Category Archives: Preview

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

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.

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!

Gussapolooza Reveals Full 2026 Lineup

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Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival returns to the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario on August 21–23, 2026 for its fifth annual edition. What started as a backyard gathering has grown, year after year, into one of Southern Ontario’s most distinctive independent music weekends — three days of live music, original art, and community built entirely from the ground up. 

Built by musicians, for musicians — and the community that keeps showing up for them. 48 acres of open grounds, three stages, and a lineup drawn entirely from the independent Canadian music scene. 

2026 Lineup 

Headlining Saturday night is Feral Minks — the Kitchener rock outfit who have been building serious momentum across the Canadian independent scene. Produced by Jay Emmons of The Glorious Sons, their breakout single “Matador” cracked the Top 25 on the Canadian Active Rock charts, and the band earned HTZ FM’s Rock Search title in 2024, joining a lineage that includes Finger 11, The Trews, and The Glorious Sons. Multi-year Gussapolooza alumni and the festival’s 2025 Band of the Year, the Feral Minks return to close out Saturday night and receive a gold vinyl award on stage. 

Also on the 2026 bill: Propter Hawk — the Toronto five-piece fronted by Malorie Jo Blake, whose horn-drenched rock and roll has earned features in the Toronto Star and placement on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada; Taming Sari, the bilingual Ontario-Atlantic rock outfit whose single “Crazy” hit 50,000 Spotify streams and 50,000 YouTube views within weeks of release; HARKNESS, Toronto’s psych-pop solo artist known for a commanding live presence and building a loyal following across Canada and beyond; Cabin Fever, the southwestern Ontario folk/roots trio whose single “Devil Is A Friend” was featured on Season 3 of “The Trades” on CraveTV, and whose music has landed on CBC’s Alt Country and Canadian Country playlists and drawn coverage from outlets in the UK and New Zealand. Returning to the Gussapolooza stage: The Manic Boys and Girls Club — the Toronto alt-pop/rock sibling duo whose EP was produced by Gavin Brown, the award-winning producer behind Billy Talent, Metric, and The Glorious Sons. 

The full 40+ artist lineup spans rock, country, folk, and alternative, and includes Tony Rust & the Mudhorses, The Thick, Feura, Suzi Kory, Dumb Crush, Kill/Death Radio!, Black Paint, Coco Rose, The Meringues, Joanna Bronson, The Connors Brothers, and many more. Full lineup and schedule at gussapolooza.com. 

About the Festival 

Gussapolooza is an all-ages, three-day independent music and arts festival rooted in community, creativity, and connection. Since 2022, it has created a gathering space where independent and emerging Canadian artists play to the families, music lovers, and loyal regulars who have made this weekend part of their summer. 

Programming spans three music stages — the Main Stage, Barn Stage, and Side Stage — alongside a dedicated Kids Zone, Health & Wellness Zone, Vendor Village, Creator’s Convention (an outdoor podcast and media activation space), and Artist Alley. 

New in 2026: WonderGround, an immersive art zone featuring large-scale installations. 

A Platform for Independent Canadian Music 

At a time when independent artists face shrinking venue circuits and consolidating festival rosters, Gussapolooza represents something built differently. The festival was started by a musician who wanted to create a stage worth playing — and has grown entirely on word of mouth, community investment, and a commitment to keeping the lineup independent. 

For many artists on the 2026 bill, Gussapolooza is one of their largest stages of the year — and the crowd that fills those grounds came specifically to find them. 

Festival at a Glance 

  • Dates: August 21–23, 2026
  • Location: Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds, Cookstown, Ontario
  • Format: All-ages, three-day outdoor music & arts festival with camping
  • Stages: Main Stage, Barn Stage, Side Stage
  • New in 2026: WonderGround — immersive art zone
  • Tickets: Available at gussapolooza.com

TONIGHT: Barz in the Boro at Cedar Glade Brews

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Tonight (May 2), one of the Nashville area’s premier independent hip hop and R&B showcases returns for its first Saturday residency.

Join Nashville hip hop veterans E.T. and Raw Proof as they present Barz in the Boro at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd., Murfreesboro). The monthly showcase and cypher “is built to give you that authentic hip hop vibe,” giving independent artists an opportunity to perform, connect, and find community in true hip hop culture.

