John BallantyneMore often than not, the road to country music stardom originates in Texas, Tennessee, or another time-honored Southern destination. John Ballantyne’s story arc reads way differently. Fast becoming recognized as one of Chicago’s premier country singers and songwriters, Ballantyne was born and raised in Scotland, though you’d never know it from his earthy vocal delivery and immaculate lead guitar. Both resonate with the twang and raunch of classic honky-tonk country.In his 20s, John grew enamored of singer-songwriters Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, and Jerry Jeff Walker., but Prine remains his favorite. “He’s a master songwriter. That’s what he’s famous for. But then the kicker is, you think, ‘What a great song! I want to sing this, but I bet it is really hard to learn,’” he says. “You print out the lyrics, look at it, and you go, ‘Is that it? There are two verses and a chorus. How can that be? There’s something wrong with the computer!’ This guy has painted a whole picture, a whole movie, and contained it in two verses and a chorus. And that’s the magic of John Prine. Other people do it, but he does it like no other.” Ballantyne’s splendidly concise lead guitar attack recalls that of James Burton, whose impeccable licks graced the hits of Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, and many more. “Burton was a huge influence,” he says. “I would sit with the LP record and play it over and over and over again, trying to figure out what the hell he was doing. One of my heroes, for sure.” With these influences, it comes as no surprise to us that John's original songs and guitar playing will grab your attention and leave you wanting more.Bill Dahl https://www.facebook.com/John.A.Ballantynehttps://www.facebook.com/JBCrazyHeart/

James Gedda is an up-and-coming Country and Americana singer-songwriter with a booming voice and a plainspoken honesty in his lyrics. The Crown Point, IN native has drawn comparisons to the likes of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard with his earthy baritone, and he regularly covers such classics, but what drives him is writing songs and telling stories with modern sensibilities. He's performed in such historic venues as The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and regularly sings all over Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area on top of having toured through Appalachia & the Southwest. He's released three locally-recorded solo acoustic EP's: Thick As Thieves, Bad Things Happen: Dynaline Sessions Vol. 1, and Hollering in a Bar, along with a pair of singles produced by Midamerican Records in Nashville, TN and is hard at work on getting his debut full-band, full-length album released. James Gedda is not an artist to miss if you're a fan of infectious melodies and affecting stories. facebook.com/jamesgeddamusician, instagram.com/jamesgedda, youtube.com/jamesgedda, tiktok.com/@jamesgedda, bsky.app/profile/jamesgedda.bsky.social, jamesgeddamusic.com

Joe’s Country Bar Band is a unique lineup of musicians and friends put together by local drummer Joe Bordenaro. Every lineup is different and every set is thoughtfully arranged with music that each featured musician brings to the show. From shows themed with The Band’s Last Waltz all the way to the classic late night sweaty psychedelic barn burners, the band has got you covered!

Rami Gabriel is a composer and producer who plays Oud, Buzuq, and Guitar. Rami leads Chicago favorites The Arab Blues and Rami & the Reliables. His solo album, That's what I been sayin' was released by Sooper records in 2024. Alex Hall is a drummer and the recording engineer who runs Reliable Recorders. https://www.instagram.com/rami_gabriel_/

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!

The Westerlees swing band plays both rare and popular tunes from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.Everything from the Light Crust Doughboys to Bob Wills to Hank Williams is performed with levity and humor. Swing-era standards are carefully selected and arranged for maximum danceabilty. They also have many original tunes that capture the drollery of the Western Swing genre.Come show off your dance moves! Listen to Steel Guitar, Clarinet, and Fiddle! You are guaranteed to be entertained!

