Mr. Blotto was born in Chicago as an off-night vehicle for musicians who loved each others playing but were in different bands at the time. The only rule was that they would only play what they loved. That philosophy continues today and has led Mr. Blotto into unique musical situations.

Mr. Blotto takes the Jam band asthetic into areas unfamiliar to the standard Jam Scene. They have been known to cover entire albums by Led Zeppelin and the Who as well as perform entire shows of Country and Reggae. Artists as diverse as the Grateful Dead, the Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson and The Velvet Underground have seen their material interpreted by Mr. Blotto in the 2000+ shows the band has performed in the last 15 years, yet covers only pepper the bands hefty catalog of original material stemming from five studio albums and other unreleased crowd favorites.

The Dan Meinhardt Quartet has introduced itself as an important facet of the Chicago jazz scene. Playing original compositions and arrangements, the quartet explores melody and improvisation with a minimalist, yet powerful approach. Joining Dan are trumpeter Justin Copeland, bassist Tim Ipsen, and drummer Andrew Green. Combining flavors of jazz, hip-hop, folk, chamber, and improvised music, Dan’s compositions bring an organic, accessible quality to the quartet.

Smooth Hound Smith is a foot stompin’ American roots duo comprised of “one-man-band” Zack Smith (guitars/vocals/foot drums/harmonicas/banjo) and Caitlin Doyle (vocals/percussion).  Established in 2012, and currently based in East Nashville, TN, they record and perform a varied and unique style of folky, garage-infused rhythm & blues. Using primal foot percussion, complex, fuzzed-out, finger-picked guitar patterns, warbled harmonicas, tasty harmonies and A LOT of tambourine, they are able to create something rugged and visceral- a modern interpretation of early blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll music that harkens back to the traditions of hazy front porch folk songs as well as raucous back-alley juke joints.

The duo has traveled over 80,000 road miles, playing over 500 shows in over 30 states in the last two-and-a-half years.  They’ve shared the stage with artists such as Justin Townes Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Nikki Bluhm & The Gramblers, The David Mayfield Parade, Matthew Perryman Jones, Charlie Parr, Possessed By Paul James, Shawn Mullins, and more.  Their self-titled debut album received “top adds” on Americana Radio in early 2014, as well as garnered attention from media outlets such as Nashville’s independent radio, WRLT Lightning 100, and publications like American Songwriter and RELIX Magazine.  In addition, the music of Smooth Hound Smith has been featured on MTV’s The Real World as well as the Esquire Network. 

Most recently they were named as a finalist in the 2015 Durango Boots Sole Performer Contest.  They were also selected over thousands of other bands to perform at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN, headlined by Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and more.