Robber Robber
Robber Robber: Burlington VT’s Robber Robber are purveyors of slimy, cerebral post-gunk, soaked in deadliest poisons and deep fried in diesel fuel. The bass is like a broken transmission, the guitars like a bucket of loose bolts, the drums ready to rattle the lugs right off the hub. Pair that with scorching vocal delivery and you’ve got the whole bitch.Heatloaf: Heatloaf is a soft rock project based in philly. composed of margot whipps (vocals & guitar), beck picone (bass), pax martyn (guitar & vocals), and raven bell (drums). Lola Star: ☆Lola Star★ is the recording project of Brenna Gonzalez and Dan Poppa (waveform*/People I Love). Based in NYC, Lola Star originated in the winter of 2022 with their first release, a surprise-drop self-titled EP, commemorating the 1 year anniversary of the pair. Eventually, a live band formed with the originating members including James Keegan (kitchen/the loners) on bass and Avery Kaplan (waveform*/red) on drums. This remains the lineup to this day while continuing to play live shows and recording their debut LP to be released on Julias War Records. Julia’s War first teamed up with Lola Star in 2023 with the double single release of ‘Waiting’ + ‘Winter’.All shows at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Hotel Fiction
Hotel Fiction:Hotel Fiction is an Athens, Georgia-based band comprised of Jade Long and JessicaThompson. Both women have been playing music for over ten years and began writing,performing, and playing together in January 2019. In August of that year, Hotel Fiction releasedtheir debut single “Astronaut Kids” which received a warm welcome from the indie scene, andwent on to amass over 2 million global streams.Hotel Fiction’s sound has often been described as genre-fluid, with indie, pop and rockinfluences. With Jade’s dynamic vocals and piano, and Jessica’s complementary lead guitar andharmonies, the two create a sound that invites listeners to settle in and stay a while. For HotelFiction, the no vacancy sign is never illuminated, everyone is accommodated here.During quarantine, the two finished recording their debut album Soft Focus which was releasedin the fall of 2021. The project was met with praise from Atwood Magazine, Early Rising, A1234,and We Are the Guard, and was placed on Spotify editorial lists Fresh Finds and Fresh FindsRock, where it spent eight weeks straight.Most recently, Hotel Fiction has supported Beach Fossils, Adam Melchor, flipturn and TheBrooke and The Bluff. The band released their new EP Enjoy Your Stay on October 28, 2022.Supported By:Air DeviAll shows at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Solid Bronze
Solid Bronze – Groove-based, psychedelicly-tinged, jazz-informed, hazy funk. Hot off the heels of their sophomore album, Mt. Fuji, the six-piece live lineup brings it all to the stage from deep rhythm section grooves to meditative airiness. The Third Arrangement – In a blend of jazz, funk, rock, and even pop, the sounds range from warm and imaginative to jarring shuffles, which can be heard on their 2019 release Scarecrows up to their newest single “The Look”. Moustapha Noumbissi -Moustapha grew up a participant of many musical traditions, including West African drumming, American pop, and choral music. His latest recordings with producer Lee Clarke favor indie rock and psychedelic soul.