Nathan Kalish & his Derechos hail from Nashville TN and they play a mix of psychedelic country rock and Classic outlaw country covers. They cut their teeth maintaining a residency at the Legendary ACME feed & Seed on Broadway. overt the years they have developed a very unique Performance style that is fun but also sincere and Musical

https://www.instagram.com/nathankalish/

Diamondback has been a popular staple of the Chicago Music scene for decades. We bring our high energy sound to clubs, festivals and private events throughout the Midwest.  Our extensive song list is truly a history of Country, and for that matter, American pop music, and promises something for everyone.    Female fronted, tight vocal harmonies and multi-instrumentalists (lead guitar, fiddle, mandolin) bring texture and excitement to our sound.  We perform regularly as a 5-piece band, with the capability of adding additional instruments (steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, keyboard) and vocalists. Our lineup features Chicagoland’s most talented and experienced musicians, some from the Old Town School of Folk Music, and many others.   The band has established itself as a standout act in Chicagoland, performing at popular venues such as Fitzgerald’s, Carol’s Pub, Firewater Saloon; family-friendly Summer Festivals at Kendall County Fair, Plano’s Midweek Music, Skokie’s Wednesdays on the Green, Northman Riverwalk, Oak Park Thursday Night Out; Corporate Events and many Private parties.   

Kimmi Bitter
Dubbed "the future of classic country" by Saving Country Music, Kimmi Bitter is painting a whole new tapestry that drapes golden-era Countrypolitan with coastal desert twang. A rising force in the underground Americana scene she's mixing the old school with the new cool by capturing the attention of music fans and critics alike. That boundary-pushing spirit burst onto the scene when her 2024 debut album Old School, which landed in the Top 25 on the Americana Album Radio Chart and earned eight award nominations across outlets like Saving Country Music and the San Diego Music Awards. Of those, she took home three San Diego Music Awards, including Song of the Year (2024 & 2025) and Best Country Album (2025). The album also topped the Alt-Country Specialty Charts for four consecutive weeks, and her live performance was recently regarded as "one of the biggest takeaways" from Austin's SXSW.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmibitter/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimmibitter/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kimmibitterTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimmibitter

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!

Danceable, upbeat New Orleans roots music and some modern country with a twist. Aaron Leese & the Panhandlers play music for dancing drunks, lost souls, and revolution schemers. Come joins us for an night of deep Americana and southern soul. 
https://www.facebook.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@AaronLeese-Music

Cody Bolden and The Roadhands are an Atlanta-based country outfit blendingtraditional country, heartfelt ballads, classic honky-tonk, and Southern storytelling. Since releasing their debut album Roadhand in 2021, the band has established itself through road-tested performances, vivid songwriting, and a deep appreciation for country music's rich traditions. Their sophomore album, Keep on Working, expanded their reach throughout Texas and the Southeast, while appearances at the Tennessee Music and Motorcycle Revival and FloydFest helped introduce their music to new audiences. Their third full-length album, Menace to Myself, arrives October 3, 2026.Glide Magazine described the band's single "Lightning In A Bottle" as "a hard-hitting work of guitar-soaked Southern rock. For fans of groups like Blackberry Smoke, Gov’t Mule, and even Pony Bradshaw, this song will definitely hit home with its balance of poignant, haunting lyrics and plenty of bluesy guitar shredding. The band also works in a healthy dose of country swagger, ultimately making for the kind of tune well-suited for big rowdy crowds or dark and smoky bars." Instagram: @codybolden Facebook: @codyboldencountry  TikTok: @codyboldenmusic

Wild Earp makes 21st American music steeped in the country & western tradition. www.wildearp.com www.instagram.com/wildearpmusic www.facebook.com/wildearpmusic

Local Memory is a six-piece indie / alt-country band based in Chicago, Illinois. Led by songwriter Amy Myers and her pal and collaborator Matt Ciani (both with honky-tonk roots in Meg and the Wheelers). Guitarist Lucas Chamberlain, drummer Nico Ciani, pianist Nicole Murray, and vocalist Lydia Cash round out the project Their EP Greatest Hits dropped on May 30, 2025.

instagram: @localmemory / localmemory.net

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!

