Soil Compilation

Music
Craig Finn Interview

After discovering The Hold Steady at Riot Fest, Logan Melia sits down with Craig Finn to discuss his new solo record Always Been, the evolution of narrative songwriting, and finding meaning in modern American life. From faith and mental health to baseball heartbreak, the conversation spans far beyond music.

Online Content
Dancing Differently

For nearly 40 years, Jhe Russell needed to be perfect. After all, his dance career demanded it. But when injuries and the chaos of life took him in a different direction, he found peace in a job he never expected.

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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I sat down with Jordan Brown and Matt Wilson of Set Your Goals while at When We Were Young Festival. The California natives made their highly anticipated homecoming this past February, playing their first gig in 6 years. We spoke about their return to live performances, whats next for Set Your Goals, and how good “One Battle After Another” is.

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KRUI’s recap of When We Were Young Festival 2025 in Las Vegas. Throughout 4 stages, 53 bands tore through their sets across a 13 hour day. Here is how I spent my day at When We Were Young. 

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A celebration took place in Chicago this September. The 20th edition of Riot Fest has come and passed, and while still covered in a layer of dirt and sweat, next year’s edition can’t come soon enough.

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This weekend, Las Vegas will host the fourth edition of When We Were Young. A festival celebrating the scene out in the desert holds more than you’ve bargained for as 53 bands take on 4 stages in 1 day. A whirlwind for every pair of vans and fishnets in the pit, it’s Christmas in October for many. Here is your stage by stage preview of When We Were Young 2025.

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Douglass Park will once again be hosting Riot Fest from September 19-21. The largest independent festival in the US, Riot Fest has been a haven for diverse music, great food, and a unique community that can only be cultivated by lineups including anyone from The Beach Boys to “Weird Al” Yankovic.

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The Englert Theatre will host the inaugural Iowa City Songwriters Festival, headlined by Jeff Tweedy and Joy Oladokun, this weekend from September 4-6. Sprawling across many of Iowa City’s favorite venues, this town wide event is bound to be memorable.

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From August 1-3, Hinterland Festival returned to the fields of St Charles, Iowa, as a resounding success. After a sweltering-hot 2024, Hinterland rebounded and restored fanbase trust for many years to come.

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