Hailing from Champaign, IL, Snack'd Out continues the tradition of many bands from this area by bringing catchy mathy midwest emo back to its place of origin. Featuring a former member of Boston's sports., this 3-piece plays songs you can yell along to while simultaneously marveling at their magical riffs. Check out their releases: "It's Too Clean" (EP) and "Obstacle Illusion" (LP – now available on vinyl).

Photo Credit: Rhoq Morrigan

Sweetmelk is a dynamic queer punk band hailing from Champaign-Urbana, delivering raw energy and powerful performances with every live show. Kenna Mae Reiss, the creative force behind Sweetmelk, has evolved from a solo artist into a confident bandleader, crafting music that is both cathartic and empowering. Drawing influence from bandmates like drummer Ori Sergel, Sweetmelk’s music defies genre boundaries, embracing a raw and emotional approach that resonates deeply with listeners.

Photo Credit: Caspian Voss

emily the band is a three-piece queer girl group from Peoria, Illinois, consisting of Emily Antonacci, Camryn Proctor, and Abbey Haste. Formed in April 2021, they quickly became known for their indie alt-pop anthems that resonate with audiences far and wide. Since their formation, they’ve expanded their reach from Peoria to cities like Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, and beyond. Their debut album, the heartbreak album (2022), was widely praised for its infectious hooks, with Jon Norton of WGLT calling it a "hooky pop-gem." emily the band is currently gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated EP, mwah!, set for release in February 2025.

Plume is a 4-piece shoegaze / doom band hailing from Pittsburgh, PA where they wrote and self-produced a 6-song EP that got derailed by the pandemic and has yet to see the light of day, until now. Through a few iterations of members Plume have existed on and off over the past 7 years. Not unfamiliar with or phased by the intricacies of delay and reverb, Plume crafted these songs to relay the slowcore gloomy feelings of bands like hum, shiner, spotlights, and FACS. Their soundscapes bring to mind the long winters of Appalachia and the heaviness of death and life.

A Small Meaningless Rebellion emerged from the Champaign-Urbana punk scene in the summer of 2024, stacked with energetic talent. Rhoq Morrigan [guitar, vocals] writes from the influence of alternative classics like The Smashing Pumpkins and her indie favorites Rainer Maria, Mates of State, The Get Up Kids and more. ASMR's fresh queerpunk music is openly expressive about the inherent violence of capitalism, as well as offering a very Midwest emo exploration of all the feelings (and maybe even recovering from them from time to time). 

Photo Credit: Caspian Voss

The Early Thirties formed in the hills of Appalachia in 2018 and thrived in the local DIY scene, opening for bands such as Off With Their Heads, Rick from Pile, Ed Hochuli, Iron Chic, and Casper Skulls. They partied hard until 2020, bringing us an album full of pop punk wailers and Pittsburgh love. Check out the "People are going to be so impressed" (LP), because you definitely will be. 

Long-lived Chicago-area ska/rock band Quarters Only brought two full lengths to life during their stint in the early 2000s Chicago DIY scene. Playing hundreds of shows over their 8 year lifespan, they brought third-wave ska to new heights and made an impact through their melodic, vocally-driven tunes that make you want to dance and thrash. Their first album, "Something to Rock About," and their follow up,  "Infectious," capture their growth from simple songwriting to full-on genre blending.