[this won’t be an exhaustive list, but here are some local bands that you’d love. a work in progress.]
30th of February: https://the30thoffebruary.bandcamp.com/
(power pop with hooks so good it must be wizardry)
Acid Hands: https://acidhands.bandcamp.com/
(heavy-hitting metal that will just erode your face)
Addy Edward: https://addyedward.bandcamp.com/
(experimental indie pop, lots of loops, acoustics, and tricks. great songwriter)
All Riot: https://itsallriot.bandcamp.com/
(an electronic pop duo that was formerly a punk band; the singer is the owner of CTScramble!)
American Amnesia: https://www.instagram.com/americanamnesiaband/
(metal band originally from the Torrington area; echoes of great ’90s grunge)
Angelica Padua: https://angelicapadua.bandcamp.com/
(guitarist from Two-Headed Girl; math-oriented emo)
An Historic: https://anhistoricmusic.bandcamp.com/
(wildly prolific and creative projects/compositions from multi-instrumentalist adam matlock)
Arcadia: https://arcadiact.bandcamp.com/
Ashley Hamel: https://ashleyhamel.bandcamp.com/
(playful, clever, and mischievous wizard rock. incredible talent.)
Aunts: https://weareyouraunts.bandcamp.com/
(new band from Hartford; proggy, mathy emo)
A Will Away: https://awillaway.bandcamp.com/
(pop-forward punk from Naugatuck; has a good national reach, with fewer shows in CT)
Audio Jane: https://audiojane.bandcamp.com/
(indie rock with a ’90s slant; dreamy and shoe-gazey like Slowdive)
Baystate: https://baystate.bandcamp.com/
(formerly known as drained glory)
Beau Dega: https://beau-dega.bandcamp.com/
Bebe Machete: https://bebemachete.bandcamp.com/
(eclectic pop music pulling from a diverse array of musical influences)
Big Fang: https://bigfang.bandcamp.com/
(power pop with big choruses)
Blue Park Suites: https://blueparksuites.bandcamp.com/
(beautiful indie rock from the drummer of zebvlon, jake viramontez)
Boyscott: https://boyscott.bandcamp.com/
(fantastic, cinematic, guitar-forward indie rock)
Brain Bank: https://brainbank.bandcamp.com/
The Brazen Youth: https://thebrazenyouth.bandcamp.com/
(alt-folk with an experimental streak, has a good national reach, with fewer shows in CT)
Busani: https://busani.bandcamp.com/
(busani ngazimbi from hartford; multi-instrumentalist influenced by psychedelia)
Cardinal Light: https://cardinallight.bandcamp.com/
Cardinal Spins: https://cardinalspins.bandcamp.com/
(delightfully melancholic, lo-fi rock-n-roll.)
Ceschi: https://ceschi.bandcamp.com/
(genre-bending hip-hop that draws influence from psychedelic rock, folk, and more)
Chad Browne-Springer: https://chadbrowne-springer.bandcamp.com/
(musical polymath, who incorporates a wildly diverse array of influences in his music)
Charity Bliss: https://charitybliss.bandcamp.com/
CHEEM: https://cheem.bandcamp.com/
(someone on twitter called them “vaporwave limp bizkit”, lol.)
Chousand: https://chousand.bandcamp.com/
(the world’s loudest and most fun pop-punk band. a meme.)
Cinema Stare: https://cinemastare.bandcamp.com/
(local DIY super-group; pop punk, emo formerly known as Carlos Danger)
Crag Mask: https://cragmask.bandcamp.com/
(tangled hard rock that is equal parts indie rock and metal. a favorite)
Dandelyin: https://dandelyinmusic.bandcamp.com/
(pop music with a theatrical flare)
Dangerous Animals: https://dangerousanimals.bandcamp.com/
(fun and uptempo party rock)
daniprobably: https://daniprobably.bandcamp.com/
(thoughtful, beautiful rock-n-roll; a two-piece that sounds like a quartet live)
Decent News: https://decentnews.bandcamp.com/
(kinda industrial, kinda hardcore. their fourth member is the bottom half of a mannequin)
Ditch Boys: https://ditchboys.bandcamp.com/
(throwback rock-n-roll party animals with an early Brit-rock influence)
Donnie Alexzander: https://donniealexzander.bandcamp.com/
(alt-rock with a grunge influence; tasteful and sweet, but able to crank up the volume)
Doom Beach: https://doombeachct.bandcamp.com/
(surprising noise-centric duo; sounds like pain leaving the body)
Dream Hermit: https://dreamhermit.bandcamp.com/
(80s new-wave synth pop)
Dr. Martino: https://drmartino.bandcamp.com/
(muscular power pop with a big, smart heart)
Eel People: https://eelpeople.bandcamp.com/
(imaginative indie pop from a pair of romantics)
The Enigmas: https://theenigmasct.bandcamp.com
Evelyn Gray: https://evelyngray.bandcamp.com/
(tense and almost-spiritual empathycore)
Fat Randy: https://fatrandy.bandcamp.com/
(musically impressive but not self-serious; imagine the Melvins, the Minutemen, and Frank Zappa)
The Fiction Kids: https://thefictionkids.bandcamp.com/
(shoegazey rock inspired by early ’90s wave of Brit rock; members of Laundry Day; a favorite.)
