IPO Boston 2025
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Artists From The Boston Area
Air Traffic Controller – After serving in the U.S. Navy as an air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro built a legacy with ATC for crafting heartfelt, luscious and genuine indie-folk-pop songs that are timeless and classic. “20,” the lead off single on their latest album, Dash, has been called “…a breezy pop anthem, rooted in Munro’s unerring knack for catchy hooks and lived-in story-based lyricism paired with a lush arrangement featuring reverb-drenched guitar, funky horns and a dance floor friendly groove” (Joy of Violent Movement).
The Amplifier Heads – Any band featuring Sal Baglio (of Boston classic pub-rockers, The Stompers!) has got to be great, so check out The Amplifier Heads for an unbeatable rockin’ good time that’ll be sure to get you on your feet. Check out their accoladed album, Loudah, and make sure you don’t miss their IPO showcase!!
Peter Baldrachi – Since his debut in 2006, Baldrachi has built an impressive catalog, releasing four previous albums, two EPs and numerous singles, showcasing his dedication to crafting a distinctive sound. He’s back with his newest album, Nothing’s Promised, which brings together many of the influences that have shaped his music. Expect catchy melodies and infectious hooks coupled with introspective lyrics, and a dynamic rootsy feel.
Betty Goo – Returned to the Boston area after a stint in LA, melodic maestro Aaron Tap and his partner in tune, Paula Kelley, are constantly creating at Dreamfield Academy, their remote Deerfield, Mass. stronghold. Their other bands include Drop Nineteens, the Paula Kelley Orchestra, Fantastic Black, and Populuxe, with each band showcasing a different side to their music. Betty Goo features them in a zany, glammy bubblegum meets angular pop punk guise that is just too much fun! We can’t wait to see them do their thing live at IPO!!
The Bittersweets – They formed some time ago when songwriter friends Jon Macey and Sal Baglio (see above) went on sabbatical from current projects. They had a few things in common, being both hep cats and deep admirers of pop song craft. They created songs with a wide variety of lyrical topics and musical arrangements that highlighted their two-part vocals and ringing guitar styles. To record these tunes, they enlisted bassist Steve Gilligan and drummer Lenny Shea. After recording two albums worth of songs, they disbanded and no one has ever heard the tapes. They do, however, make the occasional public appearance as a group and are excited about performing at IPO!
Dave Charles – Brother of Boston musician/producer extraordinaire Brian Charles; if you come to Dave’s IPO show you can see that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the genes, as he delivers song after song of sparkling pop/rock! His latest single, Sideways, is a collaboration with Corin Ashley.
Cold Expectations – A jangly dark indie-rock band whose songs convey the joy beneath the darkness. On their debut full-length album, Static Reactions, “[y]ou’ll hear ten melodic songs that shift back and forth between twee pop and power pop, with a few indie rock and new waves outbursts… the entire LP is 37 minutes of warm and moving enjoyment, with vocal harmonies just as beautiful as the poetic lyrics” (AddToWantlist blog). Their latest single, “The Fight,” recently debuted in the Top 10 on Radio Indie Alliance!
Dave Finney and The Procrastinators – Featuring members of The Spicolis, Powderhouse, The Rotary Prophets and The Generous Poor, they play tasty original roots rock and “artisanal” covers that they make all their own. Fans of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Seger, and CCR will dig their latest EP, Procrastination Songs, Vol. 2!
Joe Giddings – Joe is an avid record collector and fan of sci-fi and horror films…and a master of power pop melodies with psychedelic edges. He released his first solo CD on Not Lame under the moniker The JTG Implosion in 2003, and was a fixture in the LA pop scene for a number of years before relocating to Boston. His latest album, Stories With Guitars, is available through Kool Kat Musik, and he’s got another one in the works for release in 2026. LA’s loss is definitely Boston’s gain, so come on out to help welcome him to his new home town!
Girl With A Hawk (Linda & Daniel) – An American rock band formed in 2021 and led by musician Linda S. Viens. Band lineup includes Boston Rock veterans Richard Lamphear, Daniel Coughlin, Nancy Delaney, and Dan Bernfeld. Their digital singles and live performances sound like Linda Ronstadt fronting Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and they totally rocked their IPO Boston 2023 as a full band. This year, Linda and Daniel are back with a more intimate acoustic duo version, which we can hardly wait to hear!
Glowbox – Like many great power pop bands, Glowbox is built on a foundation of two guitars, bass, and drums, with all four members of the band sharing an affinity for the classic melodic rock of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Their latest album, Bland Ambition, showcases a diverse range of ‘70s pop-rock styles, including psych-pop, classic rock, and prog. Fans of artists such as Squeeze, The Who, The Clash and ELO will dig it! We can’t wait to see and hear them rock IPO again!
