July Talk and Lucero will headliner Green Music Fest on June 11 in Wicker Park. 

Canadian alternative rock band July Talk is a perfect fit. Though the band has only two full-length albums behind them, the hype behind the group remains both constant and deserved. With guttural vocals traded between male and female singers and a no-nonsense style of hard-hitting rock, the band has won a Juno award as well as developing a diehard base of followers that continues to fill their sold-out shows. Aggressive and well-written, July Talk’s music will bring a definite energy to Green Fest this year.

Often dubbed as a “country-punk” outfit, Memphis-based Lucero have remained a relevant force in the music scene for nearly 15 years. Combining soul, rock and country into a seamless whole, Lucero have carved out a strong following in the alternative-country scene. Their relentless touring and prolific writing has left them with much to offer in a live setting, making them a band certainly worth checking out at the festival.

Read our analysis of the festival here. 

Canadian alternative rock band July Talk’s self-titled, independently released debut album earned the band a Gold record in Canada and a Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year, leading to worldwide deals with Island, Polydor and Universal. The fundamental quality of July Talk’s performances has remained unchanged: the jugular-seizing power of their confrontational, sensuous rock ‘n’ roll. From the dingiest basement dive to the biggest festival field, a July Talk show makes audiences feel like they’re part of a secret-society congregation. Memphis alt-country rock group Lucero formed in 1998 and retains most of its original lineup, including Roy Berry (drums), Ben Nichols (vocals, guitar), John C. Stubblefield (bass), Brian Venable (guitar) and Rick Steff (piano, organ, accordion). Lucero’s most recent record All A Man Should Do, recorded at the famous Ardent Studios, showcases Nichols’ growth as a songwriter and includes the band’s first recorded cover song: a full band version of Big Star’s “I Fell in Love with a Girl” featuring Big Star’s Jody Stephens on back-up vocals.