FIFAC: https://fifac.bandcamp.com/
fuck fifac, lol. experimental, analog noise.
Fleurs: https://fleurs.bandcamp.com/
(dark pop in the studio, boiling post-punk on the stage; a favorite)
Flight of Silence: https://flightofsilence.bandcamp.com/
(big and loud alt-rock)
Foxtails: https://fffoxtails.bandcamp.com/
(constantly shifting prog-screamo)
Ghostwoods: https://ghostwoods.bandcamp.com/
(imagine if the band brand new wasn’t canceled and loved twin peaks)
Glambat: https://glambat.bandcamp.com
(off-kilter indie rock with big melodies and great lyrics; a favorite.)
GlennVeryClose: https://glennveryclose.bandcamp.com/
(three-piece indie-doom band)
greetings: https://greetingsgreetings.bandcamp.com
(daniel carr from blind moose studios and friends!)
Have a Nice Life: https://haveanicelife.bandcamp.com/
(great experimental shoegaze pop two-piece. rarely play in ct live — c’mon guys)
HEELE: https://heeletheband.bandcamp.com/
(melodic, industrial pop music from the drummer of Hellrazor)
He Was An Artist, She Was A Carpenter: https://hewasanartist.bandcamp.com/
(clever and surprising emo with a huge empathetic heart)
Hellrazor: https://lkhellrazor.bandcamp.com/
(loud, grungy, alt-rock; members from HEELE, Potty Mouth, and Speedy Ortiz; a favorite.)
Human Fruit: https://luvhumanfruit.bandcamp.com/
(messy experimental music)
Huo: https://huomusic.bandcamp.com/
The Inside Out: https://theinsideout.bandcamp.com/
Institution: https://institution.bandcamp.com/
(loud as fuck stoner rock that kinda scares me)
Jacques Le Coque: https://jacqueslecoque.bandcamp.com/
(fun and fast retro rock-n-roll)
Jared Knapik: https://jaredknapik.bandcamp.com/
(indie emo acoustic songwriter; grabs you by the heart)
Jelani Sei: https://jelanisei.bandcamp.com/
(beautiful and thoughtful pop music with an R&B, funk slant)
Jenny Genius: https://jennygenius.bandcamp.com/
(indie rock with members of Spit-Take)
John Rule 3: https://johnrule3.bandcamp.com/
(fka ‘early lover of mankind’; jason rule from queen moo and zanders. old-school rock-n-roll)
Jules Burne: https://julesburne.bandcamp.com/
(lo-fi, introspective and biting)
Justin Holden: https://justinholden.bandcamp.com/
(lovable multi-instrumentalist and experimental musician)
Karate Party: https://karateparty.bandcamp.com/
(solo work by austin t. from let’s get invisible)
Kevin MF King: https://kevinmfking1.bandcamp.com/
(noise punk from a former member of intercourse and peg bundy)
Kidnapped: https://kidnappedpv.bandcamp.com/
(brutal and heavy powerviolence metal)
Kierstin Sieser: https://kierstinsieser.bandcamp.com/
(minimalist love songs from the songwriter of Tiny Ocean band)
Kim Normal: https://kimnormalct.bandcamp.com/
(inspired by ’90s grunge rock with strong melodies)
King Bongo: https://kingbongo.bandcamp.com/
(super-talented psychedelic rock that bleeds into power pop)
The Knife Kickers: https://theknifekickers.bandcamp.com/
(torn up folk-rock that has “soupy” in the bandcamp tags for some reason)
Landing: https://landing.bandcamp.com/
(droney-psychedelia!)
