DEAD HEAT
Nardcore
Chris – Vocals
Tony – Guitar
Yogi – Drums
Jnut – Guitar
Vince – Bass
MIDWESTLUST
MIDWESTLUST noise power-violence sludge grind based in Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO
BLACK MAGNET
While birthed in the late 1980s, it was in the 1990s that the ‘Industrial Metal’ genre came to full fruition with the likes of Godflesh, Ministry, Pitch Shifter, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly and even Nine Inch Nails carving out (or in some cases sampling) metal inspired riffing over a backbone of electronic malevolence and brutal machine driven percussion. In that tradition Black Magnet offer the haunted pummeling synthesis that is ‘Hallucination Scene’. From the initial battering of opener ‘Divination Equipment’ it’s clear Black Magnet play HEAVY guitar focused music with equal devotion to Industrial rhythms and electronic machine thunder. Throughout the punishing lurch a dark melodic sense throbs with uniform attention paid to the club floor as much as the mosh pit. All the while Black Magnet progenitor James Hammontree guides the hallucinatory torment and ecstasy with his acerbic delivery. The sonic magnitude of Industrial Metal and post-punk muscularity, heavy synth textures and rhythmic militance imbue ‘Hallucination Scene’ with a frenetic pulse acutely attuned to the head on collision of alternate dystopian timelines that is 2020.
TRACE AMOUNT
Experimental harsh industrial.
STARBENDERS
ATL glitter punk
REEK OF DIVINITY
MANY BLESSINGS
Many Blessings is the experimental outlet created by Ethan Lee McCarthy (Primitive Man & Vermin Womb
SORE DREAM
YASHIRA
Good Fight Music
JARHEAD FERTILIZER
JAH SUN
The Rising Tide features lead vocalist/singer songwriter Jah Sun, Tony Thompson on guitar, Beau ” Arrow” Sheppard on bass/harmonies, Nick “Kirbz” Kirby on drums/harmonies, and producer/multi-instrumentalist Jallanzo “Dub MatriXx.”
From the heart of Humboldt County, California, where the redwoods meet the Pacific, lead vocalist Jah Sun emerges as an artist dedicated to global and social healing. Fusing the sounds of hip-hop, reggae and world music with conscious and uplifting lyrics, he hopes to awaken the human spirit and inspire others to live to their ultimate potential. Jah Sun brings his message of love and unity with a variety of vocal styles. From fierce hip-hop explosions, to melodic ballads, roots anthems and sensual dance-hall licks, he brings something for everyone. Regardless of style, the common theme throughout all of his music is the consistent message of positivity, love and respect, and kindness to all.
Jah’s vocals are supported by guitarist Tony Thompson who was raised in Portland, Oregon. Thompson grew up with a love for music. His dad began teaching him drums when he was 5 and from then on he knew music was to play a pivotal role in his life. He was 18 when he started really playing guitar and developing his stills in that realm. Music has always been there and guided him through the highest highs and the lowest lows. It is his goal that through music, he will be able to positively affect listeners in the same way that it has served him.
On bass and harmonies is Beau “Arrow” Sheppard. Growing up in the Southern California surf scene, Arrow was nurtured by a musical culture. With early sonic influences like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul Simon, Devo, and Fleetwood Mac, he discovered a passion for rhythm, harmony, and beat. Applying this to his singing and playing, he succeeds in conveying joy for
life, while flowing like the ocean.
Rounding out the band on drums and harmonies is Nick “Kirbz” Kirby who comes from the small town of Oakland, Oregon. Kirbz has been playing music since he was 2 years old. If he’s not playing drums, he’s playing bass, guitar, or he is in the studio engineering. Kirbz has learned that playing and performing music does something internally for each and every person out
there in a positive way. Music has gotten him through many obstacles in life, and therefore, music is his passion.
Joining this kindred group of West Coast musicians is producer and multi-instrumentalist Jallanzo. Born and raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica, he has shared the stage and studio with reggae legends and upcoming artists all over the globe. Jallanzo is especially known for his psychedelic dub sound. In Jallanzo’s live dub set, stems are used from his original productions of authentic roots reggae music and infused with pulsating drum and bass, melodious rhythm and vocals splashed with echoes and reverb, from an analog mixing board. Dub MatriXx collaborates with artists and musicians intending to spread the message of love, creating
uplifting surroundings worldwide.
Combined, these musicians form Jah and The Rising Tide. Through their music, these artists
are spreading waves of positivity, love, respect, and kindness to all.
KINGKONTRAVERSE
EARLY MOODS
Early Moods is a Doom/Heavy Metal band from Los Angeles, CA that pays homage to bands like Candlemass, Witchfinder General, Pentagram, Trouble and Sabbath.
