IPO Chicago 2026
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Artists From Chicago
45 Souls – Led by Mike Petersen and Gibson Arlasky, who have made music together since their ‘90s band, We Are The Cats (who did a wonderful reunion show at IPO Chicago in 2024!), 45 Souls’ will appeal to fans of hooks and harmony – whether of the classic pop or alt-country/pop variety. Their latest album, Scrapbook, is eight catchy songs ranging from breezy Americana to gritty heartland rockers that are sure to get you up and moving.
Alpine Subs – Their sound is definitely jangle pop all the way: Their latest double album, Up With The Geese, ranges from the more Beatle-esque, Monkees-esque, or Folky/Soft Pop-esque of their early work to the more organic lo-fi Grateful Dead-esque feel of their more recent albums, and adds in some indie pop angst and hooky radio pop fizz. If you like any (or all) forms of jangle, you will love Alpine Subs!
strong>The Band Calderisi – Led by singer/songwriter/musician/music teacher, Tony Calderisi, who was first brought to IPO’s attention by none other than Mike G. of The Valley Downs and Magnaphonic, and has previously played the festival under his Tony Calderisi Band and Telstar monikers, The Band Calderisi specializes in warm Americana-inflected power pop. Their latest album, Songs for the Years Gone By, is 11 pop rock songs consisting of heavy-handed guitars and drums with sweet harmony laden vocals.
The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club – Drawing from a diverse array of musical styles, The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club’s song arrangements are the product of technique, style and innovation with great attention to detail in the areas of tone, rhythm, harmony and song structure. Their style has been described as falling someplace between The Cars and Sloan, as well as a “sideways Cheap Trick” (by yours truly). Three years in the making, their latest album, Please Stand By, has the same “retro with an edge” feel of their previous work. With several more recently released singles, we’re hoping a new album is not far behind. A perennial favorite at IPO, and we can’t wait to see and hear them to their thing again!
The Bon Mots – Once called “Chicago’s Best Kept Secret” by All Music Guide, The Bon Mots are certainly no secret to power pop afficionados, thanks to their impeccable songwriting and energetic performances. Elements of their songs have been compared to The Byrds and The Zombies, but their most recent album, Best Revenge, adds a few mind-bending twists to the classic jangle pop. They’re an instant crowd-pleaser at every IPO in which they’ve appeared, and have been working on some new and new-ish songs, which we can hardly wait to hear and see them play!
Brother Derek – The solo project of singing bassist “Brother” Derek Wu (Recent Photo, Phenomenal Cat, Food, Peep, Mant, William Bing, etc.) whose mission remains to bring you songs with “good bones.” The songs on his Parade Rest album draw from a deep well of genre-malleable tunes that are each more a roller coaster ride than a straight shot, at times weird but always groovy. Their IPO showcase will serve as the release party for their brand-new EP, Bootlickers, UNITE! If you like fun quirky pop with horns, this one is for you!
Michael Steven Cohen – Known to many an IPO audience as one of the main men of The Abbeys and The Pop Dollys, both of which had long been staples at IPO Chicago, Cohen stepped out in 2018 for his first time at IPO as a solo performer, and we’re thrilled to have him back again this year! He’s amassed an impressive repertoire of some of the most melodic, incredible, memorable love songs from the mid-20th century. Expect him to pull out some jazz and pop standards, big band stuff with just his voice & guitar, and to tell a little story about the song (when there is one)!
Danimal Farm – The solo project of Danny Doom, former singer/guitarist of Chicago band Milk at Midnight, whose debut album, Perseverance Hotel, was birthed during the pandemic and released in 2025. The album has been called a “…comfortable, sometimes dark, collection of shimmering indie rock and indie pop songs” (James Van Osdol, Car Con Carne). Cinematic emotional indie rock at its finest!