The Last Years: https://thelastyearsmusic.bandcamp.com/
(throwback, retro synthwave — neon as hell)
Laundry Day: https://laundryday.bandcamp.com/
(“slacker rock” [not my description] featuring members of The Proud Flesh, Ports of Spain, and Fiction Kids)
Laura Wolf: https://laurawolfmusic.bandcamp.com/
(imaginative, dreamy, and daring cello glitch pop)
Lea: https://leatheband.bandcamp.com/
(honest and slanted indie-rock with quiet melodies)
Let’s Get Invisible: https://letsgetinvisible.bandcamp.com
(spooky hard rock and metal; dark and abrasive in a great way)
Light House: https://lighthousetimmarzik.bandcamp.com/
(multi-instrumentalist tim marzik’s project, who you may know from snowpiler)
Lightness: https://lightness.bandcamp.com/
(folk-emo hybrid, intimate and personal songwriting with passionate delivery)
Lil Sluggers: https://lilsluggersband.bandcamp.com/
(baroque pop with a wide range of influences. they have an accordion; a favorite)
The Lost Riots: https://thelostriots.bandcamp.com/
(a staple of the Connecticut punk scene!)
Low Ceilings: https://lowceilingsmusic.bandcamp.com/
(indie-folk with a prog twitch and a whole lot of smart lyricism and catchy melody)
Luke Ellingson: https://lukeellingson.bandcamp.com/
(indie with alt-country flair; imagine if John Congleton produced a Wilco record)
Lys Guillorn: https://lysguillorn.bandcamp.com/
(smart, earthy songwriting with a biting edge)
Mandala: https://mandala-official.bandcamp.com/
(melodic indie-rock with a passionate and energetic live show)
Matt Falkowski: https://mattfalkowski.bandcamp.com/
(elvis costello wishes he could write songs this good.)
Memory Celle: https://memorycelle.bandcamp.com/
(post-human, pro-human experimental music)
Mercy Choir: https://mercychoir.bandcamp.com/
(a solo project that takes on many shapes and forms, all of them good)
Mickey Blurr: https://mickeyblurr.bandcamp.com/
(glam rock, fusing modern influences and ’80s post-punk; a favorite.)
Mighty Tortuga: https://mightytortuga.bandcamp.com/
Mineva: https://minevact.bandcamp.com/
More Klementines: https://twinlakesrecords.bandcamp.com/
The Most: https://themostbandct.bandcamp.com/
(fun and exciting math-rock that you can sing along with)
Murmur: https://summonmurmur.bandcamp.com/
(gothic folk that pulls inspiration from the metal scene)
Namesake: https://namesakect.bandcamp.com/
Nailbiter: https://nailbiter-music.bandcamp.com/
New Average Standard: https://newaveragestandard.bandcamp.com/
(someone described their music as “sadboi anthems” and that kinda works)
Nikita: https://nikitatheband.bandcamp.com/
(new wave groove funk, relaxing and enjoyable)
No Line North: https://nolinenorth.bandcamp.com/
Olive Tiger: https://olivetiger.bandcamp.com/
(baroque pop/rock, complete with cello and violin; a favorite)
Ourselves Alone: https://ourselvesalone.bandcamp.com/
(explosive and spacey math rock trio)
Ovlov: https://ovlov.bandcamp.com/
(big, fuzzy alt-rock riffs; national reach with fewer shows in CT these days)
Pangalactic: https://pangalacticmusic.bandcamp.com
Passing Strange: https://anthonypaolucci.wixsite.com/passingstrange
(gothic and dark piano-pop/rock duo)
Perennial: https://perennialtheband.bandcamp.com/
(art rock/punk trio with an explosive live show; a favorite)
Pet Fox: https://petfox.bandcamp.com/
(excellent alt-rock often based out of Boston; members of Ovlov and Palehound)
Phat A$tronaut: https://phatastro.bandcamp.com/
(wickedly talented collective of funk, pop, and jazz musicians)
Phemale: https://phemale.bandcamp.com/
Pheobe: http://pheobe.bandcamp.com/
(experimental band led by peter omalyev)
Pond View: https://pondview.bandcamp.com/
(throwback rock-n-roll; mem. from something young)
Portrait Party: https://portraitparty.bandcamp.com
(proggy, jammy indie rock from hartford)
Ports of Spain: https://portsofspain.bandcamp.com/
(duo that creates muscular indie rock in the vein of wilco; a favorite)
Posture & the Grizzly: https://postureandthegrizzly.bandcamp.com/
(some jerk on the internet has probably described them as ‘midwestern emo’, and they are great. the band, not the jerk on the internet)
Powerviolets: https://powerviolets.bandcamp.com/
(great, catchy songwriting from violet hetson, who is temporarily displaced in nyc)