IG: @early_moods
Early moods is :
Eddie Andrade – Guitar
Elix Feliciano – Bass
Alberto Alcaraz – Vocals
Chris Flores – Drums & Percussions
Oscar Hernandez – Guitar
IZZY SALHANI
Izzy Salhani is an up-and-coming stand up comic who cut her teeth in Los Angeles, California where she was featured in The Comedy Store Roast Battle on the Belly Room stage in West Hollywood. It was in that annex where she learned to use her comedy powers for good. *cough* dismantling the patriarchy *end cough*. As the queer child of a Lebanese immigrant father and apple-pie American mother Izzy enjoys poking fun at unspoken social contracts and deconstructing the stigma around living as an outspoken bisexual. Her love of comedy is only matched by her love of traveling, her act has been taken to eight states and the District of Columbia. In her down time she enjoys playing billiards. She is currently based in Chicago, IL.
ALEX HOOPER
Alex Hooper is a stand-up comedian, actor and professional roaster. He delights crowds by blending dark humor with silly positivity. His joke writing is clever and fearless. Onstage he bursts with energy. Alex shines just like his sparkly wardrobe. He’s headlined clubs all over the world. And whether it’s an audience of 11 or 11,000 – Alex leaves comedy goers begging for more.
Alex is best known for his appearances on America’s Got Talent. He’s one of a select few contestants to have been asked to return after being eliminated in season 13. His first AGT performance has over 75 million total online views.
As part of his never ending quest to spread love and joy, Alex releases a weekly podcast — Achilles’ Heel. This podcast pushes guests outside of their comfort zone. Alex tackles tough topics like social anxiety and sex addiction with humor and grace.
In 2018 Alex released his debut comedy album Hugs. Drugs. Pugs. It hit #1 on Amazon and #3 on iTunes Best Selling Comedy Records.
To say Alex is a serious pug lover is an understatement. For 2018 he created The Pug Yoga Calendar to raise funds for pug rescue: Pug Nation of LA. Ellen Degeneres spotlighted the sold-out 2018 Pug Yoga Calendar on The Ellen Show.
Alex is the creator of CRAVE — an immersive comedy and dance music experience.
Funny Or Die named him one of the 15 Funniest Comics to Follow.
Alex’s TV credits include:
America’s Got Talent – Seasons 13 & 15
Comedy Central’s Roast Battle
Comedy Central’s Corporate
Fox’s New Girl
TVLand
Nickelodeon
and the truly prodigious, Bad Girls Club.
THEM COULEE BOYS
Them Coulee Boys craft a brand of Americana that blends folk, punk, bluegrass, and rock & roll. They sing their conversational songs in 4 part harmony, often with a banjo stomp and rhythm section punch that drives the audience onto the dance floor and into community. Their trusty van has propelled them thousands of miles across the country and into the hearts of strangers, who tend to leave each show as family. It’s music that creates community through the shared experience of joy and giving a shit.
The story is true. Soren Staff and Beau Janke met as counselors at a bible camp in northern Wisconsin in 2011. Having both grown up amidst a stretch of glacial melt-carved river valleys in the upper Midwest (called coulees by French fur trappers), they were fast friends. At camp, another counselor took to teasing them saying “them coulee boys are at it again.” The name stuck. Spending their weeks playing songs with kids around a campfire led to weekends figuring out an Avett Brothers tune or classic country song. In 2013, they added Soren’s brother Jens on mandolin, and a rough-around-the-edges, stomping 3-piece folk band played their first show as Them Coulee Boys. Four years later Neil Krause joined to play acoustic and electric bass, and in 2019 when Stas Hable joined on drums, TCB evolved into the full-on americana rock band they are today. The live band straddles the line between pure and genuine ballads and a sweaty, leaping take on countrified rock-n-roll.
With three full length albums and an EP behind them, including 2019’s Die Happy (produced by Trampled By Turtles’ Dave Simonett on Lo-Hi Records), the band has garnered international attention and earned press in American Songwriter and The Bluegrass Situation, as well as tours with TBT and a spot on the songwriter’s Cayamo Cruise. In 2020, they were named Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Band to Watch, and were nominated for band of the year by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry. When the world stopped in early 2020, the band holed up in their practice space and began writing, and the result is their brand new effort entitled Namesake.
Namesake was recorded at The Hive in the band’s hometown of Eau Claire, WI, a small Wisconsin city infamously blessed with a wealth of musical talent. The record was produced by Grammy-winner Brian Joseph, who has worked with the likes of Paul Simon, Sufjan Stevens, Ani Difranco, The Indigo Girls, and earned his Grammy producing and engineering Bon Iver’s Bon Iver. The Hive itself is an intimate room, with ceilings draped with nautical rope, and bookshelves adorned with all manner of things antiquarian, living and dead. Joseph’s fingerprints are everywhere on the record, and the warm feel of home left the band trusting further expansion of their sound. The result is a record that is equal parts bear hug, gut punch, and a steadying hand.
Taking inspiration from the intimate nature of the space after a long period of quarantine, Namesake feels familial, like old friends with no need for small talk. There are moments of power and punch, balanced with an intimacy only felt between the ones we love. The banjo stomp that personifies TCB is still there on the title track “Namesake”, but now it’s paired with the raw power of electric guitar, mandolin, and banjo on “Phil’s Song” and “1st Team All-American”. The mood is dialed way back for “Hallelujah” and “4/1”, to let the lyrics shine. There’s a nod to Petty and Springsteen in the expanse of “Given Up”, and a Dylanesque troubadour’s longing behind the sweet tale of “Knuckleballer”.
