Yes, it’s back once again! After skipping last year due to the pandemic, Music Connection’s annual list of unsigned live performers has returned, placing the spotlight on individuals and bands who delivered unique excitement, expert musicianship and intriguing songcraft to stages all over the U.S. during the past year. In addition to MC staffers and freelance writers, the contributors to this list include producers, club bookers, music attorneys, managers, agents and other industry professionals. Currently, MC has reviewers in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and Nashville. Livestreams have also become part of our offerings. So, to be considered for an aways-free live review, go to musicconnection.com/reviews/get-reviewed.
9 Finger
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
soundcloud.com/9finger
Acoustic Madness
Progressive Americana
Utica, MI
acousticmadness.com
Ada Marques
Indie Folk
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/adatheband
AJ Smith
Pop
Nashville, TN
ajsmithmusic.com
Almost July
Indie Pop
New York, NY
almostjuly.com
Amber Mark
R&B
New York, CA
ambermarkmusic.com
Andrew Browning and the 9 Pound Hammers
Outlaw Country
Santa Monica, CA
andrewbrowning.net
AnDy Darling
Pop/EDM
Los Angeles, CA
tiktok.com/@iamandydarling
Anissa Lea
Jazz
Livonia, MI
anissalea.com
Annabel Lee
Indie Alt-Rock
Los Angeles, CA
annabelleemusic.com
Apostle
Melodically Charged Blackened Punk
Marietta, GA
linktr.ee/apostlesucks
Astralux
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/astraluxmusic
Batfarm
Rock
Sherman Oaks, CA
batfarmband.com
Bill Grisolia & The New Blues Festival All-Stars
Blues/R&B/Soul
Long Beach, CA
billgrisolia.com
Bobbing for Apples
Rock
Worcester, MA
bobbingforapplesmusic.com
Bonavega
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
bonavegamusic.com
Bran Movay
Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop
Los Angeles, CA
branmovay.com
Alt-Pop
Los Angeles, CA
brioglu.com
Cole Supple
Alternative/Singer-Songwriter
Los Angeles, CA
colesupple.com
Courtney Govan
Pop
San Diego, CA
courtneygovan.com
Carolyn Striho
(and Scott Dailey)
Poetic Rock
Farmington Hills/Detroit, MI
carolynstriho.com
Channel Tres
House/Hip-Hop
Los Angeles, CA
channelers.net
Cheekface
Indie Rock/Talk-Singing/ Folk-Punk
Los Angeles, CA
cheekface.limitedrun.com
Circle The Earth
Pop-Rock
Los Angeles, CA
trupitch.com/circle-the-earth
Cowboy Diplomacy
Country
Austin, TX
cowboydiplomacy.rodeo
Creature Canyon
Indie/Alternative Rock
San Diego, CA
creaturecanyonmusic.com
Damn Tall Buildings
Bluegrass/Americana
New York, NY
damntallbuildings.com
Dave Edwards
Rock/R&B
Detroit, MI
facebook.com/daveedwardsband
Doe Boi 909
Westcoast Rap
Inland Empire, CA
instagram.com/doeboi909
Doris Anahi
Singer-Songwriter
Los Angeles, CA
linktr.ee/dorisanahi
Elijah the Boy
R&B/HipHop
Brooklyn, NY
instagram.com/elijahtheboy
Empire Springs
Progressive Rock
Birmingham, AL
empirespringsband.com
Five Headed Cobra
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/rnrisdead
Fleece
Queer/Indie-Rock
Montreal, QC
fleecemusic.com
Gaby Montiel
Singer-songwriter
Ventura, CA
instagram.com/gabymontielmusic
Gods Eyes
Metalcore
New York, NY
linktr.ee/godseyesli
Hana McCartney
Alternative/Psychedelic/Blues/Rock
Lakeland, FL
instagram.com/hanamccartneyofficial
His Eyes Have Fangs
Indie Rock
Los Angeles, CA
hiseyeshavefangs.com
Insect Surfers
Today’s Psychedelic Surf Instrumental Soundtracks
Los Angeles, CA
insectsurfers.com
Itami
Metal
Albuquerque, NM
itami1.bandcamp.com
Jades Goudreault
Alternative Pop
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/itsmejades
Jason Manns
Americana/Folk
Bowling Green, VA
jasonmanns.com
Jenn Bostic
Pop/Gospel/Country
Nashville, TN
jennbostic.com
J. Ivy
Spoken Word to Music Poetry
Chicago, IL
j-ivy.com
Jesse Lynn Madera