Ronnie Stone
Ronnie Stone:Ronnie Stone seems to have traveled from both the past and future simultaneously, bringingwith him a unique style of contemporary synth-pop that seamlessly blends nostalgia with thebleeding-edge of modern dance music. The NYC-based producer and multi-instrumentalistwrites and records all of his music, utilizing a massive arsenal of 80’s synthesizers to cook updance-pop gold for the freaks and the loners.His latest album, Ride Again (Feeltrip Records), is the culmination of a decade spent dwellingin the shadows at nightclubs and warehouse parties. Inspired by the solace and epiphanieshe found on the dance floor, he blends New Wave with the groovy and persistentinfectiousness of Techno and House.Ryder Houston:Ryder Houston is a Philadelphia-based filmmaker and musician born and bred just outside of Dallas, Texas. As much as his evocative sound dotes on alternative pop acts Depeche Mode, Garbage, and even Madonna at her most controversial, it also seems to suggest something greater operating on the periphery: a dark, omnipresent melodrama not unlike the crooning music of David Lynch composer Angelo Badalamenti or the baroque sensibilities of Lana Del Rey. Nevertheless, Houston’s spidery vocals continue to weave clichés of lust and rock ‘n’ roll menace anew, adhering himself to a certain groovy allusion to sleazy, opium-den electronica. Plainly stated, it is within this blasphemous little slipstream that Ryder Houston’s unique brand of sonic nostalgia exists.DJ Set by KorineAll events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
KulfiGirls
KulfiGirls – KulfiGirls are a Philadelphia-based rock band fronted by lead vocalist Abi Natesh who uses the South Indian Saraswati veena to present a novel “carnatic rock” sound, inspired by diverse genres of pop and rock. Their upcoming single “Field of Fireflies” combines classic psychedelic-rock elements with an experimental ensemble of instruments. Larlene – Philly BFF trio, Larlene, curates a dream pop stoner metal float tank for your heart. They hit with a post-punk, fuzz rock wall of sound with cutting harmonies and clearly hurt feelings. Larlene will take you from nasty garage jams to ethereal heartbreak. The Angies – The Angies are a four piece punk rock / noise band from Philadelphia who pair high-intensity performances with experimental sounds. Frontwoman Tara Gilligan combines the abrasive energy of Stooges-era Iggy Pop with the raw, introspective lyricism of Courtney Love and Hole to deliver a truly unforgettable and confrontational live experience. All events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Moonshine
Depending on whom you ask, the esoteric effects of lunar cycles can be wide-ranging: good fortune, human fertility, ocean tides, werewolf prevalence and loss of sanity among them. For the like-minded musicians, DJs, dancers and visual artists who make up the Moonshine collective, the planetary satellite above all inspires their eponymous monthly event, driven by an inclusive ethos and a shared love for experimentations in dance culture.Since its founding in 2014, Moonshine has carved out an enviable niche in Montréal’s nightlife milieu by celebrating a wide range of fledgling local talents, championing Afro-futuristic, bass-heavy, electro-funk sounds, and bringing together communities that wouldn’t necessarily cross paths otherwise. As the name indicates, the lunar-based Moonshine recipe has the collective throw an all-night, sensory-soaked party on the Saturday after every full moon in ever-shifting, unpredictable locations across the city, always strictly disclosed via text messages. With fresh cuts supplied by resident DJs Pierre Kwenders, San Farafina, and AKantu, visual installations by Boycott, and a slew of live musicians and performers that have included Kaytranada, Dâm-Funk, Le1f, Venus X, Uproot Andy, Bambii and Branko, the parties have become a staple of the after-hours scene, in Canada and abroad, with appearances in NYC, LA, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Lisboa, London, Barcelona and Santiago just to name a few.