Dan Lepien, hailing from Sauk City, Wisconsin, is a fully independent artist carrying the torch for pure, traditional country music. Known for well-crafted songwriting, a road warrior work ethic, and an authentic sound often compared to country legends, he has built a loyal following. His debut album The Honky Tonk Traditional (2025) earned critical acclaim, including an 8/10 rating from Saving Country Music, and he has shared stages with Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, John Anderson, Shenandoah, and more. Facebook.com/danlepienofficialInstagram.com/dan.lepienofficialTikTok.com/@danlepienofficialDanlepien.com

Like Nike, just do it

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

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Product of Chicago, the beating heart of the Midwest, Woodrow Hart & the Haymaker blend urban grit with country soul to form what Uncle John Prine would call "a band that plays for keeps." A true songwriter, Hart writes lyrics which evoke the timeless storytelling of famous Windy City wordsmiths like Prine, Carl Sandburg, and Shel Silverstein while twangy guitars and soaring trumpet share space with harmonies that echo The Band at their most raucous. Woodrow Hart & the Haymaker steep their sound in folk, country, and blues traditions without paying much mind to the rules of any of them, bending conventions like prairie grass in the wind, yawping and, at times, sweetly crooning a beer-soaked toast to wood-paneled basements and front-porch jam sessions under a clear night sky.

The Country Doctors founded their practice in 2001. We’re a vintage honky-tonk band, meaning that our roots are in the heartfelt repertoire of country musicians who played and sang with a purity of emotion often lacking in the genre today. At the same time, we embrace contemporary artists who share a similar approach to country music. We have great vocalists in the band and do lots of arranged harmonies. We perform classic country tunes as well as original songs written in the style of the folks who influenced our music, such as Hank Sr., Johnny, Buck, Merle, George and Tammy, Loretta and so many others. Our musicians are all top notch veterans with a great rhythm section and soloists. Most of all we like to have fun with our music and their audience. There’s not a wall between the stage and our audience.

Original classic-style country and honky tonk full of heart and soul, laced with wit and woe. Bringing fire and feeling to the age-old stories of heart break, love,and victory for the underdog. Hearts Gone South shoots straight from the hip with impassioned vocals, a tight rhythm section, and smoking leads, to hit their target dead on.Shining like diamonds in a rhinestone world.

Insta - @heartsgonesouth , facebook - heartsgonesouth/facebook, website under construction but we have bandcamp, https://heartsgonesouth.bandcamp.com/

Doc Brown has been making music in Chicago since 2011. He’s been fortunate to play with some of the best country acts in Chicago and beyond. Now after being a sideman to the stars, he is stepping out with his own trio that seamlessly blends country, jazz, blues, rock, and Americana styles through the band’s own unique lens.  instagram - docbrownmd

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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_/

Born in 1998, Jordan Blanchard grew up on what he considers to be the greatest era of music--90's country. Fiddle and steel guitar were still surging through the air waves at full force, and even though his influences stem from genres like pop, rock, rap, and bluegrass, his sound always finds it's way back to his blue-collar roots. "They call me country," he says, and his live show proves why. With over 400,000 streams, 700 shows across dozens of states, and a multitalented band that's shared stages with Neal McCoy, Chase Matthew, Hot Chelle Rae, and more, Blanchard consistently delivers performances packed with heart, humor, and just the right amount of chaos.
https://linktr.ee/jordanblanchardofficial

Joe ain't no schmo yo.

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

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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)

Blending the raw storytelling tradition of John Prine with the timeless sounds of George Jones, Hunter Peebles & The Moonlighters bring a fresh yet classic energy to the Country/Americana scene. Fronted by Hunter Peebles, whose powerful vocals and poignant lyrics explore the highs and lows of the human experience, the band features a signature mix of crying steel guitar, rich instrumentation, and heartfelt melodies.

Based in St. Louis, MO, Hunter Peebles & The Moonlighters have quickly made their mark, sharing the stage with notable acts such as Ben Haggard, Sunny Sweeney, Vincent Neil Emerson, and Willie Watson. Their debut EP, Volume One, released in November 2023, showcases Hunter’s ability to weave personal narratives with universal themes, offering a collection of songs that resonate with fans of classic country and modern Americana alike.

