Rotundos, Maldita Sea, When We Was Kids
ROTUNDOS is a alt-punk band from Chicago, IL. Formed in autumn 2022, the punk-ish quartet has set a fire beneath the underbelly of Chicago’s DIY music scene with their genre bending and mindful lyricism. Maldita Sea is a Chicago-based band representing the Latino community. When We Was Kids is a Chicago area band – Chris Lamb (vocals), Michael Roncone (guitar), Bryan Escareño (guitar), Norman Aguilar (bass) and Mark Serpico (drums).
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.
The Living Head, King Sans, When the Wall Breaks Down
Named after an infamous, clandestine doomsday cult from the 1960s, The Living Head is an apocalyptic post-punk band from Chicago, IL. Spontaneous, shapeshifting, ever-evolving improvised music from Chicago. Imagine two feral rats scurrying around you in the shadows of an alley. They’ll shriek and run, but then sing you a lullaby.
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
Model Cars, Kweelag, T. Maguire, Philadelphia Eagles
Model Cars Model Cars is an Indie Rock band from Chicago Illinois that expresses different shades of grief and angst from slow emotional melodies to upbeat garage rock riffs. T. Maguire is a five-piece post-hardcore band from Chicago. Kweelag is 3-piece fuzzed out Dark Souls rock.
Gen-X Joplin, Moon Goons, A Mammoth Task
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 angriest prog-punk Gen-X Joplin is cheeky heavy proggy mathcore
$50k Check, BAUGS, Heirloom Locket
50k Check is a Chicago band that blends 70s post-punk, 60s psychedelic pop, and a noisy indie rock that gives every song its own unique vibe. On their first album, songs build from pin-drop quiet to all-encompassing layers of sound, others peel a song, layer by layer, to reveal their essence. Behind Kelly Torch’s soaring vocals, the band sways between melody and fuzz, groove and trance, dance and lounge. 50K Check is Kelly Torch on vocals, Mason Payne on guitar, Kisira Hill on bass, Karl El Sokhn on drums and David Green on keys. BAUGS brings a distinct brand of toe-tapping dark pop through lush synthesizers L, spacey vocals, and the more-than-occasional harp.
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.
Cheap 52, Makeout Palace, Cowboy Neal
Cheap 52 is a Philadelphia-based DIY power pop/alternative rock band known for infectious riffs, high-energy live shows, and a “garagy” sound. They released their album Vermont in 2024 and are active in the local basement/house show scene. The band, formed around 2017, features members including Michael and Buster. Makeout Palace makes music for people to dance to, laugh to, cry to, and kiss to (not necessarily in that order) Cowboy Neal is an energetic six-piece band from Chicago, IL. Bringing frenetic, diverse performances, you’ll hear music inspired by The Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Pom Poko, and black midi. Cowboy Neal has performed at many venues in the city: Bookclub, Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, the Burlington, and more! Come and dance with Cowboy Neal!
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.