Hailing out of Ann Arbor, Ellis is an alternative-rock outfit described by its frontman, Hunter Lukas, as “a happier Earlier November... or a heavier Coldplay.”

Lukas said the band, composed of Lukas, Nick Anderson, Alex Pineau and Christian Hall, has been together in some form for quite a while — a few of the members have known each other since kindergarten.

According to Lukas, the group played around with a mix of genres and names throughout their time together, eventually landing on Ellis and their current sound.

“We named it Ellis because it was like Ellis island — like a new beginning. Like a start to an exciting new life,” Lukas said.

Although the band in its current form is only a year and a half old, Ellis is already being backed by a producer in New Jersey and playing festivals across the country.

“We make a lot of connections with people and people will sometimes connect with our music and keep asking us to play shows,” Lukas said in explanation of the band’s steady growth. “We’re passionate about what we do, and we play music from the heart. People will get on board if you’re doing something that you really love and showing it.”

And the proof is in the pudding for Ellis, which had fans approaching them after their show, as well as purchasing Ellis merchandise from the sales tent.

Lukas said their current focus is Ellis’ first full length album, which he expects to release soon.

Irontom

Stylized as IRONTOM, this Los Angeles-based band plays with a sound and attitude reminiscent of vintage Arctic Monkeys alongside the powering guitar and vocals of classic rock, with heaps of other sounds such as keyboard and psychedelic flourishes to boot.

Irontom’s guitarist Zach Irons, who also plays lead guitar for Awolnation, said he wants the band’s sound to come across as new and exciting.

“That’s just our mentality about music and being a band. Hopefully it’s new — to us it is. I don’t know if anybody else (is doing what we do),” Irons said.

The five piece band performs with an energetic and almost sporadic-style, embodied by lead vocalist Harry Hayes, who keeps the stage alive by constantly moving to his band’s tunes.

“This last year has really been a big year for us,” Hayes said. “It just seems to keep getting better and better.”