Namesake is Them Coulee Boys following a new trajectory, combining their take on a punched up version of folk-grass/americana with a comfort in electric instruments and rock & roll. The record lives and breathes, is both intimate and bombastic. It’s your sweet aunt who makes delicious pies and your wiley uncle not afraid to hit a bit of the hooch. At bottom is the acceptance that comes with family and old friends: none of us are perfect, but there’s enough love out there to make up for it.
MORGAN GOLD
Morgan Gold is a 26-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer from Chicago, IL. A songwriter since the age of ten, Gold uses her passion for storytelling and self-expression to craft a sound that stands in a lane of its own. Blending her influences over the years, she continues to create an alluring atmosphere surrounding her universe; a sound she describes as: “Imagine if you blended R&B, pop and hip-hop, then shot the results into outer space. Whatever journey & sights that thing experiences is channeled through me.” Since 2018, she’s released a catalogue of over 70 recordings of music, including 2 albums and 4 EP’s, and 30 singles. In 2024, she was inducted into the Recording Academy as a voting member. Gold is as earnest as she is dynamic; showcasing her signature falsetto, cryptic poetry and charismatic showmanship, leaving an impressionable stance on her ever-growing audience. Whether she’s backed by a wall of production or an acoustic guitar, Morgan proves to be a sheer force that is here to stay.
DLC: DANCE
DLC: DANCE is the Midwest’s #1 and only K-Pop band! This 10-piece ensemble brings a unique twist to the biggest K-Pop hits with a driving horn section, live electronic drums, and ripping jazz solos. Featuring top-tier musicians known for their work with Jennifer Hudson, Martha Reeves, Fox’s Empire series, and many more. Grab your light sticks and get ready for the best K-Pop show outside of Seoul!
OK COOL
If you long for a charming union of noodly math rock and queer-themed shoegaze, look no further than emo duo OK Cool, aka Bridget Stiebris and Haley Blomquist. Their latest EP, Surrealist, is an emo paragon that ranges from bouncy open-D jams reminiscent of Marietta to punk riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Joyce Manor album. These Chicago shredders not only play twangy riffs deep enough to be in a Foxing song, but they also prove their shoegaze mastery through beautifully reverberated telecasters and transcendent vocal effects. —Joshua Carter
CALICO PLAID
Nic & Camille
Chicago local and alien Texan make weird punk
PAUL GREEN ROCK ACADEMY
PGRA is the only rock school dedicated to serious musicians. Students ages 10-18 are selected based on their dedication to music, showmanship, love of performing, and ability to rock with actual pros.
JON ANDERSON
Jon Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable voices in music as the lead vocalist and creative force behind YES. Anderson was the author and a major creative influence behind the ground-breaking album “Fragile” as well as the series of epic, complex pieces such as “Awaken,” “Gates of Delirium” and especially “Close to the Edge” which were central to the band’s success. Additionally, Anderson co-authored the group’s biggest hits, including “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout” and “Owner Of A Lonely Heart.” After 50 years of success in the music business, Jon has worked with many variations of YES, as well as collaborations with Vangelis, Kitaro, Roine Stolt and Jean-Luc Ponty. He has released several critically acclaimed solo albums including “Olias of Sunhillow,” “Song of Seven,” “Animation,” “Three Ships,” “Toltec” and “Survival and Other Stories” to name just a few. In 2017 Jon reformed YES with former band members Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman. YES Featuring ARW toured the world to rave reviews and released “Live At The Apollo” CD/DVD in September 2018. Never to stand still musically, in 2019 Jon released an album he started 28 years ago, now called “1,000 Hands,” a reference to the fact that numerous guest musicians perform on the album, including Ian Anderson, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Zap Momma, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe and many more.
FIDDLESTICKS
Acoustic duo from Chicago
THE SHAKES ALMIGHTY
The story of “The Shakes” began at the bottom of an empty bottle of wine sitting on a porch in the fall of 2017. From the beginning, the goal was to combine original music with classic rock n’ roll cover songs. Trying to label the “sound” has been a difficult task. Identifying influences has been only slightly easier. The music, either written or covered, is often rooted in the 12 bar blues, the story telling folk rock of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, and the “indie” rock bands of the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Beyond that, The Shakes are friends who tiptoe through the delicate balance of rock star daydreams and joy of adulthood searching for the perfect three chord song…
WYLD RYDE
Wyld Ryde is an all original hard rock band whose live performance has a showmanship and energy that is like no other!!! Once you experience the music/performance of this band, you will be instantly hooked!!!
CONSUMER
MATT PALENSKE DONS THE MONIKER CONSUMER. TO HARNESS AN ALIENATED OPTIMISM WITH A REACTIVE, BODILY PERFORMANCE USING A SOULFUL BLEND OF APOCALYPTIC VOICES TO CREATE VEXING, THRASHY DANCE MUSIC.
