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. 04 vinyl. This year, I unfortunately could not make it out to the Grand Finale. That makes this album a first listen and impression of the Finale. The album was recorded live in Downtown Highland Park, IL. 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) organization that 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 4 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. 04 was mixed by a team of young professionals. 

Peter Hanson (lead guitar for Venganza) mixed “Cyberconscious Uploading”. Jack Koshkin (guitar and keyboard player for Fightin’ Bob) mixed:

• Movin On
• Undue Burden
• Miss Mary Mack

We also had Max Beardsley, who mixed the following:

• Silver Tongue
• Tickets to Xbox Live
• The Pills

Josh Peterson was tasked with mixing:

• Shere Khan
• Wild Child

Logan Bower mixed “Attractions”. Christin Keller mixed “Partner”. Liliana Pulido mixed “Closure”. Gideon Felaboom mixed “Blacked Out”. Kevin Ray mixed “Mama’s Stayin In”.

Now that you know what went into making this year’s vinyl, let’s break it down track by track.

Side A

Cabin Fever

Song Name: “Silver Tongue”

The song is so groovy that it made me want to sway my hips. I also loved Matthew Quirk’s delivery on this. I especially enjoyed it when he lowered his tone to say “Silver Tongue”. The guitars (Matthew Quirk and Alex Lo Pinto) really set the tone and carry us through the song in conjunction with the drums (John Miele-Herndon). 

Platinum Moon 

Song Name: “Blacked Out”

Ava Anduze asks the crowd to get louder. Then things quiet down for Toby Dofman (bass) to have a moment to shine, and it was a great introduction for what’s to come. The song starts to speed up as we get into the lyrics. A standout quote for me was< “Smiles are my best friends because they fool everyone.” This is a full-fledged band, and they play like it. When I heard Joseph Klettner on the keys, my immediate reaction was, “omg the keys!!” They are a very charismatic band. The bass played by Toby Dorfman is so funky. The bass and drums swell and recede like a wave, and I loved it. I am seriously in love with the funky keys and bass. I would have loved to see this live solely to see the instruments in action. 

ZEKE ROWAN 

Song Name: “Closure”

Damien Kessler on drums sets the vibe and is perfect throughout. Tyler Armstrong on bass is awesome, especially the solo at the end. It was a smooth track—dynamic vocals and delivery.  

Patches & Albo

Song Name: “Movin’ On”

Funky song intro 

Sounds like a sitcom jingle in the best way. The saxophone by Seamus Moore adds a distinct dynamic to the song, and I love how they highlighted it. Backing vocals from Miseal Juarez come in at the right time to add layers to the song. At first, I was unsure what to expect with a slow buildup, and then we get all of the instruments at once, and then the vocals come in. When we get to the chorus, that’s where the sitcom vibes come in. Great way to end the first side with such a big band vibe at the end.

Side A is a mesh of funky styles from four very different acts. It feels like a slow buildup from beginning to end, from song choice to delivery. They were all smooth and precise, but also had special moments to show you how unique they are. While they are all different, the song choice makes Side A flow cohesively. It also sets the tone for the rest of the album, from instrumentation to vocals. We’re in for a treat. 

We end this side with a great speech from Nic DeGrazia describing the stakes and an introduction to Peter Siegel, the cohost for the evening. Peter is always fun to watch or listen to. The rules are that we start with 8 competitors and narrow it down to two at the end. Then those two acts go head-to-head, and then we crown a winner. 

Side B

Charlieboy (1st song)

Song Name: “Partner”

We begin this side without hesitation or introduction. I love Kaya Martin’s voice and delivery. I love the vocalizing she does at the end. This is a frontrunner for me based on what I’ve heard so far. 

TIKIMEN OF BERLIN 

Song Name: “Cyberconscious Uploading”

Omg this sound is one of a kind. I love everything happening here. Movie soundtrack immediately. This doesn’t even need lyrics. Felt like I was racing toward a goal at one point. It could be in an action movie. The bassoon by Adri Friebel is so unique, but I can’t imagine this song without it. 

