THURSDAY

Get started early for Porch Light. A young group of musicians from Minnesota have been a prominent force and countless screens but are planting their foot down in the touring world. Playing the biggest fests in the country like Shaky Knees, Lollaplaooza, and here at Hinterland, Porch Light is a necessity to hear this weekend. Their summery sound that takes from surf rock riffs is encapsulated in their latest single “Arctic”. Porch Light kicks off Hinterland at 1:00 pm.

The soft bedroom pop sound of the early 2020’s was elevated by artists like beabadoobe. An acoustic guitar with reverb and some honesty might be our generations ‘3 chords and the truth’. From learning how to play guitar from Youtube tutorials to opening for Taylor Swift, there is little that intimidates Bea Kristi. Her upcoming record Pylon is set to drop on September 18th. beabadoobe plays at 8:00 pm.

FRIDAY

A young and prominent force in the alt and shoegaze scene, Wisp puts on as powerful of a live set as they come. A sound that washes into your ears and coursing through your veins, an early start on Friday is a must to see Wisp. You can listen to her rebut record If Not Winter and follow her instagram for updates.

The Ultrasound World Tour makes it to Iowa near in its final dates. Lorde’s first performance in the state since 2018 is one that comes with high expectations. Making waves across the globe with her fourth album Virgin, the New Zealand born artist has been at the forefront of the pop world for over a decade. While still incredibly young, 29, Lorde is a veteran having taken top billing wherever she goes. Lorde headlines at 9:30 pm.

SATURDAY

If you fail to plan, plan to fail. The boys of Amble made a plan to get free drinks, start playing music in pubs. Even if the drinks weren’t free, maybe they’d make a few tips to cover the night. Amble has made impeccable leaps and bounds in their journey in Ireland and now across the pond in the states. One of my most anticipated sets of the weekend features this trio that has opened in stadiums for the likes of Hozier, Ed Sheeren, and most recently Dermot Kennedy at Aviva. Their honest folk sound has guided them this far and I cannot wait to see where they will go in the future. Amble plays at 12:45 pm.

Another Irish artist that people need to be tuning into is CMAT. Growing up church was something to dread until Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson began singing in choir. Still, church was not the most exciting but the singing part of it caught Thompson’s attention. These clever and witty alt rock tunes have culminated in the breakout success EURO-COUNTRY. CMAT performs at 3:45

University of Iowa alumni Nate Reuss has recently brought back together an old band of his to the delight of a sold out tour. Ruess and Sam Means are the duo that created this long dormant project, The Format. After two great alternative records in 2003 and 2006, there was a pause hit from 2008 until last year. In this recent reunification, The Format has got the creative juices flowing once again, releasing their third record Boycott Heaven in January

The Prizefighter World Tour has stopped in stadiums and arenas across the globe, and now St Charles Iowa. Mumford and Sons There was a time when Mumford and Sons slowed down, but that time has ended long ago. Jumping from their 2025 comeback record RUSHMERE to 2026’s Prizefighter is ambitious to say the least after so much quiet. These records didn’t flinch in the shadow of a ‘comeback’, as both ahve been touted as not only returns to form, but an expansion upon their already dynamic and exciting sound from London. A pillar of the 2010’s folk revival, no magic has been lost. Mumford and Sons play at 9:30.

SUNDAY

A stellar act that no one should miss, Wet Leg is what you want from a rock band. There is never a dull moment in a song where Rhian Teasdale and Heather Chambers are not creating the atmosphere that keeps listeners ears close. Their sophmore record mosturizer reached #1 in the UK and was acclaimed by critics as a new path in the scene.

What a day for alt rock between Suki Waterhouse, Wet Leg, and now Geese. Yes, very different than Goose, this New York indie rock outfit has been at the forefront of conversations, rankings, and cover stories with their 2025 record Getting Killed. Frontman Cameron Winter knows success in his own right with his solo record Heavy Metal also being present in these lists and stories, and rightfully so. Winter is not your typical rockstar, but has written some incredible poetry played to the backings of an stellar band with lead guitarist Emily Green. Geese is a breathing performance, every musician locked in step by step through an improvised dance. Geese play at 6:00 pm.

Hinterland is a special festival in countless ways, but the camping portion excites me almost as much as the music. They create this warm and welcoming atmosphere at the campgrounds that feels very loved. This year includes classics like the campfire stage hosting some electric artists after the headliners turn their mics off. There is food available 24/7 throughout the weekend along with a full service bar at basecamp. Strung throughout the grounds includes a silent disco, mini disc golf, and so much more. The singularity of Hinterland is not one to be taken lightly as it prides itself on the stellar experience that can only be found in St. Charles.

More information can be found at Hinterland’s website. Limited passes are still available, you can purchase here. Student discount rates are available!

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Friday

Pat Kennedy is a name will be known far and wide very soon. Hailing from Boston, and a recent graduate of Berklee, Kennedy dances the oh so fine line of bringing classic cassette rock and roll with a modern push. Through story-like writing and a bombastic brass section, Kennedy is nothing short of intoxicating to listen to. His time on stage, kicking off the entire festival, was far too short for my liking along with many others. The captivating performance held tunes from Table 42, a new track called Babylon, and a cover of the one and only Bruce Springsteen with Born to Run. Just an incredible time had with Kennedy, you can listen to my interview with him here.

Marcy Playground brought their Minneapolis sound they have been perfecting for over 30 years to the Skipper Stage. Their is a haze to their sound, something reminiscent of some psychadelic influences in their alt rock core. Although there were. afew drummer shakeups in their earlier years, this trio has been glue since 2009 with John Wozniak on guitar, Dylan Keefe on bass and Shlomie Laive behind the kit. Marcy Playground has three dates left this year, you can find tickets here.

Shakey Graves was quite the good time on the Crow’s Nest stage. A career spanning set with three touches on his latest record, Fondness, Etc., lots of new fans walked away from this groovy roots rock jam. When I found out he was from Austin, Texas, that made a lot of sense to me. He is the ideal SXSW and Austin City Limits type artist. A unique sound and a lot of talent to back it up. A busy year awaits Shakey Graves as he marches on with Dope Lemon through their North American tour, followed by a trip across the pond and more dates in the states on his return. You can find Shakey Graves tour dates here.

Touring partners Dashboard Confessional and The Fray played back to back on the Skipper Stage and Crow’s Nest Stage. All people needed to do to see this “The Summer of Light Tour” was turn their heads. Dashboard played first to a extremely packed crowd, this was the set where it felt people were really filling in. There was old and new, including teases of an upcoming album with the unreleased song “No More Bad Days”. The Fray focused more on the classics, playing five tracks off of their breakout record How To Save A Life. The sun was no match for this duo as their tour continues this summer. You can find tickets here.

The Black Keys made a statement with their set. Their music felt perfect for this weather, heavy riffs and dancing on the fretboard was just the start for the Ohio duo. Their Peaches! Tour has just gotten started supporting their covers record from this year. We got treated to one cover, Willie Griffin’s “When There’s Smoke, There’s Fire“, but beyond that it wads a slew of classics from Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. You can find dates for the rest of their tour here.

What a decade and what a set form Mt Joy. Over the course of the past 10 years, the Philadelphia natives have risen from small clubs and cafes to arena’s and headlining stages at festivals. Their breakout debut record set them on the path they’ve been riding ever since. 7 tracks were played from that special debut and a duo form Orange Blood with a few other scattered throughout. Modern indie folk heroes were the perfect set up to the Fridays headliner. Their set got people up and dancing from the blankets across the grounds. Mt. Joy continue celebrating their decade on tour, you can find tickets here.

With very select dates in North America this year, The Lumineers made one of their final stops at Minnesota Yacht Club. Their Automatic World Tour has seen them reach corners of the world and having them return almost a year after their first stop in Minnesota was a joy. Coming out to the Chicago Bull’s warmup song, this might be one of the final times we see this tours production and set. There were only brief touches of Automatic, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites didn’t shy away from their classics that helped bring them around the globe. Five tracks apiece from Cleopatra and The Lumineers, fans heard everything they wanted to hear despite a 15 minute cut to their set due to weather. The Lumineers will conclude their massive tour in just a few weeks. You can find tickets here.

Saturday

Porch Light began the day with a bang. The Minnesota natives have had an incredibly busy touring and there are no signs of slowing down with their upcoming fall Hush Tour. They played a collection of tunes from their various EP’s, along with their new single “Arctic”, which got people up and moving early in the day. Friday and Saturday had some incredible acts start of the day. Their flowing sound that can rattle around your brain for hours after hearing it. You can catch Porch Light stopping at Hinterland and the rest of their Hush Tour. Tickets can be found here.

Pop-punk pillars The All American Rejects came onto the stage with a bang as the opening riff of “Dirty Little Secret” seemed to ‘Benjamin Button’ everybody back to 18 years old before their knees started to give out. Frontman Tyson Ritter was having a blast on stage, even refereeing a match of ‘who has the highest tower of water cartons’. Their set hit the old classics with a closing duo of “Move Along” and “Gives You Hell” which took the crown in 2009 on the Billboard Top 40 . While all those hits are nice, AAR put out their first record in well over a decade with Sandbox dropping in May. 3 songs form the record made its way to the setlist, “Easy Come, Easy Go“, “Get This” ,and “King Kong“. This band is exactly what you want to hear in the summer, and they stepped right up to the plate and hit it out of the park. The All American Rejects will be hitting around the country on select dates including Riot Fest and Vans Warped Tour Mexico City. You can tour dates here.

Singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus had a constantly growing crowd at Minnesota Yacht Club. Her set has heavy on her two most recent records, 2025’s Forever Is A Feeling and 2021’s Home Video. These two made up 75% of her beautiful set which featured an incredible performance by her band. They had an audible pulse and were all at the top of their game, especially Dacus who held the attention of every passerby and barricade attendee alike. The day after this great show, Dacus performed with the Chicago Philharmonic in Milenium Park. This is range of performance that people dream of. Near the end of the set “True Blue” was played. The boygenius track, which is her supergroup with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, was received with an eruption of cheers when it set it on the crowd. The group is on hiatus as all three attend to their immensely successful solo careers. Dacus has select dates for the rest of the year including Newport Folk Fest and Bumbershoot. You can find tickets here.

Geese. What else is there to say but Geese. A dominating force in the current landscape of not only alternative music, but music as a whole. They rose to the occasion in grand fashion, closing out and practically burning down the Crow’s Nest Stage. In one hour, Geese flew through a dozen songs, 75% from Getting Killed and the final quarter from 3D Country. Noticeably missing from their set was “Cobra“, one of their most popular tunes but it took until after the set to realize due to their chaotic and lively show. There isn’t much left to say besides go see Geese. It’s fun. Frontman Cameron Winter said that they last time they played Minnesota, it was a bar and grill (Amsterdam to be exact, with Racing Mount Pleasant opening up), and that they will be returning to that shortly. Geese will be hitting the road this fall for their Getting Killed… AGAIN! tour including a stop at Hinterland on August 2nd. You can find tour dates here.

Matchbox Twenty was the headliner Saturday night, with their first show in almost two years. They had a warm reception back as from a packed crowd Saturday night, providing the tunes to a incredible sunset. This fest starts off a collection of shows they have across the country where they will bring their unmistakable sound to thousands of fans. This set was a classic show with a few twists. Hits like “3AM” and “Push” were played and two covers made their way into the order. “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window”, a deep cut from The Beatle’s Abbey Road was a shock and joy to hear live. Rob Thomas and company made stellar work of the tune along with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds. The band seemed happy to be back playing, and the crowd was right there with them. You can find tickets to their 2026 tour here.

Sunday

If you has to itch to mosh this weekend, the combination of local heroes Heart To Gold and Die Spitz would have been the golden opportunity. These two bands laid waste to the massive stage, letting the people get their anger, happiness, or any other emotion out through their incredible performances. Heart To Gold was dominant and unapologetic, tearing into favorites from their 2024 record Free Help. The band recently recorded an Audiotree session which you can listen to here. Die Spitz continued pressing down on the gas afterwards with a dozen songs. Half came from their 2025 record Something to Consume and the remaining six split amongst their debut record Teeth and two singles. The biting guitars itch something in my ear and their live show is joy to have seen. Die Spitz will be all over the globe with Foo Fighters, Olivia Rodrigo, and their own headlining tour. You can find tickets, including a stop at Hinterland, here. You can find Heart To Gold tour dates here.

Semisonic made their return this weekend with a duo of shows, their first in two years. Bassist and founding members John Munson suffered a stroke in February 2025 which caused a cancellation of a gigs for the band. Until this past weekend where Semisonic played a kickoff show on Thursday night and The Varsity Theater and the Skipper Stage on Sunday. The band was back in full force for this hometown show in what felt like an incredibly well earned victory lap. The set featured “Don’t Give Up Yet“, a song written by frontman Dan Wilson for Munson while I.C.E. raids were terrorizing their hometown. This optimistic tune is their first new material in almost three years. Wilson told a story about a time he saw fellow Minnesotan Bob Dylan play this park, where he prefaced his performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind” with the line “This song is a time honored classic”, which he attributed to their finale “Closing Time“. He’s not wrong, this tune has closed bars, venues, weddings, and any establishment with people inside who need to leave. To have a song this impactful come out of the Twin Cities and then performed there to 35,000+ people almost three decades later is really spectacular. Semisonic is absolutely a time honored classic. The band doesn’t have any dates lined up as of now, but stayed tuned to their website for updates!

Cage the Elephant have always stepped right up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. Whether its playing main stages at every fest imaginable or playing stadiums and arenas around the world, the Kentucky quintet have never been anything less than superb. In one hour, there was barely a moment to breath throughout the rapid fire set which featured tracks from all but one of their records, 2024’s Neon Pill. In addition to all of the classics like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Shake Me Down” was their latest single “Beaches In Tennessee“. The band has been working on the music during a relatively quiet first half of 2026 as they ramp up to an album release announcement. After their set, I asked some patrons their thoughts on the band to which all had golden things to say. Bob, a Bostonian entering his 66th year on Earth this August, said “musicians come and go, rockstars are remembered even when they don’t stick around. These guys are rock stars” after seeing them for the first time. Not far away was Molly, who had seen Cage the Elephant in the fall, who seconded Bob’s enthusiasm for their showmanship. “Seeing them feels like what my parents talk about when they said they saw bands like Zeppelin” is about the highest praise you can get as a live band. Stay tuned to Cage the Elephant website for updates.

During the finale, “Come A Little Closer“, guitarist Brad Schultz came down to a boy in the crowd and strapped his black and white 1449 Silvertone guitar around a young boy who brought a sign. The breakdown and final chorus was spent making this lifetime memory for the kid sporting an Interpol shirt. If you weren’t a fan of Cage the Elephant before, you are now (even if Schultz tumbled on the stairs and “ate shit on the way down”, his words).

A quick and breezy set for The Strokes as they closed out the fifth edition of Minnesota Yacht Club. The New York natives started off with an “Evening Sun“, which was only the fourth time this year it has been played. That was far from the only showing from the record First Impressions of Earth, which tied the lead with Is This It with four songs a piece in the set. Newer favorite “The Adults Are Talking” was second on the set followed by an older classic “Reptilia” which is usually reserved as a main set closer but used to electrify the crowd early. The stage design continued this futuristic vibe with lasers and strobes painting the sides of the band in bright colors. Mainly a backlit set with the cherry on top of sunglasses on frontman Julian Casablancas at 10:00pm was a sign that the band in their element. The Strokes saved their sole Reality Awaits track, “Going Shopping” until almost the very end with the record set to release this Friday. The Strokes roll on their tour throughout 2026, you can find dates here.

Minnesota Yacht Club delivered a top tier festival experience, combining some incredible bands with a prestigious and plush feel on Harriet Island. Spending the weekend next to the river with boats soaking up the sun with the backdrop of St. Paul was postcard worthy. Inside the festival grounds were an incredibly friendly and excited staff who helped put on the biggest weekend of music in Minnesota this year. Blankets spread all across the park and surrounded by music is the ideal way to spend a summer. Stay tuned to Minnesota Yacht Club’s socials and website for updates on next years edition!

The post Minnesota Yacht Club Recap appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Hailing from New England, Pat Kennedy has taken his ear to the sounds you heard growing up in your dads car. The big feel of a booming voice and brass section mixed with the lyrics that feel like a conversation with a good friend, Kennedy is a promising figure out east. I sat down with Pat at Minnesota Yacht Club after his electric set on July 17th.

Logan Melia: I asked a few people about your set earlier today. Confirm or deny that you did play “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen. 

Pat Kennedy: I can confirm I played “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen. 

Logan: Okay, big Springsteen guy. I think we both are.  He’s got so many hits, how do you decide which hit to go with? 

Pat: I chose the one that was tattooed on my leg. 

Logan: Where’d you get that tattoo? 

Pat: Right here. Boston. Or Worcester. Worcester got a tattoo It’s like one of my favorite songs of all time, one of my favorite artists of all time. The reason I play music. 

Logan: Absolutely. Yeah. Obviously “Born to Run”, big classic, “Dancing in the Dark”. If you had to pick some deep cut to perform on a big stage like this, what are you ripping out of the repertoire right there? 

Pat: Out of Springsteen’s. 

Logan: Yeah, like “Highway Patrolmen”, you doing anything?

Pat: Some of Nebraska is crazy, but I feel like that it’s not lively enough for, I mean, it’s still hit. I’m going to go with like a weird, like, it was kind of, I forget when it came out. It’s kind of like semi-recent, like not an older one. “Mary’s Place”. 

Logan: Love that song. 

Pat: You know that one. 

Pat and Logan: ‘Meet me at Mary’s Place, we’re going to have a party’.

Pat: No, I love it because I feel like that’s not like a big one but it’s so good. I love that one. I heard that for the first time when I saw him. 

Logan: When’d you see him? 

Pat: Gillette Stadium. Nice. It’s pretty solid. That’s so shaking. 

Logan: Was that, we played July 2023. 

Pat: Yes. 

Logan: Okay, that’s when I saw him on that tour too. That was my first time seeing him. All right, now about someone else’s music, your music. I mean, hell of a start right here. I mean, this is just the way to kick it off. Obviously, you had this big brass band sound, this big feel to it, but you have the storytelling of what feels like a book that you’re reading alone in a room. When you’re writing down, do you blend yourself knowing that you’re going to be doing this on some big stage? Or do you start with the knowledge that it’s just you and this acoustic guitar and that might be all it’ll be? 

