Sam Cassidy: Fresh off opening gigs for Ike Reilly and Dry the River, this cabinetmaker-by-day folk-rock newcomer shows traces of Father John Misty and local fave Actual Wolf on his newly issued debut, "Debt." He made the record with help from Jeremy Hanson (Tapes n' Tapes), Rob Skoro (Mason Jennings) and members of the Red Daughters, who serve as his live backing band.

Tiny Deaths: Lizzo's former bandmate in the Chalice, singer Claire de Lune stepped into more of a Beach House/Phantogram-type ambient-rock soundscape on her new EP with Grant Cutler (ex-Lookbook). It turned out so well that she turned it into a group with members of Night Moves' tour lineup and Votel's Ben Clark.

Suzie: Night Moves co-founder Mark Ritsema steps up to the mic and steps out in glammy, androgynous attire in this new side project, offering echoes of new wave, Bowie and Solid Gold-style synth-rock.

PaviElle French: The crossover poet, dancer, actor and neo-soul/R&B singer boasts an impressive eight-man band that includes members of Sonny Knight's Lakers.

Hippo Campus: This bubbly, high-energy, underage rock quartet was added to the lineup Monday (when a prior commitment cleared) but is otherwise a shoo-in. The suburban lads are about to go on tour with the Mowgli's and just earned a "band to watch" nod in NME magazine, which eschewed the usual Vampire Weekend comparison for Foals instead.

ZuluZuluu: While he showed hints of Afrobeat, reggae, dub and psychedelic funk influences on his 2012 effort "Cornbread, Pearl & G," rapper Greg Grease dives full-bore into that hazy sonic territory in this chilled-out, experimental group featuring DJ Just Nine, keyboardist Taylor Johnson and MPC player Trelly Mo.

PaviElle French

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER