The Creekside Ruffians–Steve Alpers, Paul Jones, and Keith Pille–comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable with their rude (the good kind of rude!), spirited country-inflected post-punk. They might come across as chill, mild-mannered guys, but the music is anything but. (creeksideruffians.com)

Sidewalk Diamonds–Forged through friendship and a love of music, Sidewalk Diamonds play “Garage Americana,” a soulful blend of rock and Americana with a raucous spirit. The band’s name is a nod to the John Prine lyric, “from the diamonds on the sidewalk, to the dirt in the gutter,” encapsulating the group’s balance between grit and grace. That duality shines through in their music, led by the unmistakable vocal harmonies of Beth and Tony, who share a mutual admiration for artists like Neko Case and PJ Harvey.

Access Otherwise are Wade Kolata, Joe Plummer, Sam Ridenour, and Mark Kalar. Playing groove-based instrumental rock, they create the soundtrack for late-night movies that never were. https://accessotherwise.bandcamp.com/