Pre-Owned: https://preowned.bandcamp.com/
Private Language: https://privatelanguage.bandcamp.com/
(alt-rock that is super catchy and if you blur your eyes a bit you could call it alt-emo)
Pulsr: https://pulsr3000.bandcamp.com/
(pronounced “pulsar”, fyi. members of waveform and sundots; a favorite)
Queen Moo: https://queenmoo.bandcamp.com/
(dirty americana, jazzy punk, or something like that; a favorite)
Reduction Plan: https://reductionplan.bandcamp.com/
(dark and sneering, gothic industrial; a favorite)
The Refectory: https://therefectory.bandcamp.com/
(mathy, technical, wild, imaginative music)
Ritual Clearing: https://eternaldeath.bandcamp.com/album/ritual-clearing
(black metal band; project from Reduction Plan’s Daniel Manning)
Roseate: https://roseateband.bandcamp.com/
Royal Oaks: https://royaloaksct.bandcamp.com/
(in an alternate timeline, weezer stayed good and opened up for the cars)
Ruckie: https://ruckie.bandcamp.com/
Rushing Spring: https://rushingspring.bandcamp.com/
(pop-punk with vim and vigor!)
Sargasso: https://sargasso.bandcamp.com/
(new haven indie-pop; pitch-perfect arrangements and hooks)
Sam Nazz: https://samnazz.bandcamp.com/
(solo work by one of the guys from Cheem and Bowling Shoes!)
Samuel Sandoval: https://samuelsandovalmusic.bandcamp.com/
(narrative-driven freak-folk. one of the best lyricists in ct)
SAP: https://sapbandct.bandcamp.com
(indie rock with powerful melodies, really lovely)
Sarah Golley : https://sarahgolley.bandcamp.com/
(baroque, jazzy, avant pop that incorporates influences from theater)
Say What You Will: https://saywhatyouwillband.bandcamp.com/
(new haven melodic punk)
Sean Henry: https://saintseanhenry.bandcamp.com/
(formerly known as Boy Crush; “lo fi” indie rock; a favorite)
Sentiments: https://sentimentsband.bandcamp.com/
(muscular and powerful emo)
Seller: https://seller.bandcamp.com/
(grunge pop? melody with a punch)
Semaphora: https://semaphora.bandcamp.com/
(self-described as “yacht prog”; steely dan if they loved musicals)
S.G. Carlson: https://sgcarlson.bandcamp.com/
(member of Ports of Spain and Laundry Day; beautiful indie folk [kinda])
SHY: https://shymusic1.bandcamp.com/releases
(quiet, surprising rock music with a great, burning mood; a favorite)
Similar Kind: https://similarkind.bandcamp.com/
(irresistible synth-pop with a jazzy vocal delivery; a favorite)
Sincera: https://sinceraband.bandcamp.com/
(quinn p. from shy and crag mask’s band. dynamic indie rock with a light touch)
Skating: https://skating.bandcamp.com/
(imagine if punks grew up on the Beach Boys; a favorite)
Sketch tha Cataclysm: https://sketchtc.bandcamp.com/
(fascinating and heartfelt alt-hip hop)
Slyne and the Family Stoned: https://thefamilystoned.bandcamp.com/
(sprawling, stoner-adjacent americana from a crazy talented collective)
Snake Oil: https://snakeoilsounds.com/
(darkly psychedelic prog rock; a favorite)
Snowpiler: https://snowpiler.bandcamp.com/
(math-rock-lite, with an emphasis on grooves and melodies; a favorite)
Something Young: https://somethingyoung.bandcamp.com/
(smart, tasteful indie rock)
So Sorry: https://sosorryofficial.bandcamp.com/
Space Camp: https://spacecampct.bandcamp.com/
(abrasive as hell, surprising jazz metal, or something like that; a favorite)
Spiral Wave Nomads: https://twinlakesrecords.bandcamp.com/
Spit-Take: https://spit-take.bandcamp.com/
(indie rock with a punk flavor, or punk rock with an indie flavor; a favorite)
Split The Check: https://splitthecheck.bandcamp.com/
Stadia: https://stadia.bandcamp.com/
(dylan healy from funnybone records)
Standby: https://standby-band.bandcamp.com/
(emo prog, musically and lyrically complex and passionate; a favorite)
Stone Jaw: https://stonejaw.bandcamp.com/
(more like “drone jaw”, am i right? dark and gloomy. excellent noise)
Storrs: https://storrs.bandcamp.com/
(beautiful indie-folk from… well, you already know)
Stove: https://stovesbandcamp.bandcamp.com/
(members of Ovlov, a more pop-alt focused project)
Street Hockey: https://streethockey.bandcamp.com/
(new band from Max Holsbeke, formerly of Dream Hermit)
Summer Camp Crush: https://summercampcrush.bandcamp.com/
(members of Stampeter [RIP] and Cinema Stare. great!)