CURRENTLY LIVING AND PERFORMING IN CHICAGO, IL
ROYCE
Ruthless rhythms and backyard beats weave between heart-tugging ballads. Subtle, alluring vocals sit atop warm, glowing bass and percussive tremors that have become signature to Royce’s rumble and snap sound.
The continued success of their first release, “Subtleties of the Game,” in addition to tours with Galapagos4 in Europe and the U.S., Royce has harvested fresh fuel for their sound. The quartet returned to the studio to produce a record that captured the heart and soul of growing up in the Windy City. Amidst this alchemy of sound called TUFF LOVE, Royce continues to carve out its niche in popular music and looks forward to their third release in 2009.
“Chicago’s Royce is the live band for all the hyper-electric record collectors out there, solemn heads that dig on blues, psyche, prog and hip-hop.” URB
“Evoking a combination of Sam Prekop of The Sea and Cake and Chris Martin of Coldplay. . .disco-era beats. . .hallmarks of the Isley Brothers or Can.” Chicago Tribune
“Royce trudges through all the boring, arcane bitscrafting something more sublime.” The Wire
“a band woven so intricately into Chicago’s hip-hop scene that it requires attention.” Chicago Sun-Times
Royce has recently toured the U.S. and Europe, opening for Qwel, Typical Cats, RJD2, Denizen Kane, Outerlimitz, Mestizo, Awol One, Pit-Er-Pat, The Shapeshifters, 2Mex
ROBUST & MAX
A veteran of Chicago’s burst in underground hip hop, Robust is known in the Chi town scene for his past collaborations with groups such as Scam Artists and The Molemen. His 2000 independent release “Freelance Gynecologist” got attention worldwide from fans and critics of dope punchlines and humorous rhymes. Soon Bigga would appear on projects like Sage Francis’ “Still Sick Urine Trouble” & Qwel’s debut “If It Ain’t Been In A Pawn Shop, Then It Can’t Play The Blues”, where he showed his growth into a more serious lyricist.
After success with 7″ single “Flibbertigibbit” (also on Meaty Ogre’s recent “Leo vs. Pisces”), hip hop was definitely ready for Robigga to step up the game. Enter “Potholes In Our Molecules”, the brand new full length on Galapagos4.
Things get very serious on this deep album, as Robust bares it all from the inside out, with his intricate flows & creative rhyme schemes intact. Of course he comes off with some humor, wit & straight rap savvy as well. The supremely crafted beats, handled mostly by Meaty Ogre & east coast producer Prolyphic, create a solid moody backdrop to keep your head stuck on nod. Dreas, Maker, Sun Spark & Bless also contribute heat to this 17 track album. Here’s to life’s flawless imperfections, flawlessly perfected as hip hop potholes.
HORSEBURNER
Stoner metal. Sludge. Doom. Call it what you will, Parkersburg, West Virginia’s Horseburner creates riff-heavy rock n’ roll to shake your insides.
SUGARMAN ALLSTARS
SILVERIO
BARRAGOON
Chicago DJ, producer, & event curator.
WARFIELD
* DJ at house parties in the SFV as well as some very dubious Hollywood Teen clubs. (2 Technics and a mixer, 2 crates of records, and a love of hip-hop).
* MC/Lyricist – “Season Of The Vic” from the LP, QD3 Soundlab, produced by QD3 (I had dreadlocks & rarely wore a shirt, but I was all over the radio, MTV-Raps, BET & Pump It Up in high school, so fuck it).
* Signed by Quincy Jones to Qwest/WB at 16 (After 2 years of working with and learning from QD3 his father signs me and the two become mentors to me, off to a good start).
* MC/Lyricist/Producer – Debut solo album, “My Field Trip To Planet 9”. (A classic in the UK, too bad no one told me, stateside I was massive in Boulder and a few college campuses).
* Singer/Lyricist/Guitar/Keys – The Justin Warfield Supernaut, S/T Debut album. (An endearing but confused classic rock/grunge/pop band which had we had time to gestate could have been great).
* MC/Lyricist – Bomb The Bass, “Bug Powder Dust” and “Braindead” from the LP, “CLEAR”. (First of an ongoing collaboration with the man who would change the course of my life, Tim Simenon. Respect).
* Producer/Guitarist/Singer – One Inch Punch (Secrets Of The One Inch Punch EP, Tao Of One Inch Punch (Rising from the ashes of Supernaut, consisting of Gianni Garofalo & myself, signed by Tim Sim).
* Remixes – Depeche Mode, “Barrel Of A Gun”, The Boo Radleys, “Joel”, Kylie Minogue, “Confide In Me” (so fucked up), Korn, don’t remember the song, but they hated it.
* Guest Vocalist – The Chemical Brothers, “Not Another Drugstore, “Pretty Piece Of Flesh” & “The Montague Boys” on OST Romeo And Juliet, The Freestylers, “Broadcast Channels”, Cornershop, “Candyman”, Placebo, “Spite And Malice”, LHB, “No Transmission”,
* Vocals/Guitar – Tape (Garage-gaze LA based band who only ever played in NYC & LA, was subject to a label frenzy, only to burnout after 2 great EP’s and several years of blinding shows. Awesome).