Demi Clara is an indie-folk and Americana singer-songwriter from the suburbs of Chicago! You may have seen her play at incredible local establishments like The Venue, FitzGerald’s, Uncommon Ground, Black Dog Vinyl Cafe and more. She is heavily inspired by artists like Jeff Tweedy, Glen Hansard, Lucinda Williams, Adam Caroll, Todd Snider, Hayes Carll, Carsie Blanton and John Prine. She enjoys using humor in her songwriting and sharing quirky stories of her childhood (“Tongue Tied”). She often opens about her experiences with heartbreak (“Come Back In”) and owning her sexuality (“The Way” and “Kiss Me”). She also writes about navigating grief, mental health challenges, and self-esteem struggles ("Envious). She hopes that her honesty and vulnerability in her songs can resonate with others and help folks feel less alone. Demi spreads messages of empathy in her songs and is inspired by places and people she loves (“Train Song”). She enjoys putting together original music events in the Chicagoland area and playing alongside her gifted friends, especially with her remarkable band. She aims to uplift the beautiful arts community by supporting her fellow creatives and wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Reilly Downes, known as the Sad Cowgirl of Chicago, is an Americana artist whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with the rich traditions of her Texas Hill Country roots. She began as a session musician in Nashville before stepping into the spotlight with her 2022 debut album, Spent, which topped Americana charts and earned acclaim from The Boot. Her haunting cover of “Wicked Game” secured radio play and a spot on Spotify’s “Vibes” playlist.After a quieter 2023, Reilly returned in 2024, sharing stages with Jaime Wyatt, Brennen Leigh, Kaitlin Butts, and Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. Described as “small but mighty,” her powerful voice and presence have earned her festival appearances and recognition in Rolling Stone.

Meg & The Wheelers are a country western band from Chicago, Illinois, formed by songwriter Meg Sampson in 2018. Their distinct sound draws on the rich history of country music, with influences ranging from Margo Price to Loretta Lynn. Meg & The Wheelers craft a unique & exciting spin on the music that made them, combining modern lyrics with traditional melodies, weaving tales of love & loss that feel both fresh & timeless. https://www.instagram.com/megandthewheelers/https://www.facebook.com/megandthewheelershttps://linktr.ee/megandthewheelers

Sophie Gault is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter working in the Americana and roots genre. She has released multiple albums, including her latest, UNHINGED (2026), recorded live with a band to capture a direct, performance-driven sound.UNHINGED reached #2 on the alt-country chart and landed in the Americana Top 20. The album’s most-streamed track is her version of Gurf Morlix’s “Is There Anyone Out There,” recorded at Arlyn Studio in Austin, Texas.Gault has performed at venues such as Robert’s Western World and appeared on the Outlaw Country Cruise. She has also contributed background vocals to several Americana recordings, including Gabe Lee’s Drink the River and Lucinda Williams’ Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart.She is an active touring artist with a focus on building audience through live performance and consistent release of original material.

@sophie_gault on instagram

Imagine Tammy Wynette crossed with the Ventures and you’ll have an idea of the sonic world of Nashville Americana artist Stacy Antonel’s new EP, The Seahorses: Volume One. Always a genre-defying artist, Antonel blends her passion for classic country, jazz and surf rock with this collection of covers, and the result is a fresh hybrid of musical styles that feels both vintage and hyper-modern. Her 2022 debut album Always the Outsider was critically praised, netting coverage in publications from Main Street Nashville to The Bluegrass Situation, and was hailed as an essential album by Saving Country Music.

www.stacyantonel.comwww.instagram.com/stacyantonelwww.facebook.com/gingercowgirl

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!

