Country music has always been about the voice and the story. Well, Joe Wortell sure has the voice and he sure as hell has some stories. Hailing from the City of Chicago where he works at his family's metal fabrication factory Joe cut his teeth in the bars and Honky Tonks playing the hell out of his songs about leather tanned mavericks, hard luck hussies, runaway cats, two stroke boat engines and accidental overdoses, all while mythologizing the easy life off some remote beach in Florida. The songs are earnest, the lyrics are at times hilarious, his band is smoking and his voice is unforgettable. Insta: joewortell

Iris Marlowe is an alternative-country songwriter that uses her love of classic country music to create cinematic songs that paint a southern gothic landscape. Her latest album ‘Where the Devil Bid the Owl Goodbye’ features songs driven by adrenaline and the yearning for the Wild West. Iris creates country music for the eccentrics and folks that are looking for something a little different in the country music landscape.

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jWFAiBC95MHgZwMe0T475?si=n2PhE_J7QEGp14lP59mH_A&dl_branch=1

Social Media Links:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/irismarlowemusic/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/iris.marlowe/?hl=en

YouTube:https://youtube.com/@irismarlowe?si=76GCSRFQb4UXdOhb

The Swains, fronted by father and daughter duo Jack and Rachel, boast striking family harmonies paired with rich songwriting and classic country instrumentation. Their songwriting influences span country, southern rock, roadhouse, cosmic country, Americana, and red dirt, and reflect the Texas roots of Jack and Rachel. Their music speaks to the full range of human experience, punctuated with their signature blend of blood harmonies and heartache. 

Instagram, please tag: @the.swains.band and @roxyswain
Website: https://theswainsband.com/home

The Rangers

Homegrown Chicagoland Country and Wild Western. The Rangers, full steam ahead on their “Cowboy in a Bottle Tour” bring an electric and dynamic show to the stage, and make every show a night to remember!The Rangers Band (Facebook) @therangersband (instagram) @therangersband (TikTok)


Wicked Drawl

A unique experience that criss-crosses through textures of country, folk & classical while hinting at the spirit of musical theater/cabaret. The group is led by composer/arranger, Keith Kusterer and is amplified by the genre-bending vocal stylings of Christina Pecce, sonorous upright bass slaps of Jeffrey Parker and Chicago’s own virtuoso gem of a pianist/composer, Casey Cross.

@wickeddrawl www.wickeddrawl.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.   

Lucas Wayne is a storyteller at heart, singing about the quirks of everyday characters and the experiences of growing up in rural Eastern Kentucky and Southern Illinois - where he is based today. Classically trained, his vocal range and natural vibrato leaves crowds stunned. Wayne’s songs move between simply sweet, utterly silly and seriously sad. They all resonate with a humble honestly that is inviting and refreshing.For a few years Lucas Wayne has been captivating audiences as a solo artist. Now he is touring with his band The Cottonmouths - whose members have toured extensively with Vince Herman Band, Rev Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Whistle Pigs and more. Together they present an emotionally and sonically dynamic show that instantly connects with people. It features a truly impressive vocal performance, red-hot lead guitar/pedal-steel and a perfectly seasoned rhythm section.
https://www.facebook.com/lucaswayne0/
IG: @lucaswaynemusic
Tik Tok: @lucaswaynemusic

The Revenirs are a Chicago Alt-Country band that embrace a sonic sensibility reminiscent of Lucero, 16 Horsepower, Centro-matic and the Drive By Truckers. The Revenirs sound revolves around singer/songwriter Daniel Rey's tales of "sorrow and solitude" and features Dennis Kardys on lead guitar and Dean Radzik on drums–both alums of Chicagoland alt-country darlings, "The Dirty Green"– alongside former "The Soup" (Denton TX) bassist, "Dodgy Mary" (Chicago) vocalist and Lone Star Native "Catfish" Willy Hudson on bass.“Daniel Rey” began as the solo Alt-country, side-project of singer/songwriter Dejan Kralj (day-on kraal), who has spent the last three and a half decades as the bass guitarist and one of the primary songwriters for Milwaukee's reclusive alternative-rock band, The Gufs. The former Atlantic Recording/EMI Publishing Artist and 2012 Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame Inductee is a life-time resident of the Midwest, Rey (the Spanish translation of Kralj) and divides his time between his current home in the Veltway community of Berwyn on Chicago's near-westside and a small farm in Southeastern Indiana, which has been the source of his alt-folk/alt-country musings over the last twenty-five years. Daniel Rey has been performing throughout the Midwest since 2018 and released his debut LP “Living Low” on Milwaukee’s Red Submarine Records in 2020. Daniel Rey & the Revenirs are currently working on Rey’s follow-up and the band’s debut LP “Too Busy Dying” for release later this year.