* Vocals/Guitar/Lyrics/Production – She Wants Revenge (S/T LP, This Is Forever, Save Your Soul EP, Up And Down EP, Valleyheart. (Finally worked with childhood friend Adam 12 to great results).
* Vocals/Lyricist/Guitar – Timbaland, “In Time”.
* Remixes – Placebo, “Meds, Ringside, “Tired Of Being Sorry”, Tatu, “Outer Space”,
* Vocals/Lyrics – Crystal Method, “Kling To The Wreckage”.
* Various Remixes – (Kimbra, “Settle Down”, Jason Derulo, “Breathing”, Childish Gambino, “Heartbeat”, Depeche Mode, “Heaven”. (I feel like I’m forgetting something).
* Producer/Executive Producer – Nova Rockafeller (My little sis. Your new favorite artist).
* Secret projects coming….(Plural).
I’m really tired, so if this doesn’t make sense or is incomplete, bear with me, I’m switching to Sanka.
SAMMOE
Sammoe is a quartet led by Swiss guitarist Samuel Mösching. The band combines Funk, Rock, Blues and Electronica like Dub and Drum’n’Bass with a strong guitar lead. Samuel Mösching studied composition in Europe and has worked as a regular guitar player for Zeshan B, Subhi and Maggie Brown and performed for Ravinia, Electric Forest and Late Night with Stephen Colbert.
INFECTED RAIN
Infected Rain are far from the overly manufactured metal many of us have grown accustomed to.
Their style is an energetic blend of some of the best modern metal styles.
A combination of female screaming, hard riffs and samples created the individual style of Infected Rain. The band was formed in 2008 and made their first appearance on stage on August 3, 2008, performing in a concert dedicated to Slayer. At the end of the same month Infected Rain recorded their first demo CD, which consisted of three songs: With Me, Parasite and No Idols. Over the next 2 years the band appeared in several concerts in Moldova, Romania and the Ukraine. Infected Rain took 1st place at the Big Up! Urban Fest in 2009 and continued the stream of its successful performances at the Forest Kap in 2010 and 2011. In summer of 2009 the band released their EP, which included six songs: Judgmental Trap, Panika, No More, Escape, Go Away and Homeless. Their first music video was for the song Judgmental Trap and was shot in winter of the following year. November 25, 2011 was marked by the release of the band’s first album, entitled Asylum. After that the band went on a tour in Romania to support the album. In January 2012 the band released its second music video for the song At the Bottom of the Bottle and shortly after that performed at the Metal Special Fest as a headliner. In June, the band played at OST fest 2012 in Bucharest on the same stage with Dimmu Borgir and Motley Crue.
Shortly after that they released a new music video for the song Me Against You, collaborating with Moldova Extreme Moto Cross. Then on March 8th, a music video for the single Stop Waiting came out. In the autumn of 2013 the band toured Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria as their first big tour. May 15th of 2014 the band released the second album called “Embrace Eternity”. Later, in September and October was their big European tour in which they visited 12 countries. January of 2015 was marked with the release of 2 more music videos for the album “Embrace Eternity”. At the same time the band never stopped concurring new countries and headlining big festivals in Europe. 2016 started with the release of their new music video for the single Serendipity that gave a start to a new, heavier era for Infected Rain. Serendipity, Mold and Orphan soul music videos were released in 2017 and are part of the third album called “86” that was released on April 20th 2017. The next year was dedicated to touring and composing of new music. 2018 was a beautiful and intense year for IR. A year of exposure and interesting work and collaboration proposals. In fact 2019 started right away with big announcements. Announcements of upcoming tours around the world and new music. After being independent for 10 years the band signed a record deal with The Austrian label Napalm records on February 13th and announced it on the Valentine’s day with the big release of the new music video for the song Passerby. Passerby is the first single, then fallowed by The Earth Mantra, Lure and Storm, from the upcoming album called Endorphin that seen the light in October 2019.
BUTCHER BABIES
Butcher Babies is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of frontwomen Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey, guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Ricky Bonazza, and drummer Chase Brickenden.
THE ELECTRIC BLUES JUNKIES
Electric Blues Junkies Inc. (EBJ) featuring RB Green on Guitar, Adam Arling, bassist for rock band The Last Vegas, and guitar powerhouse Tony McQuaid of Loudmouth fame! Bob Spelbring will be on the drums! The band combines a mix of traditional, electric, and improvisational blues! For more info, check out heavyblues.com
BERNARD CRUMP
The renowned Bernard Crump has over 40 years of experience playing and singing a variety of genres, including but not limited to: Blues, Jazz, R&B and Gospel music. Although he’s shown strong musicanship since the age of 7, his professional career began at the age of 17 playing with the legendary gospel group, The Pilgrim Jubilees. He’s played with various artists, such as:Tyrone Davis, The Funky Nassau band featuring Raphael Munnings, Willie Clayton, Albertina Walker, Fantasia Barrino.
