Once a month in the slow-moving winter, local Chicago musicians gather under one roof for the Unsigned Music Festival. It is a free event, with a recommended donation of $15, that was built by community for the community. JJ Smith is the mastermind behind organizing the event, which is held in a large, elegant space owned by Artifact Events in Ravenswood. Attendees can enjoy a lineup of around 5-7 artists while getting drinks from the bar, ordering local Mexican food from Rojo Gusano, and free trinkets from CHIRP Radio, the sponsor of the event. No two Unsigned nights are the same due to JJ Smith’s careful curation for a genre-diverse lineup, which he likes to call “sonic whiplash.”
The last Unsigned event for 2026 was held on April 16th and boasted a powerful Indie Rock and Folk lineup. The night started off with a solo acoustic set from Mitch Mead, whose guitar and harmonica skills created an intimate, folk-driven sound. With his son and partner watching from the crowd, Mead showcased some unreleased tunes as well as performing familiar songs like, “Opening Act,” that explore the experience of the struggling artist. With his set coming to an end, Mead shared information about his own event, the Midwest Mixtape Show, where he organizes a night of comedians and local musicians at the Playground Theater.
Next up on the bill was Jawson Dell, who brought a full band and filled the space with classic, yet groovy tunes. Dell’s upbeat demeanor was infectious and encouraged attendees with his music to search for fulfillment and the important cup-filling aspects of life. While his lyricism came straight from the soul, his voice boomed with remnants of his history with participating in a church choir. Dell has a musically diverse background in which he utilizes to curate a weekly playlist/ blog called Black Tea, that exposes listeners to new music. The artists that preform at Unsigned aren’t just musicians, but continue to be active members and contributors to the overall Chicago music scene.
Living up to its sonically whiplash identity, the night then shifted into an explosion of punk rock with the band, Silver Dollar. The band started off with a cover of Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones and maintained high energy for the rest of the set. Silver Dollar quickly changed the previous classic vibey atmosphere into a swirl of rock that makes sitting still in your seat impossible. About half way through the set, Lead singer Matt shared how he’s been coming to Unsigned for years and that this space is not just for live music, but for finding love. About 3 years ago, Matt met his now fiancé Lylah at an Unsigned Festival and that tonight was a full circle moment going from attendee to performer.
Last but not least, Luke Frees and the Shadowband took over the stage and took attendees on a trip through classic rock sounds, engrained with insane saxophone solos. Luke Frees, who had just finished performing as one of Silver Dollar’s guitarists, sang his own original music, highlighting new releases like, “Catching Up with Me” and hinting at a full-length album coming later this year. The standout appeal from this band were the fun jam sessions with chaotic, yet impressive Saxophone solos. Luke Frees and the Shadow Band had a familiar but undeniably unique rock sound.
April’s edition of Unsigned was an interesting full spectrum show from folk, indie rock, all the way to punk rock. This month’s lineup was an emotional reminder how important it is to provide small artists a space to share their music. The audience was full of familiar faces and other local artists coming out to support the final gathering of the year. The festival will be back around in January 2027, and the night ended with JJ Smith hinting at possible one-off summer events.
Any future events will be announced on the festival’s official Instagram account (@Unsignedfestchicago).
All photos taken by Lizzy Morris
