Assembled in 2011, Minneapolis rock quartet Sleep Study has lived up to high expectations set by their dedicated followers and the media. “Coupled with strong chemistry within the band and an updated ’70s aesthetic as heard on their first single ‘Flower Girl,’ the group has been making waves since their formation last summer.” (NPR – 89.3 The Current). The band has tackled the near impossible task of being relevant while nodding to heroes of rock’s past.

After signing with boutique NY label Simon Recordings, their debut album Nothing Can Destroy was officially released August 2012 and immediately noted by Star Tribune writer Chris Riemenschneider as an album expected to “be on many local critics’ year-end lists”.

The band’s formula is a natural cooperative of strengths from all members, combining Ryan Paul Plewacki’s (vocals/guitar) brand of Brit flavored rock with Justin Hartke’s (vocals/bass) jazz upbringing and Cory Eischen’s (keys) extensive pop background. The calculated drumming of Alexander Young solidifies their retro sound. Each individual has a rich history in the Minneapolis and national music world. Collectively, the members of Sleep Study have shared stages and played on recordings with Al Kooper, Kid Dakota, Jeremy Messersmith, Owl City’s Breanne Düren, Mayda, Bella Ruse, The Honeydogs, Minor Kingdom, Rogue Valley, and more.

In their brief existence, the young band has performed at premier venues and events throughout the Twin Cities, contributed to compilation albums with Minneapolis’ finest and established musicians, had significant social media and Youtube presence, and is now preparing for a US tour to support their acclaimed debut record. Sleep Study’s unapologetic dedication to their modern take on a 70’s pop sound has them earning continued press from news outlets in their home state as well as The Austin Chronicle during SXSW.

And that’s just the first year…

North by North was formed in the Fall of 2011 in Chicago, IL. Since then, their sound has been meticulously crafted to feature a culmination of infectious melodies, haunting lyrics and bombastic live instrumentation, all of which have been lauded by audiences and critics throughout the U.S. Their live sound and stage presence has been likened to Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother, while front-man Nate Girard’s vocals have garnered comparisons to Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs) and Nathan Willet (Cold War Kids).

Tabah is a five piece electric ensemble that began in the fall of 2014. Their debut EP, ‘Time Will Come,’ was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN and Brewhouse Studios in Minneapolis. The 6 song collection represents the unique, aggressive, and difficult experience of the band’s first years of development. The songs cross various styles and push to represent music organically and with honesty.

Currently, the band is writing, arranging and producing their debut full-length LP to be recorded this June at Welcome to 1979 Studios in Nashville. With this forthcoming release, Tabah is excited to introduce their developing sound to listeners. Upon the album’s completion the band looks forward to hitting the road and releasing the record in the spring of 2017.

Graveyard Club recorded a collection of haunted, synth-laden songs in a 19th century mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota in the fall of 2013. These songs would comprise the group’s lo-fi debut EP Sleepwalk, released in January 2014. Founding members Matthew Schufman (vocals, synths) and Michael Wojtalewicz (guitar) began the project inspired by a unique list of shared interests: the classic short stories of sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, the music of Ryan Gosling’s little-known band Dead Man’s Bones, and a fascination with both 50’s crooners and 80’s pop music.

By the spring of 2014, the band had expanded to include members Cory Jacobs (drums) and Amanda Zimmerman (bass, vocals). The newly bolstered lineup resulted in a more dynamic sound, adding a brighter dance-friendly feel to the spooky retro vibes of their earlier work. The four-piece then teamed with Ed Ackerson at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis to record their first full-length album, Nightingale. This release saw singles “Into the Dark,” “The Night is Mine,” and “Fire in the Sky” quickly become fan-favorites. During this time the band also began establishing a reputation for their live shows around the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, including playing supporting slots for various indie acts such as The Drums and Cayucas.

In the latter half of 2015 and early 2016, Graveyard Club wrote and recorded their sophomore LP, Cellar Door at Humans Win! studio in Minneapolis. The album stays true to their dreamy new-wave sound while venturing into more ambitious sonic territory. The songs range from sugary dance-pop (No Heart, Dying Days, Diamond City), to dark and surfy (Lose My Vision, Forever), to boldly anthemic (Nightcrawler, Werewolf Teeth). Lyrically, Schufman consistently eschews personal narrative in favor of gothic-romantic imagery, tackling larger bittersweet themes of nostalgia, love, and death.