SWORD II WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 AT 6:30PM

In a busted, musty house in Atlanta, where the basement flooded when it rained, the air smelled like mildew and the landlord once tried to evict them for using the space as an “electronic rock band facility,” Sword II recorded the most ambitious, accessible and electrically charged music of their lives. Electric Hour, the band’s first full-length for section1, is a wildly catchy and deeply principled rock record. It’s about the beauty and terror of living under a surveillance state, loving people through extreme hardships and finding strength in friendship and creative resistance.

The band’s official Treefort set is 9-9:40pm Thursday, March 26 at Shrine Social Club (Basement).

CAB ELLIS THURSDAY, MARCH 26 AT 6:30PM

Best known for their uninhibited, intoxicating live performances, Cab Ellis is the underground revival’s best kept secret. With a penchant for stage-diving, spitting beer into mosh pits and splitting guitar strings center stage, the band stirs a certain chaos and confusion in young fans while conjuring a deep nostalgia for a bygone era in older listeners.
 
Backed by an army of six jazz musicians bucking against the confines of their traditional training, frontman Connor Abeles’ heartfelt, explosive energy is capable of uniting a room full of strangers into one anarchic being.

The band’s official Treefort sets are 8:20-9:10pm Friday, March 27 at Shrine Social Club (Ballroom) and 7-7:40pm Saturday, March 28 at Cyclops.

CHALK FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT 3PM

Irish duo Chalk’s full-length debut LP Crystalpunk (ALTER Music) speaks directly to the upbringing and roots of the band members—award-winning musicians and filmmakers Ross Cullen [vocalist + producer] and Benedict Goddard [multi-instrumentalist + director]. The beauty, confusion, complexity and intensity of their youth – lived under the shadow and around the scars of conflict – are entangled in the industrial dance-punk hybrid encoded in the record’s DNA, aptly entitled Crystalpunk.
 
Crystalpunk is rooted in the experience of growing up in the North of Ireland — a place where national identity has never been simple. “This record is us waving a flag for that generation — the ones who inherited confusion, resilience and a fractured sense of self.” They find themselves as elite Irish vanguards, full-blown sonic insurgents, finding good company in a scene that’s bred Fontaines D.C., Kettama, Gilla Band, Bicep, Lankum and Gurriers.

The band’s official Treefort set is 9:40-10:30pm Friday, March 27 at Shrine Social Club (Ballroom).

SMOKEY BRIGHTS FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT 5PM

Presented by our friends at 94.9FM The River!

The first composite solid rocket fuel that eventually launched spaceships was made with asphalt, effectively paving the way to the moon. Dashboard Heat, the newest record by Seattle stalwarts Smokey Brights, embodies this funny little fact, using tough truths to slip the surly bonds of earth and, through hardship, touch the stars. Members Kim West (vocals/keys), Ryan Devlin (vocals/guitars), Luke Ragnar (bass/vocals) and Nick Krivchenia (drums) have crafted a ramshackle rocket of a record that touches upon cars, celestial forces, childhood homes, light and hope, darkness and grief. Produced by Andy D. Park in exchange for Ryan painting his recording studio, the album sees the band sonically shooting for the solar system while staying true to their grounded take on songcraft that has made them a mainstay of the Northwest scene.

The band’s official Treefort set is 11pm-midnight Saturday, March 28 at The Olympic Venue.

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES SATURDAY, MARCH 28 AT 2PM

Presented by our friends at 94.9FM The River!

St. Paul & the Broken Bones are a powerhouse soul ensemble from Alabama known for their electrifying live shows and impassioned vocals. Formed in Birmingham in 2012, the band features Paul Janeway (vocals), Jesse Phillips (bass), Browan Lollar (guitar), Kevin Leon (drums), Al Gamble (keyboards), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), Chad Fisher (trombone) and Amari Ansari (saxophone).

Their new self-titled sixth album marks a creative renewal – melding the band’s adventurous spirit with a return to soulful, song-focused roots. Recorded at the legendary FAME Studios and produced by Eg White (Adele, Celine Dion), the record blends psych-funk grooves, gospel-tinged ballads and cinematic rock flourishes. Tracks like “Sushi and Coca-Cola” and “Going Back” reflect both personal introspection and the band’s deepened identity after a decade of evolution.

The band’s official Treefort set is 5:20-6:20pm Saturday, March 28 at The Main Stage.

DARK CHISME SUNDAY, MARCH 29 AT 2PM

Presented by our friends at Tropico FM!

Dark Chisme is a Seattle duo founded by Chicago-raised Latina DJ, electronic producer and vocalist Christine Gutiérrez and multi-instrumentalist “E”. Their sound pulls influences from darkwave, post-punk, techno, Italo disco and house music.

The band’s official Treefort set is 12:30-1:30am Saturday, March 28 at the Basque Center as part of the Tropico FM Treefort Showcase.

Tags: treefort music fest