With a sound that honors the past while embracing the future, Hunter Peebles & The Moonlighters are poised to make their mark on the country music landscape.

https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-peebles/home

Toadvine
Scrappy garage country - it's like if Gram Parsons ever did get around to making that record with the Rolling Stones
Instagram: @toadvine._

A Chicago based singer-songwriter armed with unwaveringly intimate lyrics & acoustically driven melodies, damsel. is a breath of fresh air on the indie folk scene. Taking inspiration from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Laura Marling, and Big Thief, damsel. sings with unflinching honesty about her life and the world that she sees. Her debut album "soft animal" is out now.

https://linktr.ee/damsel.songs

5 guys and a gal who love country music and twangy rock. They pay tribute to tunes from the 60's through today and put their signature twist on it all.

https://www.facebook.com/TrailerParkTwisters/https://www.instagram.com/trailerparktwisters?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==https://www.tiktok.com/@trailerparktwisters

Sweet Megg “Sweet Megg is a genre-blending vocalist and songwriter, weaving jazz, country, and blues into a sound that’s both timeless and fresh. Originally from NYC and now based in Nashville, she’s traveled the world, honing her craft everywhere from Parisian jazz clubs to Southern honky-tonks.Her upcoming album, Never Been Home (out May 16), showcases her signature mix of vintage influences and modern edge. Produced by Mose Wilson & Dennis Crouch and recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, the album captures Megg’s restless spirit and musical evolution. After years touring with Postmodern Jukebox and leading a Cirque du Soleil country project, she’s back, ready to share her most personal work yet.” Instagram @sweet.megg Facebook.com/sweetmegg

Sparkle Carcass Chicago Dive Bar Country sounds with Midwestern Punk grit meets the energy at a party when someone brings out a box of bottle rockets - Sparkle Carcass formed in 2017 around songwriter Cody Palmer following the dissolution of his previous efforts with power pop trio Tuff Slang. Cody’s songwriting pulls from all the best music to come out of Texas, Southern California, and the Midwest to give you drinkin’ songs, dancin’ songs, and songs that make you wanna stay a while. Most importantly, each song delivers on the honest storytelling that makes country music worth listening to. No matter the venue, a Sparkle Carcass show is like a good night out: exciting, surprising, and a damn good time. sparklecarcass.com - @sparklecarcass (insta)

Sara Jean Stevens
Sara Jean Stevens writes songs for the loners, the hopeless romantics, and the dreamers. Her sophomore EP Lovesick weaves Americana, folk, and roadhouse grit into layered stories of love, longing, and memory. Recorded live in just two days at Dial Back Sound in Mississippi with Matt Patton (Drive-By Truckers), the EP includes collaborators like Taylor Hollingsworth and Kell Kellum, and draws from decades of lived experience.With praise from Americana Highways and show invitations from John Hiatt, The Wood Brothers, and Rhett Miller, Stevens continues carving out her own lane—one filled with pedal steel and poetry laced lyrics.

www.sarajeanstevens.com‍ ‍www.instagram.com/sarajeanstevens www.facebook.com/sarajeanstevens‍ ‍https://linktr.ee/sarajeanstevens

The Wild Western Avenue Roots Ensemble is a Chicago-based outfit that unites classic country, traditional jazz, western swing, jug band, and folk music to create a genre self-described as “cowboy jazz.” The five-piece formed over the course of a year after frontman Scott Cary moved to Chicago in 2023. Most members met at the Banjo After Dark old-time jam on the city’s north side. Their influences include Leon Redbone, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Prine, and Bob Wills, among other classic country greats. During one of their sets, you might hear a Hank Williams cover, a countrified jazz standard, or one of several original songs. Though the group’s lineup is fluid, core members include Cary (lead vocalist), Kevin Doyle (bass), Chelsea Dvorchak (viola), Elliott Esparza (lead guitar), and Matt Uribe (violin). They’re currently working on their first EP while playing shows across the Midwest.