Joe Dilillo – A 25 plus year Chicago studio veteran, who has worked with A Girl Called Eddy, The Lickerish Quartet, Eric Dover, Josh Caterer (Smoking Popes) Bill Callahan (Smog) and many others. He is strongly influenced by well-crafted pop music, and pours his influences into his own meticulously crafted creations. His latest single, “When It Comes To Us,” is featured on the IPO vol 26 compilation, and we can’t wait to see him in his live IPO showcase!
The Embryos – Their latest album, Selling What You Want To Buy, emphasizes their power pop roots, while maintaining their penchant for twisting in some psych, jangle, and fuzzy angular pop surprises in all the right places. Their brand-new EP, Full Disclosure, is expected to release just in time for their IPO Showcase, and folds some cool classic roots-rock into the mix. Fans of The Beatles and Cheap Trick to Yo La Tengo and Zappa will dig these guys!
Barry Jean Fontenot – He’s a Louisiana-born, Chicago-based Soul musician. Raised in the “Deep Soul” and “Delta Blues” musical traditions, Barry’s vocal style brings to mind the strong, rich tenor notes of legendary singers such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. When he plays with his band, The Fountains, they provide the perfect smooth jazz and blues instrumental background to complement Barry’s songs and voice.
Hannah Frank – She’s a rhythmic singer-songwriter thriving on groove and poetic cafe-style folk. Hear inventive stories, plus flavors of earthy gypsy jazz, mellow rock and mystical hypnotic blues. We’re very grateful that she deigns to play IPO Chicago almost every year!
Freetoed – They bring to the stage more than ten years of playing music together around Chicago. With roots influenced by the likes of Wilco and Badly Drawn Boy, their songs climb and fall, peeling back and layering on both the melodic and dissonant. While these qualities are better emphasized nowhere else than at their live show, longtime fans and new converts alike will also want to check out their latest release, Cure for the Common Sound. Written by their 15- and 16-year-old selves in 2000 and 2001 and finally recorded (remotely, during the pandemic) in 2020 and 2021, Cure for the Common Sound provides yet another reminder of what makes them so dynamic and special.
Half Catholic – Sparkling and energetic guitar pop just the way we at IPO love it: melodic, and catchy, with quirky shifts and hooks that just stick in your brain. Check out their 2023 EP, Art In Heaven, and their IPO showcase, to hear for yourself!
Tom Henry – A Chicago area singer-songwriter sure to put a smile on your face. His songs have the catchy warm vibe mixing influences from Merseybeat to ‘60s and early ‘70s soft pop and orchestrated harmony pop and power pop. None other than Shindig! Magazine has called his recent album, Songs To Sing and Dance To, an “overlooked gem” of 2025. We can’t wait to see and hear him in his first IPO Chicago showcase!
The Idea – Led by venerable Chicago singer/songwriter extraordinaire, Phil Angotti, The Idea were stalwarts of the Chicago scene in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, with five excellent CDs all centered on the “idea” of continually raising the bar on what it is to create the perfect three-minute pop song. Angotti has since released many fine solo albums, the latest Once Around Again, appearing towards the top of several 2022 “best of” lists (including mine)! Angotti’s lead vocals and guitar channeled the spirit of Jim Ellison as well as it could possibly be done at the Material Re-Issue debut performance at IPO in 2011, and we’re thrilled he’s bringing The Idea back together for a special IPO reunion performance!
The Jerrys – Their sound may be reminiscent in all the best ways of ‘60s British Invasion, but this outfit sprung from the mind and pen of Jerry Schwartz (with a little help from his friends, Robert Porché and Jim Losby) are also firmly tied to their mid-western power pop roots. Their wide collection of singles and albums have been compared to Boyce & Hart, The Who, Matthew Sweet, and Shoes. As an homage to their roots, their latest album, appropriately titled Cover Songs, is a collection of some of their favorite classic covers.
