The Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts (BJFA) is a charitable non-profit organization. Each year, the organization produces the Bitter Jester Music Festival. We once again had the pleasure of listening to and reviewing the new Live at Bitter Jester Music Festival, Vol. 03 vinyl. This year is a little different because I was at the Grand Finale when many of these were recorded (as media not a judge). The album was recorded live in Downtown Highland Park, IL, with a bonus track recorded at Navy Pier in Chicago in June and September, 2024. The vinyl was pressed by Smashed Plastic in Chicago and produced by the Bitter Jester Foundation with Executive Producer Nicolas DeGrazia bringing the team together. You can order your copy from Bitter Jester today. You can also pick it up at this year’s festival happening weekends throughout June or on Labor Day at the annual “Best Of” showcase at Navy Pier. The music on the vinyl is used with permission from the artists. All proceeds go to the Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, a 501(c)(3), which produces the annual volunteer-run festival. 

In tune with BJMF’s commitment to educating and advancing musical careers, all of the mixes were done by former BJMF competitors or audio interns. Kevin Ray (BJMF Music Director) was the lead mixing engineer on Volume 3 and guided the younger mixers, providing valuable feedback and education they can now take with them into their future careers. Kevin is a former competitor (2012-2015) with his band The Ska-Lers and Vol. 03 was mixed by a team of young professionals. Peter Hanson (lead guitar for Venganza), mixed:

• Lava Lamp
• Calling Out
• OCD

Jack Koshkin (guitar and keyboard player for Fightin’ Bob) mixed:

• See It/ Believe It
• Drum & Bass

We also had Max Beardsley who mixed the following:

• Is It Still Raining?
• Wasted Potential

Seth Arnold was tasked with mixing:

• I Need to Get Out Of Here
• Dreaming Eyes

Harrison Hunt mixed ‘Over and Over”. Lilian Pulido mixed “Left Shoe”. (need info on who they are as well). Kevin Ray mixed the following tracks:

• Sinclair
• Reset Button

Now that you know what went into making this year’s vinyl, let’s break it down track by track. This is also a trip down memory lane since I was there for most of the Grand Finale. I did not attend the ‘Best Of’ shows at Navy Pier so those recordings will be brand new to me. 

Side A

We get started with the music right away, no intro or anything. This means you will be fully immersed in the festival as if you were just walking through the “doors”. What did surprise me about this intro was I couldn’t pinpoint what band it was from the Grand Finale. The reason is because this is a special track that was not performed during the Finale. Here’s some “inside baseball” info: Charlieboy was selected as a Wild Card, meaning they were picked to be a Finalist. However, due to a gig they had booked at Summerfest as the support band for Charlie Hanson, they were unable to attend. This track was Bitter Jester’s way to get the band involved in the “Finale” experience (Charlieboy also performed at the ‘Best Of’ show at Navy Pier).

‘Sinclair’ by Charlieboy: Owen Jackson sets the mood with the drums and then Kaya Martin comes in with her majestic voice. Her voice really draws you in especially as she conveys the emotion behind the lyrics. I loved the section where they slowed down and just goroved with us then started to pick up the pace to prepare us for the ending.

‘Lava Lamp’ by Ur Mom: There is an undeniable reason why Tommy Hinds won Guitarist of the year in 2024. I caught myself playing air guitar along with him. This song truly showcases his talent. You add in Maura Wolf’s vocals and this is a winning performance in my opinion. The crowd can be heard in the back clapping along to the song. You cannot help but to be hypnotized by this song.

‘I Need to Get Out of Here’ by Scorched Waves: Cowbells are not something you might expect on a song but it’s the first thing we hear. Tierman Brinkman has incredible control of his voice and can easily adjust his tone and inflection to draw everyone in. His delivery and vocal control is what really makes this song. The backing vocals by Tyler Armstrong are perfectly placed to emphasize certain lyrics. The band does a great job of involving the crowd and making us scream. While everyone is screaming the instruments give us room to jump around. 