“The essence of Moonshine came out of parties we used to throw in our kitchens,” recalls Kwenders. “We felt like we couldn’t go out and find what we had cooked up in that kitchen. It’s one of the reasons we started Moonshine: to share that with more people who felt just like us, and who didn’t have access to such sounds or vibes.” Still going strong four years on, Moonshine has also begun making use of the aesthetic, network and structure it established with the parties to promote affiliated artists, expanding its vision from ephemeral moonlit soirées to an expanding catalog of genre-busting music, art and apparel.Doors 9:30pmAll events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Sweet Juice Fundraiser
Mister Right: THE bruno mars of Philadelphia! Mister Right has only been doing drag for a year and a half but is taking this city by storm! He’s got the moves/looks/ and the voice. You can never go wrong with Mister Right. Popcorn Daddy: Popcorn Daddy is a pop-folk duo created by Melina Harris and Shona Carr. With an immense appreciation for harmony, these two artists mix earnest, vulnerable songwriting with tongue in cheek social commentary to develop musical performances that are both deep and whimsical. Through their engaging and catchy tunes, Popcorn Daddy aims to share the chemistry and passion of their friendship – or their ‘poppity-pop’ as they like to call it – with audiences everywhere The Lunar Year: The Lunar Year is a rock and roll band from Philadelphia and Katie Hackett is the psychedelic rock and roll poet of The Lunar Year. Hackett was first drawn to songwriting and poetry as an escape from her fundamentalist childhood. After leaving religion in 2016, she entered into a period of reclusiveness, releasing her first two albums in the indie folk/post rock genres (Herodias, 2017) (katie bird, 2020). The project was reborn in 2022 in its current form: an art rock band exploring queerness, environmentalism and the surreal. The band went on 3 full length tours in 2023 in support of their new single Don’t Kiss Strangers. Sarah Knittel Sarah Knittel is a theater artist, festival co-founder, event producer, and clown. She helped found Free Fringe Philly festival, which creates accessibility to Fringe work in Philadelphia by eliminating costs and ticket prices while supporting the artists. Free Fringe Philly won a coveted arts spot on the Best Of 2021 list from Philly Magazine. Sarah on a stage has been described as “totally engaging” and “the work of a pro, fearlessly engaging the audience from start to finish, until we are all practically co-stars, or at least co-conspirators.” (Broad St Review) Hailed “Philly Actors Who Are Better Than You (at acting)…” (Phindie) The creator of Ben Franklin Sex Party and NIGHTMARE FUEL, a brutal clown show, which won the “Spirit of the Fringe” award in 2019 at Cincinnati Fringe. It was also one of the recipients of 1812’s Jilline Ringle Fund. It garnered four stars in Edinburgh Fringe and was lauded as “a quintessential niche fringe experience” by the Wee Review. She produces a multitude of events throughout Philadelphia including a monthly variety show called HELLRIDE, Mischief Night, and Hellride Freak Mic (the only alt mic in Philly). doll.redacted Although DJ doll.redacted has only been on the scene for a year and a half, he has quickly become one of the go-to house selectors in the Philly underground scene. While he considers disco his first love, his speciality is combining his love for house, techno & pop to create powerful & playful dancefloor moments. When doll.redacted is in control of the dancefloor, you can expect heavy 90s house vocals, cheeky pop edits, disco classics, lush techno and more. He runs a monthly party, Diva Worship, at Dolphin Tavern first Thursdays of the month, which focuses on Femme-Forward dance music. Sug Daniels Sug Daniels is a Delaware born, Philadelphia based, singer-songwriter story-teller, and producer who is using the tools around her to capture the emotions of an era. Daniels’ work is as colorful, vulnerable, and charismatic as her personality. She thoughtfully combines elements of folk, R&B, and soul alternatives to create personal and tender music interlaced with messages of truth and positive change.
