Five New Bands at Day Two of Riot Fest

Riot Fest 2016 by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands

Chicago – Day two of Riot Fest went off without a hitch. That is to say, Morrissey showed up and performed. Although, he did go on late after projecting video clips for over thirty minutes straight… but according to his die-hard fans, that’s just his regular “intro.” Whatevs. To each is own, right? Luckily, none

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Finish Ticket Makes Late Night TV Debut

Finish Ticket - Best New Bands

New York - Last night, Finish Ticket made its late night TV debut on TBS’ Conan, performing “Wrong” from the EP When Night Becomes Day. The San Francisco band – and former Best New Bands Featured Artist – will kick off its headline tour “Finish Ticket Fall Tour 2016” on September 28th in St. Louis, MO. All tour dates are

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5 New Bands to See at Riot Fest 2016

Riot Fest by Sarah Hess

Chicago – Ah, yes, it’s that time of year again – time to experience all four seasons while attending one of Chicago’s best music festivals: Riot Fest. For some, the chances of getting rained on, spending the weekend slowly walking through mud, and on the daily experiencing an Autumn morning, humid afternoon, and then a

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Joey Purp and Saba Heat Things Up

Joey Purp by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands

Chicago – While for most, Labor Day Weekend marks the end of summer, relaxing with a cold one and some barbecue, in Chicago, LDW ushers in North Coast Music Festival, which calls for one last stand in Union Park, having fun and soaking in the sun. Chicagoans party all day and then well into the

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Jagwar Ma Previews New LP at The Independent

Jagwar Ma by Corey Bell for BEST NEW BANDS

San Francisco – “Don’t worry, prosperity will knock on your door soon,” bassist Jack Freeman of Jagwar Ma happily read from a fortune cookie fortune during a lull early on in the band’s Wednesday night set, briskly followed by an impromptu reggae version of a few bars from Joy Division’s “Transmission,” cheerily delivered by frontman Gabriel Winterfield. Both of

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James Blake to Tour with Vince Staples

James Blake - Best New Bands

New York - Grammy Award-nominated artist James Blake has announced that Vince Staples and Moses Sumney will join him for select dates on his recently announced Fall headlining tour. Staples will join the New York and Los Angeles dates, while Sumney joins all dates minus Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Tickets are available now HERE. James Blake hits the road beginning September 23rd at House of Blues in

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New Bands at Afropunk Fest Brooklyn 2016

Afropunk by Julia Drummond for Best New Bands

Brooklyn – Every summer, since 2005, Afropunk Fest ascends on one of our favorite New York City boroughs: Brooklyn. The festival was named after James Spooner’s 2003 documentary Afro-Punk, and was created as a means to give people of color, but specifically black men and women, a safe space to build a community within the punk subculture. The

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Hockey Dad Doesn’t Disappoint

Hockey Dad by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands

Chicago – Have you ever found yourself falling in love with a new band, only to discover said band lives oh so far away – we’re talking on another continent – and won’t be touring near you any time soon? Yeah, it’s the pits, right? Well, that’s my experience with Australian band Hockey Dad. While

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