Live @ Collis

Greg Aram, Zach Michel and Brooke Danaher come together to create Junior Varsity: a LA-based trio that builds immersive sonic worlds through their alt-pop music. With a sound that brings together the edge of the rowdy garage punk band next door, they bring a magnetic energy whenever they perform. They write and produce their own music, as after releasing their first two EPs with Warner Records, their latest EP “My Star” uses layers of music to complete their EP trilogy.

Having toured with Jean Dawson and LANY, they are only on rise as they draw inspiration from the golden era of pop. We couldn’t be more excited to bring this bold band with their signature sound to Green Key at Collis, as we know they will have us dancing the night away.

Fabi Reyna (they/she), met Nectali “Sumo” Díaz at a Red Bull Music Academy event in 2016, where they bonded over a shared love for Bomba Estéro. They formed a group, Reyna Tropical, whose unique, improvisational style of electro-cumbia honors the sounds of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and their native Mexico. Through their music, they foster a connection with the people and the landscape of the diaspora, while celebrating queerness, diversity, and the experiences of women and gender-diverse individuals. Their music, inspired by the motto of “Queer Love and Afro-Latino” caught the attention of Bomba Estéro, and Reyna Tropical opened for their tour. Further performances at South by Southwest helped cement their unique and groundbreaking style. 

Malegría, Reyna Tropical’s debut studio album, is a portmanteau of the Spanish words mal (bad) and alegría (happiness). Beginning production in 2020, the story of the album shifted after the sudden death of Sumo in 2022. Malegría became a vibrant celebration of life, written as an improvisational collaboration through the beats which Sumo had saved on his Looper or voice memos. To promote the album, Reyna Tropical toured with Portugal. The Man and performed at Newport Folk Festival. Malegría has helped Reyna focus on the process of “learning to trust myself and discovering the power of being a mestiza woman.”

A self described “indie-alt-disco-pop-dance-band-thing based in Brooklyn, NY”, Supertaste is a trio which invites listeners to the dance floor. They started off with an impromptu B2B set at a show in Brooklyn. That led to 2+ years of throwing DJ parties around town, playing their way through the NYC club circuit, and (after two years) sitting down and making some music. Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, they released their first tunes in June of 2020. 

Through yearly retreats to a cabin in Tennessee to hone in their sound, Supertaste has developed a colossal atmosphere of sparkling synths, Chic-inspired guitar riffs, and unforgettable hooks. Lucas, Zach, and Zach recently released their debut album, Supernova, a disco-forward project emphasizing layered strings and group vocals. Their song “Dunston” was remixed by DJ Bellaire, and amassed over 1.2 million streams on Spotify.

Once sidelined as the ‘token girls’ in male-fronted bands, The Ophelias have since taken center stage as a queer, gender-diverse indie folk band with a voice of their own. Drawing inspiration from horror movies, nature, and Biblical imagery, The Ophelias create not just music, but cinematic-like masterpieces that explore the nuances of relationships and personhood. 

Having achieved success with their third full-length album, Crocus, in 2021, The Ophelias were approached by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Julien Baker, who wanted to produce their next album; Spring Grove, released in April of this year, uncovers long-dormant memories through a simultaneously retrospective and forward-thinking perspective that ultimately culminates in an acceptance of the present. A dynamic and innovative representation of the human experience, Spring Grove features Spencer Peppet’s vocal prowess and one-of-a-kind songwriting, drummer Mic Adams, violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes, and bass player Jo Shaffer to produce a sound so striking that you just can’t help but to want to hear more.