Sunday Morning: https://sundaymorningct.bandcamp.com/
Sundots: https://liveslower.bandcamp.com/album/room
(drew collins, who also plays in Pulsr)
Tate & Silas: https://tateandsilas.bandcamp.com/
(nostalgic rock-n-roll wildcards. nearly got naked on stage once or twice)
Tetramer: https://tetramer.bandcamp.com/
thejudasobscure: https://thejudasobscure.bandcamp.com/
(a one-man skramz band that is equal parts political and personal)
Them Airs: https://them-airs.bandcamp.com/
(adventurous and experimental post-punk; a favorite)
Tier: https://tier.bandcamp.com/
TIP: https://tipthemusic.bandcamp.com/
(eclectic and electric; heavily involved in the KMA fundraisers)
Trace Mountains: https://tracemountains.bandcamp.com/
(band features sean henry, susannah cutler, and jim hill, all connecticuters)
Tracey Gardens: https://traceygardens.bandcamp.com/
(“america’s favorite british pop band”)
Two-Headed Girl: https://twoheadedgirl.bandcamp.com/
(mathy emo “twincore”, guitar-and-emotion-forward pop music)
Undercliff: https://undercliff.bandcamp.com/
(heavy, heavy lovecraftian metal)
Videodome: https://videodome.bandcamp.com/
(great almost-hair-metal band from members of Heavy Breath)
Violent Mae: https://violentmae.bandcamp.com/
Waking Up Now: https://wakingupnow.bandcamp.com/
(i heard someone call them emo. i heard someone call them shoegaze. you listen and let me know, ok?)
Warbats: https://warbats.bandcamp.com/
(punk rock trio from west haven. their album Temper Tantrum is fantastic)
Was And When: https://wasandwhen.bandcamp.com/
(new atmospheric rock project by Mike from Snowpiler and Ghost Chant)
Waveform*: https://waveformct.bandcamp.com/
(almost shoegaze, almost slowcore, kinda lofi and always good)
Witch Hair: https://witchhair.bandcamp.com/
Woozles: https://woozles.bandcamp.com/
(solo project of Conor Ryan, musical chameleon)
Xavier Serrano: https://xavierserrano.bandcamp.com
Zanders: https://zanders.bandcamp.com/
(baroque piano pop with a flair for experimentation and theatrics; a favorite)
Zebvlon: https://zebvlon.bandcamp.com/
(zeb mrowka’s band, and they fucken slap)
ZEN Lunacy: https://zenlunacy.bandcamp.com/
Alumni: past members of the local scene.
Chalk Talk [defunct]: https://chalktalk.bandcamp.com/
The Flaming Tsunamis [defunct]: https://theflamingtsunamis.bandcamp.com/
High Pop [defunct?]: https://highpopforever.bandcamp.com/
John Mayer (lol) [national]
MGMT [national]
Mild Monk [moved]: https://mildmonk.bandcamp.com/
Mt. Meridian [defunct]: https://mtmeridian.bandcamp.com/
Pearl Sugar [moved]: https://pearlsugar.bandcamp.com/
Rosemary Minkler [moved]: https://rosemaryminkler.bandcamp.com/
Sorority Noise [national]: https://sororitynoise.bandcamp.com/
Spillway [defunct]: https://spillwaymusic.bandcamp.com/
Two Humans [defunct]: https://twohumans.bandcamp.com
Tune-Yards [national]
The World is a Beautiful Place & I am no Longer Afraid to Die [national]: https://theworldis.bandcamp.com/