Nicole Atkins
“This whole album is almost like my fight against loneliness,” says Nicole Atkins of her latest release, Drama. “A lot of the songs came out of the fact that my husband and I basically have a long distance relationship. We’re both on the road. He’s a tour manager. I’m an artist. We can be apart for months at a time.” Those feelings of isolation and separation, complicated by sleep problems and some career uncertainty, left Atkins feeling overwhelmed at times. “I had to write myself through a lot.” As the material started to take shape, she felt like she was “building a life raft,” and not only for herself. “With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to forget that we’re all the same,” she says. “We’re being disconnected and pulled apart. We’re longing for connection. That’s what I want to write and sing about, and hopefully by doing that, make people feel a little less lonely.” The life rafts on Drama are sturdy, with smart design and a buoyancy that’s a tonic for our times. The Spectorized girl group rush of “Trippin’ On Teardrops,” the pulsing Memphis soul-styled “For No One,” the James Bond-meets-Stevie Nicks noir of “Danny,” and the ABBA-worthy, anthemic “Singing In The Mirror.” As always when dissecting Atkins’ neo-classic sound, it’s fun to play with mash-up descriptions – even she offers her own colorful takes – “What if Brian Eno, Scott Walker and Lee Hazlewood were all partying?” and “It’s like a Broadway show playing on a dive bar stage.” Her journey began in Neptune City, New Jersey, where she developed her taste and sensibility early. “There’s a poetic isolation at the Jersey shore,” she says. “All the tourists leave, and you’re stuck with this really gloomy, but beautiful place, and nothing to do. Also, there were all these summertime musicians who’d play every night on the beach. I grew up thinking that was a normal job.” Raiding the record collections of her parents and grandparents drew her to dramatic singers from Candi Staton to Roy Orbison. When she found an old acoustic guitar in the attic of her uncle’s house, her course was set. “Actually, I either wanted to be a rock star or a professional wrestler,” Atkins says, with a laugh. It had been six years since her last, Italian Ice, and Atkins admits she had some self-doubt. Enter another Nashville pal, Patrick Sansone. The producer and Wilco multi-instrumentalist proved to be the perfect foil for Drama. “Pat knows so much about that chamber pop style of music, and that’s my North Star and home base,” Atkins says. “I write like I write – sometimes it sounds ’80s, sometimes it sounds ’60s, sometimes it sounds ’50s. And Pat always gets it. He was able to help me sprinkle that baroque sound throughout the whole record, so it all made sense together.” And as on previous albums, she ups the ante by aiming to “write modern songs that could be part of the Great American Songbook.” But in her own way. “I’m not trying to rehash or celebrate some bygone era,” she says. “I’m just taking what I like melodically from the past, and channeling it into my songs. I like to make them deeply personal. The question I come back to is – how do I make this sound exactly like me?” Drama sounds exactly like Nicole Atkins.
Slothrust
The Velveteers bring a visceral energy to their explosive sophomore album, A Million Knives, loaded with blistering rock anthems infused with melodic indie songwriting. With GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Dan Auerbach at the helm, the Boulder, CO trio encapsulates the raw, forceful, and profoundly heavy power of their live performances and laser-focuses a spotlight on tightly crafted songs as they carve out their own distinctive niche. Driving The Velveteers is the commanding presence of frontwoman Demi Demitro, a no-bullshit, five-foot-something spitfire with thunderous guitar riffs and soaring vocals, backed by her incendiary double drum duo. The band’s signature dual drum setup creates a thunderous foundation that propels their gritty, dynamic garage rock sound. On A Million Knives, this setup melds seamlessly with a more modern indie rock influence–the attitude of Wolf Alice, the colossal sound of Queens of the Stone Age, and the singular lyrical voice of Hole. The Velveteers have built a dedicated following through relentless touring and electrifying performances, sharing stages with renowned acts such as Smashing Pumpkins, The Black Keys, Greta Van Fleet, Guns N’ Roses, and Des Rocs. With A Million Knives, The Velveteers offer a compelling testament to their rising stardom, a rock ‘n’ roll album as beautiful as it is electrifying.