He’s also served as opening act for: James Brown, Millie Jackson, Z.Z. Hill, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Manhattans, Joe Simon, The Ohio Players, The Mighty Dells, The Mighty Clouds of Joy.
After 50 years of affluent musicianship, Bernard Crump founded the Musicians Network Mecca, a program aimed at mentoring and continuing the education of young musicians and the economic empowerment of musicians throughout the Chicago area. Currently, Bernard Crump is the lead guitarist for Chicago’s own Legendary Gentleman of Leisure Band.
ACME
ACME is a visual kei band that formed in 2017 consisting of former DIV vocalist CHISA and guitarist SHOGO, former ARTEMA drummer HAL, and bassist RIKITO.
The name of the band means “the vertex of evolution” and the band concept is “Delinquent boys from another world”. Well known for their post-hardcore sound and colorful “oshare” style visuals, ACME are quickly rising in the visual kei scene.
Their first mini-album release in August of 2017, “SENKOU”, sold out first press copies nationwide. ACME’s second single release “ROTTEN ORANGE” also had the track “CALL MY NAME” featured in the movie “Namae no nai onna tachi: Usotsuki Onna,” starring Mitsuru Fukikoshi.
At Anime Expo 2018 in LA, CHISA walked the AX Fashion Show runway for Harajuku fashion designers KINGLYMASK, LISTEN FLAVOR, and HYPER CORE. ACME made their overseas debut performance at Anime Milwaukee 2019 and returned in June of that year at A-Kon in Dallas. ACME headlined a tour in January 2020 in 4 cities along the US west coast.
FRANK BANG 3
Willie Dixon once said, “The blues are the roots and the other musics are the fruits.” As true as that is, it still doesn’t explain the blues, because the blues cannot be explained.
When one thinks of the blues it’s easy to think of Robert Johnson, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, or Muddy Waters. Connoisseurs of the genre will mention Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Leadbelly. Others will mention Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Butterfield, and Eric Clapton. All would be correct.
The blues is raw. It knows no culture. Its brutally honest and uncompromising. It’s your worst feelings and your best moments all at once.
The blues will never apologize.
Nor will Frank Bang. And he doesn’t need to. He is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, but when he picks up a guitar, he’ll slice your throat, woo your woman, make you cry, and might even make you dance. Ultimately, he will just make you feel. Something or everything. The real shit.
Born with the Bohemian Irish name of Frank Blinkal into two generations of Chicago police officers and a mother that often worked three jobs, Frank learned at an early age about the grit and sometimes stark reality of the world he was born into and turned that into his own brand of the blues – weaned from years of trying to learn everything he could by putting himself into the middle of everything that the Chicago music scene had to offer. And it paid off.
In his twenties, Frank found himself working at Buddy Guy’s Legends club, while making a name for himself fronting bands of his own. He was soaking up invaluable knowledge from the clientele and getting an education that not many have a chance to experience. Numerous touring bands came through the club, but amongst the club’s regulars were Junior Wells, Otis Rush, and Lonnie Brooks.
And then he became Buddy Guy’s touring guitar player for five years. No late night conversations with your heroes will prepare you for that, if you don’t have the chops to pull off the gig. You have to work your ass off, which Frank did as an employee of Legends, while working through the ranks.
As Buddy’s guitar player, his work ethic paid off. Hard work is a big part of what makes up Frank Bang, He never stops playing. He never stops honing his craft. And he never takes any bullshit. Some of that was learned from his environment at Legends, but most of it has been ingrained in him since he was born.
With Buddy, he toured the world and shared the stage with the likes of Robert Plant, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, but that’s only semantics that make up pieces of a scene.
As a solo artist, Frank has released four critically acclaimed albums under the names Frank Bang and the Secret Stash and Frank Bang and the Cook County Kings. He currently has 14 songs in regular rotation on B.B. King’s Bluesville Station on Sirius/XM.
Whether it be dirty blues that sounds like Led Zeppelin through a beautifully blown speaker or the faithful tribute to his hometown Chicago blues, Frank Bang knows how to read a room.
And there’s a good chance that on any given night in America, you might find yourself in a room where Frank Bang is making you feel something. Or everything.
It’s the roots and the fruits. It’s rock and roll. And it’s definitely the blues.
However you define it.
PYRRHON
“Outré as they get, everything Pyrrhon do emanates from an obsidian death metal core – just that this music is that much more expressive, its impact that much more disquieting than almost anything else in the genre.”
-Decibel
THE WOOLLY RHINOS
We are a Chicago band made up of Jack Swain on vocals and guitar,Tom Valenzano on vocals and guitar,Jay Lysaught on bass and Chuck Harling on drums.
MCLUHAN
McLuhan was a concept and a mixed-media group where no particular musical venue or style would necessarily prevail. The creator of the idea was David Wright who composed most of the music and wrote the lyrics on their only album, Anomaly.
