Soil Compilation

Music
Best Albums of 2025: KRUI Staff Picks

The rumors are true, KRUI likes music! 2025 was a crazy year all around, and even crazier, we here at KRUI actually listened to lots of albums this year. We’ve picked out eleven of our favorite albums from this year to share, and explore together.

Music Category
Best Songs of 2025: KRUI Staff Picks

It’s December 29, 2025, and if you can believe it, we here at KRUI actually listened to music throughout the whole year! From pop superstars, to indie legends, to the fresh Bandcamp up-and-comers, we’ve picked out nine of our favorite songs released this past year to share and explore together.

Music
Festival Preview: Chicago’s New Year Transitions, Dec. 26–Jan. 1st

Spanning 7 venues across 7 days, Transitions, the New Years Eve celebration by AURIS PRESENTS, in downtown Chicago has cultivated a lineup of the biggest names spinning records and electronica today. From December 26 – January 1st, Chicagoland will be ablaze as it welcomes the likes of 70 artists and a 21-hour marathon to ring in the new year at Outset. Here are the highlights coming this week to Chicago. 

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Show Review: Detective at Mission Creek

As the crowd warmed up for Detective April 4 at the Mill, there was a definite atmosphere that could only be created by a gathering such as Mission Creek. People spilled into the Yacht Club — bands and concert goers alike. Everyone there had wandered in at some point or other, following the scent of their favorite band or maybe just on a whim to have a peep at some appealing noise they heard from outside the club. With a lineup of Mirror Coat, Gloom Balloon, The Multiple Cat, and the band that everyone seemed to be eagerly awaiting, Detective, … Continued

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There was a glow on The Mill’s stage when Catfish Keith stepped on to get into his show on Nov. 30. The crowd was chattering and warming up, but when Keith started playing they couldn’t help but smile and stomp their feet. That night, Catfish Keith rambled off the kind of music that brings people together. When you hear his sassy guitar riffs your foot starts to move to the beat on the ground and that beat travels up your leg and through your entire body. Once the show hit its climax — which was not by any means short-lived … Continued

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Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, an original bluegrass group based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, hit the scene at Iowa Public Radio’s Java Blend Stage November 9. The band played several tracks from their latest album, Release Your Shrouds, including favorites like “My Side of the Mountain” and “The Power.” And you could tell even from their sound check that the band is smooth. The group consists of Lindsay Rilko on rhythm guitar and vocals,  Josh Rilko on mandolin, Spencer Cain on bass, Keith Bilik on banjo, and Mark Lavengood on dobro guitar. As a whole, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys have … Continued

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