Matchess is the adventurous recordings of Whitney Johnson. She has released the first single, “Of Freedom”, from her forthcoming third album, Sacracorpa. This album was recorded part in an earth ship outside Abiquiú, New Mexico and combines Ace Tone organ, cola, drum machine, field recordings, magnetic tape, and Whitney’s voice. You can preorder the album today, along side the previously mentioned Negative Scanner LP, from Trouble In Mind.

You can catch Matchess at Hideout on May 19th with Mike Donovan and The Funs.

Negative Scanner has released the first single and title track from their forthcoming sophomore LP, Nose Picker. The album is set to be released by Trouble In Mind Records on July 20th.

You can catch Negative Scanner at Empty Bottle on May 25th with The Spits and Gallery Night.

The Knees formed in late 2016 and released their second single, “Take Care” last month. They are planning for a debut EP this summer, and are about to depart for their first East Coast tour.

You can catch The Knees at Empty Bottle for a free show on May 21st with Fauvely, Corey Flood, & Desert Liminal.

Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow is an innovative Jazz quintet consisting of Shawn Maxwell (alto sax/clarinet/flute), Chad McCullough (trumpet), Matt Nelson (piano/rhodes), Junius Paul (bass), and Phil Beale (drums). This week they released their sophomore album, Music in My Mind, via Origin Records. Below is the album’s lead track, “Our Princess Is In Another Castle”.

The record release event for the album will take place on May 31st at Constellation.

Beat Maker Radius (aka Radius Etc, Ramon Norwood) announced that the follow-up to 2013’s Infinite Roots Vol. 1 will be released this August but Diggers Factory and Juno Records. The preorders will be fund the production and distribution of the limited 300 physical copies, so it is important that you show you support upfront.

Below is a track that will appear on Infinite Roots Vol. 2, “Frigid In Pilsen (MC Instrumental)”.

The King of Mars is a 7 piece rock and funk band that formed in 2015 at Columbia College. Today they released their new single, “For A Ride”, across all major platforms. The single is filled powerful horns and the vocals of John Bruner.

You can catch The King of Mars at SPACE on June 22nd with The Dip.

Friday Pilots Club have released an amazing John LeVert directed video for their new single “Gold and Bone”. This is the indie pop sounds of Caleb Hitunen and Drew Polovick, and the duo’s third new single of 2018.

Last month the band released a video for “Would You Mind”, and in March they released “Bad As Hell”.

Brontë Fall is the Americana band founded and lead by Teri Bracken. The band released their debut album, Silhouette Dances, a year ago, and recently began recording new music.

Bronte Fall will be performing at The Hideout on May 22nd to close out the Songwriter’s Round Chicago. The event will feature songwriters Nikki Morgan, Eric Quigley, Dina Bach, Phillip Michael Scales, and Teri Bracken of Bronte Fall.

Royal Hands have partnered with Broken Shaker at The Freehand Hotel to create a new music series called “time|space: an exploration in sonic improvisation”. This will be a series of improvised performances from different bandleader’s organizing a new trio each month. The goal is to offer "improvised psychadelia that embodies higher level contemplation through emotion, acceptance of imperfection, and patience within a larger body of work”. These events will take place the last Thursday of every month and will feature the talents of Jon Deitemeyer, Quinlan Kirchner, Matt Ulery, Xavier Breaker, Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, Rob Clearfield, Anthony Abbinanti, and more.Jon Deitemeyer, Quinlan Kirchner, Matt Ulery, Xavier Breaker, Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, Rob Clearfield, Anthony Abbinanti, and more.

This series kicks off May 31st at The Freehand Hotel with a trio organized by the talented Makaya McCraven, who released a tremendous LP, Highly Rare, back in November via International Anthem.

Spyder Ryde is the trio of Jessie Oleson, Zohair Hussain, and Sarah Jane Quillin ( Desert Liminal). The trio released their first single, the dream-pop gem “Best Behavior”, back in February.

You can catch Spyder Ryde at Sleeping Village on May 25th with Hi-Ker, Copilot, and Rafting.

Adam Gogala fronts the Folk Punk Americana band known as Blind Adam and The Federal League. Late last month the band released their self-titled debut LP, and recently an great video for the LP’s sad second single “Another Lonely Weekend”. This video was filmed on location at The Native in Logan Square. The band’s first single was “Happy Hour”, which had a video flimed in part at Empty Bottle. If you love Beer, Chicago, Rock N’ Roll, you will love this band.

You can catch Blind Adam and The Federal league at InnJoy in Logan Square on May 20th and at Emporium Wicker Park on June 14th.

Deanna Devore has released the second single, “Seven Eight”, from her forthcoming album. Both this song and March’s “A Cause” demonstrate the beat and synth heavy, R&B influenced, direction Devore’s music is taking.

You can catch Deanna Devore at SPACE in Evanston on May 17th with Josh Rouse.