WHITNEY
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Whitney is a folk rock/Americana band from Chicago, formed in 2015 by guitarist Max Kakacek and drummer/vocalist Julien Ehrlich following the breakup of their previous band, Smith Westerns . Their music blends elements of folk, soul, and country, characterized by Ehrlich’s falsetto vocals and a nostalgic, summery sound. The band’s debut album, Light Upon the Lake, released in June 2016, received critical acclaim for its warm tones and introspective lyrics. Their second album, Forever Turned Around (2019), continued their exploration of themes like love and friendship, further solidifying their place in the indie music scene. In 2020, they released Candid, an album of cover songs, showcasing their versatility and appreciation for diverse musical influences. In 2022, Whitney released Spark, marking a shift towards a more classic pop sound while retaining their signature emotional depth. The band continues to evolve, captivating audiences worldwide with their heartfelt performances and timeless melodies. Revered in their hometown of Chicago the Mayor of the city created a Whitney day to honour their contribution to the local music scene Whitney has many international tours under their belt, performing at festivals like Lollapalooza Music Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Coachella Music Festival. They’ve also completed tours across Australasia boasting performances at Australia’s iconic, Laneway Festival. In Europe and the UK, they’ve played Primavera Sound, Green Man Festival, Iceland Airwaves, etc.
The Bridge City Sinners – “Break The Chain” Tour
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian From the misty, pine-covered hills of the Pacific Northwest hail the Bridge City Sinners, who span the continuum from prohibition era jazz to Appalachian death folk. This traditional string band line up bends the meaning of the word genre, Playing festivals from Punk Rock Bowling, to Muddy Roots, to Oregon’s Bluegrass String Summit. They started their journey by busking on sidewalks across the country and now this supergroup of musicians find themselves on the national tour circuit. The Sinners still hold true to the DIY mentality of putting albums out on a self made record label, Flail Records. With talented musicianship and a punk as f***! live show, this is one band you don’t want to miss.
Tune-Yards
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Formed by Merrill Garbus in 2006, Tune-Yards has become a name synonymous with creativity and forward motion. Known for explosive performances, surprising song structures, and danceable rhythms, their music also highlights connections between song and social consciousness. The New York Times praised their debut album, BiRd-BrAiNs, as “a confident do-it-yourselfer’s opening salvo,” and relentless touring established Garbus as a commanding live performer. Garbus stepped into the producer role with 2011’s w h o k i l l, a bold and sonically inventive album that earned critical acclaim, including the #1 spot on The Village Voice’s Pazz and Jop poll. By 2021’s sketchy., Garbus and bassist Nate Brenner had solidified their partnership, creating a fully collaborative work. The duo has announced their sixth studio record, Better Dreaming, to be released on May 16, 2025 on 4AD. Tune-Yards also excels in scoring, contributing to Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You, I’m A Virgo, and the forthcoming I Love Boosters. Their artistry continues to expand across music, film, and television.
Craig Finn & The Band of Forgiveness wsg James Felice
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Craig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer/songwriter based in New York City, best known as the singer of The Hold Steady. Finn spent the ’90’s leading Minneapolis indie band Lifter Puller, which released 3 albums and an EP. After relocating to New York, he joined with Lifter Puller member Tad Kubler to form The Hold Steady in 2003. The Hold Steady quickly achieved critical acclaim and a worldwide fanbase with their unique pairing of dense lyrical narratives with big rock guitars. The Hold Steady’s ninth album, The Price Of Progress, was released in March 2023, commemorating the band’s 20th Anniversary. Craig Finn releases his 6th solo album Always Been on April 4. Produced by Adam Granduciel (The War On Drugs), the album features musical performances by Granduciel and members of The War on Drugs, Kathleen Edwards, Sam Fender, and more. Always Been tells the story of a man who becomes a clergyman despite a lack of faith. The songs detail his rise, fall, and eventual redemption, while also shining a light to sharply reveal the other characters that populate the world he moves through. A limited edition, 92-page companion book Lousy With Ghosts accompanies the album and features 11 works of fiction by Craig Finn. These stories take place in the same universe as the record, giving deeper looks at the characters within. Finn released his first solo album in 2012 with three additional solo LPs put forth from 2015 – 2019: Faith in the Future, We All Want The Same Things, and 2019’s I Need a New War – which coalesced into a sign-of-the-times musical trilogy. Finn’s fifth album, A Legacy of Rentals was released in 2022 and received universal critical acclaim. That’s How I Remember It is Craig Finn’s podcast series, launched in 2022. Co-produced and distributed by Talkhouse, the podcast series examines the connection between memory and creativity. Each episode features a discussion between Finn and one creator – including musicians, authors, filmmakers, and more – about the role memory plays in their art. These exclusive conversations reveal the different ways each creator synthesizes their remembered life experience to tell stories about themselves and the world we live in. Podcast guests have included George Saunders, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Lucinda Williams, Johnny Marr, Jason Isbell, Duff McKagan, Adam Duritz, Ben Gibbard, and many more.