Kerosene Stars – Independently rocking Chicago since 2010, the band has put out a slew of excellent EPs and singles over the years, including 2023 “A Pretty Good Year”. They’ve been hailed as “the standout artist of the 2024 IPO festival in Liverpool” (Ken Kurson, Rock and Roll Globe) and Noah Berlatsky of The Chicago Reader has described the band as a “[s]mart unpretentious Beatles-loving group with a sure hand for hooks… It’s perfect pop.” Who are we to argue? (Especially since he’s right!)
LaRue DeVille – That lovable sextet of Erica, Dan, Patrick, Ned, Mike and Todd (who some may remember from previous bands The Red Wigglers and Dam Destroyers) are back and we’re glad to have them! They spread the love and the joy where ever they go and under whatever name they choose to play with their irrepressible hooky pop and quirky instrumentation, and just keep getting better and better!
Max Loebman – A Chicago area singer songwriter who was a member of the great Chicago band, Yoko & The Onos! His solo work mixes catchy power pop hooks, folk singer storytelling, and baroque pop instrumentation into his own brand of pop perfection. Check out his recent Wild One album and his IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
The Long Goodbye – Originally formed in the ‘90s, the latest incarnation of The Long Goodbye has been playing around the Chicago area since 2019. Their latest EP, You’ll Be Fine, was released in 2024, and features six songs of dreamy sometimes psychedelic hook-filled indie rock.
Mark and Preston from The Webstirs – The Webstirs appeared regularly at IPO and elsewhere around Chicago in the “pre-pandemic” years. They have long been beloved by pop aficionados for their sunny harmonies and cheeky mix of influences by and homage to greats such as The Beatles, ELO, Jellyfish, and Cheap Trick, and The Beach Boys featured on all of their fine CDs, including their recently released seventh opus, High Up In The Trees. We are therefore thrilled to have Mark and Preston back for a special IPO appearance that you will not want to miss!
Mrs. Smith and The Present – They’ve come from all over the Midwest, the South, and the West Coast, and are now united by their mutual love of Chicago and rock n’ roll. Their debut EP and more recent singles bring to mind the all the joy and adolescent angst of our favorite ‘80s and ‘90s radio hits. We can’t wait to see and hear them do their thing again at IPO!
Night Baby – Bringing you old songs that sound new again and new original songs that you swear you’ve heard before, Night Baby’s debut album, Never Gonna Work In This Town Again, is an Americana feast for the senses. Fans of The Byrds, Tom Petty, and Cream will dig it!
The Nobodies – A classic pop combo of two guitars (Bobby Quatro and Tommy Velenzano), bass (Bob Mesec) and drums (Steve Glover), the Nobodies serve up quirky pop with humorous lyrics like nobodies’ business! The songs on their debut EP, Even The Score, vol 1, recorded and produced by the great Ellis Clark, will help you forget your troubles and remember your triumphs.
The None Others – They play frenetic irreverent punk rock n’ roll for the masses, and are back for a special IPO reunion show after four albums and more than five years on hiatus. Fans of Zappa, The Sex Pistols, or local punk heroes such as The Lawrence Arms who don’t already know them will dig it!
The Oh Boys – A vintage-inspired powerhouse of pop, rock, folk and doo-wop, whose songs feature tight harmonies, inventive arrangements, and poignant lyrics. Veterans of the stage, their live show engages and entertains with a sense of humor, spontaneity, and melodic storytelling. One listen to the songs on their Listen to The Oh Boys EP, and we knew these guys just had to come play IPO…they were a hit at IPO Liverpool in 2023. Their recently released album, Breakdown, is a hook-filled pop confection that takes their sound to the next level. We can’t wait to see and hear them do their thing in their home town again!
Otter Petter – Formed in Chicago in 2005, Otter Petter’s members create their own unique sound by blending the sugary pop confections of artists like Matthew Sweet with the more obtuse constructions of indie-rock bands like Death Cab For Cutie. They’ve got two excellent full-length albums to their credit, as well as some more recent singles on which “…[t]he abundant hooks and sugar-buzz energy speak for themselves” (Miles Raymer, Chicago Reader). They’re the five-piece rock outfit you’d hate to follow!
