Ratboys
Chicago indie rock at its warmest: twangy, generous, quietly great, a band critics keep discovering all over again.
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About Ratboys
Ratboys is an indie rock band from Chicago, IL, formed in 2009.
Ratboys began in 2010 when Julia Steiner and Dave Sagan met at freshman orientation at the University of Notre Dame. The pair started writing and recording together as students, and later added drummer Marcus Nuccio and bassist Sean Neumann, both of whom had toured with the band before officially joining in 2020. The group relocated to Sagan's hometown of Chicago in 2015.
The band has described their music as "post-country," pairing indie rock arrangements with country and folk phrasing. Steiner's songwriting favors specific, detailed storytelling, drawn from family history, offbeat news items or remembered places, delivered in a plain, unaffected voice.
The band's debut album, AOID, arrived in 2015 on Topshelf Records. Its follow-up, GN, released in 2017, brought wider recognition, with Rolling Stone naming it one of the best overlooked albums of that year. Printer's Devil, released in 2020, drew even stronger reviews, with MTV calling it the best work of their career and Pitchfork praising its emotional depth.
Happy Birthday, Ratboy followed in 2021, marking the band's tenth anniversary and featuring "Go Outside," a song later used in a Walmart ad campaign. Their 2023 album The Window, recorded in Seattle with producer Chris Walla, formerly of Death Cab for Cutie, drew the widest critical attention of their career. A sixth album, Singin' to an Empty Chair, followed in 2026.
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Questions about Ratboys
What festivals is Ratboys playing in 2026 and 2027?
Ratboys is booked at 3 festivals we cover: Corona Capital 2026, Treefort 2027, Kilby Block Party 2027.
Is Ratboys on tour?
Yes. Ratboys has 4 shows listed, from Abono Club Pass Corona Capital 2026 on Nov 20, 2026 to Harrisburg, PA on Aug 6, 2027, plus 3 festivals on the page above.
Is Ratboys playing Corona Capital 2026?
Yes, Ratboys is on the Corona Capital 2026 lineup, November 20–22, 2026 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico.
Is Ratboys playing Treefort 2027?
Yes, Ratboys is on the Treefort 2027 lineup, March 31 – April 4, 2027 at Boise, ID.
Is Ratboys playing Kilby Block Party 2027?
Yes, Ratboys is on the Kilby Block Party 2027 lineup, May 14–16, 2027 at Utah State Fairpark, Salt Lake City, UT.
Where is Ratboys from?
Ratboys is from Chicago, IL.
Who is in Ratboys?
Ratboys is Sean Neumann (bass), Marcus Nuccio (drums), Dave Sagan and Julia Steiner. Former members include Danny Lyons.
When did Ratboys form?
Ratboys formed in South Bend in 2009.
What was Ratboys's first album?
Ratboys's first album was RATBOY (2011). The latest is Singin’ to an Empty Chair (2026).
What kind of music does Ratboys play?
Ratboys plays indie rock.
What festivals has Ratboys played before?
Ratboys has played End of the Road 2026.