Category Archives: announcements

TONIGHT, 7:30 ET: Your Next Favorite Band’s Winter Wonder Pre-Jam!

Back home in the Christmas City of Bethlehem, PA, our friends at Your Next Favorite Band are ready to express gratitude and honor the guests they’ve had throughout the year. They’ve invited more than a dozen of their closest friends back to the show tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, where they will share messages for the season and perform a holiday tune.

Tonight’s special broadcast features messages and songs from:

  • Kyle Lacy & Amanda D’Amico
  • Hermosa
  • Lia Menaker
  • Avery Ballotta of Damn Tall Buildings
  • John Kim Faye
  • The Flying Vees
  • Koyal
  • Zach Miller of Dr Dog
  • Gina Zo
  • Nervous Nikki & the Chill Pills
  • Kahone Concept
  • Galen Deery
  • TIOGA
  • The Hot Mamas

You’ll also see highlights from last year’s Winter WonderJam event, featuring Joe Edelmann and Emma Bockrath, as they get set for this year’s annual fundraiser, taking place at the legendary Godfrey Daniels listening room in Bethlehem this Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. ET.

Did we mention it’s all for a cause? Your Next Favorite Band will honor and raise awareness for homeless shelters and food banks in our home community of the Lehigh Valley, including New Bethany Ministries and national non-profit Feeding America.

Need Help Developing Your Creative Vision?

You have the talent. You’ve developed your skills. You have big dreams about where you can take this music thing. All you’re missing… is the next step.

Your audience is out there. Connecting with them means joining in community with those who share your values. Keeping them in your orbit means finding ways to provide them with something that they won’t find anywhere else.

It might sound intimidating at first… until you realize that everything you need to connect with your audience — and keep them there — is already within you. You have a purpose behind your art that has yet to be uncovered. You have countless ideas, and just need some help organizing those thoughts into action. You have a story to tell, and more tools than ever to reach the masses.

We’re here to help you put it all together. That’s why we’re announcing the return of our popular BRANDCAMP from UMC Academy to start the New Year!

Our six-week program — beginning the week of Monday, January 12 — is designed to help creatives like you uncover your values and develop a clear vision for your creative ecosystem, complete with actionable goals. We achieve this by providing a proven brand-building roadmap, bespoke one-on-one mentorship, and access to a community of purpose-driven artistpreneurs.

BRANDCAMPers receive:

  • Our Values-Mission-Vision (VMV) Workshop, as presented at major international music conferences. ($500-1,000+ value)
  • Weekly 1-on-1 mentor sessions, aimed toward sparking fresh ideas and defining your goals.
  • Weekly Connection Calls with your fellow UMC Academy BRANDCAMPers.
  • A FREE UMC UnderDogs community membership for one year. ($250 value!)
  • Early “inside track” access to new UMC feature/performance opportunities.
  • A FREE signed copy of 60+ Lessons from the Creative Journey.

Sounds fun, right?

If you’re ready to enroll (or just want to learn more), head on over to the Academy page, where you can hear testimonials from previous UMC Academy grads!

NASHVILLE: Holiday House Party Benefit Concert Set for Dec. 11

In addition to our official, kick-up-your-heels-and-sing-some-karaoke UMC holiday mixer on Dec. 3 (location to be announced this week), we have more yuletide fun on tap.

And this time, it’s for a cause!

We’re partnering with our new friends at The Nash Nest — a sweet luxury Airbnb in East Nashville — on our first-ever Holiday House Party! On Thursday, December 11 from 5-10 p.m., a musical lineup of Nashville locals will join us to perform live, while we collect warm clothing and non-perishable food donations for those in need this holiday season.

Entry is free with your donation. Stay tuned for lineup details, which will be announced the week of December 1.

As for the location? It’s a secret… and the only way to get in the know is to RSVP. Reserve your spot here!

(Note: Specific location details will be sent to attendees within 24 hours of the event.)

Barz in the Boro Returns to Middle Tennessee Dec. 6

Barz in the Boro — a monthly hip hop showcase just down the road from us in Murfreesboro, Tennessee — will close out the year with a stacked lineup on Saturday, December 6 from 8-11 p.m.