Refestramus – A prog rock feast for the senses, their new album, Morri’s Rock Boutique, is a journey through time, echoing ‘70s prog rock greats, with each song weaving a tapestry of sound and mind, and features guest appearances by legendary pop and rock musicians like Joe Deninzon and Rick Witkowski. This is not just music—it’s a portal to a time when rock was a revolution, and every note promised a journey into the extraordinary.
Rolling Numbers – A local quartet who deliver original songs in a style they’ve dubbed “American Cosmic.” The lyrics are heart-felt, the vocals (both male and female) are rich and soulful, and the musicianship is tight and inventive. Their latest LP, Killer Machines, is a 10-song shape-shifting collection of tracks that takes you on a journey across the musical spectrum. The distinctive sonorous vocal harmonies, inventive lead guitar, and super-groovy drums and bass of the band are vibrantly present throughout. Fans of Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac will dig it!
Rollo Time – They describe themselves as just a bunch of guys who’ve played music together over the years, who finally got together and recorded a bunch of songs, resulting in their debut LP, Victims of the Crown. They’ve continued honing their craft over the years, as their latest LP, One Thing Is Everything, is even better, and will rock you out in classic power pop style. Think Matthew Sweet, Cheap Trick, Guided By Voices and XTC all rolled into one, and you get the picture!
Sample Quincy – Back under a brand-new name, the quartet consisting of Jeremy Kush (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals), Anthony Vaccaro (Drums), Chris Devlin (Guitar), and Troy Anderson (Bass), who some at IPO may fondly remember as Bur, continue to make a joyous noise with their quirky brand of power pop under their new name. Their recently released two-song mini-EP, Soup & Salad, picks up right where Bur’s 2025 album, Snowy Chloe, left off, maintaining the quirky angular changes and bouncy, breezy hooky goodness with a dash of new wave radio pop fun. Definitely a band right up IPO’s alley!
Satellite Union – A Chicago-based rock band inspired by the sound waves coursing through their parents’ car radio and the launch of MTV, the vinyl spun over transistors and what streams in the cloud. They draw power from the sounds of classic rock, punk, blues, folk and Americana, telling tales of heartache and triumph, ghosts of the past and hope for the future. Their debut EP, Far Cry From The Place We Met, sounds like Tom Petty meets Cheap Trick!
Sensational Gnus – A band of students (grades 6 – 8) and teachers (featuring a few familiar faces from LaRue DeVille, see above) who will be taking the stage by storm as your newest quirky orchestrated pop sensation. A fun and talent-filled afternoon sure to impress and amaze you and put a smile on your face.
The Shifties – With influences as diverse as The Beatles, The Ramones, and Fugazi, you know The Shifties are one interesting band! They played IPO Chicago throughout the 00’s and even joined us one year for IPO in Liverpool, so we’re thrilled to have them back for the first time in over 10 years! Their newest album, Take It All Back, released late in 2025, is a darkly compelling mix of meandering melodies, glittering guitar solos, and haunting harmonies.
The Sonnets – The Sonnets were (and are) much loved for their trademark glitter glam power pop sound, and even took the show on the road to join us for IPO Liverpool one year! Main man, Vee, has done a few solo shows for us over the years, but we’re super excited to have him back this year with the full band!
Space Age Zeros – A band who have been putting punk, post punk, and power pop into a blender and serving it to you shaken not stirred, since 2022. Their debut full-length album, Strange New World, is full of carefree catchy should-be radio hits that take us back to the early days of IPO!
