hope- yet all of their music is able to capture the experience of being human through her acoustic guitar and a vocal mic. Themes of home, nature, and belonging are explored through this artist’s project. Using ambient noise, carefully plucked strings, and rhythmic strumming patterns, Leili explores what music is said to be, and how she can push those expectations just a little further every time they play. New to the Chicago area by way of Ohio, Cameron Davies brings his take on a smokey, soulful folk sound rooted deep in Appalachian folk, Chicago blues, and southern roots music. With influences like Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, the Allman Brothers, and Mike Bloomfield, Cameron brings an eclectic mix of original music and cover songs to life.
Fecto Glen, Atheena, Charity Work
Charity Work is a Chicago-based Indie Grunge with some rap & RnB thrown in. Atheena is rock band that mixes early 2010’s alternative rock and 90’s grunge sound. Our recent release,”What We Do In Secret”, highlights our influences that range from Narrow Head to The Smashing Pumpkins. Interesting guitar work with grittiness will captivate the crowd and have you thinking,”When’s the next show?” Fecto Glen is an up and coming high octane indie rock band from the Chicago Burbs. Their lead singer, Sophie Frances, brings electric energy to every set. With influences that range from Paramore and My Chemical Romance, to mid-2010’s indie rock, expect melodic guitar riffs and haunting melodies as they perform songs from their current and upcoming releases.
Big Chemical, Disaster Kid, Growing Boys
Big Chemical is a twangy indie rock band formed in Ann Arbor and currently based in Chicago. They take inspiration from The Band, Dear Nora, and The Replacements to bring a complex and high energy performance. Chicago Nostalgia rock trio Disaster Kid finds reflection at the core of their music. Packed together by vivid detail and passionate melodies, their cathartic indie rock sound is lined with lyrical storytelling which puts an emphasis to the mysticism in the mundane. Growing Boys, a folk and alt band, is the brainchild of two best friends whose harmonies are as tight as their bond.
King Sans, Pudding, Braince
Gothic noisepunk from the shadows of Chicago:Always putting on a show to remember, as King Sans, Iz and Jake deliver chaotic energy with melancholic lulls, to create a night as dynamic as each day itself. Secret agents by day, whistleblowers by night. Enter the viscous and demented world of Pudding. They got synths, slap bass, a virtual horn section… and they’re wearing sunglasses. When they’re not mingling with extraterrestrial hippies, dodging teleporting mall cops, or honking horns on the information superhighway, Pudding is on the move. And they have the documents to prove it Braince- Scuzzy, fuzzy funtime boyz. We build stripped-down, bass-driven rippers special-made for going fast when you’ve been thinking too hard.