The showcase — which occurs on the first Saturday of every month at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd., Murfreesboro) — is hosted by E.T. and Raw Proof, with support from DJ Know Love on the 1s and 2s. Barz in the Boro is a platform for local and touring hip hop artists alike. Each month’s showcase features a uniquely curated lineup, along with an open mic portion, which provide aspiring performers with a chance to impress for a future opportunity.

The showcase’s official website offers this description:

Barz in the Boro is a monthly hip hop showcase and cypher where raw talent, sharp lyricism, and real culture take center stage. From local spitters to nationally touring acts, this is the spot where the underground and the spotlight meet. This event is designed to shine a light on performers, build connections within the culture, and bring something fresh and exciting to the Murfreesboro / Nashville music scene.

Presented and hosted by E.T. & Raw Proof and powered by the skills of DJ Know Love, every show is built to give you that authentic hip hop vibe, no gimmicks, just beats, barz, and energy.  This ain’t just another show, it’s for the artists, for the fans, and for the culture. Pull up, bring your skillz, and be part of the movement.​

The December 6 event will feature performances from UnderDogs Yonna Jones and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, alongside My Friend Wiley and New Orleans’ own Alfred Banks. Those interested in learning more or being considered for a future showcase are encouraged to reach out via Instagram.

NASHVILLE: Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase Set for Saturday, Nov. 8

Tour season may be over for us, but there’s still plenty happening back in Nashville to keep things warm into the winter months.

For one thing, our friends at NuRenaissance — owned and operated by UnderDog and NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul — are hosting their Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase this Saturday, November 8 at 615 Main St., Suite G1 in Nashville.

Join us from 8-11 p.m. for “a night of pure fire and unforgettable vibes.” This hip hop and R&B showcase is hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess and coordinated by Amore Dear, with sounds by DJ Sage. The lineup features performances from Nashville-based artists Itz Jaleel, Miles Creed, Simone J’Nae, Durtyhues, Southside MAB, and B. King.

Watch the official trailer below, and be sure to get your tickets here!

THIS MONDAY: UnderDogs Across Borders Reaches New Orleans!

Before NOLA MusiCon officially kicks off this Tuesday, we invite you to get a head start on the festivities — whether you’re in New Orleans, or anywhere in the world with internet!

Immediately following our Have You Met…? interview broadcast, we’ll stay put at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans) to offer you a special UnderDogs Across Borders lineup, featuring artists from across the Southeastern U.S. Several UnderDogs are making the trip to perform alongside rising stars on the New Orleans local scene, offering an exciting preview of the magic to come throughout the week.

The event is open to the public for a $10 suggested donation, which will directly support our ongoing UnderDogs Across Borders campaign. And, if you can’t attend in person, we have good news: this one will be broadcast on YouTube, as well! Funds from this campaign help us connect our creative community to amazing opportunities across the musical landscape — just like those we’ve helped create this year in the Big Easy!

As for the lineup? We think you’ll like it! It features performances from (in order of appearance):

Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
Ja Fearce & Azure Skyz
Yonna Jones
DJX & DJ Agie Gee
Kelsey Muse
Kyle Alexander

Want to reserve your spot? Get tickets here, or make your donation to support UMC as we bring our UnderDogs Across Borders once again!

Meet the UnderDogs (and Special Guests) Monday Night in New Orleans!

We’ve been talking about NOLA MusiCon for months, and it’s finally almost time to take the Starship UnderDog down to New Orleans and do this thing!

We’ve already told you about this amazing conference, and the official Crescent City Crossroads showcases that we’re co-producing alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax.

But… what if we told you there is more to the story? (Around here, there always is!)

Before the conference officially gets underway, we’ll be at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans) this Monday, October 27 as we preview this year’s NOLA MusiCon with a special UnderDogs Across Borders live event. Join us in-person or online beginning at 5 p.m. CT, as we present two rounds of our popular Have You Met…? interview series. Round 1 (5 p.m.) will feature some of our Nashville crew, while Round 2 (6 p.m.) will highlight creatives from the Big Easy and elsewhere!

