SPARTA - Formed in the aftermath of At the Drive-In’s split, Sparta quickly carved out their own space in post-hardcore. Led by Jim Ward, the band blended the intensity of hardcore and the experimental edge of art-punk with memorable, melodic songwriting. Their 2002 debut Wiretap Scars showcased a sound that was both forceful and tightly crafted, balancing raw energy with thoughtful arrangements. Although periods of hiatus saw the members focusing on other projects, Sparta returned with Trust the River in 2020 and the self-titled Sparta in 2022, proving the band still carried the same power, precision, and creative spirit.

HAMMOK - Since forming as Hammock in 2003, Byrd and Thompson have released 11 critically-acclaimed albums, and are renowned for their unique talent for bringing inexpressible emotion to life. The Covid-19 pandemic followed closely after one of Hammock’s career-defining works, the Mysterium, Universalis, and Silencia trilogy that chronicled the incomprehensible loss of Byrd’s 20-year-old nephew. At their homes and apart, Byrd and Thompson then recorded Elsewhere, an album of shimmering ambience that channeled alienated longing and displacement into avenues that gave way to worlds and possibilities yet realized.