Pat: See, that is my issue is because I feel like I do write, when I’m writing a song, I’m hearing the full band as I’m writing it. So I feel like I typically write songs for the full band. So I guess that is what I’m imagining when I’m writing a song. I mean, I guess maybe a couple of the slower acoustic ones that I’ve written, like those are for that. But I feel like I’m always hearing what I’m going on. So I’ll show someone a song and maybe they’ll be like, oh, okay. And then I’m like, they don’t hear the whole thing. And then I show them the finished track and then they’re like, oh, okay, you get what you meant. But yeah, for sure, I feel like I am imagining that big, big sound. 

Logan: When you’re setting up that, do you know the part by part or are you just like, there’s a swell here, there’s a repeat. How detailed do you get it there? 

Pat: I’m an arranger. That’s what I studied in college, like composition and arrangement. So I feel like I really am hearing just every instrument at once somehow. I don’t know, I’m hearing all the horns in their little lines. I’m hearing the full sound of like all the guitars. all the background vocals. So I guess I definitely string it out to all these moments, like hits or big swells and stuff like that, like you were saying. But sometimes I feel like when I’m writing a song, I do too much of that. And then I’m like, oh, it just sounds too arranged. And then I got to dial it back a little bit. But yeah, I feel like definitely, imagining it. Yeah, that’s awesome. 

Logan: When you’re doing these different arrangements and stuff like that, has it always been this full arrangement thing? Or is that something you grew into through your education or through other things? 

Pat: 100% grew through it. Berkeley was awesome for that. I feel like I learned a lot of arranging there. I think I chose the correct path at the school for letting me do it. I mean, I used to write songs in high school. I think without the knowledge of how big something could sound like that, I think I heard it. in my influences, like we were talking about. But I feel like definitely something I grew into. Because I would write songs on the piano in high school, and then when I went to go finally get them recorded, my producer friends could help me flush them out. And then I feel like I really grew and learned in that way. 

Logan: Did you start off with piano? Was that your first one? 

Pat: No, I did guitar lessons growing up. But piano was a self-taught thing. I never took lessons for that. But it feels easier to compose on for me. Okay. Because I feel like when you’re playing guitar, writing a song, it kind of, I don’t know if this is like true at all for what I’m saying, but it feels like it’s putting it in a box almost. I feel like piano is such a base composition tool that like it can become anything after that. Yeah. So that’s typically my favorite composition instrument. 

Logan: That’s awesome. Table 42, table for two, pardon me.

Pat: Correct.

Logan: How long was that process right there? Were these songs that you wrote specifically for the album? Were you picking and pulling from the past? 

Pat: The album has been a goal for such a long time. Yeah, it was a cumulation of songs that I feel like I had written starting earlier in my college career. And then as all these songs formed, I was like, obviously, like 100 songs and then throw away 99 of them. But as I started accumulating these songs and I was like, I really liked these and started kind of feeling a pattern of like a subject or like a theme going on. I kind of tried to develop the album and spent time like really figuring out like what more songs I needed to finish it and like finish what I was trying to say. So yeah, I think from when I decided I was going to make the album, it probably took a little under a year, maybe a year, but I think It is the accumulation of like three to four years of writing.

Logan: Do you remember the day you were like, ‘okay, we’re actually gonna do the damn thing’. 

Pat: I don’t know if I know the day, but it was a little bit before, a little bit before November, 2024. Cause then I was like, ‘oh, we gotta get going here’. And then we went and recorded “Eve” live in like a studio and I was like, with like a newer band that I was working with. And I was like, oh, We’re going. It’s just fun. 

Logan: How many musicians were in the room for that recording video? Because that’s a big sound. 

Pat: Yeah, we had… All right, we had myself playing, singing and rhythm, and then we also had my buddy playing guitar rhythm on acoustic. 

Logan: So you were playing electric rhythm there? 

Pat: Yeah, electric rhythm, even though I typically play acoustic live for that song because, you know, we can’t pay that many players. But we had me and my buddy playing acoustic, we had electric lead, we had bass, Drums. and three horns and keys, I think. So either 9 or 10, around there. Yeah, we had a lot of people in the room, and then more people in the control room, we’d have a blast. 

Logan: That’s incredible. 

Pat: It’s important to have a good time. 

Logan: You mentioned kind of writing 100 songs, 99 of them not being good. Do you just write everything down on paper, or are you a little more selective? 

Pat: Recently, I’ve been trying to. I struggled with this thing of like, If I found a cool thing which made me start writing a song, I struggled with like not letting it go unless until it was done or what I thought was like perfect, which is not true. But yeah, no, I feel like I struggled with that. I maybe still do struggle with that, beating a song to death, trying to revive it in any certain way. But I think I’m learning that it’s more important to just like get ideas out as fast, like get them down, get them down and move on. Maybe come back to it if you think it has some like stuff, but It’s something I’m working on definitely is trying to get those ideas down and move on because I’ve heard from a lot of people and feel that it’s definitely a better way to find the best part of what you’re trying to say. 

Logan: When you’re playing a big show like this, does that like inspire you to like start writing again or does that like wear you out a little bit? Because I feel like I’ve heard whole things. 

Pat: Yeah, I’m definitely inspired. I mean, I think I’m more so inspired to play again, because I mean, as much as I love writing, and I do love writing, playing live is just the best thing of all time. If I have a crowd in front of me, that’s all I care. I have so much fun. I just love to entertain. But I would say for sure, after today. I feel like this almost felt like accumulation of where this album has taken me. And we played a new one today, one that isn’t out and so that went really well. And I’m really excited about that because we started writing with the whole band that everybody that plays with me. So like fleshing it out better.

Logan: Does the new one have a name? 

Pat: “Babylon”. Yeah, we ripped that one today and it went really, really good. I heard some good things. I guess. 

Logan: I’m going to ask around the crowd about “Babylon” next. 

Pat: For sure. But no, I’m definitely, excited to write, especially if you’re like Sinker Dying Down. Very excited to hop in the writers’ room. 

Logan: Do you have a favorite show you have ever played personally? And do you have a longest show you’ve ever played? 

Pat: Favorite show I’ve ever played is today. Absolutely by far today. I mean, there’s definitely been some special moments, you know, like my album release show in November. This past November, the day the album came out, we had a show where we rented out this, not even like a venue, but like a space that had like speakers. It was basically packed this office building with all of my friends and family and, you know, our fans that turned into friends in the Boston area packed into this place and we did our album release. That one was, I think, the most special because it really showed how like much love I have for all those people and how much like, reciprocated that is, and that just feels, that felt really good. So I gotta say that one, because just the community of it, but today was… it’s gonna be hard to talk today for a little while. It went way better than I could have ever hoped.

Logan: Yeah. Oh, that’s incredible to hear. 

Pat: Yeah, it was awesome. 

Logan: Okay, well, hey, you mentioned new music. We got everything. The only thing I have to ask left is Loretta’s last call. I was told to ask you about that. 

Pat: I feel like this is the beginning of this haunting me for the rest of my life. No, not haunting.

Logan: I was just told to ask you about it. I was asking people around about Pat Kennedy today. And I was like, all right, you know, thoughts on Pat Kennedy’s set. And there’s like, ‘oh, it’s electric. You know what you should bring it up to him. Ask him about Loretta’s Last Call’ So it’s really the most recent thing I’ve written down. 

Pat: Oh, nice. Yeah, I mean, that’s where All right, so I got to college in 2022, and I was like, I need to find a place to work. So I got a job at this bar called Lorena’s Last Call. It’s right outside of Fenway. It had a stage, which is the reason I applied, because I was like, let’s work our way into this. And like I said, I love playing live. So as soon as I could, I made friends with whoever does it and convinced them to let my band have a go. And we started playing weekend gigs every once in a while. It’s a lot of cover music, obviously, but you work in the originals you’re working on. And then we moved forward and after that, we had weekly residencies for like 2 years, playing like every Wednesday, doing some of our stuff and some line dancing music too, like, because of the bar. And I feel like we’ve gotten a lot of our Boston fans from there. You know, people coming out like pretty regularly to see us, which has been cool. But I have toned that to like, I have toned our performance today to that. It’s so important to me that the live show is the most important thing to me ever because live music is the most important thing. And you know, we’ve been honing our craft. I’ve been honing my craft. The band has been honing the craft. And I think that’s a big reason why we’re, I feel we’re so tight today and like why we’re such good friends and also why we’re playing better than we ever could have imagined, like compared to what we thought two years ago. So I think that’s a big part of how we came up. 

Logan: Any advice to a college kid in a band? 

Pat: Trying to play a show. Play a show, play a show, keep playing shows, play a cover gig, play a house show, whatever. And I know people have their different paths and everything out like that. My biggest pet peeve is just wasting time not playing. If you want to be an artist, you want to play shows, go do it. Play at a coffee shop. Don’t wait five years to release a single or five years to go play your first show ever. Just play. Nobody’s playing anymore. Everyone’s just online. And I know I need to get online because I’m bad with socials, so they should tell me that. But I’m telling the people that are online to go play a show because you need to play live. That’s my advice. That’s my pet peeve and advice. 

Logan: And they’ll probably listen to this. 

Pat: I hope so. If they’re online, they’ll listen to it. I hope so. Someone give me marketing advice? 

If anyone wants to jump on the Pat Kennedy train before it leaves the station, now is the time to hop on. And any marketing advice you bring is a plus. You can follow Pat Kennedy on Instagram and check his website for updates.