Before we end Side A, Nicolas DeGrazia gives us some information about the Bitter Jester Music Festival. He breaks down how judging works, what we can expect for the day and some of the prizes on the line. I will say I wish there was a little more space between Ur Mom and Scorched Waves. It was hard to tell when one ended and one began. Overall, I enjoyed the flow of this side. It focused on softer rock bands that mesh well together. 

Side B

“See it/Believe it’ by Sunset Drip: While I understand the want to build up the song, I wish Julian Becker’s vocals were a bit higher. This is actually one of my favorite bands from the Prelims and songs, so I wish I could hear him more. The further into the song we go the better it gets. Johnny Stevenson’s backing vocals come in at the perfect time. Both vocalists harmonize exceptionally well.  I was jamming midway through. This is a band you have to see to believe. Nick Vasaitis sets the tone with the drums. He is a standout and holds your attention no matter what is going on. All instruments come together for a big exit and Julian showcases that incredible voice of his as well. 

“Over and Over” by Exit 122: Put your hands in the air immediately because it’s time to rock and roll. Before the vocals come in, you’re already moving your body. Anthony Mravle and Jaydon Pokryfke switch it up with the vocals flawlessly. They also harmonize perfectly and it’s incredible to think this was done live and is not a pre recording. It is such a classic punk rock song. The band also brings the crowd in at just the right moment. 

‘Calling Out’ by Venganza: Mosh pits are a must when Venganza performs. It can almost feel like you’re in a jam session with the band. I love the incorporation of the trombone by Dean Flegel. Then we get an instrumental jam session before Dean’s vocals take us out. They even slow down to a smooth almost island vibe at one point. Then they speed it back up to get you off your feet. The song slows down towards the end to bring us back to earth.This is actually one of their softer songs which doesn’t say much since they’re a heavy metal band. 

“Is It Still Raining’ by Heat Above: This is such a fun, summer, tropical vibe. I feel like I’m on a tropical island. I have “I’ve been living on the edge of complete and incomplete” in my head. The buildup half way through is immaculate. It’s a great way to get the crowd moving and grooving. Brady Lott gives us his heart when delivering his lyrics. This song is one that you just have to get up and move to. 

Side B gives us more bands that are getting us off our feet. This side makes you want to move your body whether in a mosh pit, with a drink, or in your seat. It was all about movement. Once again, the bands mesh well together and the order flows, without them sounding alike.

Side C

Nic DeGrazia introduces the co-host for the evening: Peter Sagal (host of “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” on NPR). He was an amazing fit with the festival. He truly added some pizzazz to the event, no offense to Nic DeGrazia as the other host. Peter talks about the importance of the arts and how he became involved in the festival. Watching him host an event live is incredible since he does this professionally. I recall him sitting in on one night of judging to get a feel for the event. Peter brings this up and details his experience watching us judge and provide feedback to the artists. He emphasizes how much the judges truly care about our role and how we offer respect to them as professionals. After his intro we head into the music. 

‘Canyonlands’ by rae: Rachel Blahnik performs solo with her guitar. In this song, she gives us a piece of her heart. You cannot help but to think of a lost love and what could have been. A good performer can take you to the place they were in when they wrote the song and that’s where I feel I went. I also caught myself swaying to the song. 

Peter comes back onstage and talks to rae about her set. He also asks about her musical journey and dreams. They talk about her time in Nashville. They also delve into her real name. 

‘Left Shoe’ by Anna Louise Bramlett: Anna draws us in with her incredible vocals. She combines catchy lyrics, with exceptional vocals to draw us in and have the crowd singing along. She does some vocalizing throughout to showcase her skills. The biggest downside is the song feels wayy too short. I wanted more! 

‘Wasted Potential’ by Lauren Blackford: We get some background on the premise of the song from Lauren. It’s about wondering what would have happened with an ex. She has moments of understanding, bitterness, and denial. She combines her voice with her guitar to give us an intimate performance. This helps connect to the audience and highlight her talent. 