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Outlaw in a Cocktail DressSuperfrye is a solo acoustic/electric guitarist and singer-songwriter performing her own brand of Garage Roots music. Her versatile originals tap into roots, flamenco, R&B, blues, lounge and punk styles; and her covers pay tribute to artists ranging from Tom Waits to Tina Turner. Superfrye_chicago / Instagram Superfrye/Facebook superfrye@aymefrye291/tik tok

James Gedda & the Big Breakfast 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

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.   

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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

Todd Day Wait

Nashville, TN

Official / Instagram / Facebook      

Todd Day Wait is one of the last real American Workhorse, pedal to the metal, Troubadours by way of Missouri, to California, to New Orleans and now Nashville. The original material of Todd Day Wait, is highly influenced by early American folk, country and blues music from the 1920's through the 1960's, embodying the spirit and authenticity of traditional American music.      Todd Day Wait, whomst you may have heard of from his millions of spins on GemsOnVHS or WesternAF writes and performs his own style of timeless country music. Harking back to Jimmie Rodgers, Willie Nelson, Wynn Stewart and Kris Kristofferson he keeps the spirit of country music alive. In 2009 he put all his earthly belongings on the curb and hit the road, in his diesel shuttle bus fueled by vegetable oil, for a never ending tour. From busking the streets of New Orleans, to playing in the shadow of European castles, to lighting up the honky-tonk dance floors in Nashville, Todd keeps it 60/50.

On the heels of their second studio album, L.A.Noir, Stray Bolts weave blues, jazz, folk, traditional country and classic rock and roll into their sound, performing both original music and unique interpretations of familiar and not so familiar songs by seminal American artists.
Https://www.facebook.com/Stray.Bolts/https://www.instagram.com/stray_bolts_band

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Bootleggers are a lovable country cover band from Chicago, Illinois. Their signature sound blends a fine tuned fiddle, thumping upright bass, powerful vocals, drums, and roaring guitars. They’re bound to make boots bounce wherever they go.

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube: @bootleggerschi https://linktr.ee/bootleggerschi

Chasen Wayne Mitchell was born on a team roping ranch in Kennedale, Texas and raised in a world fueled by rodeo, drag racing, and blue-collar grit. After his family relocated to Granbury in search of a safer life, he found refuge in music—and set his sights on Austin.At 17, Chasen made the move to the Live Music Capital of the World, working nights as a bouncer on 6th Street and days digging tunnels for a plumbing crew. His journey hasn’t been clean or easy—marked by addiction, close calls, and a long road of hard-earned experience that’s deeply embedded in his songwriting.Everything shifted after a breakout performance at Sagebrush in South Austin and a shout-out from Zach Bryan that put new eyes and ears on his work. With three full-length albums under his belt, Chasen has carved out a voice that’s as weathered and authentic as the Texas landscape he comes from. He’s built for the long haul—with a band behind him, songs that stick, and a stage presence that hits just as hard as his story. @chaywey on Instagram

A good time dance party with our local favorites.

Dance floor is open!

Two Steppers!

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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)

St. Louis honky-tonk rock ‘n’ roll outfit The Fighting Side is raising hell across the Midwest, and country music’s status quo better take notice. Frontman Brad Jackson lays it out plain: “We’ve all been at this a long time, just in different corners of the music world. Some of us came up on punk rock, some on bluegrass or metal, and I’m a traditional country guy with deep punk roots. It all matters.”That mix of backgrounds isn’t just for show, it’s what makes The Fighting Side’s sound hit different. Paul Johns’ walking bass lines roll like a runaway train under Jackson’s deep baritone growl, grounding the band somewhere between country and southern rock. But it doesn’t stop there. Merril Barden’s drums carry a punk and blues backbone while Seth Barnhart’s rhythms cut through it all like a honky-tonk switchblade. The result is something that’s got all the grit of country but refuses to stay inside the lines. It’s loud, it’s raw, and it sticks with you, just like a damn good song ought to.

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/

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Prime Country, Classic Country, Country Rock, and Americana are what you'll hear from TWSB. Tight harmony and top shelf musicianship playing A songbook full of Merle, Hank, Waylon, Willie, George (Strait and Jones), Poco, Eagles, Pure Prairie League, Marshall Tucker, and many others.  flintcreekmusic.com