Holy Joke is an indie Americana rock band from Chicago, IL, drawing inspiration from the alt-country greats across the decades while incorporating contemporary indie-rock sensibilities. After recording Holy Joke's first EP No Way Home as a solo project, frontman and songwriter Greg Taylor assembled the musicians who make Holy Joke a force to be reckoned with: Max Berg (guitar and pedal steel), Jonah Penningroth (drums), and Mike Vendiola (bass). The band honed their live sound in 2023 playing at venues across the city. Holy Joke released their second EP (self titled) this July, channeling the raw energy of their live show into a tight 6-song release.   @holyjokeband on all platforms

Her straight forward song writing, powerhouse vocals and A List band play with a scorching momentum that has garnered Allegra a solid place in the Roots, R&B and Country Blues landscape. She is known as the “Hoyle sister” of the beloved Chicago honky tonk heroes The Hoyle Brothers, and as one of the most dynamic and soulful voices of Chicago. This special Swamp Rock and Honky Tonk show features an exceptionally special version of her band, The Revival, featuring Brian Wilkie, John Pirruccello, Andon Davis and John Carpenter.

Wire & Nail #Milwaukeetonk. Nothing better than a Saturday Night in aNorthwoods Tavern. Longnecks & Shooters. Darts & Pool.Romance & Good times. Wire & Nail. This tight combo from Milwaukee loves nothing better than to supply the soundtrack.Equal parts Honky Tonk and Rock n Roll, Wire & Nail have thechops to keep the evening rolling.Loaded like a shotgun, the band comes stacked with tightharmonies, great tone, an on point rhythm section and enoughswagger to back it up.

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.

Lydia Cash grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She moved to Chicago on a whim in 2013, and her love for the city has since become a wellspring of inspiration for her music.​Listening to Lydia Cash’s newest EP, “Blush,” feels almost like reading a secret– the five songs are beacons of authenticity where she reveals the innermost workings of her heart’s loves and losses. Each song is a unique confessional, a portrait of a moment in time, poured out of her like the best bottle of wine on a back porch. Heartache, new romance, and introspection are all common themes that are held together with threads of vulnerable moments– a shared cigarette, a head on a shoulder. Her delicate melodies, enrapturing voice, and a pedal steel twang showcase this native Alabamian/Chicago transplant’s dichotomy of grit and sweetness.
Instagram: @Lydia_cash
www.lydiacashmusic.com

Mike Giannini & the Rhythm Rangers


Original Rockabilly and Honky Tonk from Chicago.
 @mikegianninimusic 
mikegianninimusic.com

Reverie Stone is a Chicago-based Americana and country cover band, led by husband and wife duo (Mitch & Lee), known for their rich vocal harmonies. Since forming in 2022, they've played to growing crowds across Chicagoland, sharing songs that bring back great memories and inspiring folks to sing along. Reverie Stone music blends country, roots, folk, and a dash of rock and alternative, brought to life with fiddle, mandolin, and pedal steel. They bring heart, harmony, and a warm, authentic sound to every stage.
Www.reveriestone.com 
Instagram: @reveriestonechicago 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reveriestonehttps://youtube.com/@reveriestone

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

Country music has always been about the voice and the story. Well, Joe Wortell sure has the voice and he sure as hell has some stories. Hailing from the City of Chicago where he works at his family's metal fabrication factory Joe cut his teeth in the bars and Honky Tonks playing the hell out of his songs about leather tanned mavericks, hard luck hussies, runaway cats, two stroke boat engines and accidental overdoses, all while mythologizing the easy life off some remote beach in Florida. The songs are earnest, the lyrics are at times hilarious, his band is smoking and his voice is unforgettable.