$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.
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
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!
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.
STMNTS, Fecto Glen, Montrose Beach
STMNTS (pronounced Statements) is a 5-piece emotive pop punk outfit from Baltimore, Maryland. Formed in 2022, the band consists of vocalist Liam King, rhythm guitarist Jamie Black, lead guitarist Drew Chiodo, bassist Josh Pelc, and drummer Shawn Smyth. STMNTS takes influence from punk, emo, and post-hardcore groups ranging from the early 2000s to the current musical scene, such as: Four Year Strong, The Wonder Years, Bayside, and Like Pacific.
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.
The Last Great Riot, Eyeball Chambers, The Homicidols
Born in Chicago, The Last Great Riot is melodic punk rock with hints of garage rock, hardcore, and riff-rock. Simple songs about life and the good and bad times. Guitarist/vocalist John A Beavers, drummer Scott Durand, and bassist Mario Mazzone just want to make noise and drink the beer you buy for them.
Kilynn Lunsford, The Ineffectuals, The Xpressionists
Kilynn Lunsford is a musician and performance artist blending inspiration taken from experimental film, post-punk and noise music, and most recently superfund sites and resultant mutant flora and fauna, to create memorable listening experiences and unique high-energy live shows.”[She] creates Burroughs Gysin cool cut-up chaos; an exquisite corpse of chords and beats that brings the crumpled body back to life and dares us to believe…” ~ Ian Svenonius Chicago two-piece The Ineffectuals formed over a mutual love of classic industrial, post-punk, and electro records, mulled over in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic. Founding members Jeremiah Meece and TH Nordberg began by making purely electronic music, eventually augmenting their sound for live performance with vocals and bass guitar. The band released its debut album, First Offering, in 2024. The next year, Meece and Nordberg followed up with The Serious One, jettisoning most of the tongue-in-cheek humor that pervaded their previous work in favor of a survey of the rot at the core of human culture.The Ineffectuals have been honored to share the stage with contemporaries and forebears such as Plack Blague, HIDE, and The Egyptian Lover. The band is currently scheduling a 2026 US tour and recording a series of EPs featuring unreleased music from its live repertoire. The Xpressionists are downtown new wave / post-punk band led by Nu Vision’s Jonathan Valdez.
Onion, Future Bartenderz, Friendly Faces
Onion is a Chicago Indie Band that will make you cry! Future Bartenderz is the low-low-fi solo project of Brian Costello of Orlando, Florida, who once lived in Chicago, Illinois and was active in the garagepunk scene there in bands like Functional Blackouts, Johnny and the Limelites, and Outer Minds. Friendly Faces is a Chicago Folk Punk Band.
Raccoon Junior, Xyta, Vinny Guido
Raccoon Junior is indie rock soup. The ingredients are as follows: questionably emo 2000’s rock of Jimmy Eat World, sad white boy twang of Songs: Ohia, fuzzed out noise of Codeine, and a dash of the reverb pedal from Slowdive. Combine in chicken broth, stir and simmer. Mmmmmm. As a solo artist, Vinny Guido writes, records, produces, and releases his music independently to all streaming platforms. From After-Hours Influences’ acoustic-vocal tracks to What’s Wrong With You Is What’s Wrong With Me’s guitar-driven songs, Vinny’s evolution and maturity can be visualized through his lyrics and melodies. His most prominent influences are The Beatles, Guided By Voices, and Green Day, and can be heard throughout his catalog. Xyta is an indie folk solo act from Chicago, IL. A lifelong yearner and songwriter, they’ll make you cry, hopefully laugh, and definitely think about your ex, all with just a guitar and a microphone. A niche favorite of horse girls, gays, and the depressed and lonely alike.