Category Archives: live music

Everybody Needs Some Guidance!

Wednesday night’s UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert brought an array of memorable performances to the stage from the start, and all the way to the finish.

Closing out the night? Da’ Healerz, who ended their set by sharing some new music they’ve been working on. “Guidance” — in collaboration with Guidance Whiskey — made its live debut with us on Wednesday night and got the whole room moving, ending UnderDogs Across Borders Vol. 2 with a bang!

Watch it below! And, while you wait for our next UnderDogs Across Borders lineup to drop, remember that you can support a new, creator-driven music industry anytime!

ONE WEEK AWAY: Gussapolooza 2025 Kicks Off Aug. 22

The countdown is on! In just seven days, the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds will come alive with the sound of guitars, drums, and thousands of happy festivalgoers as Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival kicks off August 22–24.

This year’s lineup features powerhouse performances from Bleeker and Kasador, plus local Alliston fan favourite Grant Boyer, alongside dozens of emerging artists ready to make their mark. Add industry workshops, camping under the stars, mouthwatering food trucks, and activities for the whole family — and you’ve got one unforgettable weekend.

Festival Director Valerie Robson says, “Gussapolooza is where music and community come together. The energy is electric, the connections are real, and the vibe is absolutely unmatched. Whether you’re here to discover new talent, support your friends, or just soak up the atmosphere, you’ll leave feeling like part of the family.”

Tickets are going fast, so grab yours now and be part of one of Ontario’s most unique summer weekends.

TONIGHT, 7 CT: UnderDogs Across Borders, Vol. 2

TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for UnderDogs Across Borders Vol. 2. Tonight, we place a spotlight on pop, hip hop, and R&B artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.

By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities for our artists.

The lineup (in order of appearance):
Ryan Christopher
Yonna Jones
Kelsey Muse
SADGURL
Da’ Healerz

How to attend:

  • In person: Helping Our Music Evolve, 615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville, TN 37206 (Doors 6:30 p.m.)
  • Virtually (from ANYWHERE!): Our YouTube channel (embed below)

How to support:

TONIGHT, 7 ET: The Fourth Annual Musikfest Exordium

Tonight, our friends at Your Next Favorite Band will host the fourth annual Musikfest Exordium — a live broadcast in preparation of Musikfest, the nation’s largest free non-gated music festival in our hometown of Bethlehem, PA.

Join the broadcast live from The Flying V Poutinerie for a stacked program of interviews and live performances:

  • ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan gives us his “must see” bands and Best Day of the Fest.
  • EPAWA Founder & Chief Meteorologist Bobby Martrich will provide early weather prognostication.
  • Lehigh Valley News Director John Moser will share his thoughts and reminisce about prior years.
  • Founder of Underground Music Collective and Musikfest North Side Sheriff Gerard Longo will catch us up in his latest and how things are progressing for the festival
  • Flying V Poutinerie owner Matt Vymazal will let us know about their delicious spuds and if we have any potato famines to worry about.
  • Lehigh Valley Girls Rock Board President and Compliance Advisor Jennifer Alpha will share the latest of from LVGR and preview their Musikfest set.
  • Live performances by Kendal Conrad and The Tribe.

SAVE THE DATE: UnderDogs Across Borders Vol. 2 Set for August 13

As announced on last night’s edition of Have You Met…?, we’ll be back at Helping Our Music Evolve on Wednesday, August 13 with an all-new lineup for Volume 2 of our UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert series.

The concert — supporting our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, designed to open the gateway to even greater collaboration for our community of creatives across genres, disciplines, and geographic boundaries — will once again be hosted on our YouTube channel, with those local to Nashville invited to attend in-person. Hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, this fantastic evening will welcome a diverse lineup of artists from across our community, including:

You can attend either virtually or in-person for a $10 suggested donation — which you can make anytime by following this link!

‘Don’t Say No’: 20 Years as a DJ (ft. Dominic Longo)

Our latest guest on The Quinn Spinn is… my brother.

My brother Dominic has been a professional DJ for the past two decades. Like anybody building an entertainment-based business from zero, he’s learned countless lessons along the way — lessons which he now looks to teach the next generation of aspiring event DJs.

Also, this episode offers a throwback all the way to the pre-historic days of The Quinn Spinn. In case you didn’t know, we got our start as a college radio show called Dominic & The Quinn at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA in 2007-08.

Join Dominic’s Facebook group
We now mentor aspiring DJs through UMC Academy!
Become an UnderDog!

The Quinn Spinn is recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve, Nashville ,TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

The Quinn Spinn
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Beyond the Music: What’s Happening at Gussapolooza 2025?

Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival is turning up the volume—and the vibes—for 2025, with even more to experience beyond the stage. Taking place August 22–24, 2025, this year’s festival invites attendees to discover more than music, featuring an expanded Wellness Zone, an even bigger Kids Zone, and unforgettable outdoor camping fun for all ages.

Now in its biggest year yet, Gussapolooza continues to grow as one of Canada’s most exciting emerging festivals, spotlighting indie artists while building a creative, inclusive, and family-friendly environment. In addition to its stacked musical lineup, the 2025 event offers unique attractions for every kind of festivalgoer.

Expanded for 2025: The Wellness Zone

Back by popular demand, the Health & Wellness Zone returns with even more ways to relax, recharge, and reconnect. Guests can enjoy yoga and meditation sessions, breathwork classes, sound baths, healing arts practitioners, and wellness-focused vendors offering services and education in a peaceful outdoor setting.

The Kids Zone Returns—Bigger Than Ever!

Families are welcome at Gussapolooza! The enhanced Kids Zone includes crafts, face painting, music lessons, games, and child-friendly performances, making it easy for parents and little ones to enjoy the festival together.

Camping Adventures + After Dark Fun

Weekend passes include free tent camping, with upgraded RV and power site options available. Campers can enjoy the community vibe with a late-night fire, spontaneous jams, and exclusive after-hours sets on the legendary Rebel Stage—where surprises and secret sets keep the music going long after the main stage wraps.

“Gussapolooza has always been about creativity, discovery, and community,” says Festival Director Valerie Robson. “This year, we’re expanding what a music festival can offer—creating an experience where you can dance, learn, relax, connect, and explore, all in one place.”

Whether you’re a music lover, wellness seeker, parent, or just looking for a weekend escape, Gussapolooza 2025 has something for everyone.

Tickets are on sale now! Early Bird passes sold out quickly, but general admission and camping upgrades are still available at gussapolooza.com.

REPLAY: UnderDogs Across Borders, Vol. 1

TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for the first-ever UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert. Join us as we present a genre-diverse interstate lineup featuring independent artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.

By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities for our artists.

The lineup (in order of appearance):
Virtues
Nicolas Soul
Matt Schmoyer of Powder Valley Bang
Southside MAB
Kfhox

How to attend:

  • In person: Helping Our Music Evolve, 615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville, TN 37206 (Doors 6:30 p.m.)
  • Virtually (from ANYWHERE!): Our YouTube channel (embed below)

How to support:

Love Alabama Shakes? Play an Instrument? Apply to Play this Oct. 11 Tribute in Nashville!

GRAMMY-winning roots rock band Alabama Shakes have carved out a unique legacy for themselves — one that continues to take shape, as the band embarks on its 2025 reunion tour this summer.

A pair of Nashville musicians looks to honor that legacy on Lower Broadway this fall — and they’re looking for a few talented professional musicians to join in the fun!

Nashville-based artists Mandy Moon and Chelcie Jette are spearheading a special Alabama Shakes tribute show, set to take place Saturday, October 11 from 8-10 p.m. at Acme Feed & Seed (101 Broadway, Nashville). Submissions are now open for interested musicians to join the house band — and it’s a paid opportunity!

All you need to do is head over to this form, fill out some information about yourself, share a couple of performance clips, and wait to see if you have been selected!

In addition, guest vocalists are invited to submit through a separate form, which can be found here.

UnderDogs Across Borders Benefit Concert Series Begins July 9

2025 has been a breakthrough year so far for the entire Underground Music Collective community — and we’re here to make sure the magic lasts all year long (and beyond)!

That’s why we’re launching a new benefit concert series in support of our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, with the first event — a hybrid in-person and virtual concert emanating from Nashville — taking place Wednesday, July 9 from 7-9 p.m. CT.

We’re taking you on a multi-genre thrill ride featuring four Nashville-based artists — including 2025 NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul, alt-pop songwriter Virtues, R&B/soul singer and rapper Kfhox, and hip hop artist Southside MAB. Joining them on the lineup — all the way from the Lehigh Valley Underground in Pennsylvania — will be rockers Powder Valley Bang (who have been gaining some serious steam up there lately).

Need a refresher on UnderDogs Across Borders? Through this capital campaign, we aim to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities.

Our groundbreaking first half of 2025 featured major conference appearances, media opportunities, and the official launch of our new UnderDogs virtual community. This has established Underground Music Collective as an international super-connector for independent musicians, creative professionals, and notable brands.

Help us continue to build toward an incredible future where Creators Have the Power. Make your donation and RSVP here, and join us in Nashville or virtually (from anywhere!) on Wednesday, July 9!

Looking for an additional way to support UnderDogs Across Borders? Check out our GoFundMe campaign, or become an UnderDog today!

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