Fri, Aug 10 - 9pm - $10

THE PROJECTS are an R&B band at heart, and a lounge band in their dreams. With a penchant for spending a full year at a time exploring a different musical "Project," the vibe now includes Soul and Bar music, Modern Lounge, Jazz/Funk, and a spectrum inspired by everything from the dark, mythical lounge music of Nick Cave, to funky, rhythm-and-horn based musak. The band sound is largely instrumental, but will delight the audience with guest vocalists singing original tunes, and contemporary standards.

 Mike Przygoda is a producer/composer/multi-onstrumentalist who has been lucky enough to tour/record/perform with some amazing artists. After years of producing recordings for other bands, he is venturing out with his own pop songwriting with his album, "All My Heroes Are Gone."

 Nick Gutierrez is a pianist/vocalist from Chicago, who plays regularly with bands that range from good 'ol American Rock 'n Roll to Neo Soul and Hip Hop. After years of writing on the side, he has decided to display his wide range of influences in this EP. Tales of love, with a sound all his own, he relishes the opportunity to perform and promote this debut EP to the Martyr's audience.

 Garnering comparisons to Ben Folds and Fiona Apple as well as LauraNyro and Rickie Lee Jones, pianist/singer/songwriter DIANA LAWRENCEdelivers a high-energy recipe of pop, folk, soul, sharp songwritingand a sense of fun. The debut album from her band, Diana & theDishes, was listed in Music Connection Magazine’s Hot 100 for 2011.Her new release, "To: Aging Children,” is her second solo EP.“…songwriting and lyrics – so strong and rich that they nearly becomevisual….“ Matt Hartgering, Mid-By-Northwest

 Gus Stagg writes and plays his own version of acoustic folk-rock-blues in the tradition of Tom Waits, XTC's Andy Partridge, Paul Simon, John Lennon, John Hyatt, etc. He's been playing solo and with local bands in the Chicago area for more than 25 years! He has played at Navy Pier with Tuff Enuff, Blackwater Jack, Stone Sober Blues Band, GAS, and has opened for bluesman Lonnie Brooks. Gus considers the harmonica his main instrument (he has a case full of them, Lee Oskar is his preferred brand). He is currently finishing his latest album "New Songs For Old Souls" at Moonroom Recording Studio. Gus is basically an old hippie who somehow survived the sixties...got off the Magical Mystery Tour, and is currently ripening. "Pick me before I rot, please."Some of his favorite bands are: the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Band, Jimi Hendrix (as guitarist, singer and songwriter), Brian Wilson, the Shins, Jack White, Foo Fighters, Neil Young, John Prine...he generally prefers singer-songwriters of the past, but realizes that there are very many excellent ones out there today, also.

 "Immediate Family is the solo project of Chicago-based singer/songwriter Mike Biederman (of Rego). This August will see the release of his first solo effort, The Great Circle Track EP, which was written and recorded with help from fellow Chicagoan, and jack-of-all-trades, Mike Przygoda."