Americana/Alt Country
Nashville, TN
jesselynnmadera.com
Kapono Wong
Instrumental/Hawaiian
Honolulu, HI
Instagram/kapononwmusic
Kid $wami
Hip-Hop
Saint Paul, MN
instagram.com/kidswamifof
Kids Return
Indie-Rock/Electric Pop
Paris, France
instagram.com/kidsreturn
Kids That Fly
Alternative Pop/Rock
New York, NY
kidsthatfly.com
KingQueen
Pop Rock
Los Angeles, CA
kingqueenmusic.com
Lauren Mascitti
Country
Nashville, TN
laurenmascittimusic.com
Levi Altar
Trap
Los Angeles, CA
indieadvance.com/featured-artists/levi-altar
Little Fuss
Indie Rock
Boston, MA
instagram.com/littlefussband
Louden Swain
Indie/Alternative Rock
Los Angeles, CA
loudenswain.com
Love and a .38
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
loveanda38music.com
Lyn Star
Throwback R&B/HipHop
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/stoasta
Mac Saturn
Rock
Detroit, MI
macsaturn.com
Maddox Lim
Indie Pop
San Gabriel, CA
instagram.com/_maddox.lim
MILCK
Alt-indie/Pop
Los Angeles, CA
milckmusic.com
Misfit Soto
Westcoast Rap
Los Angeles, CA
sinisterkingdommusic.com
Movie Club
Indie Rock
Venice Beach, CA
movieclubtheband.com
New Here
Pop-Punk / Alt-Rock / Folk-Punk
Portland, OR
newherepdx.bandcamp.com
Nine Mile Station
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
ninemilestationmusic.com
Nonbinary Girlfriend
Indie-Pop/Experimental Pop
Portland, OR
nonbinarygirlfriend.bandcamp.com
Orchestra GOLD
African Psychedelic Rock
Oakland, CA
orchestragold.com
Patrick Luna
Latin/Pop/R&B
Miami, FL
instagram.com/patricklunamusic
Pistols At Dawn
Active Rock
Atlanta, GA
pistolsatdawnband.com
Possible Oceans
Indie Rock
Los Angeles, CA
possibleoceans.com
Princess Goes to The Butterfly Museum
Alternative Rock/Electronica
New York, NY
princessgoestothebutterflymuseum.com
Redlight King
Active/Hard Rock
Los Angeles, CA
facebook.com/redlightkingofficial
Remy Reilly
Indie-Pop
Dallas, TX
remyreilly.com
Rickshaw Billie’s
Burger Patrol
Punk-Metal
Austin, TX
rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol.
bandcamp.com
Riotron
Pop/EDM/Dance-Rock/Jazz
Winnipeg, Canada
riotronmusic.com
Sandy Haley Band
Blues/Rock
Los Angeles, CA
sandyhaleymusic.com
Saticoy
Alt-Pop
Los Angeles, CA
saticoy.co
Sierra Miles
Alternative/Singer-Songwriter
Philadelphia, PA
soulofsierra.com
Solareyes
Stoner Rock
Los Angeles CA
solareyes.bandcamp.com
Stormstress
Heavy Metal
Boston, MA
stormstressband.com
Swifty Blue
Westcoast Rap
Paramount, CA
instagram.com/grimeysuge
Syd Carter West
Blues Rock
Vancouver, BC
sydcarterwest.com
Tarra Layne
Southern Rock
Los Angeles, Pittsburgh
tarralayne.com
The Dryes
Country
Nashville, TN
thedryes.com
The Mendenhall Experiment
Heavy Metal
Los Angeles, CA
themendenhallexperiment.com
The Noble Prix
Modern Garage Rock
Burbank, CA
The Santana Project
Tribute Rock
Detroit, MI
facebook.com/thesantanaproject
The Sixth Chamber
Gothic Doom Rock
Los Angeles, CA
thesixthchamber.com
The Swords of Fatima
Exotic Punk
Los Angeles, CA
theswordsoffatima.com
Tiffany Thompson
Indie Pop
New York, NY
tiffanythompsonmusic.com
Steve Taylor Three
Americana
Detroit/Orion Township, MI
thestevetaylorthree.com
Syd Carter West
Blues Rock
Vancouver, BC, Canada
sydcarterwest.com
T.F.
Hip-Hop
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/im.t.f
Van Go GO
Rock
Detroit, MI
vangogoband.com
Vega Black
Indie-Rock / R&B
Portland, OR
facebook.com/VBMusicXO
Velvet Chains
Rock
Las Vegas, NV
velvetchains.com
Vision Video
Post-Punk/Goth
Athens, GA
visionvideoband.com
Whitsett
Emo/Post-Hardcore
/Pop-Punk
Nashville, TN
whitsettband.com
Whitney Fenimore
Singer-Songwriter
Nashville, TN
whitneyfenimore.com
William Andrew Reveles
Americana
Los Angeles, CA
willliamandrewreveles.com
Wreckless Strangers
Americana/Soul
San Francisco, CA
wrecklessstrangers.com
Zana Messia
Swedish-inspired Jazzy Pop
Los Angeles, CA
zanamessia.com
