Show Lineup
Hit The Lights
(Lima, OH)
Genre: Pop Punk
Exploding from a basement in Lima, Ohio, Hit The Lights has been an electrifying spark in pop-punk since 2003. Known for delivering a kinetic blend of high-energy punk rock with emo-tinged arrangements and hardcore-inspired breakdowns, the band gained traction with their debut EP followed by their first full-length, This Is A Stickup…Don’t Make It A Murder, released on Triple Crown Records in 2006. Through their infectious sound and relentless touring with influential acts like , , and , they have earned themselves a loyal fan base which remain devoted to this day.
With the departure of original vocalist Colin Ross in 2007, the band’s evolution took a pivotal turn when guitarist Nick Thompson seamlessly stepped in as lead singer, reinvigorating their tonality with a pair of albums. In 2015, they landed at Pure Noise Records and released , a record that fused their nostalgic roots with a grittier feeling edge and an unyielding drive for reinvention.
The band faced tragedy in 2022 with the untimely loss of guitarist Kyle Maite – a shock that left scars but also brought their shared history into sharp, unrelenting focus. Through grief and gratitude, they’ve emerged stronger, channeling life’s chaos into new music that pulses with urgency and purpose. To the members, Hit The Lights is more than a band; it is a testament to the unbreakable bond that only the love of shared melody and spirit can provide.
Gold Steps
(Milwaukee, WI)
Genre: Pop Punk
Few artists would consider leaving “live music capital of the world” Austin for the Midwest. Gold Steps not only chose that path–they’re thriving on it. With their 2022 EP That Ain’t It, released on Revival Recordings, the band marks a new era of assertiveness, calling out toxic influences with hook-laden, brutal honesty and revealing growth towards a more polished, pop-forward sound.
EP singles “Petty,” and “Stay The Same,” quickly became fan favorites, the latter featuring vocalist Liz Mauritz directing razor-sharp jabs at a toxic friend. Self-empowerment and autonomy are central themes on the record, as well as the band’s signature self-reflection and vulnerability, best showcased on final track “Gatsby,” a synthy apology letter to a neglected love. Mauritz describes, “I’ve grown to appreciate the intensity of my emotions…how powerful my love, my fury, and my pain can be. I hope That Ain’t It inspires others to feel the power in their own emotions, really live in those moments, appreciate them—it’s what makes us uniquely human.”
Kicking off 2023 with a new sound, Gold Steps released their poppy new track “Undercover.” “Undercover” is available on all digital platforms now!