ZAKO RYAN
Hailing from Beaufort, SC, Zako Ryan is one of Chicago’s premier standup comedians. This tall drink of moonshine headlines clubs all over the country, was featured on Keenan Thompson’s Road To New York, and can be seen regularly at Chicago’s Laugh Factory, Zanies, or producing and hosting his own wildly popular independent showcase “Sorry For Killin'” at Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge.
SARAH PERRY
Sarah Perry is a Chicago-based comedian/writer whose fearless delivery and subject matter is highly relatable and resoundingly funny. In March 2021 Sarah was voted Best Stand-Up Comic by The Chicago Reader. That same month, she was featured on the virtual SXSW Festival. Sarah has opened up for Natasha Leggero, Lynne Koplitz, Michael Kosta, Chris Redd, Jeremy Piven, Esther Povitsky and more. She recently performed in The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta, GA in May 2019 and in June 2019 she was named a semi-finalist for StandUp NBC. In November of 2019 she performed a TEDx Talk for her Alma Mater, Columbia College Chicago and in January 2020 she performed at Team Coco House in Chicago.
VON ROBURTS
Von Roburts is a funny, cool and smart stand up comedian with a commanding delivery and honest demeanor. You can’t help but listen to him, respect his perspective and laugh at the comedy that comes with that truth .His care free, casual style is very insightful . Von performs stand up all over the United States impressing audiences everywhere.
Von has worked with everybody from Bone Thugs n Harmony to Funny Or Die writers. Von is inspired by a hand full of comedians, but there six he looks to most are: Jerry Seinfeld, Patrice o’ Neal, Rick Shapiro, Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell and Bobbie Oliver. Expect great things from the bright young comic.
JAY WASHINGTON
I do a lot of things on stages, on tv, in movies, hosting & in wrestling rings.
THE ROLLING STONES “LET IT BLEED”
Performed Live By: Sonic Currency
Let It Bleed is the eighth British and tenth American album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in December 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States. Released shortly after the band’s 1969 American Tour, it is the follow-up to 1968’s Beggars Banquet and the last album by the band to feature Brian Jones as well as the first to feature Mick Taylor.
THE DOZEN BUZZIN’ COUSINS
A collective of passionate musicians playing an eclectic mix of covers as well as some Ian Leith originals all over Berwyn and Chicagoland.
BUTL3R
With music ranging from house to funk to heavy-hitting bangers, Butl3r is sure to make you groove and have an unforgettable night.
GLITCH GATSBY
Brass, bass, and bombastic beats
HIGH STEP SOCIETY
When the honeyed tones of the Jazz Age meld with the hottest bass drops of the new millennium, you get High Step Society’s elixir of Electro Bass Jazz. Merging dance music from our past with sounds for the future, High Step Society features sultry vocals, a blasting sexy horn section that soars over syncopated high hats, rat-a-tat snares and dirty synths. The cats in the band are electronic music producers as well as educated jazz musicians. High Step Society is rethinking jazz with unorthodox arrangements, and bringing a touch of elegance to electronic music.
The band is “at once groovy and raucously tight, High Step Society’s tunes growl to a Cotton Club vibe that plunges the depths of the EDM trench.” (Eugene Weekly, 10/8/15). They ”take it to the next level with live horn sections, sultry singers and energetic dance beats that capture the excitement of the jazz age and rocket launch it a century into the future.”
(Eugene Weekly, 4/9/15) Their live shows are classy affairs where everyone is encouraged to dress their best, so the band and the crowd are looking top notch while the dance floor sizzles.
DUKE
My voice is my strength. Let me a sing a song for you
STONER
Rad stays rad.
A few ideas are timeless.
Stoner is Brant Bjork (guitar/vocals), Nick Oliveri (bass/vocals) and Ryan Gut (drums), and from flowing jams to all-out punker blasts, they know what they’re doing. It ain’t anybody’s first time at the dance, and you don’t call your band Stoner if you’ve never heard the word before. Stoner, however straight-ahead their moniker, encompass varied styles and the songwriting of Bjork and Oliveri – both founders of Kyuss, also Mondo Generator, Ché, Fu Manchu, Bloodcot, and more between them. Atop the classic-style swing and flow from Gut (also of Bjork’s solo band), Stoner keep it casual and wear the name as only those who helped create the sound could
SPIRIT MOTHER
Spirit Mother is a heavy rock band with their sound anthologized through a folk-informed and classical lens. Their dynamic and imposing wall of sound, coupled with a driving backbeat, grips through atmospheric strings and haunting vocals. Initially from Long Beach, CA, the band relocated across the United States residing in Buffalo, Los Angeles, and the high-desert of Eastern Oregon.
Vocals, Bass / Armand Lance
Violin, Vocals / SJ
Violin, Vocals / Camille Getz
Guitar / Sean McCormick
Drums / Landon Cisneros
MAD ALCHEMY LIQUID LIGHT SHOW
Analog liquid lightshow
in the San Francisco tradition pioneered by Bill Hamm,
and Brotherhood of Light,a main stay of the 60’s ballroom
scene.