Hotel Saturn – Blasting off from Boston, unleashing cosmic sounds and electrifying riffs that will take you on a wild ride through the universe of rock and roll! What started as a few song enhancements with Rock Garden Studios Producer Todd Erickson turned into a full-blown album project. Their recently released singles mix bubblegum, glam, garage, psychedelia and Brit Invasion vibes into a heady brew that demands to be turned up loud. They were a big hit at IPO LA this summer, and we can’t wait to see them do their thing at IPO in their home town! We are also eagerly looking forward to a debut album due to be released soon.
Kimon Kirk – Having toured and recorded with the likes of Gaby Moreno, Aimee Mann, Alejandro Escovedo, Session Americana, Amy Correia, Grant-Lee Phillips, and Sarah Borges, and having penned songs with Grammy-winners Mann and Lori McKenna, Kirk steps into the spotlight as a singer/songwriter in his own right! His latest release, Altitude, features lush-but-understated production and results in an album that “…shines a golden melodic light on the darker corners of the human soul, beguiling the listener onto a higher plane. It’s a combination of penetrating intelligence and unapologetic catchiness that’s rare, but shouldn’t be” (The Daily Vault).
Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals – Overbaugh is a singer-songwriter from Swampscott/Boston, MA whose songs balance heart, humor, and grit. His music blends catchy melodies with depth, wit, and a worn-in honesty—delivering dive-bar pop rock ’n’ roll, steeped in roots-rock, alt-country, classic country, and rockabilly influences. His latest EP, Farther From Near, and his live show are sure to put a smile on your face!
Speedfossil – Built on a foundation of strong songwriting, catchy melodies, and pop hooks, Speedfossil is Boston angular power pop at its finest! Their latest album, No Anesthesia, will appeal to fans of The Smithereens, The Kinks, and The Replacements. They’ve also recently released a 10 year retrospective, Time Flies: 10 Years of Speedfossil, which is a great introduction to their music for new initiates or a cruise down memory lane for long-time fans. Check it out!!
The Starlings – A new Boston-based rock band with a line-up that consists of veteran rockers Kelly Knapp (Bristols/Darlings), Eric Martin (Neats/Illyrians), Therese Bellino (Lazy Susan), David Fredette (Titanic’s/Upper Crust) and Ed Riemer (Band 19/Darlings). We can’t wait to see and hear what these stalwarts of the Boston scene have in store for us!
Torch Red – From the backbeat, brothers and backbone of the Hi-End and front of the Powderhouse comes a new band that looks to turn up the heat and energy to 11!
U.S. Artists From Outside of Boston
IT’S MY PARTY! – Producer John Giotto, manager/songwriter Paul Kanack, and songwriter Syeed Abdulal-Haqq of Rochester, NY, together with a dynamic, ever-changing cast of musicians and singers are only a part of the IT’S MY PARTY! phenomenon—the beautiful, vintage sound they create completes the story. IT’S MY PARTY! is everyone’s chance to experience the exhilarating joy of a genre that started with the 1960s girl groups and continues to enthrall audiences today. One of the most fun bands we’ve ever had at IPO, and we can’t wait to welcome them back!
Jann Klose – A singer/songwriter/actor who currently makes his home in New York and who has seven albums and two EPs to his credit, and has performed as an actor and singer in touring companies of Broadway musicals, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll and Hyde, and The Who’s Tommy. Singles from his most recent albums Surrender and In Tandem have accumulated over 10 million streams across all platforms and charted on Top 40 radio in both the US and South Africa. We’re excited to welcome him to his first IPO Boston!
Justin Levinson – Inspired by the music of ‘60s greats such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Zombies, Levinson’s music offers a unique blend of Beatlesque melodies and modern indie rock/pop. His songwriting prowess has earned him quite a few accolades, including Billboard Song Contest Winner, International Acoustic Music Awards (Best New Male Artist), and a nomination For Sirius Songwriter Discovery of the Year. Returning to his Vermont roots after several years playing around Hollywood (including several appearances at IPO), he’s recently released his much anticipated fifth full length album, Collamer Circle. “Collamer Circle sounds as though it was produced in the ‘60s, yet fits equally with the Not Lame of the ‘90s. This is great melodic harmonic Pop Rock, wonderfully produced and performed” (I Don’t Hear A Single blog).
The Pretty Graves – The latest project led by Christopher Listorti, who some IPO’ers may know as one of the main men of New London Connecticut’s Oberon Rose, who drew comparisons to such greats as The Posies, The Zombies, The Kinks, Thin Lizzy, and Big Star, and whose music has been described as “…grand retro pop/rock replete with nostalgic aromas of Beatlemania and psychedelic progressive rock of the ‘60s and ‘70s. (Randy Radic, Thriveglobal.com).” His latest project draws inspiration from the rebel spirit of The Velvet Underground, the raw verve of Pavement, and the enigmatic essence of Jonathan Fire Eater. We can hardly wait to see and hear them do their thing at IPO again!