This month’s lineup features music from DJ Know Love, a special vinyl pop-up by Phonoforever, and performances from featured guests, including:

Learn more about Barz in the Boro: Website | IG

Vote Now to Shape This Year’s Gussapolooza Lineup!

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While we’re on the topic of exciting, community-based August music festivals, we’ll also be taking our third trip up to Ontario for Gussapolooza, the three-day extravaganza featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent from across Canada — and the globe!

Our friends up there have received so many submissions this year that they need a little bit of help sorting through them. That’s where you come in!

Introducing Sound Check, a chance to discover new artists and help shape the Gussapolooza 2026 lineup. Every few days, they will be unveiling a new genre category with a fresh batch of artists from around the world. Your job is to head over here, listen, and vote for the artists that you want to see perform at Gussapolooza. The artists with the most fan support move forward in the selection process.

Want your vote to go even further? You can access 3x voting power by purchasing a Gussapolooza Insider Pass. The Insider Pass costs only $25 CAD, lasts throughout the 2026 Gussapolooza season, and includes even more perks, including giveaways, exclusives, and more.

It’s all in the name of creativity and community, as Gussapolooza comes our way August 21-23 at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario. Get those tickets here!

ACT FAST: Musikfest Music Industry Conference Early Bird Rates Expire April 1

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As we excitedly announced months ago, we’re returning to our original home of Bethlehem, PA this August for the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, a three-day meeting of the industry minds set to occur in the middle of the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival.

If you want to get in on the action for the lowest rate possible, you’d better hurry: Early Bird badge rates expire this Wednesday, April 1.

The Musikfest Music Industry Conference (MIC for short) will take place from August 2-4 inside of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks brings together artists, educators, producers, industry professionals, and students for three days of conversations, workshops, mentoring, and performances focused on the real world of music today. (Also, rumor has it that someone you may know is a featured presenter once again this year…)

View conference badge options and get yours here. While you’re in town, don’t forget to enjoy the entire Musikfest experience, taking place throughout Bethlehem from July 31-August 9 (with the popular Preview Night taking place on the South Side on Thursday, July 30).

SAVE THE DATE: NOLA MusiCon Returns to New Orleans Oct. 28-30

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For the past two years, we’ve concluded October — and the year’s tour schedule — by taking a trip to New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon, a platform for artists and industry professionals to connect, learn, and inspire during three days of informative panels, inspiring interviews, and unparalleled networking.

This October 28-30, we’ll make it three in a row. NOLA MusiCon is BACK for 2026!

We hope you’ll join us once again in The Big Easy, and we’re excited to be a part of this incredible community once again. Details on conference and live music programming are sure to come in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, keep an eye out, because early bird badges will soon be made available for just $99 until July 1.

Want an inside look at our experience at NOLA MusiCon 2025? Relive the magic with our official vlogumentary, produced by our friends and fellow UnderDogs at NuRenaissance.

This March, the Underground Revolution Heads to Austin!

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Last year, we made our way to Austin for our first ever trip to SXSW. It was an epic week — one which altered the course of UMC history, and gave rise to the era of the UnderDogs.

Such a life-changing experience was bound to have a sequel, and you had to know that we’d be running it back in the Live Music Capital of the World in 2026!

We’re teaming up with our friends at New York-based Rhythm & Soul Radio — who we met at another one of our favorite conferences, NOLA MusiCon — on two showcase events in Austin during SXSW week. The first one — titled Music, Art, Life — takes place on Saturday, March 14 at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard (1106 E. 11th St.) beginning at 12 p.m. This one features UnderDogs Yonna Jones and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess as part of a full day of music. You can RSVP and find full lineup info here!

Then, join us on Monday, March 16 for The Rendezvous in ATX, taking place at Sahara Lounge (1413 Webberville Rd.) beginning at 5 p.m. That’s where you’ll catch UnderDogs Kelsey Muse and T.R.A.N.E. Spitta in their element as part of another full lineup.

Want to hang with us before the live music kicks off? We’ll also be at The Long Play Lounge (704 W. St. John’s Ave.) on Friday, March 13 between 8-11:30 p.m. for The Array Party. This special evening will feature the opportunity to network with creatives from around the world, while you listen and dance to tunes spanning multiple genres and decades.

Of course, we’ll be in town from March 11 all the way through the 16th, so there will be plenty of opportunities to connect throughout the city of Austin. Follow along here at The Blog, as well as on Instagram and YouTube, for updates before and during the big week!

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