The post Interview: Pat Kennedy appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Wednesday

Treaty Oak Revival played a knockout set as their rise continues. With a heavy helping of their latest record, West Texas Degenerate, the quintet was electric from start to finish. Although alcohol is a prevalent theme in a lot of their music, lead singer Sam Canty opened up about his sobriety journey. With a Michelob Ultra Zero in hand, “Boomtown” lead to a monsoon from the skies. Treaty Oak Revival continues their tour this fall. You can find tickets here.

Thursday

Hootie! The return of Hootie and The Blowfish to Chicago was high on my list this summer. Darius Rucker and his band delved into fan favorites from Cracked Rear View and a handful of covers as well. Hitting some Led Zeppelin, Buffalo Springfield, and Darius’ solo work, there was nothing more you could have asked for in this rain shortened set. With warning of their limited time, Hootie and The Blowfish played Rucker’s track “Wagon Wheel” which started as a Bob Dylan chorus and verses that were put together by Old Crow Medicine Show. The final track is arguably the bands biggest hit, “Only Wanna Be With You” as the masses began to head for the exits. Although too brief, it was a joy to see Hootie and the Blowfish back. The band has two more dates this year, Bourbon and Beyond and Oceans Calling. You can find tickets here.

If you were missing Hold My Hand from Hootie and the Blowfish’s set, Scotty McCreery had you covered. Bringing out the full band to sing their collab tune Bottle Rockets, we got a taste of the band before they went on. Scotty’s set went over so smooth with the crowd, playing a career spanning set with covers thrown in the mix like Tom Petty’s Won’t Back Down, and a country classics medley with Alan Jackson and Johnny Cash thrown in. Scotty will continue his time on the road as his new album 15 drops on July 17th. The first single “Your Man” is out now.

Friday

Lainey Wilson was the headliner for packed Friday night. The masses all moved in real close to see the Lousiana native play tracks from almost all of her records, including her most recent output Whirlwind. Wilson has had a busy year, releasing her latest single “Phone, Keys, Wallet” with John Mayer and gearing up for more time on the road this year. Lainey Wilson will be joining Chris Stapelton in Atlanta along with a collection of headline dates. You can find tickets here.

Saturday

Jordan Davis ran the stage like he built it himself. It was a hefty set with dashes of his debut all the way to his 2025 record Learn The Hard Way, it was what any fan of Davis’ new or old would’ve wanted. Although this was a country fest it didn’t stop Davis from reaching into the back pocket of his favorite rock tunes like blink-182’s “All The Small Things” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”. Jordan Davis has a packed year ahead including performing at the sold out John Prine tribute show this October at the Chicago Theatre. The rest of Davis’ tickets can be found here.

Earlier in the day, one half of Florida-Georgia Line brought that southern humidity to Smokeout. Tyler Hubbard, the Georgia side of the duo, played through his latest solo tracks as well as FGL favorites. The group recently reunited at CMA fest in June to perform a brief set. Tyler Hubbard has a large slate of dates for the rest of the year with headline and support shows for Dan+Shay. You can find tickets here.

Sunday

Blake Shelton returned for his first Chicago show in 5 years and first performance at Windy City Smokeout. There has been a consistent flow of music from Shelton over the past two decades with For Recreational Use Only bringing up his most recent work. Shelton has select dates throughout the year, culminating in a headlining slot at The Hondo Rodeo Fest in November. Tickets can be found here.

Despite the rain and heat trying their best, there wasn’t a damper put on this crowd throughout the 5 nights of country music and bbq. Rows and rows of pitmasters from all around the country congregated right next to some of the top names from Nashville playing their tunes for a lovely weekend. Windy City Smokeout returns in 2027, you can sign up for updates here.

The post Windy City Smokeout Recap appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Friday

Skipper Stage

As their massive Automatic World Tour winds down, The Lumineers have taken their set to stadiums across the world. Spending their 2026 in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia, these handful of North American shows are a well earned victory lap. Their 2025 record, Automatic, was a resounding success for the band 21 years in. A pillar of the folk rock scene that has driven forward countless bands to include banjo and steel guitar, their impact on the landscape of their scene cannot be understated. The Lumineers headline The Skipper Stage at 9:00 pm.

You don’t see duos too often in music, but The Black Keys have mastered their craft. Five Grammy Awards in and still putting out quality blues rock, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are not to be taken for granted. Their latest record, Peaches!, a collection of their favorite covers has been a jumping off point for many into blues classics. With a slew of original tunes in 2024’s No Rain, No Flowers and 2024’s Ohio Players, quality output has never been a question for the Akron natives. The Black Keys play at 7:00 pm.

Chris Carrabba’s voice has been in emo’s hearts for over two and a half decades at this point as Dashboard Confessional has been a staple on alt playlists for years. Through the recovery process a motorcycle accident, Carrabba penned the acoustic record All the Truth That I Can Tell which dropped in 2022. The storytelling that made him so famous reaches another level of honesty on this record. Back healthy and touring, Dashboard Confessional plays at 5:00 pm.

Marcy Playground has been around for over three decades and really made their splash in 1997 with “Sex and Candy”, the lead single from their debut record. A classic 90’s alt rock sound that has graced the alternative radio airwaves for a long time. Although there hasn’t been much new music as of late, touring schedule has kept them rather booked and busy. Marcy Playground plays at 3:00 pm.

Another hometown band, Prize Horse is a trio from Minnesota who have found their heavier, almost shoegaze type sound, through their string of singles and first record Under Sound. Recently hitting the road with Glitterer and Graham Hunt, they have found a home in the scene where their music thrives beyond a single genre. Prize Horse plays at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

An incredible pairing with The Lumineers to say the least. Mt. Joy have launched themselves into stardom with their alt-folk sound through their first four records with 2024’s Hope We Have Fun bringing up the most recent. In addition to these records, the Philadelphia quintet has a pair of incredible live records recorded at Red Rocks in 2021 and The Salt Shed in 2024. They’ve been selling out arenas across the country as the celebrate 10 years of being a band this fall. Mt Joy will play at 8:00 pm.

The Fray haven’t strayed far from fellow Yacht Club attendees Dashboard Confessional as their tour hits the Twin Cities. The band released their fifth record, A Light That Waits, in March, that continued their classic soft rock sound thats graced radio waves for years. The Fray play at 6:00 pm.

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, is a veteran of the alt folk scene. What started out as a one man band has developed into a eye catching stage show. Garcia put out his fifth studio record, Fondness, Etc., on May 15th. Shakey Graves plays at 4:00 pm.

After a recent visit to Iowa City and interview with KRUI in the fall Night Moves plays this hometown show at Minnesota Yacht Club before they embark on a tour with The Afghan Whigs this fall. Their record, Double Life, released last year with plenty indie rock flourishes. Night Moves plays at 2:15 pm.

Electric. That’s what Pat Kennedy is. A loud and full sound from the east coast (Massachusetts) is a bombastic start to the festival. His debut record, Table 42, released last year and it has been non-stop touring since. His brass band will join him bright and early to kick off Minnesota Yacht Club 2026. Pat Kennedy plays at 1:00 pm.

Saturday

Skipper Stage

The Return of Matchbox Twenty is happening at Minnesota Yacht Club. Having not played a show for almost two years, this is the kind of return show any band would dream of. Lead singer Rob Thomas stayed busy in the past year touring his solo works, but the band dropped their latest record When The Light Goes in 2023 and a collection of previously unreleased B-Sides in February. Through decades of hits and records, Matchbox Twenty taking the biggest stage in the Twin Cities at 9:00 pm.

Ben Schneider, Tom Renaud, Miguel Briseño, and Mark Barry make up the indie folk favorites Lord Huron. With a smooth and almost storybook sound to their music, Schneider fronts this band with a charm that captivates the listener. Their most recent release, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, will have been out for on year on July 18th. Lord Huron plays at 7:00 pm.

After the resounding success their “House Party Tour”, The All American Rejects have rekindled the love of garage bands and backyard shows. With a catalogue of hits ranging through their 5 records, including their first LP in 14 years Sandbox, the world is in the hands of Tyson Ritter and the band. The All American Rejects play at 5:00 pm.

22 years into their career, Matt and Kim have never stuck to just one genre. The duo combines a lot of electronic and dance elements in their music with moments of acoustic peace. Their most recent record, be kind rewind, hovered this line. Matt and Kim play at 3:00pm.

Hometown heroes Yam Haus will open the day on the Skipper Stage with their flowing indie rock. Their latest single, “One Way Road“, is emblematic of their fun sound with the helping hand of Cory Wong of Vulfpeck. Yam Haus takes the stage at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

You ever hear about this band? Everyone else has. You could not talk about the modern landscape of music without Geese. In my interviews with indie rock favorites Peach Pit and Grammy Award winning bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle, they both mentioned Geese as they continue on their rise from their 2025 record Getting Killed. There’s not much to say about these New York indie-rock darlings beyond go listen to them. Better late than never. Geese will headline the Crow’s Nest Stage at 8:00 pm.

One third of the supergroup boygenius (along with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker) is Lucy Dacus. Celebrating a decade since her debut record, Dacus has 5 records of solo material to critical acclaim. Her latest single, Planting Tomatoes, dropped in April. Lucy Dacus takes the Crow’s Nest stage at 6:00 pm.

