Miniskirt, The Scratch-Offs, Cam’s Jams
Miniskirt is a four piece based in Chicago, IL. The band draws on a love of 60’s girl groups, garage rock, power pop, and punk to make dreamy and energetic sound. They can inspire a raucous pit or a joint to be passed around. Their self release debut album, Paint It Rad, came out on April 23, 2024. The Scratch-Offs play rock n’ roll (emphasis on the “roll”) from Madison, Wisconsin (emphasis on the “sin”) Cam’s Jams play reverb-y vocal melodies mix with a flurry of percussion, 12-string guitar, and a slough of psychedelic effects to make an all around transcendental experience for one and all. – Midwest Action
SJOD (EP RELEASE), No Antics (STL), Ludwig Chavez ft. Charlie Barlow
SJOD is the self-proclaimed preeminent livetronica dark horse legend of Chicago. The Jod is in his element in a live setting, expect a high energy experience with a wide range of tempos, vibes, and electronic instruments. 2024 marks SJOD’s villain era with a new aesthetic of intense eldritch imagery and whimsical interludes. C U On The DanceFloor.No Antics is a premium rock experience; melting alternative, grunge, and punk genres into a contemporary array of fresh sounds. From the fray of Midwestern skateparks and basements, their DIY methodology welcomes the audience into the world of Modern Femme Grime. A new space, built on the bones of the fallen patriarchy, Modern Femme Grime is a higher realm of consciousness where the complexities of life and love in the 21st Century can be focused into a continuous beam of raw power. Come for the guitar solos and scream-along anthems, stay for community.LUDWIG CHAVEZ is a CHICAGO based collective who deliver atmospheric soundscapes and chugging rhythms that just have a way of getting into people’s bones. Jamie Clemmons (guitars/vocals); Ross Wall (synths/keys/noise/percussion); Charlie Barlow (Drums/percussion)
Candy, sponj, AAAYYYAAA
Candy is a pop icon created by actor and singer-songwriter Martin Levy. Candy is the revolutionary popstar of the apocalypse.sponj is two people and a drum machine. Formed in Chicago in the winter of 2023 by long-time friends, the band is made of a material-driven designer by trade, building beats that make us move, paired with the poetic vocals of a multimedia artist.AAAYYYAAA is a Midwest Industrial project.
Anessa Rivera, PIWA, Gayun Cannon
Anessa Rivera is a force to be reckoned with in the realm of Alt-Pop/RnB. Her ethereal vocals weave a tapestry of melodies that push the limits of traditional Pop and aside her band, blends heartfelt lyrics with airy instrumentals. Raised in Tucson, now calling Chicago home, Rivera is an ever-evolving artist committed to growing her craft.PIWA is a Chicago based Zimbabwean artist here to make us move to the rhythm of her drum; with the use of her alternative R&B tones and afrofuturistic energy, Piwa is known as a force to be felt.Chicago singer, self-produced, and multi-instrumentalist Gayun Cannon is known for creating a process of healing within each song whether it is about love or her own trials and tribulations through life. Her main goal is for her listeners to tap into their emotions. Incorporating her own infectious melodies with influences from multiple backgrounds and inspirations, Gayun has created a sound like no other.
MellowPhobia, Ione, Lydia Cash
Based in Kansas City, Kansas, MellowPhobia is an alt-rock band that brings a lively and dynamic sound to the music scene. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the band relocated and recorded their debut EP, “Is This Seat Taken?” Their single, “Jackal,” gained attention, leading to performances at festivals and indie venues. Notable highlights include sharing stages with national touring acts such as The Greeting Committee, The Regrettes, The Velveteers, Colony House, and more. By 2024, “Jackal” had surpassed 40,000 streams. Looking ahead, the band is gearing up for new releases, each contributing to their evolving sound.Ione, A 25 year old Singer/Songwriter from Sioux City Iowa, started her singing career at the age of 11. Since that time she has toured extensively throughout the Midwest developing her unique style. Ione’s powerful, soulful voice is undeniable whether singing her empowering Alt Rock compositions or more intimate heartfelt confessionals.Lydia Cash’s latest release, “Indigo”, boasts her fresh indie take on country music, weaving synths with traditional pedal steel, her airy voice floating with stacked harmonies and emotional, heartfelt lyrics. The five songs share a common theme of longing, whether that be for a person, a feeling, or for the past. While heavy on the nostalgia, there is nothing dated about this EP; honest, full of heart, with confessional lyrics, Cash is creating something new in country music and leaves us feeling good and wanting more.
Adjy, Patrick Jasper, Slow Riser
Adjy is a musical mythopoic apparatus based in undisclosed locations in Appalachia.Patrick Jasper is a Chicago based guitarist and songwriter. Drawing from his roots in folk, math-rock and experimental rock, his new project tumbles into new sonic territory while maintaining a down to earth musical sensibility.Slow Riser is a Chicago-based dark indie-pop project comprised of two longtime musical collaborators, Ian Young and Claire Watkins (Scout Ripley, Morning Arms).
The Cancellations, Genevieve Heyward, All Weather Sports
The Cancellations make depression you can dance to.Genevieve Heyward delivers brutally honest lyrics with a saccharine rasp, effortlessly blending Americana influences into enthusiastic pop music.
Holy Joke, Janet Blackwell, Dogcatcher
Holy Joke is an alt-country band from Chicago, IL. They are celebrating the release of their second EP.Janet Blackwell is a musical artist based in Chicago. Her music explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, with a sound that blends elements of folk, rock, and pop. Heavily influenced by the mysticality of 70s rock lyricism and its imagery, upcoming music has direct influence of the gritty Riot Grrrl movement–with a folk rock twist.Dogcatcher’s sound ranges from the loud and loose ferocity of a modern-day Crazy Horse to the pin-drop silence of a Big Thief show.
The Umbrellas, Pleasant Mob
The Umbrellas are four renegade romantics crafting irresistible indie pop hymns. The band’s self-titled 2021 debut album became a breakout moment, winning critical praise and sparking an international tour. Follow-up LP ‘Fairweather Friend’ goes a step further – absorbing the sonic attack of their live shows, it balances this with studio finesse, allowing the San Francisco four-piece to become the band they’ve always aspired to be. At a glance Pleasant Mob evokes a carefree spirit, but below the surface, their uncluttered compositions are a comforting utopia. Their judicious use of tone, color, and melody strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine energy – take that Piet Mondrian. Their clarity and resolved tension has smoothed down the sharp edges of rock and roll into a joyous flower powered jangle.
Paris Williams, Don’t Be Kendall, Devin
Gritty raps with the pretty tracks, Kansas City rapper Paris Williams is pioneering a bittersweet sound that is poised to live in headphones and speakers for years to come. Bursting onto the scene with his ambitious and forward thinking mixtape DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, Williams immediately established himself as an artist full of creative ideas, and earned comparisons to the sounds of early Odd Future and Kevin Abstract releases from online blogs and forums. From there he pulled back to focus and refine his sound across tight EPs with 2020’s Cocoa and 2023’s Rebel Heart.devin. , a rapper coming from Northport, Alabama, and currently based in Chicago, has been on a journey trying to figure out the complexities of his identity and the world around him through his music. With a curiosity for playing with language, devin’s lyrics serve as a vehicle for introspection and understanding.