Future-forward pop star Ashnikko visited Orlando as ambassador from the musical Smoochies World and thrilled a packed house at the Hard Rock Live back in May. Except for one person, who foolishly showed up to the very queer-friendly show wearing a (you guessed it) MAGA hat. That packed house of fantastically attired fans quite literally booed the MAGA-behatted fella right out of the building with rousing and thunderous chants of “F*ck Donald Trump.” The moment duly went viral on social media and was the rare Reel we didn’t mind the algo bombarding us with. May 5, 2026

There’s DIY spirit, then there’s D!I!Y! SPIRIT!!!. When new local venue My Sister’s House was forced to suddenly relocate and ended up in a bowling alley, things didn’t look good. But the organizers and the staff behind the space made the best of a strange situation. They’ve kitted out their new backroom digs with impressive lights and a solid sound system, so that the legion of young locals and touring acts who regularly play there look and sound great. If you get there early enough to bowl a game and eat a slice before the gig, it’s like an indie-rock staycation. 10749 E. Colonial Drive, linktr.ee/mysistershousepresents

In December, we lost Chris Cortez, the co-owner and face of Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. The pioneering impresario left not just a memory, but a true legacy in the ’Boo. The Winter Park live venue evolved from an idealistic-if-fringey upstart 10 years ago into one of the metro’s standard-bearing jazz rooms and formed deep, meaningful ties to the local community of musicians and residents alike. For his successors, it’s a formidable birthright to live up to. bluebambooartcenter.com

Orlando’s always been accused of having no sense of history. That, thankfully, is changing and our music history is starting to be properly honored like never before. It’s therefore an opportune time for the reunion of 1990s alternative haven Club Space Fish — which was, yes, the club that GG Allin shut down, but also so much more. The full weekend blowout featured tons of band reunions, a storytelling panel discussion, the Orange Country Regional History Center officially adding Space Fish memorabilia to its collection — and the relaunch of Space Fish Records. It was a fitting tribute for a lesser-known but essential chapter of Orlando music history. May 16-17, 2026; spacefishrecords.com

“Nine working musicians and a congressman” is what makes up La Orquesta Yeya, a new local salsa outfit comprised of high-school friends: Niyah Lowell, Alex Bodytko, Shawn Villanueva, Ivan Garcia, Sam Silva, Danny Carrion, Linette Perez Heredia, Jose Rojas, Daniel Chico and Orlando-based U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost. Frost plays the timbales, joined by bandmates on cuatro guitar, violin, congas, trombone and flute. Their mission is to fuse movement (dance) with movement (progressive activism). We like it like that!

The grizzled young vets of fuzzy Orlando rock band 0 Miles Per Hour have come together for a new project: Partner. With slower grooves, heavier distortion and influences ranging from experimental band They Are Gutting a Body of Water to the acoustic riffs of Alex G, Partner don’t play it safe. They’ve released two singles — “Digging” and “Little House (Demo)” — since forming late last year. Album, please? instagram.com/partner.fl

This laundromat doubled as a faithful community space for loud live music of all varieties and listeners of all ages. It has since returned to its strictly laundry-focused roots, but for a good while, it played host to some sonic excellence. There’s something special about listening to live music in a place where you absolutely should not be: crammed next to rows of washers and dryers, standing on linoleum floors, and with the lingering aroma of detergent cutting through the crowd. 1502 Edgewater Drive

First place: Orlando Sings, orlandosings.org

Second place: Video Game Music Ensemble @UCF, instagram.com/vgmucf

Third place: Robert Kerr Ensemble, instagram.com/robertkerrensemble

First place: Demi Korrin, instagram.com/demikorrin

Second place: DJ BorgLando, instagram.com/borglando

Third place: Rocky Black, instagram.com/itsrockyblack