Crystal Buchberger
SWANFEST
5/31/25 – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL
Dance Gavin Dance // Glassjaw // Animals As Leaders // The Home Team // The Fall Of Troy // Kurt Travis // Left To Suffer // Belmont // Dwellings
©Crystal Buchberger
SWANFEST 2025 kicked off on May 31st at the historic Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL, marking another chapter in the festival curated by post-hardcore heavyweights Dance Gavin Dance. Originally launched in 2019, SWANFEST is known for spotlighting bands within and adjacent to the “Swancore” sound, a genre-spanning mix of post-hardcore, progressive rock, metal, and experimental music rooted in the sonic ethos of Will Swan, guitarist and founding member of Dance Gavin Dance. The 2025 edition brought together a diverse lineup of rising talent and established acts, continuing the fest’s mission of showcasing innovative, technically skilled, and genre-pushing artists in an immersive, fan-driven environment.
From the moment doors opened, the atmosphere was brimming with anticipation for an unforgettable night of experimental post-hardcore bliss. Walking into the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, the concert goers were in awe of its ornate, Spanish-style architecture and massive, chandelier-lit dance floor. The venue has an almost grand, cinematic feel, offering excellent sightlines from almost anywhere.
Swanfest ignited its opening day with a blistering lineup of genre-bending bands that set the tone for the chaos to come. Dwellings opened the floodgates with their melodic, mathy post-hardcore edge, tight grooves, intricate guitar work, and soaring vocals that danced between vulnerability and power. Their performance felt like a calculated storm, technical yet emotionally charged.
Check out the Dwellings concert photo gallery below:
Next up, Belmont brought a surge of modern energy, mixing pop-punk hooks with hardcore breakdowns and progressive flair. Their high-octane set opened with “Liminal” followed by “Pushing Daisies,” and closed with “Overstepping” off the Between You & Me EP (2016). They had the crowd bouncing and shouting every word, proving they’ve carved a niche where catchy meets crushing.
Check out the Belmont concert photo gallery below:
Then came Left to Suffer, and the tone shifted hard into brutality. With their deathcore-fueled assault, the band delivered bone-breaking breakdowns and guttural growls that shook the ground. Starting off with “Set the World on Fire” and closing with “Artificial Anatomy,” their set was a relentless onslaught of aggression, turning the pit into a warzone and drawing cheers with every punishing drop.
Check out the Left to Suffer concert photo gallery below:
Kurt Travis, a Swanfest staple and scene legend, took the stage with a dynamic, genre-blurring set that showcased his signature blend of soulful vocals and experimental rock. His charisma and effortless transitions between chaos and calm captivated the audience, creating a vibe that was both reflective and electrifying.
Check out the Kurt Travis concert photo gallery below:
The Fall of Troy unleashed a masterclass in controlled chaos. Their mathcore madness, driven by frenetic time signatures, shrieking guitars, and Thomas Erak’s wild vocal range, pushed the crowd into a frenzy. Every song was a technical avalanche, shredded with precision and delivered with ferocity.
Check out the Fall of Troy concert photo gallery below:
The Home Team took the stage next, bringing their polished, high-energy mix of pop-punk, R&B, and alternative rock to life. Known for their vibrant aesthetic and charismatic stage presence, the Seattle-based band showcased tight vocal harmonies and slick guitar work. Vocalist Brian Butcher’s dynamic range and crowd engagement kept the momentum high throughout, and the band’s genre-blurring style continued to earn them new fans in real time.
Check out The Home Team concert photo gallery below:
Animals as Leaders followed with a set that was nothing short of virtuosic. Opening with “Tooth and Claw” from their 2014 album The Joy of Motion, the instrumental trio: Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes, and Matt Garstka, delivered a precision-driven masterclass in progressive metal. Their set wove through polyrhythmic complexity and ambient interludes, touching on tracks like “Micro-Aggressions” and “Ectogenesis,” each met with awe and thunderous applause. The band’s signature fusion of djent, jazz, and classical influences was on full display, leaving no doubt as to why they’re considered pioneers in instrumental progressive music.
Check out the Animals as Leaders concert photo gallery:
Glassjaw hit us with a raw and explosive performance that reaffirmed the Long Island band’s legendary status in the post-hardcore world. Vocalist Daryl Palumbo’s impassioned delivery and unpredictable stage energy were matched by Justin Beck’s razor-edged guitar work, creating a volatile chemistry that had longtime fans roaring with appreciation. It was a performance that both honored their legacy and reminded the crowd of their continued relevance.
Check out the Glassjaw concert photo gallery:
Together, these openers didn’t just warm up the festival, they detonated it. Each brought a distinct flavor of heaviness and heart, and by the end of their sets, the crowd was primed and ravenous for more.
When Dance Gavin Dance finally hit the stage, the crowd erupted as the intro to “Speed Demon” pulsed through the venue. Their setlist featured a mix of fan favorites and new releases, including “Midnight at McGuff’s,” “Blue Dream,” and “The Backwards Pumpkin Song.” The crowd sang along to every lyric as the band seamlessly blended their signature post-hardcore sound with experimental elements, creating an unforgettable experience. Crowd surfers started coming in waves, never relenting between songs.
Dance Gavin Dance, pioneers of the music genre known as swancore, dominated the stage with their signature blend of technical musicianship and melodic prowess. The chemistry between John Mess and Andrew Wells was undeniable. Andrew’s vocal performance was on point – strong, emotive, and controlled. The two vocalists effortlessly switched between soaring cleans and gritty screams, creating a contrast that felt natural rather than forced. As the show came to a close, the band gave the crowd one last gift in the form of an encore. Kurt Travis flew out on stage as he helped sing “Uneasy Hearts Weigh the Most.”
Check out the Dance Gavin Dance concert photo gallery below:
Swanfest delivered a wild and funky experience that left fans buzzing long after the final encore. Dance Gavin Dance proved once again why they’re at the top of the post-hardcore world: masters of complexity, melody, and crowd control. The openers each brought something powerful, and together, the lineup delivered a night that no one in the Aragon Ballroom will soon forget.
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