The Obsessed
The Obsessed is a rock band. A FU*KING HARD rock band. Since their formation in 1978, they became known around the world for their influential contribution to the origins and continued legacy of the doom metal and underground hard rock genres. The distinctive vocals and guitar wizardry of founder and driving force Scott “Wino” Weinrich has left a mark on the world of heavy music that continues to inspire. The Obsessed gained momentum in the Baltimore/DC area of the USA in the early to mid 1980’s during the height of the hardcore punk movement. Often cited as the band that bridged heavy metal and punk together, the band gained the respect of punk heavy weight contemporaries Black Flag, The Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, to name a few. The attitude and spirit of The Obsessed has led many to regard them as “America’s Motorhead”. Wino went on to join the doom metal giants Saint Vitus as lead singer on seminal albums including 1986’s ‘Born Too Late’‘. In 1990, The Obsessed came back with their eponymous debut album, “The Obsessed”. This album was quickly followed by 1991’s “Lunar Womb” and 1994’s “The Church within. The band then signed with Relapse Records and recorded 2017’s “Sacred”, an album showing The Obsessed were back with pure vengeance. Sacred brought the band to venues and festival stages around the world. In 2022 the band became a four piece with the addition of Chris Angleberger on bass and Jason Taylor on guitar. The band has been touring heavily since and have been seen on USA and European festival stages such as HellFest, Freak Valley Festival, Snowblind Festival and multiple DesertFests.The band’s 2024 album, Gilded Sorrow, on Ripple Music, marked a new chapter in their legacy. The album captures the essence of the band’s classic sound while adding a fresh new atmosphere with a dual guitar attack. In 2025, Bob Pantella (The Atomic Bitchwax, Monster Magnet, Raging Slab) joined The Obsessed on drums. To quote Wino, “This is the strongest The Obsessed has ever been. We are geared up and ready to play. We will be hitting your city soon!”https://www.instagram.com/theobsessedofficial/Hippie Death Cult – Hippie Death Cult’s journey through shameless and triumphant artistic expression has led them to become a vibrant force within the realms of psychedelia and riff-heavy rock n’ roll. With their unwavering dedication to their craft and their ability to push boundaries, they are poised to leave an indelible mark on the heavy music scene for years to come. https://www.hippiedeathcultband.com/
The Sleights
The Sleights – The Sleights are a punk rock band hailing from Colorado Springs. Pulling from its strong punk rock and rock & roll roots, the band keeps the music short and simple, and the live shows fast and fun. The band has recorded 2 EPs and three LPs, the third of which will be released in mid 2026.https://thesleights1.bandcamp.com/Goners UK – Few bands consistently bring the energy that Goners UK brings; whether on record or live shows, the hometown heroes are unwavering in their delivery of fast paced, heavy handed, no-bullshit punk rock. Hailing from the snowy caps of Bozeman, Montana, the quintet stops at literally nothing to bring their storied tunes to every corner of the map. https://gonersuk.bandcamp.com/
BOOF!
BOOF! – Reckless and Feckless queer punks out of DFWhttps://booftheworld.bandcamp.com/DSM-5 – Omaha pop punk / punk rockhttps://dsm5.bandcamp.com/Nancy Raygun – 3 piece hard core band from the 402https://www.instagram.com/xx_nancyraygun_xx/
Homestyle Dinner Rolls
From their name to their music to their beautiful hair, Homestyle Dinner Rolls is bound to turn heads. Crashing onto the underground Utah scene in 2020, HDR has made a name for themselves opening for artists such as Jeremy Jordan, Dexter and the Moonrocks, and Winona Fighter. Called “a Provo favorite” by Provo Music Magazine, each show they put on is a spectacle; “And boy do Homestyle Dinner Rolls know how to loosen an atmosphere and encourage interaction.” With plans to tour in early 2026 and an increasingly popular online presence, Homestyle Dinner Rolls is bound to be the next big name in rock. Even if it is a silly one.
Fruition
For nearly two decades, Fruition have built their genre-bending version of American roots music around harmony — not just the vocal interplay of the band’s three songwriters, but the deeper harmony created between five friends who’ve spent years on the road together. On their eighth album, Something More, those bonds grow into something more collaborative than ever before. Produced by Grammy winner Tucker Martine, Something More finds Fruition stepping into an era defined as much by exploration as craft. Fueled by melody-driven songwriting, analog tones, and atmospheric textures, the album expands the band’s melting pot of rock, folk, pop, soul, and Americana into something more expansive and fully realized. Much of the songwriting emerged from collaborative sessions between Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek, and Mimi Naja, adding a shared perspective to songs rooted in reflection, uncertainty, acceptance, and growth. “This record is us trusting each other more than we ever have — as humans and as musicians,” says Anderson. “It’s the sound of us leaning into each other.” From the street corners of the Pacific Northwest to stages like Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Great American Music Hall, Fruition have grown their career night by night and song by song. Something More feels like the next chapter: a collection of lessons absorbed, trust deepened, and a band fully embracing what they’ve become.
The Ghetto Cowboy Tour
TJS
Emerging in 2024 from Bellevue Nebraska , United States, TJS blends rock, indie rock, alternative rock, dance pop, synth pop, indie pop, pop and singer songwriter into a genre-defying sound. TJS is a Boston-based artist from Nebraska who blends synth pop energy with the emotion of folk pop. His sound combines electronic textures with an intimate, storytelling approach that captures both nostalgia and modern life. A student at Berklee College of Music, TJS brings a thoughtful sense of musicianship and sincerity to his performances, creating music that resonates with authenticity and heart.
Secret Formula
Cornfields aren’t the only things in Nebraska… Based in Omaha, Secret Formula is a 4-Piece Progressive Groove Rock band that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. From playing shows in bars and clubs, to their first theatre performance within a year of gigging, they have quickly become a staple in their local scene. With a formula of storytelling lyrics and free-flowing riffs and grooves, the band’s eclectic style and ever-expanding catalog of songs keeps audiences on their toes. After quickly finding their niche, Secret Formula has continued to connect with fans through music and blissful moments in time one can only experience by SEEKING FORM.