With the upcoming release of her deluxe album “I Don’t Know How But They Found Me… Again!“, Jensen McRae has been making waves with her unique sound through the alt-pop scene. The touches if folk and rock blended with the singer-songwriter vibes are prevalent and welcomed. She will be opening up for Gracie Abrams on select dates in 2027. McRae plays at 4:00 pm.

Music has always been apart of Devon Gilfillian’s life, his father played in band around town and Devon made the most of his time in high school by starting a band with some friends. All these years later, Gilfillian released fourth studio album Time Will Tell in June. He will play at 2:15 pm.

Performing their very first festival at Summerfest in June, Porch Light will embark on a very festive summer with stops at Lollapalooza, Hinterland, Shaky Knees, and right here at Minnesota Yacht Club. One of my favorite new bands that has jumped so high since their start in 2024, the Minnesota natives have the exact songs you want to hear outside in the summer. Their latest single, Arctic, released in June. Porch Light will kick off Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Sunday

Skipper Stage

The Strokes bring their Reality Awaits Tour to Minnesota, closing out the final night of the fest. With the new record just days away from releasing (July 24th), fans are eagerly hoping for more glimpses at Reality Awaits in addition to its first two singles “Going Shopping” and “Falling out of Love” which was played on one of Stephen Colbert’s final episodes of The Late Show. This tour has seen Julian Casablancas and the band reach back into their discography for some deep cuts including “One Way Trigger” from Comedown Machine and “Life Is Simple in the Moonlight“from Angles. The New York legends will continue their tour through arenas, amphitheatres and headlining slots at festivals at Harriet Island Regional Park at 9:00 pm.

One of the greatest live bands alive, Cage the Elephant will play their only two gigs on the books at Minnesota Yacht Club. Providing direct support to The Strokes on Friday in Milwaukee, and playing right before them again on the Skipper Stage on Sunday. The Kentucky rockers have been working on a new record after a busy 2026 that included supporting Oasis in North America. Their first single from the forthcoming album, “Beaches in Tennessee” drops on July 10th. Cage the Elephant play at 7:00 pm.

A hometown show for Twin Cities natives Semisonic is a highlight on the final day of the festival. Although known for their massive hit “Closing Time“, the band has so much more to discover if you dig beneath the surface. Their 1998 record Feeling Strangely Fine hosts “Secret Smile” and “Singing in My Sleep” that have been hidden favorites on alt rock radio for almost three decades. Their latest single “Don’t Give Up Yet” dropped in June and the band will play at 5:00 pm.

Die Spitz is one of the hottest new bands, and for good reason. Their music brings a competitive spirit to the rock scene that has earned themselves an incredibly busy year that includes their own headlining tour along with supporting King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard along with Turnstile. That does not even touch the packed 2027 they already have planned boasting supporting slots for Foo Fighters in Asia and Olivia Rodrigo Europe. Die Spitz debut record Something to Consume has rightfully launched them with their heavy and groovy vibe that feels incredibly fresh in the modern landscape. Die Spitz plays at 3:00 pm.

The name Heart To Gold may sound familiar to some as they have been making their way through the ranks of the diy scene. Minnesota natives, this fest is a big stage for the trio that I have no worries they will make it home. Recently opening up for Sweet Pill and Harrison Gordon, their next endeavour on the road will be supporting Death Lens this fall. Just making their way back from a tour in Japan. If you want a taste of their live shows, you can watch their full gig at the historic First Ave here. Heart To Gold plays at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

Dating back even farther than their 1997 debut record, Atmosphere have been a massive presence in the Minnesota underground music scene. The duo of Slug and Ant are 14 records in, with Jesture being the most recent release from 2025. They are well known for their extensive touring and this year is no exception, joining 311 and Dirty Heads for a leg of their summer tour. Atmosphere plays at 8:00 pm.

Michael Angelakos’ project Passion Pit has been an indie favorite for close to two decades. With touches of electronic and alt influences like The Postal Service and Modest Mouse, this sound has been infectious from the beginning. Passion Pit’s recent single “Sleepyhead 2025” with SOFI TUKKER was his first output in almost three years. Passion Pit takes the stage at 6:00 pm.

Angus Stone has been releasing music for a while but only under the name Dope Lemon for 10 years. Five records into this project, including 2025’s Golden Wolf, this beach-y and glowing sound has developed into ear worms that ring around quite a bit. Touring with fellow Yacht Club Rocker Shakey Graves this summer, its a well matched vibe. Dope Lemon plays at 4:00 pm.

Harkening back to an 80’s pop vibe with moments of crooning honesty, Couch has a sound ideal for a hot summer day. Their headline tour comes through Minnesota Yacht Club before opening some dates for Lake Street Dive out west. Couch’s debut LP Big Talk will celebrate one year in October. Couch plays at 2:15 pm.

These California natives are making waves. Common People have gained the blessing of Brad Schultz of Cage the Elephant, who produced their EP Games, and have been running with it since. Their latest single, a dreamy vibe on “Blue Eyes” has taken them a step further into the limelight. They kick off the final day of Minnesota Yacht Club at 1:00 pm.

This weekend promises to be full of favorites from past, present, and future. A combination of some incredible artists in a beautiful setting right on The Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, this is a can’t miss weekend. 3-day tickets are sold out, but limited 1-day tickets for Saturday are still available, you can find passes here.

The post Minnesota Yacht Club Festival Preview appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Wednesday

One of the hottest names in country music will be bringing their bombastic live show to Windy City Smokeout. Treaty Oak Revival will play a special kickoff show Wednesday night before the festivities kick off. Their latest record, West Texas Degenerate, hit number one on Billboards Top Rock Albums and Top Americana/Folk Albums shortly after its release last fall. Their tour kicks through Des Moines at The Casey’s Center on August 7th. Treaty Oak Revival will continue their second leg of the “West Texas Degenerate Tour” hitting the stage in Chicago at 8:00 pm.

Wednesday night might only have three artists but it is well worth showing up as Treaty Oak Revival will be joined by Braxton Keith and Sterling Elza. Keith released his first full length album on May 14th, Real Damn Deal, that harkens back to a rooted and groovy country. He has had a busy year touring the record including an opening slot for Riley Green on his Australian tour in April. Keith will play at 6:25 pm.

Sterling Elza will begin the evening at 5:15 pm with a heavy dose of his latest EP Bag of Bones that released in March.

Thursday

Darius Rucker brings his rocking band Hootie and The Blowfish back to Chicago on Thursday night. Their 1994 debut record, Cracked Rear View, was a smashing success on alt and country radio reaching 2x Diamond status from Billboard. With hits like “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You” reaching top 10 in the US upon its release, this set has been circled on my calendar for months. With only three tour dates on the books this year, Hootie and the Blowfish are a special booking that will be taking the stage at 8:25 pm.

Scotty McCreery, from American Idol fame, has made a special career from the show as he marches on into his 15th year releasing music. His deep tone is reminiscent of Josh Turner and other country greats, evoking a warm and grounded feeling in his songs. A recent collaboration with Hootie and The Blowfish, “Bottle Rockets“, combines elements of “Hold My Hand” in this new tune. McCreery will be taking the stage at 6:50 pm.

Ghost Hounds is a young band with a bluesy and driven sound that has been earned the support of legends like The Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks. Their debut record Roses are Black released in 2019 was a fresh sound in the country scene and their latest record Justified will release August 21st. Ghost Hounds plays at 5:30

Hailing from Canada, Noeline Hoffman has joined the ranks of the most promising rising stars in country. Playing gigs throughout Alberta, Hoffman caught the eye of Zach Bryan who asked to collaborate on her song “Purple Gas“. The following two years were filled with opening slots for artists like Charley Crockett, headlining shows around North America and her debut at The Grand Ole Opry. She most recently was nominated for “Breakout Artist of the Year” at the JUNO Awards and jsut released her laatest single “Dublin Blues“. Noeline Hoffman will play at 4:25.

Being a performer has always drawn Karley Scott Collins, whether it be the screen or the stage. Starring in films like “Hottie and the Nottie” in 2006, to two decades later plying The Opry, there is a common thread running through Collins life. Her 2025 debut album, Flight Risk, was a 16 song journey through what has been an adventorous life. Collins latest single, “Leavin’ On My Mind“, dropped on June 26th.

Friday

Lainey Wilson has had a hold on the country world for some time now, quickly launching into the Nashville scene right out of high school. After seven years of independent releases, Wilson signed with BBR and released the single “Dirty Looks“. Her most recent album Whirlwind was nominated for Best Country Album at The Grammy’s in 2025 along with an onslaught of Country Music Association Awards wins and nominations. Wilson will play headline at 8:30 pm.

Hudson Westbrook had to have a very difficult conversation with his parents when his song “Take It Slow” got out of his usual audience online. Dropping out of college to pursue music is a risky thing for most but became a sure fire yes for Westbrook in 2024. His first record Texas Forever reached 6 on the US Country charts along with 2x Platinum Certification for his single “House Again“. Hudson Westbrook will play at 6:50 pm.

Vincent Mason has something special in his voice, the likes of Megan Maroney and Luke Bryan agree playing opening slots for both. His career, while young, has not been void of accomplishments including a 2026 nomination for The Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year Award. His latest record There I Go released last November. Mason will play at 5:10 pm.

The Belmont University alumni Mackenzie Carpenter has been on a tear in 2026, releasing four singles. Heart That Don’t Break, is the latest in this selection as she balances her own songs with her extensive of co-writing credits. Her first full length record, Hey Country Queen, put her on the map in Nashville as she continues touring the album throughout the rest of 2026. Carpenter will play at 4:00 pm.

