Lineup

The Alvord Brothers (@alvordbrothers) are founding members of Northern California’s garage/americana group The Hummingbirds, and has served as Brendon Alvord’s main songwriting vehicle for the last ten years. Alvord Brothers have released two albums, (self titled in 2018 and The Same Strange Cloud in 2025) and have performed at various venues around the northstate. If you ever caught the Hummingbirds live at The Space or Serendipity you may recognize a song or two as the brothers still perform the songs live when the moment feels right. You can catch them at your local dive bar playing their favorite tracks off the new album as well as some of their ‘greatest hits’.

“The Alvord Brothers latest album buzzes with vintage, gritty 70’s era Neil Young/Crazy Horse energy, and a dash of 90’s grunge sprinkled in. It’s raw and it’s real.” - Simon Breen

Belda Beast has been holding it down in Redding, CA for 20 years. Their sound sits at the intersection of indie rock, shoegaze, and pop, shaped by a long-standing DIY approach. The band — Zach Zeller, Dan Wait, Kyle Schwenning, and Randy Schulte — continues to build on that foundation. Their third album, Imitation Bliss, was released in 2022.

bloodsugar formed in Chico in late 2024, and has been making waves in the Norcal music scene ever since. With a blend of blaring guitars, searing lyrics, and DIY ethos, they’ve found their niche. If you need an excuse to scream (or cry), a bloodsugar show is just the place for you. The band is gearing up to release their debut EP ‘gut feeling’ on February 26.

Active in the Chico scene during the turn of the millennium, Blue Score was a quartet that carved out a niche within the indie and post-hardcore landscape. Playing from 1998 to 2002, they were frequently associated with the “emo-core” movement of the era, though their sound was notably more atmospheric and dynamic than many of their contemporaries.

The band was known for a sound that blended the raw intensity of late-90s emo with the textured, melodic experimentation of bands like Radiohead. Their live sets were often praised for a sophisticated use of dynamics - shifting seamlessly from quiet, discordant droning to explosive, driving crescendos.

The group featured a dual-guitar and vocal attack, supported by a heavy-hitting rhythm section:

Brian Peacock: Vocals / Guitar

Michael Lee: Vocals / Guitar

Dustin Abbott: Bass

Randy Gruber: Drums

During their four-year run, Blue Score was a staple of the Northern California DIY scene. They shared stages with influential acts like Chokebore, Q and Not U, and Ted Leo - and were active participants in the fertile Chico music community that orbited around venues like The Blue Room, D.I.Y.R.G, and various other iconic rock spaces.

Formed 5 years ago in Redding, CA, by teenagers in a garage who could kind of play their instruments, City’s End (@citys_end) has been blending synth lines, screams, and electric guitars into aggressive post-hardcore.

The group consists of Wilder (electric guitar/vox), Erik (drums), Sam (keytar) Garret (bass), and Jo (vox). They are slated to release their debut EP, Atrophy, before the 599 Fest, and plan to go on hiatus shortly after.

Furlough Fridays (@furloughfridays) is like getting hit in the face with a stack of Rolling Stone magazines from 1996. Based in Redding and Chico, CA, the female-fronted band is notorious for high-energy, undeniably fun performances.

With a pedigree rooted in the post-grunge underground ’90s alternative, Furlough Fridays fits any space – whether opening indie shows or headlining rock festivals. Their music is for people who crave distortion, originality, and losing yourself in the moment.

Perpetually releasing new material, be sure to follow Furlough Fridays wherever you find great music.

Featuring members of Kolbiter and The Red Robot, the indie rock trio ghost|lung (@ghostlungfamilyband) melds the experience of two Redding old heads with the energy of a spry, young chap to bring sad dad music to the huddled masses.

Established in 2022, the Jacob Akana Band (@jacobakanaband) is a powerhouse Americana trio defined by the distinct musicality of its three members. Frontman Jacob Akana (guitar, lead vocals) infuses the group’s sound with the technical mastery of a 6x California State Flatpicking Champion, blending rapid-fire fretwork with evocative storytelling. He is matched in intensity by Kaleb Marks (bass, vocals), whose driving, melodic low-end and rich harmonies add essential depth and texture to the arrangements. Completing the unit is drummer Dan Iwasaki, whose dynamic pocket and rhythmic versatility provide the unshakable foundation that allows the trio to move seamlessly between rootsy intimacy and high-energy rock.

