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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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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Riot Fest Featured Artist: Black Foxxes

Black Foxxes - Best New Bands

Chicago – Once again, in preparation for Riot Fest 2016, we’re featuring an up-and-coming band performing at the festival: U.K. punk rock band Black Foxxes. Last month, this phenomenal trio, comprised of Mark Holley (guitar, vocals), Tristan Jane (bass), and Ant Thornton (drums), released its powerful debut LP I’m Not Well. The emotional album often focuses on frontman Mark Holley’s brave journey,

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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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Sleep On It Signs with Equal Vision, Announces New EP

Sleep On It by Vince DeSantiago - BEST NEW BANDS

New York - Chicago band Sleep On It has signed to Equal Vision Records and will release it new EP, Lost Along the Way, on October 21. The pop punk outfit has also premiered a new song and music video for “Unspoken,” from Lost Along the Way. The EP was recorded with producers Seth Henderson (Real Friends, Knuckle Puck) and Derek

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Slaves Releases Music Video for “Spit It Out”

Slaves - Best New Bands

New York – UK punk band Slaves has released a new music video for the single “Spit It Out,” from the duo’s upcoming sophomore LP Take Control, set for release September 30th via Republic Records. Take Control is available for pre-order here! “Spit It Out” is an explosion of punk-rock fury, produced by one of the legends of early

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3 New Bands We Loved at Vans Warped Tour

Warped Tour by Sarah Hess for BEST NEW BANDS

Chicago – While most of the U.S. has been experiencing a heat wave and seeking shelter in air-conditioning, emo kids and modern punks have been having the best summer of their lives, with Warped Tour being in full-effect, despite the gnarly temperatures. On a Saturday afternoon, hoards of teenagers and twenty-somethings piled into the Hollywood

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The Julie Ruin: Message in the Medium

The Julie Ruin by Shervin Lainez - BEST NEW BANDS

London – Hit Reset is the follow up to The Julie Ruin‘s 2013 debut Run Fast and the documentary The Punk Singer, detailing frontwoman Kathleen Hanna’s career from the days of Bikini Kill through to Le Tigre and now The Julie Ruin. The original Riot Grrrl, former stripper, and would-be sexual-abuse-counsellor is back again with a band lineup that includes

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