The Spindles – The Spindles feature original melodic power pop and classic covers. Their 2018 release, Past and Present, mixed and mastered by Grammy-Award Winner Blaise Barton, ranked #12 on Goldmine Magazine‘s Top 30 Power Pop albums of 2018, #4 on Pop Rock Record‘s Must Have Top 20 Power Pop albums of 2018, and #38 on David Bash’s Top 125 Best Power Pop Albums of 2018! Their long-awaited follow up, Wavelength, was finally released in 2025 and was instantly hailed as a favorite by many a power pop aficionado. “The formula is simple – memorable melodies, big hooks and killer harmonies. It’s everything we love about power pop” (Richard Rossi, Power Pop News).
Finn Swingley – A Chicago based musician and songwriter, Swingley has been playing and recording music since the early 1990s both in bands and as a solo artist. His latest album, Pet Hates, will appeal to fans of artists from Burt Bacharach to The Turtles and Fountains of Wayne. Pretty Cool!
The Thin Cherries – The latest musical project founded by scene vets Steven Delisi and Mark Lofgren. Delisi is a musician and songwriter with a background in theater and film production. His former band, Phenomenal Cat, blended his pop/punk sensibilities with experimental music and the Russian folk influences of his band mates. Songwriter/musician Lofgren is one of the founders of psychedelic pop/rock mainstays The Luck of Eden Hall, who have toured Europe and released music on a variety of independent labels, including Headspin Records and Fruits de Mer Records. Their shared love for bands like Blur, The Replacements and the Smiths can clearly be heard on The Thin Cherries latest album, On Moose Island.
Things That Fly – Moms who rock, Heidi Serwer and Karen Salmon, met when their daughters were in pre-school together. Both accomplished solo artists (Heidi has three solo albums and Karen has a couple of solo EPs), they started strumming together during play dates, and Things That Fly was born. Their music is a juxtaposition of pretty harmonies and gritty distorted guitars, and their debut EP was released on Mother’s Day. We can’t wait to see them do their thing again at IPO!
The Transference – An indie rock/power pop band from Chicago, led by vocalist and keyboardist Laura Hollingsworth (Thistle Eater, Burn the Barn, The Moon and Her Mother, Richard Bandini, Silver Age). Dark themes get paired with playful lines and reflections on inter- and inner-connectedness. Evocative lyrics layer over pop rock rhythms from drummer Alex Karan (6Kitty, Richard Bandini) and MJ Johnson’s driving bass. Lush harmonies and melodic lines from lead guitarist Justin Wheeler (Modern Daybreak) and vocalist Andrea Santiago weave in and out between synths, vibraphone, harmonium, pedal steel, and more. The care and attention to detail make the songs on their 100 Mirrors EP worthy of an extra listen…or two…or three! A full-length album is in the works, so watch for it!
The Unswept – Charlie and Ryan O’Brien relocated from sunny Sheffield, UK to a small but tiny apartment in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, where they write and record power pop tunes. With their hook laden songs featuring cowbell, handclaps, and sibling harmonies, we think they fit right in with Chicago’s power pop heritage! On their highly anticipated fourth full length album, Fast Casual, they shake it up and deliver some ’70s classic Chicago-Style Power Pop with a twist of UK Pub Rock, an alt-country departure, a visit to glam rock & a quick field trip to Britpop that will speak to fans of The Monkees, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys. Their brand-new EP, Bittersweet on Repeat, is full of big hooky choruses that inspire cranking it up loud and singing along. Fans of Fountains of Wayne and Matthew Sweet will dig it!
Van Go – Chrome plated guitar pop-rock is the name of that tune from this foursome. Richard Milne of WXRT-Radio has cited Van Go as “one of the best bands in Chicago…great songs, great performances, great vocals….” They promise to keep rocking and performing at their highest level until they can rock no more, and their latest album, Everyone Loves You When You’re Gone, certainly delivers: memorable melodies, raggedy guitar sounds, sing-along choruses, and hooks so big you can hang an entire side of beef on them! They’ve been steadily working on songs for a seventh full length album, and may treat us to a preview of their new material. They performed regularly at IPO Chicago in the ‘00s and ‘10s and we can’t wait to welcome them back for their first of what we hope will be many post-pandemic IPO appearances!