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers Fall 2025 Tour
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers will make a sprightly young groove doctor out of anyone. With spectacular energy pulsating from every member of the band, the Rainbow Seekers could illuminate the very chambers of Heaven. Lead singer Joe Hertler splashes through lyrical puddles of golden rain, leaving his audience wearing flowery crowns and bubbling smiles. A ride on the Rainbow will take you across the mountains of Motown, through the fjords of folk, over the archipelagos of Americana, and-at last-into a funky firth, where only the fiercest of friendships can be found. The Rainbow Seekers began their historic quest 8 years ago, revolving around the pure, unadulterated songwriting of their fearless leader, Joe Hertler. Ryan Hoger was the first among the Seekers to find this lonely songsmith and recognize the twinkling magic in his beard. The young boy gave up all his earthly possessions (besides his guitar, of course) and became the first disciple of the Rainbow. With this, the core of the Rainbow was thereby established, and it didn’t take long for the Rainbow Seekers to continue their expansion. Multi-instrumentalist and notable auxiliary percussion maestro Micah Bracken journeyed from the bowels of Atlantis when he heard tell of the Rainbow, and the earth trembled as saxophonist and all-around badass Aaron Stinson descended from Olympus on a golden rainbow of his own. Then came thunder from the depths of space and as it picked up the bass, a soft exhale escaped the lips of every princess within a hundred moons, “Bambis,” they cooed. All the while, on the other ends of the earth, a young boy was hard at work, honing and sharpening his sticks for the day that the Rainbow would come his way, and when it landed at his door, Ryan McMahon climbed aboard. Since the early days, their quest has brought them across the nation and upon such noble gatherings as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, and Summer Camp. As you’ll know if you’ve seen the band, seeking the proverbial Rainbow is all about the live performance. “The live show is the purpose of the band. This is why we make music. Playing music is a symbiotic process, the crowd is as much a part of it as the musicians. We give as much energy and love as we can and we can feel that coming from the crowd as well” says Hertler. “We believe that performance is not a High Art operation, and that you should do anything you can to ensure that the crowd is having a good time. From piñatas to confetti, to fog, to flowers, to drum solos, to strobe lights, to Thor, to sword battles-literally anything goes.” If you’re still reading this, at least one thing is true: The Rainbow Seekers have been waiting for you. If you’ll only let them, they will shake the dust from your wildest expectations. They will roar into your life with rapturous frequencies, exuberant tone, and a joyfulness of purpose that has truly become a rare sight on stage. Join them in their celebration, and they will take you on a never-ending journey to a place you’ll never be able to describe in words.
Soccer Mommy
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Sophie Allison has always written candidly about her life, making Soccer Mommy one of indie rock’s most interesting and beloved artists of the last decade. Allison has used Soccer Mommy’s songs as a vehicle to sort through the thoughts and encounters that inevitably come with the reality of growing up. After all, Soccer Mommy began as a bedroom-to-Bandcamp exercise with teenage Allison posting her plaintive songs as demos. Over the years, though, she has often enhanced that sound, using the endless production possibilities, newly at her fingertips, to outstrip singer-songwriter stereotypes. The records would start with songwriting’s kernels of truth, and she would then imagine all the unexpected shapes they could take. Every Soccer Mommy record has felt like a surprise. On Soccer Mommy’s fourth album, the tender but resolute Evergreen, Allison is again writing about her life. But that life’s different these days: Since making her previous album, 2022’s Sometimes, Forever, Allison experienced a profound and also very personal loss. New songs emerged from that change, unflinching and sometimes even funny reflections on what she was feeling. (Speaking of funny, this is a Soccer Mommy album, so there’s an ode to Allison’s purple-haired wife in the game Stardew Valley, too.) These songs were, once again, Allison’s way to sort through life, to ground herself. She wanted them to sound that way, too, to feel as true to the demos—raw and relatable, unvarnished and honest—as possible. The songwriting would again lead where the production would follow. Nothing overindulgent, everything real.
deadbeatdad, crystal trench, and DJ deathbong
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian With a style that’s equal parts groove and gut-punch, deadbeatdad is here to make you move and give you something to cry about. Drawing inspiration from electronic, pop, and indie sounds, deadbeatdad is crafting tracks that fuse dance-floor energy with brooding storytelling. With a passion for pushing musical limits and exploring themes of identity, self-discovery, and connection, deadbeatdad creates music that feels both personal and universally relatable. Known for their innovative production and bold sonic experimentation, deadbeatdad is rapidly making a mark on the alt-pop scene with a unique sound that’s as dynamic as it is unforgettable. DJ deathbong is a modular-techno project focused on live synthesis. Reviews: “That’s a lot of cables” , “What is that sound!?” “Please stop smoking in here”. crystal trench seems inextricable from the onstant, cyclical flow of gloom and bloom that surrounds them. They’ve built their world aroundthe ethereal, trance-like state of genres like darkwave and noise, with nods to their more energetic post-punk and synth-pop influences sprinkled throughout- creating a sound that’s both as dark, and as sparkly as their name implies.