Chandler Walters has stepped into the spotlight after writing countless hits for some of the biggest stars in Nashville. His latest single “Break Your Heart” released in March of this past year. Walters takes the stage at 3:00 pm.

Saturday

Hailing from Louisiana, Jordan Davis is Saturday nights headliner. With three studio albums under his belt, including 2025’s Learn the Hard Way, Davis’ set begins at 8:20 pm.

Russel Dickerson is continuing his streak of #1 singles with “Happen to Me” from his 2025 album Famous Back Home. Over a decade and a half of touring and recording music hasn’t slowed Dickerson down as his live shows have become a must see for country fans. Russel Dickerson takes the stage at 6:30 pm.

One half of the beloved country duo Florida-Georgia Line is Tyler Hubbard. The veteran of the industry has established himself as a solo artist releasing two LP’s, Tyler Hubbard and Strong that both charted on in the US Country’s Top 40 upon release. Hubbard plays at 4:45 pm.

From a small town of under 1,000 in South Carolina, Blake Whiten has grown well out of his shell to a nationally touring artist. At just 21 years old, his 2025 EP Six Mile made him a presence in the scene. Whiten plays at 3:30 pm.

Sunday

Blake Shelton has been at the forefront of the Nashville country scene for over two decades, collecting 17 consecutive #1 singles on the US Country charts. Moving to Tennessee at just 17 years old, its been all gas for Shelton who takes the stage at 8:00 pm.

Warren Zeiders is four albums in and has charted with 2 of them, 50% is a great percentage. His 2023 release Pretty Little Posion earned a Gold Certification from RIAA. Zeiders plays 6:10 pm.

George Birge is Texas to Tennessee transplant who has one record, Mind On You, under his belt. He blends the modern Nashville sound with touches of his Texan upbringing. Birge plays at 4:45

Carter Faith has had a quick start to her career, releasing her first song in July 2021 and playing the Ryman Auditorium just 12 months later. Her first full length record Cherry Valley released in October of 2025. Faith takes the stage at 3:30 pm.

B-B-Q

The other half of this festival is a hub for over 20 of the countries finest Pit Masters. Many are based in Chicago but there are some traveling across zip codes, state lines, and time zones. Whether its nachos, ribs, brisket, or any other barbecue desire, Windy City Smokeout has you covered. You can view the full BBQ lineup here.

The post Windy City Smokeout Preview appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Hum

There was no space left in the crowd. Every person had their faces pressed forward anticipating the return of Hum. As guitar techs made their way on stage and drum heads were hit for mic tests, there was a palpable energy in the air. In tees and jeans, the band made an unassuming entrance from stage right behind the projector screen. Hum was never a gaudy or loudly dressed band, they let the guitars do the speaking. Even hailing back to their performance on Conan in 1995, it was glasses and shorts for the band. Friday night began with “Little Dipper” as the audience began rocking like a boat miles out in the ocean. The visible waves of people shifting back and forth with the music was like watching a modern art piece become one with the wind. It was clear from the first chord that the crowd had been waiting a long time to see this band.

There was lots to get through with Hum, they had to balance the hits and the ‘new’ album with their 12-13 song setlist. Both nights included one song from their 1993 record Electra 2000. This 12 Inch Records album was on a tight 1000 cassette pressing on its initial release. Hum was partnered with 12 Inch Records for their first two records, Electra and their rather unknown debut Fillet Show. The ladder can’t be found on streaming and is lost media to many fans who had cleaned out their old cassette and cd collection. “Iron Clad Lou” from Electra made an appearance both nights as the earliest representation from the band with You’d Prefer an Astronaut coming up next in 1995. There were four representatives on Friday and five on Saturday from this record that reached #1 on Billboards US Heat chart after its release. Their biggest hit, “Stars“, was a consistent both nights along with I’d hate It Too.

Inlet had five songs each night as well, giving this 2020 release the fresh air it deserves. This was the last release with long time drummer Bryan St. Pere before his death in 2021. Jason Gerker would be taking over the drum throne for the band in St. Pere’s place for the second time as Gerker joined Hum on the road in 2015. This record was released after over two decades of playing the old tunes, so the heavy presence of their new tunes were more than welcomed. “Folding“, “Step Into You“, and “Waves” were all pulling double duty while “Desert Rambler” and “Shapeshifter” were present on Friday only and In the Den and The Summoning being Saturday exclusives. These setlists, while seemingly short, gave a full 90 minutes both nights of what the people wanted to hear. With these final Slide Away dates coming up in Los Angeles, it is a must see until Hum returns to shadows for the foreseeable future.

Speaking to a fan after the gig in as the sweat visibly dripped down his face, he recounted the first time he saw Hum. Jason from Edgewater was a younger man at his first viewing, and didn’t mind standing for a long period of time back then. It was Riot Fest 2015 on the closing Sunday. Exhaustion was hitting heavy as he’d been there on Friday and Saturday to see Alkaline Trio, Rancid, and the many other bands there. But Jason made a point to get there early on Sunday, as Hum was taking on the main stage from 2:15-3:00. In those all too brief 45 minutes, Hum put on a monumental set that would have to tide the crowd over for the next 11 years. Jason paid around $180 for all three days of that fest, and said “thats about how much I spend on drinks for a single day at a festival now”. When asked what it meant to see Hum again, a smile grew wide across his face. This show was a marker in and of itself, that time really did keep moving forward. He was hopeful in the following years of his first Hum gig that he’d see them again, claiming they would be a “priority ticket” for their next tour. In the time between the show and their next tour, Jason would graduate college, move out of Chicago to the west, move back home, get married, bought a condo, started playing pickleball, and picked up reading again. And once all of these milestones and accomplishments were checked off, only then would Hum announce their 6 date run of shows at Slide Away.

Nothing

Hailing from Philadelphia, Nothing are a deep sound that resonates in your body each chord strike. Playing their record Tired of Tomorrow in full for the first time since its release in 2016, it is a victory lap for a decade of an unshaken and sustained album in the world of shoegaze. Starting out with a single spotlight over a piano and the rest of the band in a blue shadow, the titled track was played. Once the ballad wrapped, Daniel Johnston’s “Devil Town” was played over the PA which added to the eerie atmosphere Nothing was creating for their set. The record was then hit fast and with intention. “Fever Queen“, “The Dead Are Dumb“, “Vertigo Flowers” and “A.C.D.” all back to back was such an obvious reminder of why people love this band. Electric and real, each strike of the guitar had a purpose. I blinked and the set was over as Nothing didn’t waste a second of their time on stage.

Nothing will across the world in Europe and Australia the rest of the year including a set at England’s Outbreak Festival. You can find updates for Nothing here.

Chapterhouse

For the first time in 16 years, Reading rockers Chapterhouse make their return to the stage. It has been a lot of silence of the past decade and a half but there were rumbling in 2023 as a handful of demos were released as a collection from recording sessions in 1994 and 1995 at the end of their initial run as a band. Their all to brief reunion in 2010 was just a tease as their 2026 reunion will lead them across 3 continents and 28 gigs. There was a heavy presence of their standout record Whirlpool which is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. This etherial sound was ricocheting through the Aragon and shrouding each audience member in its cloak of synths and array of guitar pedals.

Chapterhouse’s sets were identical both nights, hitting eight tracks off Whirpool each night. Celebrating its 35th birthday, it was an exciting and well deserved victory lap in front of one of the largest American crowds they have played to. 4,500+ people got to feel the magic of songs like “Pearl” and “Breather” live which is a privilege for us folks here in The States. Whripool is an absolute treat of album that you can tell bled into artists like The Postal Service and MGMT decades later. Their influence is heavy and for good reason, they are an incredible band.

During Nothing’s set, I made my way out of the photo pit to get some shots from the back of the venue when I saw a familiar face. Ashley Bates, drummer of Chapterhouse, was at the bar grabbing a drink. I took the moment to chat with the rocker, wearing the same shirt he wore on stage, about the magic of their return. Bates “couldn’t be happier that people, young and old, are enjoying our music live”.The age range was wide, as young shoegaze fans who’ve heard Deftones frontman Chino Moreno say “it’s where Deftones get a big part of our influence from, tone-wise” to The Quietus in 2023, came through the door with their parents who saw Chapterhouse at The Vic in 1994. This truly felt like a celebration uniting a whole array of fans under one roof.

Chapterhouse will continue the Whirpool 35 tour out west in May, in South America this fall and wrapping up with a few U.K. dates. The cherry on top of this birthday cake will be on November 21st in Dublin. You can find more information and tickets here.

FRIDAY

CRATE

Coming from New York, New York, is Crate who announced their first album the same day as their Slide Away dates. With “Julia“ and “Necklace” already making waves, i am excited to see where these rockers go. You can follow their Instagram for updates.

TOTAL WIFE

Total Wife has had a busy stretch releasing come back down last fall and just wrapping up a tour with. Starling. The time off won’t last long as they will support LSD & The Search For this July across the midwest. You can follow their Instagram for updates.

SHE’S GREEN

The Minnesota alternative rockers she’s green had the crowd in their hand as they ripped through their set. Longtime favorite songs like “mandy” and “smile again” were leveled with songs from their first full length LP swallowtail coming out July 10th. They will be touring the new record across the U.S. and Europe later this year. You can find tour dates and more information here.

