Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Olivia and the Lovers are a queer cowboy band based in Chicago. Taking inspiration both from classic American folk music and cowboy standards, Olivia Love writes music as a vehicle for vulnerability and reflections on queer love, loss, and healing. They were named the Best Emerging Band and Best Country Band in the 2023 Chicago Reader Poll.

St. Louis honkytonk rock ‘n’ roll act The Fighting Side is making waves throughout the Midwest, and the status quo of country music has been given notice. Frontman Brad Jackson makes it all clear. “Each one of us has been doing this for a long time, but in different musical realms. Some of us cut teeth on punk rock, some of us on bluegrass or surf rock, and I’m a traditional country guy with a long punk rock history it all matters.” The styles each member contributes is distinct, but the resulting sound is something altogether innovative, yet familiar in the way that defines songs you can’t get out of your head. Screaming telecaster lead guitar from David Newman and the walking bass lines of Ben Gastman, combined with Jackson’s deep baritone growl, say it’s something between country music and southern rock, while the punk/blues backbone from behind the kit of Timmy Kendrick and the guitar of Seth Barnhart transform the output into something that’s really not country music at all.