1. What is going on here?
Great Lakes Indie Music is a review site with the mission to recognize deserving artists who, thanks to unfortunate geographical fact, are often otherwise ignored. It is also designed to serve as a catalog of the region's best music: read reviews, discover new talent, and connect with fellow musicians across the region using our map feature.
Though the cable networks and national newspapers are intent on depicting our region as a near-total vacuum of culture and prosperity, the Rust Belt is home to more than industrial collapse and economic stagnation. We are artists, enthusiasts, thinkers and doers. We're dreamers and day-laborers, architects and squatters. We make music; not for profit or notoriety, but because we can't stay silent. Musicians in those big, glittery West Coast/East Coast cities enjoy a disproportionate share of media and industry attention, but they do not have a monopoly on talent.

2. What do you mean "Great Lakes"?
You know, the 8 states that border the 5 lakes. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and the western parts of New York and Pennsylvania. The Rust Belt, the dying manufacturing heart of the Midwest.

3. What do you mean "Indie"?
Unsigned or small-label artists. Music that is original, creative, offers a new word, a new beat.

4. What do you mean "Music"? What genres do you cover?
The gamut from hip hop to hardcore. Originality is valued; generic music of all genres shunned.

5. How do I get my music featured here?
Go to the submit page.

6. I sing about racist, sexist and otherwise ignorant things. Should I submit?
No. You should stop being a dick.

7. I'm not in a band but I like what's going on here. What can I do?
If you're into good music and like writing, help us write reviews. Cover artists in your area. Contact us for details.
And spread the word to your friends and associates. Let's stick together.