SATURDAY

DIM

This dark and almost industrial sound people heard walking into the venue was Dim. From Chicago, there are very few things that sound like Dim does. Hearing influence from all the bands playing this weekend in one of the openers was such an inspiring thing for the future of the genre and the adjacent ones. You can follow Dim’s Instagram for updates as they prepare for a show at Thalia Hall in the fall.

SUNSHY

Chicago natives Sunshy were a personal favorite from over the weekend. Some great alternative rock from the young set of artists who took the opportunity of playing such a historic local venue and ran with it. The band has another Chicago show in September at Subterranean. You can find tickets here and keep your eye on their Instagram for popup shows like May 25th at Lowdown (AAP).

LOVESLIESCRUSHING

Described as ambient, post-rock, shoegaze, lovesliescrushing is a vibe I don’t think I have ever seen or felt before. From Michigan, Scott Cortez and Melissa Arpin-Duimstra played their individual sound with the help of Ruby Duimstra, Melissa’s daughter, sharing some vocalization duties. You can follow their Instagram for updates.

An incredible weekend of music as the titans of the genre welcome in a new generation of artists. Slide Away is such a special festival that I hope only continues to grow in the years to come. You can follow Slide Away on Instagram and stay tuned to their website for future updates.

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The Summer Set started off the evening by hitting their latest record Meet Me at the Record Store for four songs. Ripping into “I Don’t Want to Party” and “Flowers“, the Arizona natives kept the energy high throughout their time on stage. They made a quick return since their performance at the House of Blues in March to a warm welcome of the Chicago crowd. Sneaking in a cover of “Mamma Mia” by ABBA, the dancing didn’t stop with the closing duo of “Chelsea” and “Lightning in a Bottle“. The Summer Set will take some time off after a huge tour and will be playing Vans Warped Tour Orlando in the fall.

Coming off an incredibly busy 2025, Mayday Parade are continued hitting the ground running in 2026 joining All Time Low across the pond in Europe and the UK. Their month has been filled with festival slots at Welcome to Rockville on May 7th and Sonic Temple the night before they made their way to Chicago. The quick drive was well worth it as the eager crowd filled up the venue early. Mayday Parade made their way on stage 7:40, breaking into their latest single “Blame It on the Youth“, released in April. It was followed up with a classic from their debut “Jersey” as 4 of the 13 tracks played were from A Lesson in Romantics. The 19 year old record has earned a certified gold status as it has sold over 200,000 copies.

Their setlist hit heavy on the classics, punching through “Kids in Love” and “Anywhere but Here” from their sophomore record sharing the same name. This was followed by two tracks off their self titled record and “Piece of Your Heart” from 2018’s Sunnyland. This set hit all the marks fans new and old could want with the heart of the old and a touch of their latest like the lead single from 2025’s record Sad, “Under My Sweater“. Lead singer Derek Sanders knew how to end a show with a bang, hitting “Black Cat” and the certified platinum single “Jamie All Over” as the closer. The crowd drowned out any passing cars by throughout the set with a booming yell of the final chorus.

Derek Sanders said it himself, “what a special place to be playing”. Wrigley Field has hosted some of the biggest names in music throughout it’s 112 year lifespan, so seeing some great artists in a more intimate setting at the historic site is an incredible experience. The architecture and feeling of the Gallagher Way leads to engaging atmosphere for all fans. Mayday Parade has a handful of dates in 2026 including stops at Vans Warped Tour Long Beach, Montreal, and Mexico City. You can listen to my interview with Derek Sanders here.

Gallagher Way will be hosting two more cocnerts this summer, OK GO with The Stone Foxes on June 13th and Guster with Eggy on June 26th. You can find tickets here.

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In Tempe, I met up with the guys Eve 6 as the came out of hibernation for Innings Festival, 2026. This one gig stood alone in a blank calendar from October to April, and although rehearsal time came at a premium, the band sounded as good as ever. Entering year 31 of the bands storied careers, Eve 6 continue to impress anyone with ears. Max Collins (bass), Jon Siebels (guitar), and Ben Hilzinger (drums) took some time after their slot to discuss their early days playing gigs at small cafes all the way to a racetrack.

Logan Melia: This is my first time seeing you guys it was an absolute blast you’ve been on my list for a while This set, this environment, a little baseball combination, is this a unique environment? Have you played anything similar to like this guy before? 

Max Collins: I’m trying to think if we’ve ever played anything baseball. 

Jon Siebels: I don’t know. We did something. We did some NASCAR thing years ago. 

Max: We played in Rochester in that baseball field. 

Jon: Oh, yeah. But I think that was just in the field though. I don’t know if that was like a theme. 

Ben Hilzinger: That’s true. Oh, so this is a theme? 

Max: Yeah, this is a theme. This is the kickoff of spring training. 

Logan: Well, for Friday, Sox Cubs. Sox be from like 11 to 1, I think. So we’re off to a good start here. Did some research, on you guys and you played some really cool gigs way back in the day. Cobalt Cafe and Coo’s Cafe. Does that sound familiar? Back in LA, do you remember anything from those days? 

Jon: I remember Coo’s Cafe. 

Max: Yeah, I remember when that Jason guy pepper sprayed our friends. 

Logan: What happened there? 

Max: We were like in high school and people started moshing and he got like afraid, I think. 

Jon: For us, like for the band?

Max: I don’t know. And yeah, he pepper sprayed. 

Logan: Do you have any venues that you’ve loved playing since any any standouts in your mind?

Ben: I actually like the Middle East, the downstairs. It’s the downstairs, the bigger club of two venues in Boston. And it’s almost like there’s a ramp next to the stage and some people are kind of… It smells like poo. Yeah, it smells very bad. They have good, what is it? 

Jon: Indian food. 

Max: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Really good food. But it smells like this, but it’s always like a very punk venue. It’s cool. 

Logan: Nice. Are you guys big foodies on tour? Are you checking out local spots in the city as you go? 

Jon: It sort of depends I guess uh we don’t do a lot of like long tours now we’re doing really like stuff like like this like one-off stuff yeah so we just stay by the hotel yeah you know and just eat like the airport yeah. 

Logan: That’s what life’s all about right there is eating junk food and sitting in a hotel. When you’re sitting in a hotel what’s on the TV are we are we talking Pawn Stars, Cash Cab, Family Guy? 

Ben: No TV ever in a hotel yeah I never really watch TV in a hotel TV always is turned off 

Jon: Yeah if anything I’ll watch it like a show on on my iPad or something. yeah I never actually turn on a hotel room TV really well

Ben: I definitely doom scroll and focus on my phone I love the Forensic Files is is definitely on HLN Network absolutely it’s just like an old school like half an hour who done it stuff. 

Logan: If you’re in and out, you get the answer within a half hour, which I don’t like those long docuseries that are four two hour things. I want to know who did it now. When you guys are on the road, are you writing at all or are you just like there to do the show? Or does inspiration strike? 

Max: I mean, the way that we do things now, when we’re doing shows, we’re there to do the show and writing is a different thing that we do when we’re back in our respective homes. ‘Sweet Pea’ starts with… Jon, ‘Sweet Pea’, makes like tracks and beginnings of songs, basically, and then we get together and lyrics and stuff, and then plays all of them. But yeah, so that’s all happening when we’re not traveling. 

Ben: I guess we’ve always sort of been that way. 

Logan: Really? It’s two very separate things. 

Jon: Sometimes like if you have like a new song or whatever, like sometimes we’ll play something at soundcheck or whatever, but we’re not really working on it. 

Logan: What is the first thing you guys play when you pick up your instruments? Either alone, as a group, what’s the first thing? 

Max: I mean, for me, if I’m picking up a guitar before a show, I’m playing, what’s it called? 

Jon: Little Red Light. 

Max: Little Red Light by Fountains of Wayne. That’s been my warmup song for probably, I don’t even know how many years now. 

Logan: Really? What about some good warmup for you? Is it just getting the wheels turned? 

Max: It’s a really nice place. It’s in E. It’s, yeah, it’s just, it’s a great song. I don’t know, it gets my, it moves, and it moves my voice from kind of a low range to kind of a higher range. It’s a good warm-ups. 

Jon: Oh yeah, what about the rest of you guys? I think Tom Petty riffs just always naturally come out when I pick up a guitar. 

Ben: Yeah, I guess for me it depends on if I’m doing a… show like this, I’m just trying to figure out that kit because usually we fly with no kit, so I have to learn the kit. So I’m doing just like six stroke rolls to kind of see where I’m at with everything. But if it’s like an actual, like my kit, probably Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin, that kind of shuffle. Because you can dictate, I know where I’m at. If my shuffle feels good, then it’s going to be a good day.

Logan: What do you do if it’s a bad day? What do you feel off and you got to show that night? Do you do anything to correct yourself? 

Max: Red Bull. Two to three Red Bulls. And large ones, not like the baby ones. 

Logan: Tallboy Red Bulls. 

Max: Well, I want to keep it a buck here. If it’s a large Red Bull, I’m going to do, if it’s like the really big one, I’m going to do like maybe one and a half. But if it’s a small Red Bull, I’m doing three. But today I only did one Red Bull before the show. 

Jon: Because the freeze dried espresso. 

Max: But we also had freeze dried espresso right before that. So I was going to say, I had a good show on one Red Bull, and so maybe I don’t need three anymore, but I didn’t weigh. You don’t freeze dried. I didn’t weigh the conclusions. 

