High On Stress, Matt Derda & The High Watts
High on Stress has released 5 studio albums including their critically acclaimed new album “Hold Me In.” All those chunky guitar riffs, pedal steel nirvana moments, two-part harmonies and snare drum synergy push Leet’s plaintive cry and yearning songwriter soul to beautiful heights that shouldn’t be missed or forgotten by lovers of heartfelt classic alt-country. Matt Derda & The High Watts, a Folk Rock group from the Chicago area, combines storytelling with resonant melodies. Blending Rock N Roll riffs with Eastern Kentucky roots, they’ve created a unique sound that captures the essence of Johnny Cash’s Nashville and the grit of rock acts like The Replacements.
Heet Deth, Multicult (MD), Microwaves (PA), Miserable People
Piraguas Y Piropos, Rosalba Valdez, Emil Rojo Band
Marcos and Jose created Piraguas y Piropos in 2021 after performing in duets in Chicago for about 5 years. Piraguas y Piropos came from an absence in musical representation locally to have an ensemble that actively performs Jibaro Music (also known as Puerto Rican Folkloric Traditional Music) in Chicago. Outside of its presence in mainland Puerto Rico, the music we play is not only an act of performance but an essential piece of keeping alive a severely underrepresented form of music. Both musicians were raised and taught in the Puerto Rican tradition with an ample background studying and performing jazz to incorporate elements of jazz into Jibaro music without losing the essence of it. A lot of Jibaro music has a classical music background but also offers the flavor and syncopations of the Caribbean, bringing a dance element that makes it well received by a large audience. We’ve landed on a format that allows us to revere our origins while incorporating an openness to improvise in a way that keeps it fresh every time it is performed.
Sparkling Urbana, Sensor Ghost, Rise of Leo
Sparkling Urbana: Blending 90’s queercore energy with folk and punk storytelling for grungy songs with a melodic crunch.Sensor Ghost is an art-punk band from Washington, D.C. composed of Mike Andre, Amanda Huron, and Sam Lavine (formerly/also of Puff Pieces, Weed Tree, Light Beams, Antelope, and The Cornel West Theory).Rise of Leo: Alt-rock from Chicago, IL.
Rhythm & Purpose: Asha Omega, Mani Jurdan, th0rn, Kai Akili, JazStarr, Prince Drive, DJ Mobee Thicc
Oddysseys, Forty Feet Tall, Lithia
Interlay, Gash, Brinstarr
Rock & Roll. Can you feel it?