With the sixth annual Ames Winter Classic coming up next Friday, it’s time to get to know those on the lineup. Check out these tracks before the artists take over the M-Shop next weekend.

Gloom Balloon – Chanteuse Raison D’etre 

The solo venture of Poison Control Center frontman Patrick Tape Fleming, Gloom Balloon covers a lot of musical ground, from the use of electronic samplings to swelling strings, and it all seems to work. This track from 2013’s You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Disaster is complete with a drum machine and a groovy saxophone intro, making it difficult for a crowd to not tap their toes. 

Gloom Balloon – Some Place to Land 

Fleming’s lyrical prowess really comes out on this track, laying bare the feeling of loss with ease and an orchestral backing track, but finishing out with the feeling and sound of wordless commotion.

These tracks can be found on Spotify. 

Ebony Tusks – Everybody Run 

The hardcore hip hop group from Lawrence, Kansas, breaks ground on this track with a thumping bass and brutally honest poetry. It’s the kind of track that will leave crowds wanting more, because these guys can deliver. 

This track can be found here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/jul/09/chasing-sensation-how-ebony-tusks-marty-hillard-re/

Cubits – Oh Well That Ends Well 

The electronic shoegaze band from Fairfield, Iowa, is returning to Ames after a tour and before the release of a new album. Its debut single features its signature synth based sound and the sleepy lead vocals of Parker DeMers, but the track itself is anything but sleepy, as they transition into a more rock-driven sound halfway through the song, simultaneously surprising and satisfying to those who listen. 

This track can be found on SoundCloud. 

Mumbai Kasumba – Gravity 

This cover of John Mayer’s song by Iowa State student Mumbi Kasumba is an introduction to her understated, yet rich vocal talent, and sounds almost like a dream. It’s real, and that’s the most satisfying part. 

This track can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qAwAiCKSkE