Peter interviews Lauren about her first gigs and journey to Bitter Jester once her performance is over. Peter and Lauren also talk about her first set list, first song and so much more. Unfortunately, this is the only year she will be able to participate in due to her age. 

Side C was all about the singer-songwriters. They each flow into each other without being redundant. Each artist has a unique delivery and control of their voice. You never confuse one with the other, which can be an issue with similar genres. I think the song selection also plays a role in highlighting each artist.

Side D

‘Drum & Bass’ by North Grove: Sadie Parkinson tells us about the day and how incredible it has been while she preps us to: JUMP!! She has such a young voice and I cannot wait for her to develop it even more as years progress. This was a groovy vibe especially with the unique sound the band has. You truly can’t help but jump around.  

The two Showdown Finalists are announced by some of the organizers, hosts, and others involved with the organization. In third place was Lauren Blackford. Peter announces the first head to head finalist. Nic announces the second head to head finalist. Make sure you listen to find out who made it (or read on). Next each band will perform one song. The judges are then tasked with crowning a winner solely based on these performances without considering their previous performances. 

‘Dreaming Eyes’ by Scorched Waves: Peter Sagal introduces last year’s Grand Champions. Scorched Waves chose the perfect song to perform to get the crowd out of their seats and jamming. Tiernam Brinkman brings us low and then boooom we’re back flying high! I love how he brings us down and then brings us up with his voice and the band follows flawlessly. The band also has room to showcase their instruments at the end. 

‘OCD’ by Ur Mom: Peter returns to introduce Ur Mom. Maura Wolf gives us beautiful vocals again. The part where she sings a line then the drums come in then she sings another line is artfully done.There are also some adlib vocals that add an extra pizzazz to the performance. It’s hard to describe how they do it so you have to listen for yourself. The topic of the song is also very relatable to many. The guitar is out of this world. Maura takes us out with those heartfelt vocals. 

Highland Park City Councilman Andrés Tapia comes on stage to talk to the crowd and participants. He compares the Festival to a cinematic experience.His speech is so beautiful that I cannot properly recap it, you just have to hear it for yourself. Next up, Nic and Peter read out the judges’ decisions on slips of paper. First to four votes wins. At a tally of five-to-one, a victor was crowned (the final tally was 6 votes for the winner and 1 for second place). We won’t reveal the winner here so you can listen to the gut wrenching results for yourself on Vol. 3.

We get a super secret bonus track that was performed at Navy Pier. I had no idea this was coming and it was a pleasant surprise. I love her delivery on this track. It’s unique and beautiful. She shows so many emotions throughout the song. It was upbeat and fun even though it was about heartbreak. Can you guess who the bonus track is from?

Side D was all about the Showdown Finalists and announcing the winners of the festival. This was more focused on speeches while still highlighting some performers. My favorite part was that all of the Finalists had different musical styles. This shows that there isn’t bias towards a specific genre at Bitter Jester and you never know who will make it to the end. 

Overall the vinyl was curated to highlight flows and musical styles. Sometimes, with so many genres and performers, it can be difficult to find the perfect fit but I think the way things were split up was indicative of the Grand Finale overall. The bonus tracks were also presented at the right times. Another great vinyl to add to my collection when I visit the festival in 2025!

Support the Bitter Jester Music Festival

Bitter Jester provides so many resources for the performer’s future so even if they do not come back they have a foundation for their future. Each year the reach continues to expand. This year they had applicants from Canada and England.  I can’t wait to see who makes the final cut. You can volunteer your time and make donations to the non-profit organization. The best way to support is to show up and cheer for these performers. Head over to the Bitter Jester website for information on 2025’s festival dates and lineup. Catch me there judging one night this year. Don’t forget to order your copy of Live at Bitter Jester Music Festival, Vol. 03 vinyl.

If you have a local event in Chicago you want media coverage for and to be posted on a top 100 hip hop blog send it to mellystarzsubmissions@gmail.com or head over to our contact page for more information on media coverage packages.