Category Archives: music business

Rockin’ Ronnie’s Mega Musikfest Recap, Pt. 2: Poutine, Many Must-See Acts, and Must-Buy Hand Sanitizer

Posted on by Leave a comment

On Saturday, August 1, I parked on the South Side and shuttled my way up North for more ‘Festing, more music, and more photos.

One thing I noticed about the shuttles was how friendly everyone was. I suppose it was because they knew they were in for a fun and entertaining day. The nice woman sitting next to me offered me some watermelon smelling hand sanitizer that she said she got at Five Below. Immediately I noted to myself to make sure to get there to get some! We had a nice chat, and then we arrived on the North Side.

My first stop was up the hill at the Hotel Bethlehem Platz, where the Artisan Jazz Trio was playing. You can’t go wrong with a little bit of funk mixed in with a lot of jazz! I enjoyed their smooth sound, but then it was time to move to my next stop. My next stop was getting some poutine from The Flying V, which I have wanted to try for many years! Let me tell you, after eating that I was left wondering where that has been all my life! It was as incredible, as everyone said it would be.

It was time to get back to work, so I sauntered into the Service Electric FestPlatz, where I saw the Grammy Award-winning Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra. Although they are known for being one of the most popular polka bands in America, they played so much more than that! They mixed a lot of pop and oldies into the mix, and the crowd was eating it up. I could see why they were so popular!

Moving right along, I ventured to the other side of Festplatz to the Yuengling Lagerplatz stage, where I caught indie singer-songwriter Temma, whose storytelling ability was on full display through her strong voice and powerful lyrics. From there, I went right back down to Festplatz and found a seat to get ready to see Coverfire!, a rock and pop cover band (with a few originals) comprised of musicians from Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard. (Side note: I saw an empty chair between random people and asked if I could sit there. Of course they said yes, because there was not one unfriendly soul at Musikfest!). The tent was packed, and it was easy to understand why from the first note. Every member showcased their many talents by playing multiple instruments, switching between them throughout the show. I highly recommend catching these guys (and ladies) if you can.

(Actually, I highly recommend catching all of these acts!)

After that show, I headed to Plaza Tropical because I wanted to catch Coquettish, an alt-rock band from New Jersey, Coquettish. Their bass-heavy originals can be best described as a mix of alt-rock, grunge, and jam with a vibe – and I will say the bass player had most of that vibe. She was definitely the main character, and she owned it! Some songs were heavily reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, and they were awesome.

After that, I was spent for the day, and it was time to head home. Stay tuned for Part 3!

SEPT. 22: The UMC Creator Lab Content Experience!

Posted on by Leave a comment

Level up your artist profile and make it easier to get booked.

On Tuesday, September 22 from 7-9 p.m., join us at City Limit Studios (14919 Lebanon Rd., Old Hickory) for the UMC Creator Lab Content Experience, an event designed specifically for independent musicians and creators who want clean, professional media assets. For one evening, rotate through dedicated rooms or pick individual stations to get everything you need for your promotional materials.

The Experience & Individual Station Pricing

  • The Infinity Room (Headshots with Gerard): Clean, professional portraits that look great for press features, social media, and booking profiles.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Creator Lab (Interviews with Kelsey Muse): A short, friendly 3 to 5 minute interview that helps showcase your personality and background to fans and industry folks.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Saloon (One Mic Performance with NuRenaissance): A clean, single take live performance video for songs under 3 minutes with professionally mixed audio.
    Individual Price: $75

Choose Your Package

1. The Artist EPK Package

Includes Professional Headshots and the Interview.

The core package to get your visual and background profile ready for sharing.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $60
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $70
  • Day Of (September 22): $85

2. The Raise the Bar Package (Best Value)

Includes Headshots, Interview, AND the One Mic Performance.

The complete package so you walk away with a full set of promotional media.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $100
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $125
  • Day Of (September 22): $150

Want to sign up for just one station instead? Individual station options are available at checkout.

Important Details

  • Turnaround Times: Headshots and interviews will be ready within 5 business days. Performance videos will be ready within 10 business days because of audio mixing.
  • Capacity is Limited: To keep things running smoothly and ensure quality, we are only taking a limited number of artists. Lock in your spot now before early bird pricing ends on September 7.

Got questions? Send a direct message to us on Instagram @umcworldwide. Ready to register? Do it now!

This Weekend, We Return to Gussapolooza!

Posted on by Leave a comment

Some of the best memories and musical discoveries of the past couple summers have been made in the middle of a field in Ontario, about 75 minutes north of Toronto.

The field? The Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, which will once again play host to Gussapolooza Music Festival this weekend (Aug. 21-23). Some of the best talent from the region (and throughout North America) will descend on this quaint Canadian town for a weekend of new music discovery and community.

Events like Gussapolooza — which boasts an all-independent lineup once again — are a beautiful reminder of why we got into this business in the first place. There is something so pure about a grassroots music festival, where volunteers from the community dedicate their time and talents to see it all the way to fruition — and create something a bit more magical, every single year. Driving these efforts is a belief in community, in artistry, and the notion that independent artists deserve a big stage and a world-class platform on which to showcase their talents.

