Read Music Coast articles—news, features, and commentary on independent music—plus updates from our indie-first music streaming app, now live on iOS and Android.
On March 14, Bottom Lounge hosted a packed night of heavy music, headlined by Varials with support from Barrier, UnityTX, Heavy//Hitter, and Boltcutter. The show was part of Varials’ 2026 tour run and brought together a mix of hardcore, metalcore, and rap-influenced heavy music.
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Bricknasty are a Ballymun, Dublin-based five-piece led by masked frontman Fatboy, known for genre-colliding music that moves between hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, and punk-adjacent chaos. This gallery captures Bricknasty live at Schubas Tavern in Chicago, where their BLACKS LAW era hits hardest - sweaty, raw, and built for the room.
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Orlando soul‑psych‑funk collective The Sh-Booms return with first new music since 2019. This Is a Test… EP review + Al Ruiz interview + limited 12" vinyl.
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Max Marginal’s upcoming single “Never Enough” uses restraint, repetition, and atmosphere to capture the modern loop of desire, comparison, and quiet dissatisfaction.
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the Midwest premiere of Nadya Tolokonnikova’s newest performance installation—an uncompromising, visceral encounter with authoritarianism and the human will to create under pressure. Best known as a founding member of Pussy Riot, Tolokonnikova has spent more than a decade turning political resistance into art.
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By Cecilia Feliciano (@shotswithceci) — additional context and editor’s note by Music Coast. Editor’s note (Music Coast): This year marks Cecilia’s first time covering Warped Tour for us—she’s on the ground with camera in hand. Music Coast has deep roots with Warped: I (Shay) have covered it since the early days, even as a kid alongside my parents at Bohemia Afterdark. I can’t make it this year, but I plan to be at every stop next year if possible. In the meantime, we’re thrilled to have Cecilia representing Music Coast to the fullest.
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Boston’s seven-piece levels up with lush horns, mostly live instrumentation, and a candid, queer-affirming centerpiece in “Middle Man.” Plus: how they road-tested arrangements and rebuilt their show for bigger stages.
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The Music Coast crew, alongside artist Jubba White, arrived Thursday to a warm atmosphere filled with familiar faces and new energy. Despite a later-than-planned arrival, the team quickly settled in, setting up camp and preparing for the days ahead.
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For its second consecutive year at Chicago’s Riot Fest, Music Coast witnessed a milestone weekend defined by tighter operations, eclectic performances, and a fan community that feels as integral as the lineup itself.
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Held May 3–5 at scenic Redondo Beach, California, BeachLife Festival 2024 delivered another unforgettable weekend of music, ocean breeze, and good vibes. With a powerhouse lineup including Sting, Devo, Seal, ZZ Top, Incubus, and more, the festival blended legendary acts with beach culture and culinary creativity—cementing its status as a staple for Southern California music lovers.
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Official collabs with Oasis, Ghost, Slayer, Megadeth & more, a Marshall reissue, build-your-own Jack Rack®, and a retail footprint that now runs through Guitar Center, Sweetwater, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shop, and beyond.
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For the first time, the original-era Saints material is being performed in North America—pulling from (I’m) Stranded, Eternally Yours, and Prehistoric Sounds—with an eight-piece lineup built to hit like 1977 and breathe like 2025.
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