A Who’s Who Guide to This Year’s Top Performers
Northalsted Market Days returns August 12-13, promising an electrifying weekend of music, food, shopping and entertainment. Here’s a ‘Who’s Who’ of this year’s top 8 performers.
BETTY WHO
Sunday 8/13 – 2:45pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
Betty Who is an Australian-American singer-songwriter who rose to fame in 2013 with her debut single “Somebody Loves You”. In June of 2023, the track was ranked #30 in Rolling Stone’s top 50 Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time.
Besides Market Days, she’s also performed at Lollapalooza and Coachella. Betty Who is a positive and uplifting force in the music industry, and her music has been praised for its ability to make people feel good.
SHEA COULEÉ
Sunday 8/13 – 9:00pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
Shea Couleé is an American drag queen, musician, actor, podcaster, and fixture of the Chicago nightlife scene. In 2017, Couleé achieved international fame after placing in the top four in season nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and later went on to win the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
Couleé is known for their fashion-forward looks, their fierce lip-syncing skills, and as a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who has spoken out against racism and discrimination. Shea is also a talented musician and has released two EPs, “Couleé-D” and “Enigma”.
DRAMA
Saturday 8/12 – 8:45pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
A duo from Chicago consisting of producer Na’el Shehade and vocalist/songwriter Via Rosa. Their music is often described as a blend of R&B and dance, but they also incorporate elements of pop, hip hop, jazz, bossa nova, and electronic. DRAMA has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and they have collaborated with artists such as Bonobo, Odesza, and Tycho.
They are known for their DIY approach to creating and releasing their music, and their debut album Dance Without Me was released in February 2020. They are a rising star in the electronic music scene, and their music is praised for its unique blend of genres and its emotional depth.
PUSSY RIOT
Saturday 8/12 – 2:30pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk rock collective known for their political activism and protest art. The group was formed in 2011 and has been involved in a number of high-profile actions, including a performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior that criticized the Russian government.
Pussy Riot’s members have been arrested and imprisoned on multiple occasions, but they continue to use their art to challenge authority and promote social change.The group’s members are known for wearing brightly colored balaclavas and ski masks, which they say is a way to protect their identities and to symbolize the anonymity of the internet.
CUPCAKKE
Sunday 8/13 – 5:30pm
The New Orleans Stage at Belmont
Elizabeth Eden Harris, known by her stage name CupcakKe, is a rapper and songwriter born and raised in Chicago. CupcakKe started her rap career at the age of 14, and her first song, “Gold Digger,” went viral in 2012. In 2015, she gained widespread attention with her sexually charged anthems “Vagina” and “Deepthroat.” In her 2017 album Audacious the track LGBT sent a message of support and positivity.
“I love the LGBT community…When I put out LGBT, it was so everyone can be treated equal. Everyone deserves love no matter who you like or who you want to marry..there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s all I wanted to make clear in that song. Be comfortable with who you are because if no one else loves you, I definitely love you.”
KYLIE SONIQUE LOVE
Saturday 8/12 – 6:00pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
Kylie Sonique Love is an American drag performer, singer, dancer, model, and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2010, and achieved further popularity by winning the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars eleven years later in 2021.
Love was the first person to ever come out as transgender on any reality TV show, and upon winning All Stars 6, she became the second transgender winner in the Drag Race franchise and was the first trans woman to win an American series of Drag Race. Love is known for her stunning looks, her powerful performances, and her fierce personality. She is an inspiration to many, and her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-acceptance.
CRYSTAL WATERS
Saturday 8/12 – 8:15pm
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Stage at Addison
Crystal Waters is an American house and dance music singer/songwriter, best known for her 1990s hits “Gypsy Woman”, “100% Pure Love”, and 2007’s “Destination Calabria” with Alex Gaudino. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as one of the most successful dance artists of all time.
Her accolades include six ASCAP Songwriter awards, three American Music Award nominations, an MTV Video Music Award nod, four Billboard Music Awards, and twelve No. 1 singles in the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Waters is a pioneer in the dance music genre, and she has helped to shape the sound of electronic music for over 30 years.
BOYFRIEND
Saturday 8/12 – 5:30pm
The New Orleans Stage at Belmont
Boyfriend (Suzannah Elizabeth Powell) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, rapper, and performance artist. She is known for her unique blend of rap, cabaret, and pop music, as well as her flamboyant stage persona.
Boyfriend was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but found her calling in New Orleans. She coined the term “rap-cabaret” to describe her music, which is characterized by its witty lyrics, catchy melodies, and provocative performances. Boyfriend has released two albums, “Sugar & Spice” (2017) and “Boyfriend” (2020), and has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. She is a rising star in the music industry, and her unique brand of music is sure to continue to turn heads.
