Buddies since they attended the College of William and Mary, Richmond-based Griff’s Room Band has a full plate of festivals this summer to bring you their upbeat indie vibes and high-energy performances. Behind every song is a fierce fiddle setting the tone and dutiful drumming and guitars keeping the pace with three vocalists. GRB’s sound is invigorating, mixing bluegrass roots with indie rock and pop influences, creating a sound like a Sublime-Avett Brothers fusion on their new single, "Wasted Time." Check out their most popular track Cornerbooth from last year’s ‘Shut the Case‘ EP. Griff’s Room Band will be jamming at Richmond’s premier music venue, The National, on 8/8, so go check them out! – Jonathan Goodwin

For Ben Godfrey, the sounds of his project B.E. Godfrey have been developing from his work out of the Texan alt-folk band, listenlisten. Both projects can be classified under the folk umbrella, but Godfrey’s latest record ranges from entirely traditional moments like ‘It Was the Wind‘ to more adventurous sounding tracks like single ‘Get Your Gun’ (streaming below). A dark and contemplative sound, the melancholic and lonely side of country, runs through the entire EP, released last year and entitled ‘Wild Desperation’. You can see B.E. Dogfrey this Wednesday at the Cake Shop alongside other other local alt-folk acts Shoshone, Buck Meek, and Tyler Jordan. – Sam O’Hara

Tune in to the sounds of Brooklyn-based pop group Secret Weapons, and you may not be able to stop yourself from dancing along – founding members Danny and Gerry sure can’t when they take to the stage. Although they’ve only released one track so far, a catchy and danceable tune entitled "Perfect World," (streaming below) the longtime friends have generated some buzz thanks to their energetic live-performances – and, as we hear, fun after parties. "Perfect World," released just three months ago, is a sparkling 4 minutes of catchy, 80s-esque synth melodies and a chorus that invites you to sing, and dance, along. The duo plans to get started on more recordings soon, but in the meantime they seem to have convinced the guys at Bowery Present, since, after headlining Rough Trade in April, they booked them for the first time at the Bowery Ballroom on August 10. That’s quite an accomplishment for any emerging band. – Patrick Wolff

At just 23 years old, the New York City based DJ/producer Sajeeb Saha, better known as Jai Wolf, has been blowing up on the electronic scene. After gaining the attention of Skrillex on Twitter, Jai Wolf’s beats are no secret anymore. His remixes are what first caught the eyes and ears of other DJs and EDM fans, but his solo tracks are really where Saha sets himself apart from the pack. His newest single, "Indian Summer" (below) showcases Jai Wolf’s sound, a dancey EDM with hip hop influences and an Eastern flair. His production style is one that draws from everything around him, and "Indian Summer" brings together samples of both videogame noises and traditional Indian music. It’s a catchy, undeniably good mix, making it clear Jai Wolf is here to stay. – Sam O’Hara

TOONS is at times a surprising wordsmith stoner and at times a broody, crashing-on-the-couch (“just for a few days”) and hitting-on-all-your-friends stoner. They have some important questions to ask: “I wonder how, where did all these cows comes from? And I wonder cow, where did all this bread come from? And I wonder bread…”, ambitions: “I’m gonna look at you get naked, I brought all these dollars for your panties tonight”, and a haunted past: “God left me on a garbage can, now I’m right back here again…all my friends they don’t like me and they aint gonna watch me change." On their latest (self titled) album, the attitude is all fun and Beastie Boys while the vocal sensibility calls up Bob Dylan and instrumentation goes garage jam all the way. Even when these songs glimpse into self-pitying disaster you get the feeling it’s all a punch line and you’re actually stuck in a Kevin Smith movie. Check out this quick but great video of ‘Bazooka Joe’ and see them at Palisades on August 4th. – Leora Mandel 

