When Sawyer Hill was 14, his Pentecostal parents made an unexpected concession: They signed a notarized affidavit that allowed him to go to bars, so long as he was playing music and not drinking. For the better part of a decade, that was his life’s driver, gigging in the haunts and dives of greater Northwest Arkansas, often for audiences of a few dozen. But in 2022, “Look at the Time”—a grungy rock hymn about the rock-hard bottom of a romance—exploded when someone posted a clip of it online. Less than two years later, in February 2024, the song topped Spotify’s Viral 50. The natural showman’s career has since ballooned, with a string of hit singles already generating 50 million streams and 120 million video views—all before he has released his debut EP, due in the Spring of 2025. Indeed, the last two years and a string of subsequent singles have proven that “Look at the Time” was no fluke. Hill has an uncanny knack for theatrical melodies delivered with a blue-collar believability, the grand gestures of the rock he loves reimagined for the up-close-and-personal, sing-along throngs of small dives. “High on My Lows” is an honest and instantly memorable confession about trying to stay sane, even as you get wild with the world around you. The pensive but surging “Symphony” even uses music as a metaphor for deliverance, for being swept up by anything bigger than you while you still can. Hill looks at life’s hardest parts and finds a way to shape them into an inescapable tune, so that all those who have been there can unburden themselves by shouting along for a few minutes at a time.

Red Leather, who never shows his face or reveals his legal name, grew up in Reno. Music was an interest of his from a young age, and singing and the guitar became an “escape” for him. While he played in other bands in his youth, his lifelong dream was to write and perform original material. Many of Red Leather’s songs are based on true stories about his time as an addict, and how his journey to sobriety also led him to spirituality. His most popular song, “Sins,” recounts his experience with suicidal thoughts and his quest for absolution—with his lyrical testimony sonically buttressed by a gospel choir. Red Leather’s music combines the hallmarks of his rock ’n’ roll influences with elements of outlaw country like twangy, scratchy steel string riffs and raucous rhythms fit for clapping and stomping boots. The most potent weapon in his arsenal is his voice, both powerful and distinct, equally capable of soaring choruses and lilting melodies, like in fan favorite “The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood.”

LoConti is a seven-piece rock/funk band from Cleveland, Ohio. Their sound blends alternative rock with elements of funk, jazz, and soul—built on tight rhythms, layered guitars, saxophone, and melodic vocals. The band began as a group of self-taught friends in their early twenties, playing bar gigs and house parties while learning each other’s musical language. In 2023, they released their debut album Cherry Red, recorded in a Cleveland home studio. That same year, they were named Best New Artist by the Cleveland Music Awards, followed by Best Band in 2024 from Cleveland Scene. They released their second album Reflections in 2024 and began touring regionally, exploring deeper grooves and heavier drum and bass-driven textures. Everything came to a halt on February 28th, when drummer Michael LoConti tragically passed away in a car accident during the recording of their third album. The loss was devastating to the band and to their community, leaving them unable to carry on. After months of healing, the band found clarity in the music itself. With renewed purpose, they’ve chosen to continue—channeling their love, grief, and energy into their next chapter. Their upcoming show at the Grog Shop marks their comeback. LoConti now features Billy Carrick on drums, alongside Henry LoConti (guitar/vocals), Eric Sconyers (saxophone/synth), Erin Donovan (vocals/percussion), Trevor Carmichael (guitar), Jonah Benchek (keys/organ), and Leo Traum (bass). The band continues to create music in honor of Michael, and in deep appreciation for the community that helped them find their footing again. Their third album—still in the works—promises a raw, funk-forward evolution of their sound. This group has become more than just a band – it’s grown into an expression of spirit and life.