Ficus w/ Buddhahand, Low Phase & Dead People Park
This is a standing room only show 18+ or 17 under with a parent or guardian Dead People Park are an eclectic emo, jazz, shoegaze band from Kalamazoo, MI. Formed in 2020, Low Phase is a 4-piece indie rock band from Grand Rapids, MI. Taking inspiration from the throes of growing older and the uncertainty of human relationships. Ficus is a psychedelic/stoner/progressive rock group hailing from Grand Rapids, MI. The band’s dynamic sound pairs heavy riffs with ambient atmospheres to make something uniquely their own. Kalamazoo-based genre-bending musical monsters with big hearts and bigger student debt. We play a diverse mix of bluesy rock psychedelia with an emphasis on improv and hooks.
The Flying Leaps w/ The Plural Nouns & Yellowhouse
This is a standing room only show 18+ or 17 under with a parent or guardian Yellowhouse is an indie rock band full of Kalamazoo locals. With classic rock tones and a groovy feel, their tunes will be sure to have you dancing! Come pick up a handmade setlist and rock out with us! The Plural Nouns are a surf rock combo from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Formed in 2024, the band consists of Jay Gavan, Jeff Hale, Will Gavan and Bradyn Weatherwax. Jay was a founding member of Guitar UP! Surf Band, and The Plural Nouns continue their tradition of bringing original tunes and familiar standards into the surf, spy, spaghetti, twang-verb and instro idioms. The Flying Leaps are a quartet from Kalamazoo who specialize in eclectic sounds. Abe Savas brings an expressive songwriting tableau, Jesse Williams, the “multi-instrumentalist,” delivers prog-infused concoctions. Jay Gavan brings angular originals, and Jeff Hale keeps it all together, from 70s rock to latin jazz. Each member draws from rich experiences and catalogues of tunes and tones and creates a quartet that will surprise you even while it’s making you dance.
G. Love & Special Sauce
This is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian G. Love & Special Sauce is an American Hip-Hop Blues band known for its unique fusion of hip-hop, blues, funk, and soul. Formed in 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the band originally featured Garrett Dutton, aka G. Love, as the lead vocalist and guitarist, Jeffrey Clemens on drums, and Jim Prescott on bass. The trio quickly gained attention for their laid-back, groovy style and G. Love’s unique vocal delivery, blending rap-like spoken word with bluesy singing. Their debut self-titled album, G. Love & Special Sauce, was released in 1994 on Epic Records and included the hit single “Cold Beverage,” which became popular on alternative radio stations and MTV, solidifying their presence in the music scene. The band’s style has been described as a mix of “slacker blues” and “alternative hip-hop,” as they frequently incorporate elements of 90s hip-hop beats with classic blues rhythms. Over the years, G. Love & Special Sauce has released numerous albums, including Coast to Coast Motel (1995), Yeah, It’s That Easy (1997), The Electric Mile (2001) and the GRAMMY nominated The Juice (2020). Their sound evolved to include more soul, R&B, and rock influences, though they retained their laid-back vibe and clever lyrical play. Their 2014 album Sugar saw a reunion of the original lineup after several years, and they continued to tour and produce music with a loyal fan base. Known for their energetic live performances, G. Love & Special Sauce has played at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Garrett Dutton also frequently collaborates with other artists, including Jack Johnson, with whom he shares a similar vibe, and has released solo projects that dive deeper into his blues influences. G. Love & Special Sauce remains a beloved name in the music scene, blending genres in a way that feels fresh and authentic. G. Love is excited to offer the Pre-Show VIP option G. Love’s Pre-Show Pop Off is an ALL-REQUEST storytellers solo acoustic performance by G. Love and a one of a kind merch package. The pre-show pop off also includes early entry, a Q&A and photo opportunity with G. Love, and early access to the merch booth. Your VIP Pre-Show Pop off ticket includes a general admission ticket into the show. VIP Ticket Includes: An ALL-REQUEST storyteller acoustic performance by G. Love Q&A session with G. Love Photo with G. Love VIP Laminate Exclusive VIP Poster Early access to the merch booth *THIS VIP UPGRADE INCLUDES A TICKET TO THE SHOW. You must have a Pre-Show Pop Off ticket in order to redeem the VIP package elements and be let into the event. Tickets to the show must be presented at the time of entry to the Pre-Show Pop Off.