Cricket Tell The Weather is a fiddle-swelling, banjo-plucking, story-relating, undeniably Americana vision. The NYC quintet includes fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and a rotating cast of singers with varying tones. Their self-titled debut album at times swings into full on bluegrass territory but isn’t married to tradition—some songs dare to stick an arm or two out the window. The switching off of singers/songwriters helps to keep the record diverse—one moment you’re out contra dancing between golden bales of hay and the next you’re staring up at the Brooklyn Bridge, feeling ambushed and wondering aloud about the stars in their absence. The band will take this sound on an east coast tour this August, kicking things off with a performance at Rockwood Music Hall on August 14. – Leora Mandel

In horror movies, you’re never supposed to go into the woods, but that’s exactly what Richmond-based Black Water Gold did to record their EP released early last month, "Round Up." Blending their Virginian country roots with a penchant for chill rock, this four-piece carefully weaves twang with acoustic repetition and tireless backbeat drumming. Their sound also caters to indie lovers with a lo-fi recording style and vocals like a younger, scratchier Van Morrison. If you’re looking for chill tunes with rock overtones, check out Black Water Gold at The Camel on 7/25. – Jonathan Goodwin 

This June Surf Harp released a new single titled "Leather" on bandcamp – their first release since "Machete" back in 2013. Fellow Batltimore based musician and electro-pop indie celebrity Dan Deacon has already marked his stamp of approval. The track’s lyrics contain suggested hand amputation, sewing, pill popping, hair receding, leather purchasing, and a pair of lipstick stained boots all disguised in the fuzzy, summery glow of surf pop instrumentation. This 5-piece group recorded locally in Baltimore’s The Compost Loft and The Annex and will be playing a show in Baltimore at the end of the month at The Crown on 7/30.

– Leora Mandel 

With just one EP ("Six Wives") under their belt, the Brooklyn duo, My Body, is making avant-synth-pop that stands out. The brain of My Body is Jordan Bagnall, who plays the roles of singer, songwriter, and producer. A classically trained singer, her dreamy vocals and range are impressive enough, but when laid over their resounding electronic beats in the opening track "All I Can" (video streaming below), it’s pretty much alt-pop magic. Catch them tonight, July 17th, and Shea Stadium. – Sam O’Hara

If you belong to the ranks of sophisticated music lovers who are not intimidated by jazzy influences and value chord progressions a little more complex than the ones found in the average Ramones song, the debut single from 23-year-old singer-songwriter Elisa Coia may be just what you need. The Brooklyn by way of Rhode Island songstress released "This Human Ache" on July 13, the first track and video from her upcoming, self-produced debut EP entitled "These Days." Blending airy loungy melodies with a voice that’s full of soul, Coia offers an infectious and confident introduction to her musiclal talents. The music video, which you can check out below, is a surreal and dream-like production that pairs well with the dreamy atmosphere of the song, and the singer’s smooth moves feed our hopes for an engagin and theatrical live performance (although the artists has no shows scheduled at the moment). "These Days" is due to be released sometime this September and will contain three tracks, including "This Human Ache." – Patrick Wolff

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Packing a 30-minute, electric ukelele-fueled emotional punch, the debut self-titled album from It Was Romance shows a band with confidence, character and promising talent. The first single, "Philadelphia," is an emotionally revealing song, telling in just under three minutes the story of a love strained by distance. Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder Lane Moore’s velvety voice saunters around the doo wop rhythm section and the gritty distorted guitars, providing a unique contrast to the sad subject matter of the lyrics and delivering a song fit for your summer playlist. Her unselfconscious performance in the single’s video (streaming) adds an extra layer of paradox and fun. The quintet released their debut in May, you can catch them live on July 28 when they perform at the Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn. – Patrick Wolff

There’s nothing strange about loving DC-based (Stop Worrying and) Love the Bomb’s gripping punk chords, throaty vocals, and drumming worthy of aerial imitation. Featuring both female and male pipes at the mic, SWALTB’s sound is heavily influenced by the heyday of historic punk venue CBGB and reaches out to the eardrums with end-of-the-world lyrics and slick transitions from tantalizing guitar solos to meaty choruses. Their six-track LP released back in January, “Nouns,” is sure to please any fan of punk or the band’s self-carved niche of proto-post-revival. Treat your brain on 8/16 at the Black Cat to some top-tier punk. – Jonathan Goodwin