JustMakeMeCry (@justmakemecry) is a project created by Dairrien Call. Inspired by late 90s alternative, 00s emo and indie rock, and the ambient soundscapes of Dreampop and shoegaze, he’s melded and crafted a sound he lovingly refers to as “Dweebpop,” and more recently, “Mountain-gaze.” He has released close to 30+ full length, self produced albums. More recently, putting out Soft Oblivion Pt. 1.

JustMakeMeCry’s live line up consists of Dairrien on guitar/bass/vocals, and long time friend and musical collaborator, CJ May, on Drums. Together, they’ve played in multiple bands over the last 6 years. Including their current project, The Vonnegut Curve. As a duo, they bring a loud, melodic, and emotionally driven performance every time they get on stage. Giving a new life to every song Dairrien has written.

Originally from Redding, guitarist/songwriter Kelly Bauman has spent the last thirty plus years loitering in local bands and music communities. First co-writing and singing in high school band Case For Radio, KB eventually moved to Chico to spend college avoiding college to play in bands with friends and his heroes from Chico’s college radio heyday (e.g., Vomit Launch, The Vertels, 28th Day and The Downsiders). Apart from Harvester, the bands had terrible names like Jesus Makes Copies, Glycerine, and Yardstick. KB settled into high volume trio Deathstar with Jim Rizzuto and Ken Lovgren. Good times.

Unable to find gainful employment in Chico, KB moved to Portland where he found even less gainful employment. On the cusp of Y2K and .com hell, KB woke up in San Francisco, writing music reviews like “(band) + Tool = Guitar Center”. Tired of the bean bag chairs at work and parking tickets, KB moved back to Chico where he was fortunate to collaborate with musicians such as Casey Dietz, Dan Greenfield, Conrad Nystrom, Trevor Sellers, Becky Anker, Jason Willmon, Jake Sprecher and others. Alas, The North Magnetic, The Arnica Sync, John John, and Royal Crown were some of the bands spawned as a result of these musicians joining forces.

Never one to linger, but always happy to complain about moving, KB took it back to Portland (one more time!) where he found lowly sound gigs, less lowly recording gigs, did some tours, made a forgettable singer-songwriter record, and finally started Covid-casualty band More Bad News II. Getting to back up Damo Suzuki of Can in improv band Stiff Wiff, and hearing Chris Scruggs yodel in some wee (drunken) hours count as two of the more memorable experiences.

In the years since, KB has settled into writing and recording songs rooted both in American Primitive guitar, as well as his relentless desire to finally and fully rip off his lifetime Chico guitar heroes…Cole Marquis, Jeff Tracey, and Sean Harasser.

After the dissolution of Chico, CA math-rock duo (the) Americas, longtime musical collaborators guitarist/vocalist Travis Wuerthner and drummer Casey Deitz had a vision of a new band and a new sound. Keeping some key fundamentals—live guitar looping and layering in sync with fierydrumming—while shifting away from the sprawling “anything goes” approach of their previous outfit, the duo embraced the bass guitar (written by Casey) and opted for a more aggressive, trimmed down, direct approach to songwriting.

The result is, KID COPS their self-titled debut released on June 1, 2025, recorded by Chris Keene, mixed by Scott Evans (Kowloon Walled City, Sumac), and self-released on digital and

cassette. A 7-song offering that reflects an overall maturity and cohesiveness not seen before from the pair, highlighting an attitudinal shift to a more dissonant, guttural, feedback-drenched cacophony that displays their deep love of 1990’s underground punk and post-hardcore that defined their youth and shaped their shared musical sensibilities.

With the recording of their debut under their belt and ready to take to the stage, the band recruited bassist Trevor Sellers (longtime friend and collaborator) and began performing live in Chico and the Bay Area in the fall of 2025.

Photo: Julianna Moreno @juliannarose_shoots

Lish Bills (@lishbills) began as Kirk Williams’ solo acoustic project some time around 2010, with the 2012 EP Kicks to Get as its raw initial statement. 12 years later, it became a full band with the release of All Love and No Heart, beautifully engineered by Chris Keene (who also performs on the record). The live band eventually coalesced around the rhythm section of Jack Gingerich and Gavin Fitzgerald, with Michael Bone providing keys and vocal harmonies. That four piece began work on a new group of songs written more collaboratively, which are part of a new album in the works now. Testing out that material live has led to the addition of Keith Fegley providing second guitar to a band that is evolving beyond its folk/indie roots into something heavier, more unique and more true to each of its members.

Not Your Babe (@notyourbabeband) is the creation of Redding, CA singer-songwriter Cam Zeller. After spending the last decade fronting the indie punk outfit Needle Beach and performing intimate acoustic sets around town, Cam released their debut solo EP, Mayfly, in 2024. The release sparked a new idea: bring together a band that blends the raw, high-energy spirit of punk with the emotional depth and lyrical honesty of acoustic songwriting.

