Pigeon Pit and Apes of the State

Apes of the State, a Lancaster, PA folk punk band formed in 2015 by April Hartman, blends folk, punk, emo, and bluegrass with honest, attitude-fueled lyrics. Known for their DIY ethos and songs about recovery and life, popular tracks include "Plate Glass Apology" and "I Listened." Their discography features albums like "Pipe Dream" and "What's Another Night?". They have collaborated with artists such as Sister Wife Sex Strike.

Olympia, WA's Pigeon Pit, led by Lomes Oleander, is a folk-punk project known for its raw, DIY sound and "maximalist journaling" songs. They explore themes of self-acceptance, queerness, and political struggle, blending psychedelic country and pop punk. Popular songs include "Nights Like These" and "Milk Crates." Albums like "Crazy Arms" and "Leash Aggression" showcase their distinctive style. They have appeared on NPR's Tiny Desk.