EL PERRO
EL PERRO is a brand new band led by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/producer Parker Griggs of RADIO MOSCOW. The sound contains elements that fans of Radio Moscow will recognize, but this is rock music with a new, fresh spin and feel. You could say that EL PERRO plays psychedelic funk rock, and you wouldn’t be wrong.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN “NEBRASKA”
Nebraska is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on September 30, 1982, by Columbia Records. Springsteen recorded the songs as demos on a 4-track recorder, intending to rerecord them with the E Street Band, but decided to release them as they were. Nebraska remains one of the most highly regarded albums in his catalog.
The songs on Nebraska deal with ordinary, down-on-their-luck blue-collar characters who face a challenge or a turning point in their lives. The songs also treat the subject of outsiders, criminals and mass murderers with little hope for the future—or no future at all—as in the title track, where the main character is sentenced to death in the electric chair. Unlike previous albums, which often exude energy, youth, optimism and joy, the vocal tones of Nebraska are solemn and thoughtful, with fleeting moments of grace and redemption woven through the lyrics. The album’s reverb-laden vocals and mood combined with dark lyrical content have been described by music critic William Ruhlmann as “one of the most challenging albums ever released by a major star on a major record label”. Because of the album’s somber content, Springsteen chose not to tour in support of the album, making it Springsteen’s first major release that was not supported by a tour, and his only such release until 2019’s Western Stars.
ZERO SIGNAL
Chicagoland’s Premier Fear Factory Tribute Band comprised of TJ (vocals), Dan (guitar), Jon (bass), Analise (keys), and Mike (drums)
PRETTY TIED UP
Guns N Roses tribute band based out of America
THE SECRET LIVES
The Secret Lives is an up and coming americana/folk rock band out of the southwest suburbs of Chicago. TSL is comprised of Andy Victory, Rachel Darling, and Mel Flowers. The trio provide a unique Southern Gothic tinged Americana sound with powerful, engaging, and retrospective lyrical content.
THE MONKEY MAN
GOREMONGER
Depraved underground cybergrind!! Blending a bunch of styles and influences into a sound I hope can
SACRIFICIAL MASSACRE
BITRU
Bitru – Black Metal Colombiano
KNOXIOUS
Hard hitting, fast, charged Hardcore Punk from Chicago! featuring members from Alley Slob Service and Oi! Story
KNOXIOUS-
Ernie Slob- Drums
Sean “Mail Man” Murdock- Guitar/Vox
Marty Rodriguez- Bass/ Vox
Fabian BarBa- Guitar/ Vox
Henry Martinez- Lead Vox
USER UNAUTHORIZED
Driven, fast-paced, and to the point, they bring the voice of the youth kicking and screaming to the ears of the complacent world, their sound reflects tenets of 80’s hardcore through the lens of the modern experience and the current cultural landscape where the resulting sound is one that transcends the traditional labels associated with punk in search of pure, unadulterated representation.
STOLEN WHEELCHAIRS
Fast, anthemic, hardcore-punk straight from the depths of Hostile City. “The Robin-Hoods of Healthcare”.
THE STICKUPS
Streetpunk band from Denver, USA.
THE FIENDS
LA’s own, The Fiends! debut LP brings you the sounds of early American Hardcore Punk featuring members of Long Beach streetpunk legends Clit 45. 13 loud riffy bangers for fans of Bad Brains, Wipers, TSOL. The sounds of yesterday for today’s fucked up world!
GEN WHY
Dirty – Guitar / Vocals
Bugs – Bass / Vocals
Jimi – Drums
-Texas Street Punk-
ROTTEN FEW CREW
CHEAP SEX
In March of 2000, Mike Virus left The Virus to pursue a job offer in San Diego, CA. “I missed my old band a great deal, and kept in constant contact with those guys, and something just felt like it was missing in my life” says Mike. After two years of searching for band members Mike finally found the right people. “The first guy I met was Gabe when i first moved here in 2000 at an Agent Orange show in San Diego. We started talking about starting a band then but it never materialized, partly due to the fact that Gabe moved out of San Diego for several months. Once Gabe moved back to San Diego, talk of the band heated up again, but it was not until Mike met Johnny O. that talks really got serious. Mikemet John at club one night, John was playing with The Worthless at the time. “It just clicked. The guy was into the same shit as me, and he was real anxious about getting a band together.” After that Mike talked to Derek who was a friend of his and a friend of Gabe`s. Things were now set. We set out looking for a second guitarist and found Beau through an ad. Cheap Sex was now born. The band immediately got a great reaction, and within 2 months of forming had a record contract with two differnt labels having shown interest. The bands first show was with Mike’s previous band The Virus, and shows since then have included Defiance, 999, Slaughter and The Dogs, Lower Class Brats, Anti Nowhere League and English Dogs to name a few. “Punk Rock is everything to me, It’s what I live, breathe, and eat. I truly believe that even to this day, it is a true alternative to a life of complacency” says Mike, and I think that sums of Cheap Sex best.
LURID
Black Metal from Chicago, IL.
P.K. – Guitars, Vocals
R.G. – Guitars
A.K. – Bass
D.O. – Drums