To bring that vision to life, Cam called on longtime friends and fellow musicians - Preston Faires (drums), Dan Wait (bass), and Zach Zeller (guitar). The result? Not Your Babe was born.

With songs that explore the chaos and beauty of being human - navigating ever-shifting relationships, holding onto hope, and never missing a chance to dance - Not Your Babe delivers heartfelt lyrics wrapped in a punchy, danceable sound. The band released their self titled album in November of 2025, and currently playing clubs across Northern California.

Formed from the ashes of their band Buteo, Raised On Candy (@raisedoncandy) is the next step in the evolution of the music from Scotty Imp (drums, cymbals) and Joe Penna (guitar, voice).

The New Jersey/Connecticut based duo weaves old school indie-rock and post-punk nuggets into tasty sonic delicacies that are best experienced live.

In the 90’s, Scotty was in the Northern California music scene as part of the legendary Chico band, the iMPS (@theimpsrock). You’re not going to want to miss Raised On Candy!

Over the course of 20 years and five albums, the members of Chico five-piece band Surrogate—vocalist/guitarist Chris Keene, guitarist/vocalist Michael Lee, keyboardist Daniel Martin, drummer Jordan Mallory, and bassist Daniel Taylor—have been slowly perfecting a more intelligent take on the standard, guitar-driven rock sound. Surrogate draws inspiration from the shoegaze and introspective indie bands of the ‘90s and 2000s while also incorporating hefty amounts of contemporary lyrical wit and classic melodic sensibility on their self-produced albums, including the band’s most recent effort, 2023’s Space Mountain.

In 2006, brothers and songwriters Sean and Jimmy Galloway added their youngest brother Stephen and drummer Jack Gingerich to their formerly acoustic, portmanteau duo “The Shimmies.” Now amplified and described as self indulgent, introspective, comforting and explosive, The Shimmies quickly earned a following in Chico and throughout California with their electrifying live show, leading to the band’s debut album, 2008’s The Frogtown LP. This was followed by the 2010 full-length To All Beloved Enemies and the accompanying B-sides release Growing Up Roanake: Beloved B-Sides in 2011.

In case anyone still needs reminding that California is a sun-drenched paradise with a laid back mentality and great surf, one listen to The Shores should be enough to sufficiently drive the point home. The Northern Californian garage rock outfit is the brainchild of Ryan Gillespie, formerly using the moniker “gringo”. after nearly a decade of honing the sound with guitarist Kyle Schwenning, The Shores are returning with new music and same DIY attitude, coupled with their high energy live performances.

Viking Skate Country (@vikingskatecountry_chico) has been making noisy experimental-pop/rock at irresponsible volumes for 10 years … and though they are a Chico band, the Redding roots go deep (hence the band name). Bassist Conrad (@conradnystrom) and guitarist/vocalist Jason (@palaisideal_chico) grew up there—Conrad’s folks owned Kathy’s Pies; Jason once tried rolling a joint with binder paper under the train trestle—and drummer Robby (@the_goth_pirate_robert_smith) was born at Mercy! Guitarist/vocalist Mike (@mishalefou) has no Redding connection, but he did once enjoy the breakfast buffet at TownePlace Suites off Hilltop. Probably no band in this fest has driven the 5-99 corridor as much as VSC—Conrad and Jason alone have been hauling bands back and forth between these two cities since the 1980s! Conrad’s long list of former Chico/Redding crews includes Cowboy, Kick’em, Disaster Scrapbook, West by Swan, North Magnetic, Mid-Fi, The Vertels and Mr. Hurry, and Jason has rocked Cowboy, Kick’em, The Party, October Coalition, Pep Rally, Pine Cone and Household Morgan. Our resident goth pirate Robby’s previous percussive work can be heard in DVOK, The Chrome, Great Good, Joybook, March of the Mannequins and Peleo, while guitarist/vocalist Mike (who was also in The Chrome and Great Good) has a solo alter-ego—Fera (@feradelune)—who’s probably written as many songs as all the bands above combined.

Since 2003 Chico’s West by Swan has been recklessly experimenting with the full range of rock ‘n’ roll dynamics, moving between hushed ambience and molten riffs, touching every space in between over the course of the band’s five-album catalog. With guitarist brothers Dan and Dave Greenfield and bass player Greg Hopkins splitting vocal duties alongside drummer Daniel Taylor, West by Swan draws from a broad palette of influences spanning the angular noise rock bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the explosive post metal bands of the 2000s, and beyond.

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