Jon: Let’s not be rash. Yeah, it could be a one off. 

Ben: This is actually like some baseball player stuff. Like, yeah, like if they like, you know, pitcher like wins a game, he won’t like change his hat or like won’t shave or whatever. 

Jon: “He thinks flies are lucky”

Logan: We’re talking numbers real here, real quick here. I saw in an old interview, you said, ‘we were too young to be calculated’, in referring to your very early years. Do you guys feel as though you have a calculation for these shows now, or do you still fly by the seat of your pants a little bit? Do you think there’s a bit of an equation now?

Max: No, I think when we’re like making music, together, it’s just very much about that moment, moving ourselves in that moment and not, I don’t know, I guess when I think of the word calculated as it relates to like making music, I think of, oh, we want to try to make this to have this outcome or something like that. Like we know what the outcome is going to be. 

Jon: And I think for shows, it’s like we’ve been playing some of these songs for so long that there’s just little things that naturally evolve, but we don’t ever sit down and be like ‘hey, you should say this at the point of the set, or anything like that’. It’s just sort of evolved over the years. 

Logan: How does the rehearsal process look like going up for one-off here?

Max: A what?

Logan: A rehearsal process? You got me, you got me. Do you guys get together beforehand, or do you guys just say, Hey, we’ve been playing these songs for a good long time? 

Jon: No, not much. 

Max: We don’t rehearse. We don’t need to rehearse. I mean, there’s on occasion, Ben is a working drummer, he plays with other artists sometimes, so if we need to bring in, if he’s on a tour, we need to bring in someone we’ll do a rehearsal but I mean we’ve all been playing these songs for a long time now they’re it’s just

Jon: Yeah we did yeah we did like a anniversary tour uh in 2018 so like we were playing the full record so a lot of songs that we’ve like basically never played yeah so we rehearsed like for two days for that. 

Logan: Two long days.

Jon: A skinny 2 days. Yeah, it was forty-eight whole hours. 

Max: Yeah, that’s the thing. I’m using the word conspiracy incorrectly. But it’s um okay I don’t think I don’t think bands need to rehearse really I mean especially if you have a soundcheck yeah you want to run a new song or something like that run it a soundcheck why would you need to go and the thing is too is if you show up knowing your own personal material it just takes one little run through and we’re like cool a lot of people show up and just assuming rehearsals just like where you learn the song yeah and then it’s apparently that’s the British way you heard that no I forget who was telling me that like yeah that in in the UK when you go in no one’s expecting you to have learned the songs you like learn all the shit in rehearsal. 

Ben: Interesting I mean I do like that way better because right now in America I have there’s so many days of learning songs that are not paid for yeah sometimes people tell you like a like a few days worth of day that’s a good point that’s probably why yeah yeah it’s like I’m not on the clock learning these songs but now I do it just because it’s so a good gig so scarce so I’ll say yes to whatever you all yeah I’ll work for a week for free just learning songs yeah absolutely yeah it’s the industry 

Eve 6 were alive at Innings Festival, hitting five tracks from their self titled record. The crowd was loving this 3-piece outfit as they threw everything they had at the wall for this one-off gig. The California rockers will be hitting the south with Fastball this April for a handful of gigs, you can find tickets here. Their latest record “Dream Fist” is out now and you can follow Eve 6 for future updates.

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Marked on folks calendars for the past six months, Luke Combs announced his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” in October spreading across North America and Europe over the span of 23 nights. These shows have been selling out quickly, becoming one of the hottest tickets of the year, and for good reason. The country star has showcased his iconic sound across the worlds biggest stages, introducing countless audiences to the genre. Coming off the heels of a busy year with headlining slots at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and more, there’s never been a bigger time for Combs. Three weeks removed from his sixth record’s release, The Way I Am, this wave has been high for the singer/songwriter.

Appearing from the tunnels in the north end zone of Jack Trice Stadium came Luke and his band underneath the deluge of cheers as “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” played. Making a pit stop for a quick drink before his entrance to the stage, Luke and his Wild Cards all stepped up to their stations. Shaking the stadium from the start, Combs began with the song sharing the titular honors with the tour “My Kinda Saturday Night” as the crowd jumped to their feet. There was no slowing down in Ames, hitting qiuck with “Lovin’ on You” and “Hurricane” following it up. After, Combs dialed back the speed but not the hits, “She Got the Best of Me” brought all 60,000+ voices into one.

Coming in at #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this past week is “Sleepless in a Hotel Room.” Combs’ 20th song to reach that milestone proves he still has the secret recipe for a hit after a dozen years in the industry. “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” was one of ten songs performed from his latest record The Way I Am, holding over a third of what was played that evening. Tapping into other tunes from the record like “Back in the Saddle” and “Be By You,” these were some of the most entertaining numbers in the show. For the third night on the tour, the band made these weeks old songs sound like staples in the set.

Although there was a heavy dose on the new album, Combs didn’t forget what songs got him to stadiums. Sweetheart’s favorite jam “Better Together” was a catalyst for fans holding each other close and swaying as the temperature dipped into the 50’s. In the middle of the set, Combs and his band took to some barstools on stage as they sang some more heartfelt ballads. Speaking about the range of emotions it takes to write a song, these introspections were a welcomed addition to the set. Whether tapping into the love in his heart for his wife, or a sadness that sometimes feels paralyzing, this honest chapter in the night was a nice breath. “I Ain’t No Cowboy” and “Wish Upon A Whiskey” were absorbed into the crowd at Iowa State during this breakdown.

The lovey-dovey and sadness eventually scampered off and Luke was back to his rocking chart-toppers like “1,2 Many” and “When It Rains It Pours.” During the former, a Luke Combs tradition is following the lyrics of the song to a ‘T’ and shotgunning a beer. Joining the 2019 Country Artist of the Year was Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball legend Georges Niang to blaring applause. The Indiana Pacers draftee of a decade ago was an eager participant and it was delightful to see him back on home turf. While there was no competition on loudest song throughout the night, closer “Beer Never Broke My Heart” would have taken the gold medal. A killer end to the main set, Combs had the audience in the palm of his hand.

The encore was a trio of arguably Combs biggest songs. Beginning with his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” bringing the crowd back down to earth after that bombastic finale. Chapman’s tune was first covered by Combs in 2023 for his record Gettin’ Old. Tracy came out for her first live performance since 2015 to accompany the North Carolina native on stage at the 2024 Grammy’s, where Chapman has walked away victorious four prior times.

Luke Combs finished the extensive evening with “Where the Wild Things Are” and his song for Twisters, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.” The finale was grand and included all the jostling a song about tornados in the home of the Cyclones should cause. Despite the threat of rain, all 5 performers put on a knockdown show at Jack Trice Stadium.

Dierks Bentley

This was very much a country concert. Every musician was country, everyone was dressed country, but if I had to put Dierks Bentley into a genre, it would be ‘Dude Rock’. The definition of ‘Dude Rock’ is very vague, but the main idea is that its just a dude who rocks. And let me tell you, Dierks rocks. Hitting 14 songs spanning his 23-year career, there was everything a super fan, casual fan, and soon-to-be fan could want in the set. Classics like “Drunk On a Plane” and “Free and Easy” got the crowd going by the fourth and final opener of the evening. There was a invigorating and joyful energy put into the air by Dierks and his band as their banter and bits kept the smiles coming in between songs. Dierks Bentley will be on the road this year for his “Off the Map Tour“.

Ty Meyers

The youngest performer on the docket was Texas’ own Ty Meyers. At 18 years of age, there is a long and exciting road ahead of the “Thought It Was Love” singer. With a beat up stratocaster in hand, Meyers pulls on bluesy influence for the lead licks in his songs. His 2026 record Heavy on the Soul made up almost half of his setlist. Other notable plays included two covers, “Valerie” and Tyler Childers’ “Feathered Indians“. A busy year awaits Ty Meyers as he will continue a mix of opening sets and headlining dates across Europe and North America.

Jake Worthington

A little honky tonk never hurt anyone, and Jake Worthington is a prime example. Another Texas native was the second to hit the stage on Saturday, bringing his southern charm to Iowa. We heard four tracks from his 2025 record When I Write The Song including his closer “It Ain’t The Whiskey“. Worthington has already created an extensive collaboration list, including Miranda Lambert and Marty Stuart. This brief look into the the musicians young career was catchy. You can take a much deeper dive into Jake Worthington as his headlining “Intent to Tonk Tour” takes flight later this spring.

Thelma and James

The first band of the busy evening was faced with a slight rain delay, although that didn’t shake Thelma and James. Their hit “Happy Ever After You” spurred them into the spotlight as the two songwriters looked into their own careers on the stage much more seriously. The duo has one album out, Starting Over, released in 2025 and are just over a week removed from their latest single “Alternate Ending” dropping. A fun and sweet sound that welcomed folks as they filed into Jack Trice Stadium. Thelma and James will continue opening for Luke Combs on the rest of his North American dates throughout his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour”.

Throughout all 5 artists, big and small, there was an energy pulsing in the stadium that was a joy to be apart of. I hope more artists will take advantage of the massive stadiums on college campuses, along with their passionate fan bases. Artists like Luke Combs, Zach Bryan, and Coldplay are paving the way for more collegiate stadium shows in a time when high capacity venues are selling out in minutes. Luke Combs will continue on his “My Kind of Saturday Night Tour” for the remainder of the spring. Jack Trice Stadium will host Post Malone in July.

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