Category Archives: music resource

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

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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

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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

Stacey Kelleher Just Wants to ‘Laugh About It’ Already!

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Have you ever wished you could just skip ahead to the part where you’ve moved on from your ex?

Stacey Kelleher released “Laugh About It” to capture that feeling. Released on June 12, the lush alt-country tune is an opportunity for the Nashville-based artist to look ahead to brighter days… even if she’s still stuck in the post-breakup muck, feeling like the joke is on her.

“‘Laugh About It’ is how you feel when you’re just waiting on the day you’ll finally get over someone,” Kelleher said. “You’re broken up, you know it’s not going to work out, you’re not going to get back together… but you’re still caught up on them and heartbroken. You know that one day you’ll be over it; it’s just a matter of waiting on that day.”

If you’re subscribed to Apple Music’s ‘New in Country’ playlist, “Laugh About It” might sound familiar. It was added to the playlist on release day — another milestone for this rising artist, as she prepares to release her first full-length project this fall.

Written alongside Robyn Ottolini and Taylor Macres, “Laugh About It” was produced by Kelleher alongside Justin Wilson, with mastering duties performed by Joe Hutchinson. And now, it’s here for you!

On ‘Butterfly Effect,’ Noelle McFarland Longs to be the Life of the Party

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Have you ever been in the presence of somebody who is so good with people, that it leaves you feeling a bit envious?

Noelle McFarland explores this phenomenon on “Butterfly Effect,” the country-tinged folk-pop banger released back in May. The rollicking tune positions our protagonist as a fly on the wall, observing a girl who so seamlessly stands out as the life of the party.

“The girl described in these lyrics is excellent with people; she knows how to read a room and bring life to it, a skill that seems to come naturally to he,” McFarland notes. “As the narrator, I sing about her with a mix of jealousy, curiosity, and almost romance at times. This is intentional and meant to hint at some underlying projection. Perhaps human connection can feel unnatural to us all sometimes, but we all long for it just the same.”

“Butterfly Effect” was written by McFarland on guitar and co-produced with Aidan Rex, who teamed with McFarland to create a lush soundscape that is ready for festival season!

“We had a great time playing around with instruments to really fill up the track and give it a big atmospheric sound,” McFarland said. “There’s a combination of live drums and digital percussion. Most of the synths and pads you hear we created ourselves. We also used some layered vocal tags as their own sample/instrument, which is one of my favorite ways to use my vocal degree!”

The release was accompanied by a surprise B-side, “Father’s Daughter, Mother’s Son.” The dreamy, introspective ballad is the perfect companion to “Butterfly Effect” as it compounds on the theme of projection — in this case, with regard to the ways old relationship habits pass through generations.

“It’s about the way we try to evolve from the generations before us in relationships and parenthood, oftentimes overcorrecting and learning brand new lessons in the process,” McFarland said. “To me, it’s an extension of “Butterfly Effect,” highlighting the shadow work and self-reflection that follows.”

There you go: two songs, where you were only expecting one. What a treat!

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

NASHVILLE: Prepare Yourself for UMC Super Saturday

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As the UMC Creator Lab campaign rages on, we’re heading out on the trail this Saturday for not one, but two events showcasing art, music, and the power of community.

Begin this adventure with us at the Antioch Arts Party, hosted from 4-7 p.m. at 2783 Smith Springs Road in Nashville. Presented by Arts N Antioch, this celebration of creativity, culture, and community will feature a total of seven live performances — including from UnderDogs Mandy Moon, Kelsey Muse, Yonna Jones, Nicolas Soul, and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess & Cosmic Sound. The event will also feature interactive, all-ages fun including a community art wall, blackout poetry, color mapping and more!

After that wraps up, head on down the road to Murfreesboro for the monthly Barz in the Boro hip hop showcase and cypher at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Road). Hosted from 7-10 p.m. by E.T. and Raw Proof, this month’s lineup features Nashville hip hop OGs The Elderz, alongside D Suppa and artists from Clique Tight Circle Entertainment.

Both events are free to attend, and give you the opportunity to hang with us and support the UMC Creator Lab. Spend your Saturday with the UnderDogs!

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