Phil Yates is the songwriter behind the Chicago power pop band Phil Yates & The Affiliates. His songs have been described as "hyperliterate pop-rock with shades of Elvis Costello and Big Star," although his solo sets leans into what he describes as songs that are "too folky for the rockers and too rocky for the folkers." His last album with the Affiliates, 2022's A Thin Thread, was released by the power pop boutique label Futureman Records. Through the years, Phil has shared the stage with a variety of artists that include The Mountain Goats, The Babies, The Dead Milkmen's Joe Jack Talcum, The Folk Implosion's John Davis, Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs, and Anderson East. Phil has also shared a basket of chips and salsa with The Apples in Stereo’s Robert Schneider. Buy him a drink and he will gladly tell you that story!

The Transference is an indie rock/power pop band from Chicago. Dark themes get paired with playful lines and reflections on inter- and inner-connectedness. Because if we’re going down, we might as well have some fun and love people as best we can.

After 25 plus years of making records for other people, Joe Dilillo released his first ever single "Loser Girl" in 2021. His songwriting has been praised by artists such as Mike Viola, Brian Ray (Paul McCartney), Wynonna Judd as well as many in the worldwide power pop community He continues to write and record, working with a variety of artists including A Girl Called Eddy, Tamar Berk, Eric Dover (Jellyfish/ Imperial Drag), and Bill Demain (Swan Dive) among others.