Formed in Issaquah, WA in 1993, Modest Mouse has become one of the most well-known and widely successful underground bands to emerge in the past decade. The band’s impressive career began with smaller, independent labels that were perfect outlets for their alternative and gritty punk-influenced sound they showcased on earlier albums. Signing onto Epic Records in 2000, the band has since released three of their most highly praised albums, including 2007’s We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, which hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, gaining more fans and critical acclaim than ever before. Website

With most members still in high school, Avi Buffalo are the youngest signees to legendary Sub-Pop Records. What originally began as the solo project of singer/guitarist Avi Zahner-Insenberg, eventually became a quartet, with band members meeting at Milikan High School in Long Beach, California. One of the most buzzed about bands of the year, NPR describes the band as having drawn inspiration from “experimental folk, jazz and Beach Boys-esque harmonies” and having a “reverb-intensive summer sound, with intricate song structures and a timeless feel.” Avi Buffalo’s self-titled debut was offically releasted this past spring. Website

Pittsburgh artist Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) has scrupulously created music from samples for over eight years. While his music is often categorized alongside mashups, or DJ mixes, Gillis is more focused on the art of sampling and developing new tracks that have their own character, and surpass the original elements. Mostly known by underground audiences for several years, it wasn’t until his 2006 release, Night Ripper, that he crossed over and caught the attention of a larger audience. Girl Talk’s most recent record, Feed the Animals, was meticulously edited together, creating a seamless album that combines 300+ samples in 50 minutes and continues his sonic evolution towards his party-infested live show. Audience involvement is a vital component to the live Girl Talk experience, performances often times feature the stage being mobbed with a sweaty mass of dancers who surround Gillis as he triggers samples and create mixes new and old out of loops from his hard drive. Website

26 year old New Jersey resident and stay-at-home-recording-at-night dad, Dayve Hawke is the quietly spoken and extremely prolific man behind Memory Tapes. In 2008, he began releasing music under the names Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes for free, getting blanket praise from a variety of music blogs and critics. From this attention, he got a lot of remix jobs for the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Peter Bjorn & John. All the excellent music from 2008 was then discarded by Dayve as “old news” and a new combined identity, MEMORY TAPES, was forged. On January 1st he started work on his debut album, Seek Magic, which some could say is a very modern, narcotic take on New Order, with nods to Cocteau Twins, Donna Summer, Justice and My Bloody Valentine. The New York Times describes the album as “a hazy yet brisk record, full of aching pop melodies...some of last year’s most beautiful and sensual music.” Website

Zach Condon recorded the first Beirut album, Gulag Orkestrar, at the young age of 19 after returning home from a European vacation. Largely influenced by his first exposure to gypsy music while overseas, Beirut’s debut sounds as if it was performed by a 12 piece Balkan orchestra with horns, ukuleles, mandolins, organs, accordions and more- making it hard to believe that Condon sung and performed all the instruments heard on the album and self-recorded it at his home in New Mexico. Described as an “impressive and precocious debut” by Pitchfork, it wasn’t long before Beirut became a favorite by both critics and fans alike. Eventually developing into an eight piece ensemble, Beirut has since released another full length, The Flying Cub Club, and a handful of EPs, all of which continue to showcase Condon’s European influences and incredible musical talents. The band’s performance for the Twilight Concert Series will mark their first show in Utah. Website.

Twin Sister creates dreamy and hypnotic pop music that sounds like a secret, many of their songs having “a remarkable sense of atmosphere and romanticism.” Formed in Long Island two years ago and since relocated to Brooklyn, this five piece band has been wooing fans and critics alike with their first official release, entitled Color Your Life, which debuted in March. It’s been a big year for Twin Sister, as the group has built a small following over the last year, has played an increasingly hectic schedule of shows in the New York-area, and also embarked on their first U.S. tour. Website.

The New Pornographers formed in 1997, almost immediately recorded the classic single "Letter From An Occupant," and it was on. Their four full-lengths (as well as numerous solo ventures from A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar, Todd Fancey, and Kathryn Calder) received wild critical and public acclaim, and they continue to enjoy bigger (and taller and smarter) audiences. Their fifth studio album, entitled Together came out in May 2010. Recorded throughout Canada and the US, with the help of a small army including Will Sheff from Okkervil River, Annie Clark of St. Vincent fame, The Dap Kings, and Zach Condon from Beirut, amongst many others, Together brings a wide array from The New Pornographers arsenal of talents. Website.

