Blucone, Jax will be Jax, Nothing But Silence, Light Blue Lines (solo)
blucone is an R&B/indie-pop band from Columbus, Ohio. They started as a group of friends from different musical backgrounds experimenting with new sounds. The first result of this experimentation was their single, “Torn”. The positive reception that followed encouraged the group to continue writing, and to take the songs live.Listeners have dubbed blucone’s music as jazzy-futuristic, noting how the group’s high-quality production and dreamy vocals interlace with its lush instrumentation; the audience is sure to sway. blucone has appeared at Summer Camp Music Festival ’23, at Solshine Reverie ’24, and on Fab Dupont’s Mix Fix Live series. Jax ‘jax will be jax’ Ovalle is a Guatemalan-American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter heavily influenced by Latinx indie and post-rock. Their music explores emotional vulnerability through lush, atmospheric textures and introspective lyrics. Jax spent the last ten years writing original material and supporting various artists, including Girl Ultra, City Mouth, and Lester Rey. In their current concept project, ‘andromeda’, Jax seeks to combine their work as a musician and filmmaker to tell stories in a new way. Nothing But Silence is Darkwave/post-punk/ mainly vibes & stuff Light Blue Lines is an alternative indie folk band
Cool Heat, Talking to Shadows, Sungaze, The Warm Fuzzies, The Shimmer DJs
COOL HEAT is the dream pop project of Chicago-based musician and photographer Eden Sierotnik. In 2024 he released his second full length album Abandon on Spirit Goth Records and subsequently went on his first tour. “Multi-faceted and effortlessly modern, the project’s name is apt; with every single track in his discography, Sierotnik proves with his highly meticulous, maximalist synth work that it is entirely possible to balance opposing ideas, sounds, and textures with finesse.” – kid with a vinyl Talking to Shadows crafts a sound that’s both heavy and hypnotic, blending reverb-soaked guitars with ethereal vocals. Hailing from the underground music scene of Baltimore, MD, the group has made a name for themselves with songs that capture the nostalgia of ‘90s grunge, but with a contemporary dreampop and shoegaze flavor. Sungaze, the dreamy genre-bending project helmed by Ian Hilvert and Ivory Snow, is hard to pigeonhole. With a sound that is simultaneously grounded and ethereal, their audiences can expect to be captivated by lush soundscapes, soaring guitar riffs and haunting vocals. Drawing from a wide array of influences, it is not uncommon for a Sungaze record to feature a heavy grunge-laden track followed by an upbeat dream pop anthem with a country lilt–no matter which end of the musical spectrum, each song is sure to pack an emotional punch. Sungaze have released three albums independently, garnering praise from the likes of CLASH, EARMILK, and more. The Warm Fuzzies is a Chicago local duo with a throwback 90s industrial alternative sound. The Shimmer DJs, the duo Scary Lady Sarah and Philly Peroxide, spin a soundtrack of sonic incandescence, warm fuzzy walls of sound, and face melting guitars. Their monthly Shimmer club night is devoted to the absolute best current and classic shoegaze/dreampop/psych & more.
Inkjet, Giant Pit of Glass, Hearthands
Inkjet is a Chicago rock band that everyone is talking about and you should be very excited to see. Giant Pit of Glass describes themselves as soft and sometimes grungy emo slow core. For fans of deadharrie, duster, stove, and diiv. Hearthands is a Chicago-based musical project comprised of Madeline Haynes, Mike Higgins, Abigail Miller, and Jacob Wolf. The music blends elements of slowcore, shoegaze, and dream pop with songwriting inspired by Elliot Smith and many Numero releases.
Blind Adam and the Federal League, Bong Mountain, Rat Chasm
Chicago’s Premier Anti-Fascist Rock and Roll Experience. Blind Adam and The Federal League released their 3rd LP, The Fields We Know – produced by Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls, in December 2023. The Fields We Know is an 8 song LP inspired by the fight for a better world, life in the 2020’s, the rapid descent of the USA and much of the world into fascism and all of those who dedicate their lives to fighting fascism. In 2024 Blind Adam and The Federal League was awarded a Chicago DCASE grant to produce the Chicago – A History of Resistance music video for “The Sower” , the band collaborated with Doug Dean of Wall-to-Wall studios, INDECLINE and Ryan Brandoff. Bong Mountain describes themselves as “crying in the shower pop while listening to Cain Marko” Rat Chasm are Post-Hardcore/Skramz from Chicago. If you like angry songs filled with distortion, blastbeats, and screaming, you’ll like us. Debut album, “First Feed,” out now on Don’t Panic Records. Rats and rats and rats and rats and rats.
Strapped, Kenmujo, Home Entertainment, Constant Headache
Strapped are queer noise rock goblins from Chicago KENMUJO is a wild jet engine of tube amplified, howling feedback-laden acoustic guitar driven songwriting & noise performance, involving people there as drummers, screamers, etc. to create musical climax together. It’s a loud, aggressive, creative adventure that brings out the inherent energy of humans. Home Entertainment are described as “The Roaches of Rock and Roll” – Space Age Punk from Chicago, IL. Constant Headache are Folk-punk? Americana-emo? Idk. We like to sing and yell and dance, and we hope that you do too!!