Mark Watson – Otherwise known as the leader of the Mark Watson Band, whose now classic coulda…shoulda…woulda… CD earned rave reviews and international airplay for its modern pop rock sound, full of hooky choruses, big guitars, smart lyrics and a heaping helping of harmonies. The band is back in the studio with a new line up and some new music, featuring bigger guitars and more bite, while retaining all the tunefulness of their previous work, as their 2021 single, “When Two Still Feels Alone”, will attest. Watson and Band have treated us to a sample of their new material for the last few years at IPO Chicago, and we can’t wait to hear some more this year!
Who’s This Mary? – Chicagoland’s Premier Power Pop Sons, Who’s This Mary? perform original groovealicious pop gems and a tastefully curated selection of Britpop and Mod classics. Their live performance is an extravaganza not to be missed!
Phil Yates & The Affiliates – Yates is an indie power pop artist formerly based out of Burlington, VT, who for the past several years has made his home in Chicago, and Vermont’s loss is definitely Chicago’s gain! With his hooky sound that’s “too folky for the rockers and too rocky for the folkers,” Phil has played with artists such as The Mountain Goats, The Babies, Cave Singers, Holly Golightly, and Mary Prankster. A Thin Thread, his latest album with The Affiliates, is the first featuring the Chicago lineup of the band, and showcases the band’s ability to do everything from frenetic Britpop to bubblegummy ear candy confections!
U.S. Artists From Outside of Chicago
Einstein’s Sister – IPO is proud to present a rare reunion show from one of the quintessential mid-west power pop bands of the late ‘90s and early 2000s! Their Humble Creatures CD has been described as “Like early Elvis Costello taking tea with Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook, while Lennon and McCartney fuss over the scones in the kitchen.” (CD Baby). Definitely one of Moline, Illinois’ finest, and a show not to be missed!
Elephonic – IPO is thrilled to welcome the latest project led by Mike Jarvis, who has been a fixture in the Milwaukee pop scene for quite some time. His albums with his previous bands, The Blow Pops and The Lackloves, are considered by many to be underground power pop and psychedelic pop classics. Elephonic veers more towards symphonic and roots rock, while losing none of the classic pop sensibilities. Their performances at IPO Chicago in 2022 and 2024 were truly impressive and their debut self-titled album received many accolades and 2023 year-end “best of” list nods for its symphonic blend of a wide spectrum of pop and rock influences from the past half-century. We can hardly wait to see and hear them do their thing live at IPO again!
High On Stress – Comprised of Nick Leet (vocals/guitar/piano), Mark Deveraj (drums), Jim Soule (bass/backing vocals/organ), and Chad Wheeling (guitar/piano), High On Stress have been getting rave reviews for their latest album, Hold Me In. “High on Stress carry on in the grand tradition of Minneapolis music – great rock ‘n’ roll with a rootsy slant; cheeky at times, consistently well written and played.” (Peter Jesperson, New West Records). Their brand-new one, Still Here, officially drops on May 8, but should be available for pre-sale on Bandcamp by the time you read this!
The Incurables – Headquartered right in the Heart of the Ann Arbor/Detroit Metropolitan Area, The Incurables provide guitar driven high energy harmonic indie garage rock, at your service! Their fun and energetic songs are reminiscent of artists such as The Clash or The Ramones, with clear nods to their local hometown heroes, The Romantics, The Stooges, and MC5, and are borne out of 30 years of friendship and a determination to never get too grown up to rock (a sentiment with which we wholeheartedly agree!) Check out their latest Big Stir Records release, Inside Out & Backwards, and their IPO Showcase to see and hear what we mean!