The Dodos, formerly a duo, now a trio, are known for their wildy percussive style. Their sound is centered around the punchy percussion of Logan Kroeber and the finger picking of frontman Meric Long. With their most recent release, Time to Die, the group’s newest member, Keaton Snyder, adds his classically trained vibraphone skills to the mix. NPR calls The Dodos sound “propulsive”, and asserts that they’re a band best experienced live- “the constant conversation between driving guitar and energetic drum patterns turns what would otherwise be simple folk-pop melodies into dynamic, danceable hits.” Website

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, a nine piece Brooklyn collective have been blending the gritty sounds of gospel, soul and funk together for over a decade. Front woman, Sharon Jones, has a voice that evokes the raw power of Tina Turner, the moaning soulfulness of Mavis Staples, the rhythmic swagger of James Brown, and the melodic command of Aretha. Relentless touring has earned the group mass praise for their dynamic live shows. With three critically acclaimed albums to their name, the group’s latest recording, I Learned The Hard Way, is a celebration of, and a testament to, the soulful and beautiful possibilities of music. Website

Jamie Lidell's restless soul and constant desire to progress has strongly defined his musical journey. His earliest releases were underground techno, followed by three extremely diverse solo efforts including his breakthrough album in 2008, titled Jim. A plush bordello of funk, disco, grooves and gospel, Jim is filled with secret chambers of poignant soul. For Jamie’s upcoming album, Compass, he enlisted an amazing list of collaborators including Leslie Feist, Beck, Pat Sansone of Wilco, and Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear. His highly anticipated new album promises to reflect not only his exhilarating, diverse taste, but also a year of change, love, longing and arrival at a new place. Website

Matisyahu, born Matthew Paul Miller, is a Hasidic Jewish musician from New York City, who sings reggae songs about his religious devotion. Few artists make an impact as complete as the one Matisyahu made with his Top 40 hit “King Without a Crown”. Fans responded to this one-of-a-kind voice, too, driving Youth, Matisyahu’s Grammy-nominated 2006 studio disc, to the top spot on Billboard’s reggae albums chart. Most recently, the 29 year old artist released Light, his third studio album, which covers a dizzying amount of stylistic ground, from hard-edged dancehall and ska-inflected New Wave, to laidback pop-rock and acoustic folk-soul. Website.

Like a Super Nova burning bright in the night sky comes Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.  Based out of San Diego, KDTU began its journey in 1998 after bandleader Karl Denson decided to change gears five years after he’d help create The Greyboy Allstars. GBA had proven themselves as the ultimate party band, spreading their “West Coast Boogaloo” style all over the world, making “Jazz” a dance term once again. Karl set out to take this formula to the next level by putting more emphasis on vocals and adding some funk, R & B, and hip hop elements. It turned out to be a winning combination which set KDTU on the top of the heap in the touring world from 1999 through 2005. In 2009 Karl went back into the studio and conjured up what is being hailed as the most soulful KDTU adventure yet, Brother’s Keeper which was released in the fall of 2009. Website.

Big Boiis a true veteran among the hip hop music scene. For over a decade, he’s been making music alongside Andre 3000 as the legendary hip hop duo, Outkast, who released their first album in 1994. In 2003, both Big Boi and Andre 3000 recorded solo albums, Speakerboxxx and The Love Below, to be released alongside one another. Big Boi’s second solo effort, Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty, will be released later this summer. Sir Lucious Left Foot is the adult version of Big Boi and Chico Dusty was his father’s nickname. His father passed away in 2004, but Big Boi keeps holds his father’s essence close, channeling it into his new album. Website

Chromeo is Pee Thug and Dave 1: best friends since their adolescence, virtuoso musicians, walking hip hop encyclopedias, and the only successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture. With two albums to their credit, their most recent release, Fancy Footwork, is quite simply the most smoothed-out, hook-heavy, unabashed lovers’ funk since Chromeo’s last album, actually. Chromeo’s music is slick and dripping with reverb. Full of Moog riffs, luxurious harmonies, macho guitar solos and real-deal songcraft; Fancy Footwork rolls you through a sleek, melodic world where all you need to worry about is whether you’ve got your sunglasses on and the right moves to keep up. Website

She & Him is a duo consisting of actress-singer Zooey Deschanel and indie-folk artist M. Ward- they make music for an eternal springtime, when the temperature is warm enough to go riding with the top (or at least the windows) rolled down and the radio turned up. What began as fascinating, no-strings attached collaboration on 2008’s Volume One has evolved into a bona fide touring band and She & Him are here to stay. Hearing Zooey and Matt again on Volume Two feels like getting together with two old friends. This time, the harmonies have grown more angelically layered, the string arrangements more dramatic, the songwriting even sharper and more confident. But, as with Volume One, the prevailing mood is bittersweet, dreamy, and romantic. Website

Led by Dee Dee,Dum Dum Girls churn out pop songs that are short tributes to love, loss, fear, fun, and the classic pop form of the ‘60s girl groups and early punk rockers. Originally a solo project that began in late 2008, Dee Dee soon realized the need for a band and looked to her friends: Jules (guitar/vocals), Bambi (bass), and Frankie Rose (drums/vocals). The group’s debut album, I Will Be, was released earlier this year. Explaining the dark-and-sunny feel behind their sound, Dee Dee says, "There's an overdramatic tone, much like a teenager's world, but applied to the experience of getting older." Website