Background Character recently released the first single, "Saturn Return", from their forthcoming album, Gorgeous, which is due out on August 11th.

You can catch Background Character at Beat Kitchen on August 17th with Nikko Blue and Totally Cashed.

Guardrail recently released the first single, "Joke’s On Me”, from their forthcoming album, Content, which is due out on July 7th via Open Your Eyes.

This is the "diet punk" of Kevin Andrew (vocals), Ken Ugel (guitar), Alyssa Laessig (bass, vocals), Doug Brand (drums) and Xack Brame (guitar).

You can catch Guardrail at Bottom Lounge on July 14th with Bumsy and the Moochers, Hail Your Highness, Won’t Stay Dead, and Torch The Hive.

Vulgar Commons recently released a new single called "Capital". This is the first new music from the Post Punk group since their 2022 EP "Nicotine Fingers".

You can catch Vulgar Commons at Cubby Bear on June 24th with The Neighborhood Threat and Cloud Houses.

Madame Reaper released a new single, "Gimme", last month. This is the second single of 2023 from the Kira Leadholm fronted Indie Pop band.

You can catch Madame Reaper at Golden Dagger on June 30th with R3id and The God Awful Small Affairs.

Stranded Civilians are back with a new single, "TrapDoor", their second since the release of their 2022 album, Obsidian.

This is the Hip Hop of Tony Santana and WholsAubry who are joined on this track by the LA vocalist Drea C.

Axel Brooks recently released their debut single, "When The Siren Calls".

This is a fun and seductive take on Electropop and an impressively polished debut.

Surabhi Ensemble (selected as one of the city’s "Top International and Global Ensembles" in the Chicago Reader’s ‘Best of Chicago’ 2022 poll) will be playing City Winery on Monday, June 26th.

The critically acclaimed group of musicians and dancers will be premiering new work and previewing material for a 2024 tour of India that will include stops at Prince of Gujarat, The University of Pune, and the Tourism Department of Goa. This continues the Ensemble’s "Global Peace Tour" which has included performances in Vietnam, Senegal, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico.

Surabhi Ensemble returns to City Winery after a successful debut of a new work called "Scenes From the Pandemic" at the Chicago World Music Festival.

Surabhi will present excerpted scenes from the new work along with special guest appearances by members of Sones de Mexico, Las Guitarras de España, Intercultural Music Production, the Ishti Collective, and Massamba Diop, the Senegalese talking drummer from the 2018 Marvel Studios film Black Panther. The City Winery show will be a tribute to "talking drum" master Mamadou Tama (Modou Sarr) who passed away recently.

Soft Charm has released their second single, "Soup", which follow’s their debut, "Forest Green", which dropped back in April.

You can catch Soft Charm on July 23rd at Downstairs with Pony, TV Stars, and The Flips.

Party’z released their EP in early 2022 and are currently putting the finishing touches on a new album.

This is the work of Andy Hendricks (drums & percussion), Delia Hornik (keyboard), Mark Jaeschke (guitar & vocals), and Clare Teeling (bass & vocals).

You can catch Party’z at Cobra Lounge on June 22nd with Nora Marks, Crocodyle, and Calico Plaid.

Water From Your Eyes released their latest album, Everyone’s Crushed, last month. This is the work of the Brooklyn-based duo of Rachel Brown and Nate Amos.

Amos began his music career here in Chicago as Opposites and This is Lorelei while signed with the local label Sooper Records. He has been based in New York since 2016 but made a big impact during his time here.

You can catch Water From Your Eyes at Sleeping Village on June 22nd with Floatie and Options (Computer Music).

Footballhead recently released the first single, "Habits", from brand new album, Overthinking Everything, which was released today, June 20th.

This is the project led by Ryan Nolen who work with fellow Snow Ellet bandmate Eric Reyes to create these elaborate bedroom recordings.

Pop Punk group Life Looks Good have released a new single and video called "Fall (Into Place)".

This is the work of Rocco Sabatino (Vocals / Guitar), Sean Crawford (Drums), Dan Mast (Bass / Vocals), and Dylan Fritz (Guitar).

You can catch Life Looks Good at Sleeping Village on August 13th with Michael Cera Palin, Hey, ily, and Bottom Bracket.