Mara Lovejoy plays a sweet and cathartic blend of glammy, broody, punky, earthy rock ’n’ roll. After releasing the solo album Liminal one year ago, Lovejoy teamed up with drummer Shanna Willie and bassist Clancy Ward to form a trio for opening night of Homegrown 2024. The band has a live album titled Ephemera that could be available before this year’s Homegrown. Lovejoy’s music engages with a scrappy drama, with lyrics that clash perennial optimism against existential dread. It is fun, ferocious, heartfelt, communal and present.