Crowd Vulture

Song Name: “Shere Khan”

Fast-paced and in your face is what Crowd Vultrue is all about. They want you on your feet and moving fast. Can you keep up? They slow down for a little bit towards the middle of the song. Then the instruments speed us up again. Then we get fewer instruments until it all fades away, taking us into the next song. 

rae

Song Name: “Wild Child”

rae’s voice is beautiful. Very country style. Felt like I was in the wild west. I love how she manipulates her voice and showcases her versatility. Love that there are pockets where there are fewer instruments and background, so we can focus on rae. I think this is done at the right time. 

We end this side with an interview with Tikimen of Berlin and Peter Seigel. They explain how video game music is an inspiration and how sewers play a role in their lore. 

Side B brings us very different styles from every musician. We even get a song without lyrics that blows me away. While Side A was similar in style, Side B shows us what the festival is all about: a range of genres (even a new one). Whether you like the wild west or progressive, there is something here for you. 

Side C

The Orchids

Song Name: “Attractions”

In love with how this starts. It has pockets where the instruments can shine. I think it is perfect how there are moments where you have vocals and others without. It adds emotional depth to the song. 

North Grove

Song Name: “Undue Burden”

Story of being a girl. This band is on point. Oooh, I love when they go hard halfway through the song and show us some skills. Starts off smooth and slow, then Sadie Parkinson comes in with a precise delivery. There is no wasted space or extra vocals to fill space. I like that you can understand everything she says, and no one is overpowering the other. 

Meera Raphael

Song Name: “Miss Mary Mack”

Heartbreak song. Meera screams the lyrics at one point to show emotion, but her voice does crack. It’s a sad song, and maybe the emotions affect the performance on this one. The screaming was meant to convey emotion and then take us out. It felt like a very personal song. 

This time, we get an interview with Meera Raphael and Peter Siegel. They talk about the responsibilities that musicians have, especially now with the state of the world, and how we can make positive change.  

This side was all about the vocalists shining. Precision was the name of the game. What each musician had was knowing when to focus on vocals and when to let the song breathe; they all had moments where they changed things up for us. 

Side D 

Exit 122

Song Name: “Tickets to Xbox Live”

Classic pop punk band. Love it. Favorite band so far.  They know their sound and execute it perfectly. It takes me back to my punk rock days. I had the most fun listening to them. This is also a great way to start the final portion of the vinyl. The crowd loved them, and so did I. 

Nic DeGrazia announces what’s next. Third place goes to Exit 122 (still my pick for number one). Peter Siegel introduces the first finalist, Charlieboy, and Nic introduces Platinum Moon. Then the two finalists go head-to-head for a final face-off. Peter tells us the rules. The bands get to play one song that they haven’t played tonight. Then the judges cast a vote. The band with the most votes wins.   

Charlieboy (2nd song)

Song Name: “Mama’s Stayin’ In”

The band gets the crowd ready to scream along. Start heavy, especially with the screaming, then they slow it down and get funky. Kaya Martin has a mature voice on this song and uses her vocal capabilities to get her point across. 

Platinum Moon (2nd song)

Song Name: “The Pills”

Oooh, this is a winning performance. Wish the vocals were a little higher. I was jamming out to this one. They made the crowd sing along, and it added to the performance. They really left it on the stage with this one. This song got me on my feet. This is another one I wish I had been live for. The crowd participation was the best out of everyone on this album. The energy was unmatched. Definitely have my vote as the winners. 

Now we move on to the final results. There were nine votes, and the first to five claims the title. I was on the edge of my seat to see who the winner was. Who do you think won? Listen and see for yourself. 

There is also a surprise at the end after the results roll in. Here’s a hint: pizza debate. Side D is all about the winners, and we get to hear the best of the best from the entire festival. It is no easy feat to get to this point.

This vinyl is the most unique of the four. It was full of surprises and different genres. My hats off to the team that put this together and chose not only the right songs for each artist but also the right order. It isn’t easy to make a cohesive album when everyone is so different, but somehow Bitter Jester has done it again. Volume 04 shows how important this festival is. It shows us a range of styles and genres, leaving us with one message: unity. The interviews and commentary make you feel like you are at the festival experiencing it live, which is great for someone like me who unfortunately missed it. For others, this is a great way to relive the festival, featuring all the best moments. Another great vinyl to add to my collection when I visit the festival in 2026!

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. 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 2026’s festival dates and lineup. Don’t forget to order your copy of Live at Bitter Jester Music Festival, Vol. 04 vinyl.

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