Round 1 (5 p.m.):
Host: Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
Guests: Yonna Jones, Joe Baze, Gerard Longo

Round 2 (6 p.m.):
Host: Mandy Ortiz (DAWn Audio)
Guests: DJX, Amelia Ray, Mac Infinity

You’ll want to stick around after that. Beginning at 7 p.m., we’ll remain at Cafe Istanbul to bring you an UnderDogs Across Borders interstate showcase, featuring live performances from an array of artists. We’ll be dropping that full lineup a bit later this week, so stay tuned!

Announcing Crescent City Crossroads: The Official NOLA MusiCon 2025 Showcases!

We’re getting set to head down to New Orleans once again for this year’s NOLA MusiCon, taking place in the heart of the Big Easy Oct. 28-30.

What we’ve been dying to tell you is that there’s more to the story this year…

See, we got together with our friends from the conference, including partners Tunetrax and DAWn Audio, to plan something special. Now, we can officially announce that we’ve joined forces to create Crescent City Crossroads, this year’s official NOLA MusiCon after hours showcases!

What is Crescent City Crossroads? It’s two diverse nights of live music in New Orleans, featuring artists from all over the U.S. (with a healthy dose of NOLA artists on the bill, of course). We’ve spent the past couple of months working together to think of some of the most exciting artists we know, and put them all into a musical gumbo pot as flavorful and exciting as Cajun cuisine.

Dates, times, and lineups are below. Each one has its own ticket link, which you’ll see attached to the corresponding night. Advance tickets are $10, increasing to $15 day of show. The price remains at $10 for those with a NOLA MusiCon badge or Halloween costume (because it is #SpookySZN, after all).

Still need that conference badge? Get it here for 25% off using the coupon code UMC25 at checkout!

Tuesday, October 28 | 8:30 p.m.
Cafe Istanbul (2372 Saint Claude Avenue, Room 252)

NOLA All-Star Band | Rantz Davis | Amber Sweeney | Jason Da Hater | Darnell McKenzie & Esteban | c’beyohn | Craig Greenberg | Amelia Ray

Wednesday, October 29 | 8 p.m.
The Rabbit Hole (1228 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard)

Ray$av & Mac Infinity | Ronday | Brother Dusty | Lapis | Da’ Healerz | PLUS! A live Beat Battle, hosted by DAWn Audio

Have You Met…? Live! Returns to Nashville Oct. 1

It’s been a minute since we’ve sat down and gotten to know some of the UnderDogs, hasn’t it?

Let’s fix that — and let’s do it live!

Join us at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville) at 6 p.m. CT — right before our FREE Building Your Authentic Artist Brand workshop — for an in-person edition of Have You Met…? This series, hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, is an opportunity to get to know the creatives in our UnderDogs community through real conversations in an intimate setting.

Joining us for this edition of Have You Met…? are…

  • Hip hop artist, producer, and 1/2 of Da’ Healerz Foundation Mecca
  • DJ, sound engineer, producer, and songwriter Agie Gee
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist and industry educator T.R.A.N.E. Spitta

Attendance is FREE — and, unlike other editions of Have You Met…?, the only way to catch this one live is to be there in-person! A replay will be made available on our YouTube channel at a later date to be determined.

Want to be featured on an upcoming edition of Have You Met…? Join the UnderDogs today!

Can Sound Heal? DJX Aims to Find Out this Friday in Nashville

On Saturday, we became officially acquainted with DJX. The South Carolina native has arrived in Nashville, delivering a short, high-energy set last weekend as part of our UnderDogs Across Borders showcase during the Nashville African Street Festival.

Consider that an appetizer for what is coming this Friday night, as DJX seeks to answer the question: can sound heal?

DJX: The Public Experiment will take place this Friday, September 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville). This live experience is part concert, part ritual, part science lab featuring Four artists, three rooms, and one goal: to test what happens when music, technology, and human energy lock into the same circuit.

From live rap and cyber-trap, to acoustic resonance and soulful R&B, each set becomes a pulse that shifts the crowd’s frequency. EMF pyramids anchor the space. WiFi interference is tracked and visualized. Audience resonance is measured at the door and again at the exit.

By the end, you’ll have proof of how sound changed your system. This isn’t just entertainment—it’s Frequency Training.

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