LUNACY
BLOODSTREAM Presents:LUNACYShanghai BeachChains of DesireThe Dolphin Friday, August 16$12 Advance, $15 Door21+ LUNACY LUNACY, a dystopian shadow figure located in rural Pennsylvania – which is a character set in the empty corroded future that focuses on themes of loneliness, emptiness, and mental illness. A character that often fits the description of late 80’s and early 90’s post-apocalyptic films. The project rose to the surface in 2016 releasing a set of 4 track demo recordings and consistently released material every 6 months until the release of the debut album “Age Of Truth” on Third Coming Records in Winter 2019. All releases have always been based around art and design of a specific release and have always been released in limited colorways, always selling out quickly. The project often described as lo-fi, noise and ambient explores different elements of shoegaze, minimal synth & post punk while developing a sound unique and identifiable to the project. https://lunacy.bandcamp.com/ Shanghai BeachShanghai Beach is the dark minimal synthpop solo project of Brooklyn-based Steven Salazar. With influences running from obscure 80s minimal synth music and noir style films, Shanghai Beach creates a cinematic environment for your ears. He has been a staple in Brooklyn’s dark underground scene for the past several years and has toured extensively in the US. https://shanghaibeach.bandcamp.com/ Chains of DesireChains Of Desire is a Columbus, OH based solo project of Jonathan Thompson (Child of Night). The sound is an amalgam of synthpop and industrial that channels the sounds of decay.https://chainsofdesire.bandcamp.com/
Scorched Koser Bee Monsters
KOSER is an award winning fun and frisky five piece, with Thin Lizzy guitars and Amy Winehouse vocals. KOSER swims in the alt rock pool, diving deep into the galactic glitter grunge side. KOSER is known for their infectious stage presence, punchy hook writing, and impressive genre melting. If you’ve ever wondered what a two-headed sax man looks like, come to a KOSER gig and they’ll show you. Scorched Waves, is an indie rock sensation hailing from Stevens Point, WI. Self described as “Groove-Punk” The quintet has comparable sounds to the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, The Bravery, and The Kooks offering a unique blend of Indie/Alternative Rock, Post Punk, and Pop Punk. BEES! is an Arcade Rock band from Philadelphia. It’s not like they’re the bees; it’s more like you’re in a horror movie being chased by giant radioactive bees, screaming “BEES!” Inspired by The Presidents of the United States of America, Queens of the Stone Age, and the music from Super Mario World, a BEES! show feels like you’re back in a 90s arcade. Sacred Monsters bring forth a unique blend of raw emotion and unapologetic energy, crafting what they proudly dub as “sad girl rock.” Drawing inspiration from the grunge-infused sounds of Veruca Salt and the Breeders, while also tipping their hat to the infectious hooks of Weezer, Sacred Monsters carve out their own sonic niche in the Philly indie rock scene. ALL EVENTS AT DOLPHIN TAVERN ARE 21+
Sweet Juice Fundraiser
Sweet Juice Fundraiser Presents:Popcorn DaddyjustmadniceThe Lunar Yearhosted by: Sug Daniels The Lunar Year The Lunar Year is the art rock project of Philadelphia based musician and producer Katie Hackett. She has released two full length albums (Herodias, 2017) (katie bird, 2020) and in September 2022 released single Mist of the Teal Mara in anticipation of her new record, due out later this year. The band has gone on two U.S. tours (East and West Coast) and will be embarking on their third at the end of March 2023. Hackett has also scored for film, being featured at the London International Animation Festival, Viet Film Fest, and MAM Festival. Her songs have been featured on comedian Chris Gethard’s New Jersey is the World, MTV’s Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2. justmadnice justmadnice is a Philadelphia based ensemble fronted by Alex Far. Collectively described as blues-dipped psychedelic jazz, Farr’s vocals are reminiscent of Lianne La Havas and Billie Holiday. Originally a solo project, their debut EP, Small, was released in 2021 followed by a music video for their song “Lost,” a handful of live recording sessions, and their single “Resolution” released in 2022. From minimalist, delicate, folk tunes to a stage performance that will shake you to your soul, justmadnice is entering into an era of experimental sound. While still holding onto their love of minimalism, they are clearly influenced by elements of noise, psychedelic rock, and negro spirituals. Popcorn Daddy Popcorn Daddy is a pop-folk duo created by Melina Harris and Shona Carr. With an immense appreciation for harmony, these two artists mix earnest, vulnerable songwriting with tongue in cheek social commentary to develop musical performances that are both deep and whimsical. Through their engaging and catchy tunes, Popcorn Daddy aims to share the chemistry and passion of their friendship – or their ‘poppity-pop’ as they like to call it – with audiences everywhere. Sug Daniels (host) Sug Daniels is a Delaware born singer-songwriter and producer based out of Philadelphia who is using the tools around her to capture the emotions of an era. Daniels’ work is as colorful, vulnerable, and charismatic as her personality. She thoughtfully combines elements of folk, R&B, and soul alternatives to create personal and tender music interlaced with messages of truth and positive change.