The Jeremy Band – The eponymous band led by one of the most genuine, unique people on the pop scene, as well as one of the most prolific pop artists around. Jeremy Morris’ John Lennon-influenced pop is as spiritual as it is melodic, and has been rocking a lot more lately, which you can hear this for yourself on any of his recent CDs (he’s released over 60 of them, so it’s hard to keep up with which is the latest!) This Kalamazoo, Michigan resident and his band can stake their rightful place in the IPO Hall Of Fame!
Andy Lampert – A Songwriter/Musician from Rhode Island whose songs are heavily influenced by ‘60s and ‘70s rock and roll. Andy takes these influences and writes a unique brand of catchy Power Pop that will grab you, rock you, and make you want to sing along! His albums, 10 Songs of Pain and The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack are available on fine streaming platforms worldwide. Fans of Badfinger, The Jam and Big Star should check him out!
Cody Piper – A piano-pop singer songwriter from Pittsburgh whose catchy melodies, shifting chord structures, soaring harmonies and baroque orchestration are sure to appeal to fans of artists such as Brain Wilson, Ben Folds, and ELO. Check out his latest album, Revealed, and his IPO showcase, and you’ll be instantly hooked!
Greg Pope & The Popmonsters – “It’s Greg Pope’s power pop world, and we’re all just living in it…Pope’s sound is a compendium of power pop through the ages – from British Invasion to the “mod” sound of The Who to straight-up ‘70s styled Badfinger/Raspberries pop to the today’s modern power pop.” (AbsolutePowerpop.com) Sounds too good to be true? The Roar of Silence, the latest release by this affable Nashville-based artist, rose quickly towards the top of many a 2025 “best of” list…one listen and you’ll instantly hear why! We’re so glad he’s able to bring his band, The Popmosters, to IPO Chicago!
River Rats – A power punk pop trio from South Bend, Indiana, consisting of Meg (guitar/vocals), Travis (bass/keys/vocals) and Miguel (drums/vocals), these rats aim to chew their way into the hearts and ears of the people. Check out their recently released Son of Dad album and their debut IPO showcase!
The Shake Ups – Combining elements of power-pop, indie-rock and alternative, The Shake-Ups are one of Indianapolis’ most engaging bands! Their songs run the gamut from melodic indie-rock to sun-kissed power-pop, stuffed to the brim with honeyed harmonies, meaty guitar runs, chiming acoustics, and new wave-y keys. Their latest album, In Orbit, is inspired by Saturday morning cartoons and ‘70s glam/pop/new wave hits. One of the most fun bands you will ever see and hear!
Status Foe (solo) – Whether you call it indie-rock, angular pop, or prog, the music of this Indianapolis outfit will captivate and intrigue you. Their distinctive sound is made up of genre-bending elements, anchored by melodic vocals, memorable hooks and self-reflective lyrics, as can be heard on their recently released album, Cheers, Amigo! Though they normally perform as a four-piece, main man Colby Holmes will be bringing a more intimate feel to the songs by performing solo at this year’s IPO. A unique experience you will not want to miss!
Trolley – If you’re looking for a band who really understands the garage pop idiom, look no further than Trolley! Fans of L.A. Explosion-era Last and all things Paisley Underground will dig Trolley – plus, you gotta love a guy who simultaneously sings and chews gum a la John Lennon, as co-lead vocalist Paul Wall does. Their latest full-length CD, A Carnival of Grey & White, celebrates their 30th year as a band and continues in their tradition of out-doing themselves, rising to the top of many a 2025 “best of” list! Lush orchestration with a touch of ‘60s soft pop influence underlies Trolley’s trademark melodies, harmonies and charging guitars, and makes this album their best yet! One of Milwaukee’s finest!
Wynded – A Madison, Wisconsin sextet who draw upon the diverse experiences of their members and musical influences from the best of ‘60s and ‘70s rock n’ roll in creating their unique sound. Their debut EP, No One Else To Blame, is a psychedelic roots/folk rock extravaganza for the senses!