Hailing from a holler near the artistic hotbed of Marshall, NC, Sparrow Smith weaves traditional instruments with observational poetry, dyed with the vivid natural pigments of her imagination, into music your bones can wear.

https://www.instagram.com/therealsparrowsmith/ 
www.sparrowsmith.com

Daya Dorado and her Tex-Mex Country sound combine classic Texas Country with borderland rhythms to create a music of resistance, storytelling, and dance. Her upcoming debut album is a fusion of the cultures that have shaped her as an artist, and her bi-national US-Mexico tour is bringing her lively sound to audiences on both sides of the border. Her tour features Katie Jo, the lil Honky Tonk Tornado from Kansas, who has made an impact in the East Nashville Country scene and co-wrote some songs on Daya's album. Instagram: @dayaladelbarrio and @katiejomusic

Claire Chm is a line dance instructor and a member of the Line Dancers of Chicago community. She and her friends are excited to bring line dancing back to Broken Hearts! Whether you have two left feet or you’re a line dancing pro, we’ve got lessons and song selections that will keep you on the dance floor!

@claire.chm_dance (IG),

@claire.chm (IG),

@linedancersofchicago (IG & TikTok)

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!

We are an authentic NOLA rhythm and blues band that specializes in the music of piano greats Dr. John, Professor Longhair, and The Meters!!! @brotherhelpband on IG Greg Jacks & Brother Help on FB gregjacksandbrotherhelp.com

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters are a three piece Progressive Roots Rock band from Southern Indiana. Known as one of the most prolific and hard touring bands in the Midwest, they’ve released prior albums; “Midwest Heart/ Southern Blues”, “All Damn Day”, and “Heavy Denim”. The new album, “Fast Fashion”(sonaBlast! Records), is a 4 song ep, full of characters who were developed while staring over the dash of a beat up van. Nick Dittmeier & Sawdusters will be relentlessly on the road in 2025 and beyond and releasing a new LP on Cincinnati’s Sofa Burn Records. For fans of The Band, Dire Straits, and the Old 97’s. www.facebook.com/nickdittmeiermusicwww.instagram.com/nick_dittmeier_the_sawdusters

Michelle Billingsley has a reputation for being unguarded, tackling subjects considered taboo for polite women. With her sophomore album, Both Sides Of Lonely, this national and international touring artist has evolved beyond the folky troubadour of her lauded debut Not The Marrying Kind, becoming a torchbearer for classic country and western and honky-tonk that strikes a satisfying balance between vintage and modern.Glide Magazine says: "Billingsley has grabbed many an ear with her throwback honkytonk sound that combines shades of the modern and past- think Sierra Ferrell, Lucinda Williams, and Tammy Wynette. Alongside her introspectively outspoken lyrics and steel-driven sound, Billingsley evokes dusty neon light taverns where the draft beer is served cold and the locals still run the joint."

Emerging working American roots musician. Sebastien Bordeaux plays traditional country, cajun, blues, swing, jazz, latin, hillbilly bop, rockabilly, surf, honky-tonk, manouche and Americana. He has mentored and toured as a bass player with American Legendary Song-Writer Wayne “the Train” Hancock. Bordeaux released his first album under Wild Records in 2022. Several DIY singles. A live album in the beginning of 2026 featuring The Centuries out of Los Angeles. Sebastien is currently about to release his 2nd studio album with Swelltune Records this fall of 2026!With his punk rock upbringing and unsurpassed love and passion for traditional roots music, Sebastien brings an edge and authenticity many are lacking in the modern age. Sebastien has and continues to tour across North America, Japan, Mexico, Europe and South America playing pubs, city events, theatres and festivals. Sebastien’s music and bands consist of a-list musicians from Nashville and around the world. His music can be described as appropriate for a large group of avid dancers, or beer drinking foot stompers. He intertwines elements of broody dark misfortune like in “Dig a Bone,” to uplifting words of romance and world travel as in the words of “Machu Picchu.” A true authentic emerging roots music. One whom you will love in your playlists regardless of the type of music you’re passionate for. Sebastien Bordeaux is a timeless addition to the world of music.

https://www.instagram.com/official_sebastien_bordeaux/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/officialsebastienbordeux/www.sebastienbordeaux.com

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

$5 cover

Cmon down even if you don’t have a partner!