There is a LOT going on in the coming weeks, not just just at the Furnace and not just in Wichita! Check out SHOWS for more details.
Also, if you happen to have been trolling around on IG, you may have seen a flyer or two for some new house show venues. I love house shows, but I'm not going to advertise them on here until I do a personal inspection / vibe check.
I love self-titled releases, and Figurine's latest is no exception. It's five songs, five minutes total. It's more of the great fast hardcore punk we've come to know and love. I felt like I couldn't blink listening to it.
The local indie experimental pop duo Geo-Joe announced their latest release "Where Did We Go So Wrong" this past week. Due out April 3, the two lead singles could be the perfect antidote if you're burnt out on the likes of all the fast hardcore. Geo-Joe continues to put out beautiful, lush, well produced music.
In other news, three more loud and heavy shows added. Check them out HERE.
While we're still assessing the bodycount from the Haywire show last Saturday, new show added for 3/21 at the Furnace and locals updated for the SEX MEX show on 3/11.
More content on the way!
First up, friend of the blog Emily Judson released a brand new single Endlessly. I'm not usually into folk, singer-songwriter, americana music, but I've been a fan of hers since the fantastic Riverside album that released back in 2023. Her songs convey a strong sense of place, a sound that's distinctively Kansas, while employing distinctive elements that have continually kept me engaged.
This latest single, recorded and engineered by AM Namee at Zeptepland studios in Wichita, employs lush layers and polish, without the stereotypical overproduction heard in so much pop music. It's warm, inviting, and I want more.
Next on the docket is the first single from LFK metalcore outfit Bleeding Kansas, Salvation. As far as metalcore goes, this is bang on. Good riff, solid rhythm. What more could you ask for? More, actually, and according to Avery, lead guitarist of the band, this is the first track in an upcoming EP. Looking forward to hearing more!
Lastly, a shoutout to beloved Wichita expat Connor Eaves' latest solo project release Seeing Dumb. For fans of his work, it'll be right up your alley. Heavy on the guitars. Heavy on the emotions. It's big and loud and I like it.
In other news, two more shows have been added for March! Also, don't forget about the Haywire show this Saturday! I hear that one's gonna be a real barn burner! Be safe!
Looking for a fun thing on the Friday before Valentine's day? Check out the extremely cool event at the Lumber Yard. Winnie's put a TON of work into organizing something really special you don't see often enough around here. Be sure to check out the SHOWS page for more info.
In other news, Ivory Daze and Act With Empathy (A.W.E.) are coming back to Wichita and joining some already stacked bills.
Three really big Furnace shows were recently announced.
Saturday, 2/28 - HAYWIRELocals support has been established for the Haywire show, but TBD for the others. See the shows page for updates and details.
A new blog has been posted about guitar setup. This was originally published in Oi! Bones! earlier this year.
Today the "official" Instagram account for the Furnace went dark, causing a minor panic amongst bands, showgoers, and DIY enthusiasts in Wichita. I knew a new account was going to be in the works, as Ethan Benson and I had talked about the transition of Furnace leadership to him from Clayton and Sav, but it then occurred to me how opaque the behind the scenes can be. In order to shed some light on the situation and assure the public that all was in order, I decided to call Ethan, and we had a great chat about his new role and his vision for the scene.
Read the full interview here!The moment you have all been waiting for! The Circular Reference Annual List of the Suckiest Wichita Bands!
Also, shows have been updated!
I've updated the Blog page to have links to all the blog / news posts I've done so far. I also wrote a piece about my friend John Ross McEwen! Read about it on the blog page!
Okay, so I've updated shows for The Furance, Lumber Yard, Hyde Out, Harvester Arts. Also, the Friday 1/23/2026 show with Teazers has been cancelled (sad face) due to a winter weather advisory. Knob fest lineup has been confirmed.
Bandcamp announced today via their blog that it would ban music and audio that is "generated wholly or in substantial part by AI" on its platform.
"With this policy, we're putting human creativity first." The post goes on to say that the organization reserves the right to remove any content suspected of being AI generated.
Bandcamp's announcement comes several months after The Velvet Sundown, an AI generated, non-human band started climbing streaming charts on Spotify. This past June, Deezer rolled out AI detection tools that determined about 18% of their daily uploads were fully AI generated.
In November, Billboard uncovered internal documents from Suno claiming that users of that platform generate 7 million tracks per day.
Knob Fest Rules. If you're into weird Jazz stuff, then this is one you won't want to miss. Acts TBA. Also, if you decided to hit the FWR release show or were at the Lumber Yard on 1/10/2026, Granule is coming back to town and I DEFINITELY recommend checking them out.
Knob Fest goes from Thursday January 29 through Saturday January 31How will the punks decide? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON DRAGONBALL Z
Also, first ever Goth Night at The Furnace Saturday January 24, 2026"...this record is essential listening for anyone making music in the indie scene here in Wichita, not because it's good- it is, but because of what it represents.