That’s why we make the trip every year. And, once again, we’ll be capturing the action through Buckshot’s lens, as well as through a series of interviews from throughout the weekend which will be broadcast on The Quinn Spinn’s return episodes this fall.

If you don’t want to wait to see what we capture, you’re in luck: you can still get your single-day, weekend, or full festival passes here.

And, as an additional treat, we took the time to edit 100+ new photos from last year’s festival to get you ready for your trip to Cookstown. See you there!

TONIGHT, 7 ET: Your Next Favorite Band’s 2026 Musikfest Exordium

Posted on by Leave a comment

This week, we are transported back home to Bethlehem, PA, where the 2026 edition of Musikfest — the largest free, non-gated music festival in the United States — is just days away from kicking off.

There is sure to be plenty of magic across Christmas City over the next couple weeks, and it kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET (that’s 6 p.m. CT, if you’re back in Nashville) with the 2026 Musikfest Exordium. Tune in to the live broadcast emanating from Bethlehem’s Flying V Poutinerie, as we hear from many key figures at the ‘Fest and within the Lehigh Valley’s local music scene, including:

  • Thoughts on “must see” bands and Best Day of the ‘Fest with ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan.
  • Early thoughts on the ‘Fest’s weather forecast from Eastern PA Weather Authority Founder and Chief Meteorologist Bobby Martrich.
  • Insights from long-time entertainment reporter John Moser.
  • A visit from yours truly, Musikfest’s Friendly Neighborhood North Side Sheriff.

We will also learn about the return and expansion of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, set to take place August 2-4 and offering dozens of educational sessions, music industry panels, and exclusive networking opportunities. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy live performances from ‘Fest performers Bren and Atlassian.

Watch the live stream below!

Founder’s Notes: Tour Updates, Improved Access to Resources, and the Plan for the Rest of 2026

Posted on by Leave a comment

This week, the Underground Revolution Tour resumes with a trip back home.

First on the agenda: Musikfest, where I’ll be presenting ‘Building Your Authentic Artist Brand’ at the Musikfest Music Industry Conference inside the Musikfest Cafe at SteelStacks on Monday, August 3 beginning at 1 p.m.

In addition to that, I’ll be doing my annual duty overseeing Event Staff operations on the North Side of the festival. I’ll also be checking in to offer my daily Picks of the Platzes alongside Phillip Reese from Your Next Favorite Band, and we’ll have our good friend Ronnie Stoeckel running around taking photos of the ‘Fest, with Rockin’ Ronnie’s Mega Musikfest Recap coming to The Blog the following week.

After that (and some hard-earned beach time immediately after Musikfest), we’ll pop up to Cookstown, Ontario for our third consecutive year attending Gussapolooza Music Festival. We have some special things planned for the occasion – we’ll be interviewing artists and attendees, and capturing content all weekend long. (Not to mention, there are some photos from last year’s festival that still need to make their way online…)

After THAT, we have a massive fall planned for you in Nashville!

Among the things that you can expect this fall:

  • Our first-ever Content Day, sponsored by the UMC Creator Lab.
  • Revamped, simplified UnderDogs membership tiers, aimed to add value to our community while lowering the barrier to entry.
  • More music reviews, a new and improved UMC20 playlist, and the return of our Official Podcast, The Quinn Spinn.
  • The continued growth and evolution of the UMC Creator Lab.
  • Live performance and networking opportunities across Nashville.

We’ll also be taking a look at our educational offerings through UMC Academy, and developing ways to improve access to UnderDogs and the community at large.

And, speaking of education, we’re making our plans to return to a couple of our favorite conferences in the fall – Confluence Carolinas (Oct. 7-10 in Charlotte, NC) and NOLA MusiCon (Oct. 28-30 in New Orleans, LA). We hope you’ll join us!

One more thing: following our Creator Lab crowdfunding campaign, many folks who pledged made their contributions directly to support the project. If you are one of them, you can expect your perks to be fulfilled and shipped to you during the first half of September.

So far, 2026 has been a year of new ways forward and exciting possibilities. We’re proud of what we’ve built together, and we’re excited to keep going!

-Gerard

In the Music Industry? Snag These Early Bird Conference Passes Before Sunday

Posted on by Leave a comment

We’re just a few weeks away from hitting the road, as we resume our Underground Revolution Tour in some of our favorite cities and towns across North America.

The tour resumes next Thursday, July 9 right here in Nashville, with a special takeover event in support of the UMC Creator Lab. Then, we’ll head back home to Bethlehem for Musikfest (and the associated Musikfest Music Industry Conference) as July turns into August. From there, we head North of the Border once more for this year’s edition of Gussapolooza, which is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s premier independent music festivals.

That leaves us with a couple of October adventures which still have early bird passes on sale… for now!

You have until this Sunday, July 5 to purchase badges at the lowest rates for two of our favorite music conferences. Both of these events provide you with a prime opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with artist-focused professionals from across the music ecosystem — all while immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of each region!

Don’t wait! As of July 6, badge rates for both of these conferences will increase. We look forward to seeing you in Charlotte and New Orleans this fall!

JULY 9: Lost & Found UMC Takeover at Rosemary & Beauty Queen

Posted on by Leave a comment

To kick off closing weekend of our UMC Creator Lab campaign, we’re teaming up with The Southern Word Community to present a unique takeover at one of our long-time favorite spots in East Nashville.

On Thursday, July 9, Underground Music Collective will be hosting a takeover of the monthly Lost & Found Showcase at Rosemary & Beauty Queen (1102 Forest Ave., Nashville). From 7-10 p.m., this evening will feature live performances from UnderDogs and other special guests, as we rally behind our two-month campaign to build a space where Creators Have the Power in Nashville.

Those in attendance will have the opportunity to support the Creator Lab, while enjoying a free show certain to obliterate genre barriers. This special evening will feature performances from Simp Goddess, Angie Jayne, Wynton Existing, Southside MAB, Mandy Moon, Mary McGuinness, Kelsey Muse, E.T., Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, and Cait Blauer. Plus, on a night this driven by creativity, you never know what surprises will be in store!

Lost & Found is always free to attend, and typically takes place on the second Thursday of each month. If you’ve attended in the past, you already know the sense of community that awaits. If you haven’t, let July 9 be the first time of many!

Don’t want to wait that long to support the Creator Lab? You can do that anytime between now and July 13 at 12 p.m. CT by heading over here.

PHOTOS: ARREIS’ ‘Angel’ EP Release at The East Room

Posted on by Leave a comment

As we could have expected, ARREIS walked into The East Room on Wednesday night and put on a show that put the EP in EPIC!

The Chicagoland native — set to release her new EP, Angel, at the end of this week — delivered a high energy performance that was equal parts dynamic and vulnerable. The 45-minute set featured a bevy of high-powered anthems, like the arena-ready rocker “Five More Minutes,” to softer moments of empowerment and inspiration. Recent singles “Aurora” and “To My Younger Self” uplift the listener, offering respite to the inner child who struggled to embrace themself and live life fully, without the need for permission.

Supporting ARREIS on this special evening were REHAAN, whose prowess as an alt-pop vocalist is complemented by his immense skill as a saxophonist, creating a live experience quite unlike anything else in Nashville. Limestone Loveseat was a delight to listen to, with a folk sensibility craftily weaved into their energetic rock offerings. Mandy Moon opened the evening, starting us off with a potent dose of soul, complete with a rich tonality that contributed to a warmth in sound and spirit.

Oh, and the best part of all? We made some headway toward funding the UMC Creator Lab on Indiegogo. We are now just about 40% funded with three weeks to go!

Check out the full gallery below!

LISTEN: With ‘So I Love (Acoustic)’, Billy Bauer Re-Imagines a Fan Favorite

Posted on by Leave a comment

Eight years ago, Bethlehem, PA-based acoustic rockers Billy Bauer Band released “So I Love.” The song — a dedication to Bauer’s late father, who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer — quickly became a fan favorite, and has been a staple of the band’s live show ever since.

Now, “So I Love” has gained new life, with Bauer taking it upon himself to record and release an acoustic version just in time for Father’s Day. Recorded and produced with Bobby Siegfried of Chasing Daylight Studios, the stripped-down version brings out the song’s tender, contemplative nature, with a gorgeous reverb effect on the vocal that shines particularly bright in the chorus.

The best news? You don’t have to wait until Father’s Day to pick it up AND support the band. Bauer has made it available for early purchase on his Bandcamp page for just $2. While you’re over there, you might as well pick up Bauer’s previous solo effort, “Queen of Her Town,” released in March.

One note on the artwork: it was designed by yours truly to represent an inverted version of the artwork from the 2018, full band studio recording of “So I Love.”

With ‘Aurora,’ ARREIS Empowers Every Princess to Save Herself

Posted on by Leave a comment

As we get set for the arrival of ARREIS‘ forthcoming EP, Angel — and the dynamic and exciting release show that will serve as its precursor on Wednesday, June 17 at Nashville’s The East Room — let’s treat ourselves to a preview with the Chicago native’s latest single.

“Aurora” was released on May 29, and is a cinematic rock anthem about a woman finding her own independence through heartbreak, and in spite the societal structures that often discourage such autonomous growth. Named after the princess featured in the Disney classic, Sleeping Beauty, the song features an awakened heroine who has dusted herself off and picked her own tiara up off the ground.

“A song written about feeling abandoned by a boy has turned into an anthem for women to reject the systemic teachings that have been forced upon us for generations,” ARREIS said in an Instagram post prior to release. “It’s not about not needing a man— it’s about delivering ourselves from the ones who wish us harm. My wish is for every woman to live comfortably and freely in whatever life she chooses.”

“Aurora” is one of the many songs featured on Angel that have been re-imagined from ARREIS’ 2020 debut album, Blindside. You’ll hear more when it’s released on Friday, June 26 (and you’ll have a chance to snag it earlier, if you buy your ticket to the East Room show).

While you wait, get to know “Aurora” below!

« Older Entries Recent Entries »