Iowa punks BOOTCAMP record release show exemplified the huge impact that even small music communities can bring.
Amidst 2025’s exciting alternative rock scene, Irish trio NewDad released their second studio album on September 19, Altar. Expanding on punk and soft rock elements from their first studio album Madra, the band also pulls from shoegaze with the explosive, distorted guitars and airy vocals that build the new record’s atmosphere.
Bluff Street, a new band from Cedar Falls is bringing their heartfelt indie rock and to Iowa City, only at the James this Saturday.
Iona Zajac made her way across the pond from Glasgow with The Pogues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their record “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash”. We discussed touring with this historic band, the best music coming out of Ireland, and her debut album “Bang” releasing this November.
It is crucial to preface this article with a warning. Without fail, every single set that I saw during ICSF left me in tears. Both Sunny War and Courtney Andrews’ ability to be completely and wholly open in their art showed in every single second of their performances.
Cartels have increasingly looked to social media to move counterfeit medications made to resemble authentic prescriptions, often laced with deadly doses of fentanyl.
Phoenix, Arizona shoegaze band Glixen returns more punishing than ever on their newest EP, the loud and heavy “Quiet Pleasures”.
Philadelphia band Her New Knife’s new EP “chrome is lullaby” continues their blasted out odyssey as standard bearers of modern shoegaze.
The liberating intoxication of “Manning Fireworks” and every other creation Jake Lenderman seems to put his hands on.
Hickman, Kentucky folk country artist S.G. Goodman opens up her heart to the crowd at this year’s Mission Creek festival.
For the International Music Spotlight’s first edition, KRUI provides a starter guide to Asian-based shoegaze bands.
Model/Actriz and KL!NG bring down the house at Gabe’s in Iowa City, in a phenomenal rocker of a performance, Hancher Auditorium’s Infinite Dream Festival.
Guided By Voices have a lot of songs, and a lot of them are weird. But which ones are the weirdest? Here’s the top 10 weirdest GBV songs.
Mars hojilla pulled an at-capacity crowd on the last day of Mission Creek 2023. Paras Bassuk, Myles Evangelista, and Chloe Weidl pose for a picture. Photo via @marshojilla (Instagram). Photo by Paras Bassuk.
The Heavy Heavy took to the stage at Big Grove Brewery last night to deliver one of the standout performances from this weekend’s Mission Creek Festival. All photos by Anna Ottavi.
The Heavy Heavy show preview – performing Saturday, April 8th for Iowa City’s 2023 Mission Creek Festival. Image via NME.
This Week in Music History: The Beginning of a Legend. This week we explore the first live gig of music legend Jimi Hendrix – how it shaped his career and how we still interpret his legacy. Image via crosscut.com
