Darksoft, Cigarettes for Breakfast, Crystal Canyon, XO

Darksoft is a one-man dream pop and shoegaze project, often backed by a live band for shows. Blending lush melodies, alternative rock textures, and introspective lyrics, the project has released conceptual albums exploring universal truths and existential themes since 2018.

Cigarettes for Breakfast is a Philadelphia-based band known for their lush soundscapes and raw, emotive, fuzzed-out performances, capturing the essence of shoegaze and dream pop greats, such as My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. The bedroom project of Matt Whiteford, along with various members and collaborators, has taken the hearts of listeners, making waves out of the DIY music scene and onto the stage with acts like Alison’s Halo, Clarion, Slow Crush, and Blackwater Holylight, among others.

Crystal Canyon is a veteran shoegaze band hailing from Portland, Maine. The group won fans domestically and abroad with their 2018 independently released, self-titled album, owing much of their early success from the support of DKFM Shoegaze Radio. They have shared the stage with bands such as Stars, PVRIS, Weakened Friends, and Ratboys among many others. They are infamous for their intricately sculpted guitar tones, Lynda’s ethereal vocals, and Todd’s frequent destruction of guitars on stage. Crystal Canyon shows weave expertly between a gentle hush and a wall of loud shimmering noise. The group will showcase songs from their third record, Stars and Distant Light.

XO creates a haunting, melodic wall of sound by merging the fuzz-heavy weight
of 90s alternative and shoegaze with the raw vulnerability of emo-rock. XO’s
music is a journey from the SoCal sun to the New England fog, with a nostalgic, DIY, and “bliss-meets-intense” production style. With a rotating cast of contributors, the band continues to build a legacy of sonic exploration.