Mr. Phylzzz, Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes, Tension Pets
mr.phylzzz is a wild two piece noise pop rock band from Chicago Illinois who you may have seen opening for the Melvin’s or Boris all over the US or maybe from instagram where they have amassed over a million plays. Phylzzz explosive and insane live show has pushed them to the top of being the live band to see in 2025! They aren’t just a band. They are a cult. Join us. Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes make fun, energetic, raw punk with eccentric flair. Tension Pets creates energetic synth fried punk from Chicago
Bull Heather, King Sans, Solemn Grey
Bull Heather is a musical project and persona that is as much inspired by glam and drag culture as she is alt metal or 2000s diva pop music, performing songs that explore the experience of queerness in our current tumultuous era through the lens of heavy and off-kilter rock music influenced by acts such as Black Dresses, the Pixies, and Mitski.Backed up at live shows by her band, The Bloodflowers, Bull is energetic, passionate, irreverent, and, most of all, loud as hell. King Sans is gothic noisepunk from the shadows of chicago Solemn Grey is Post Hardcore with skramz influence. FFO Touché Amoré, Deafeter, One Step Closer, Title Fight
LiFECYCLiST, Dogshit, HEX TOY
LiFECYCLiST- We sound like what happens when the gangly-guitar driven 90’s rock sound gets tossed into a psychedelic chamber of sonic serenity. Our tunes dynamically shift from quiet to loud throughout their existence, and the joy/pain we are able to express in playing them cleanses our senses, an we hope it’ll do the same for concert goers 🙂 Dogshit is a paw punk trio from Chicago and Wauconda. They make music for everyone’s inner beast to bark, howl, laugh, cry, and sigh to. They gather influence from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rancid, Josie and the Pussycats, Fidlar, and your mom, while also trying to incorporate their own special stinky flavor to the mix. HEX TOY is a spooky sexy groovy pop from Chicago
Shmoo, Aubrey Jane, Edie McKenna, Josephine
Meet Teddy—Through trembling synthesizers, guitars awash in distortion, and drums recorded on bedroom microphones comes Shmoo’s sympathetic falsetto, issuing lyrics of deep introspection and painfully raw expression. Moving from San Francisco to New Orleans and recording every instrument alone, Shmoo has devoted themself to this kind of aching and personal art, but in their creation you will hear no melancholy. Let us not mince words: in Shmoo’s music there is an inescapable affection for tenderness, and on top of this tenderness is constructed a baroque structure of layered instrumentation, enveloping harmonies, and a depth of feeling designed to create the community of peace and goodwill encapsulated in the music. It bypasses completely the impulse to depress, and if you let it, it will touch you not at your ears but at the level of the spine.— Statement by Graham Boswell Aubrey Jane has many dynamics and voices inside her, yet each sound is equally impactful. There’s a dual nature to her music, with her harmonious vocals often softening the brutal and visceral lyricism. Jane meets you where you are— whether you’ve just fallen in love for the first time, feel like you’ll never fall in love again, or are floating somewhere in-between… She’s been there, done that, and will help you feel your way through it. In a harmonic convergence of bewitching lyricism and layered guitars, Jane’s music speaks to the heart. Above all, Jane remains unapologetic in her art, embracing fully the beauty, pain, and fragility of everyday life. –Noa Jamir has many dynamics and voices inside her, yet each sound is equally impactful. There’s a dual nature to her music, with her harmonious vocals often softening the brutal and visceral lyricism. Jane meets you where you are— whether you’ve just fallen in love for the first time, feel like you’ll never fall in love again, or are floating somewhere in-between… She’s been there, done that, and will help you feel your way through it. In a harmonic convergence of bewitching lyricism and layered guitars, Jane’s music speaks to the heart. Above all, Jane remains unapologetic in her art, embracing fully the beauty, pain, and fragility of everyday life. –Noa Jamir Edie McKenna is a singer-songwriter from Saint Paul, MN now based in Chicago, IL. Best known as the lead singer in rock band Modern Nun, her solo project focuses on a more simple folk sound. McKenna plays with colorful lyrics, simple chords, and universal (and specific) truths, hoping she’ll strike a chord you understand. Josephinendie singer songwriter whose music can sound like three songs in one. Recently released a single “Machine” and currently recording an LP.
Curt Oren, Public Ritual, Chelsea Bridge/Merlin Brando
Curt Oren used to be one guy. As fate would have it, ever since playing a show at Cole’s Bar with Chrissy Corazza almost a year ago to the day, they’ve been together as one. Curt hasn’t played solo since, having been quoted as saying playing solo “sucks.” Thankfully the dynamic duo of Chrissy and Curty will surely razzle dazzle with thrills, chills, and yes, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies (with vegan and gluten-free options available!) If you were hoping to come to Cole’s to see a 100% renewable love powered multimedia rock and roll extravaganza filled with both sights and sounds, then surely you’ve come to the right place How to describe Chelsea Bridge? Choose one of the options below, or, write in a suggestion: Tragic blasted out symphonic pop // Lush Ambient Layers // Juicy experimental violin // Other: _____ Merlin Brando describes themselves as a Magician from the underground Also joined by Public Ritual