Mike Soriano grew up breathing house music at the early age of 10, listening to artists such as Peter Rauhofer, Bad Boy Bill, Roger Sanchez, Offer Nissim, Richard Humty Vision, among many others. Old school house music fueled his passion for electronic music. He began his career as a DJ and producer selecting and mixing tracks as a hobby, with his passion for music he started producing various genres including hip-hop and R&B. He then switched his focus to House Circuit and has been ripping dance floors since. Mike Soriano is now one of the top DJs and producers in Mexico and has been recognize for his music in all parts of the world.

Meghan Murphy is an actor/singer/producer/solo artist currently performing in the worlds of Theatre, Music, and Cabaret. Her incredible range of talents has taken her all over the world, creating and performing in countless musical theater shows and concerts, delivering her long-running one-woman show, The Big Red Show, and singing in her Chicago-based blues band, Everybody Says Yes.

MAX is a New York City born pop-soul singer, actor & dancer, known for his powerful acrobatic tenor which commands attention. His devoted fanbase and original voice has given him an incredibly strong social media presence with over 1.2 million followers on YouTube, 400,000 followers on Twitter and over 940,000 likes on Facebook.

2015 was a banner year for MAX — in February, he signed with Pete Wentz’s DCD2 Records and in March, he released the single “Gibberish” featuring Hoodie Allen. The song was one of the selected tracks featured by YouTube for the 2015 YouTube Music Awards alongside songs by Ed Sheeran & Charli XCX, and its groundbreaking music video accumulated over 4.5 million views in just one week and has racked up more than 12 million views to date. Additionally, he was one of MTV’s 2015 Artists to Watch Summer Class list, named Elvis Duran’s Artist of the Month (June), KISS-FM ‘s Artist of the Week, performed on NBC’s TODAY show, and was nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist and Original Song for the 2015 Streamy Awards. MAX spent the summer on the road as a featured performer on the Boys of Zummer tour with Fall Out Boy & Wiz Khalifa before releasing his DCD2 Records-debut EP Ms. Anonymous in September. In October, MAX embarked on his first headline tour across the U.S., which included multiple sold out dates. A lifelong entertainer, music is not his only talent — MAX starred in the Beach Boys biopic, “Love & Mercy,” as Van Dyke Parks.

Matteo Lane is a New York-based comedian whose stand-up special can be seen on Netflix’s The Comedy Line-up.  He was the first stand up to perform on A Little Late With Lilly Singh and has also made appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and the Comedy Jam.

Matteo is currently developing an animated series, Kickass Drag Queen, together with Bob the Drag Queen, Gary Sanchez and Unicorn Island Productions for Freeform. Not limited to just stand up, Matteo also co-hosts the podcast Inside the Closet together with Emma Willmann and performs an original cabaret, Live at the Bon Soir, to great critical acclaim. Fluent in five languages and with a singing range of six octaves, Matteo lived in Italy as an oil painter and opera singer before starting his comedy career.

Martha Elaine Wash (born December 28, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer. Known for her distinctive and powerful voice, Wash first achieved fame as half of the Two Tons O’ Fun, who sang backing vocals for the disco singer Sylvester including on his signature hit “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”. After gaining their own record deal, they released three consecutive commercially successful songs which all peaked at number two in the dance charts. The duo was renamed The Weather Girls in 1982 after they released the top-selling single “It’s Raining Men”, which brought them to mainstream pop attention. The Weather Girls released five albums and were heavily featured on Sylvester’s albums.

After disbanding in 1988, Wash transitioned to house music as a featured artist on several successful songs. Her success on Billboard’s Dance chart has earned her the honorific title The Queen of Clubland, with a total of fifteen number-one songs on the chart to date.

Wash is also noted for sparking legislation in the early 1990s that made vocal credits mandatory on CDs and music videos. Starting in the late-1980s, her studio vocals were used in several successful dance songs without her permission or proper credit. Models lip-synced to her voice in music videos and during live performances, obscuring Wash’s contributions and hiding Wash’s size as a full-figured woman. As a result, she was denied credit and royalties for many of the songs she recorded. This included platinum-selling song “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”. Subsequently, in Rolling Stone, music critic Jason Newman described Martha Wash as “The Most Famous Unknown Singer of the ’90s”.In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 58th most successful dance artist of all time.

Rubies hold a special place among the world’s rarest natural treasures. The most sought-after of the corundum family, the gemstone’s crimson hue instantly catches attention—as if extracting passion from the earth itself and crystallizing it in mineral form. Similarly, Macy Gray occupies a rare space in the canon of modern music.

That unmistakable rasp, unshakable grasp on soul, and funky spirit ensured her status as a 21st century icon since her arrival with the triple-platinum How Life Is in 1999. Selling over 25 million total albums globally, winning a GRAMMY® Award and two BRIT Awards, collaborating with everyone from Ariana Grande to Galactic, and enchanting fans all over the world, her voice has consistently resounded throughout pop culture. Eternally enamored and enthralled with her voice and presence, a devout fan base that transcends genres, generations, and creeds celebrates her work—album after album and tour after tour.

Most recently, 2016’s Stripped earmarked a creative high point, garnering unanimous acclaim from Vogue, Vice, and many more. At the same time, she remains a force of nature on tour, selling out venues in nearly every corner of the globe two decades into her storied career. Macy’s talents resound beyond music as well. She starred in Tyler Perry’s Black Reel Award-winning For Colored Girls and would grace the screen everywhere from Brotherly Love and Cardboard Boxer to NETFLIX’s hit Fuller House. Moreover, she made a now legendary appearance in Training Day alongside Academy® Award winner Denzel Washington—one of many on-screen hallmarks.

Now, her tenth full-length album, RUBY [Artistry Music/Mack Avenue], reaffirms and reasserts that signature rarity millions continue to treasure.
“I love the gem ruby,” she explains. “It’s so regal. I really wanted a title that would stick. The stone is also red of course, which is my favorite color. It’s rich and has history. It’s classic—and so is this album.”

In a city brimming with classic blues and jazz divas, Lynne Jordan stands apart. Not only do her soaring vocals dip effortlessly into blues, jazz, funk, rock and even country but her bawdy personality wins over any crowd. Her talent so dazzled the Second City that the late Chicago film critic Roger Ebert declared her his “favorite diva.” Backed by her sizzling band The Shivers, Jordan quickly developed into a Chicago institution, playing jazz and blues clubs, swanky lounges and even the charity circuit throughout the country. She brought her special brand of storytelling, raw humor and performance to New York and Atlanta with her sold-out show, “A Musical Tribute To Nina Simone.”

Although Jordan’s nuanced singing and standout style echo Simone’s musical legacy, the singer’s warmth and grace point to her Midwest upbringing. Growing up in Dayton Ohio, Jordan came from a family of church-going singers who encouraged humility. She down-played her big voice until she was singled out to star in school musicals. From then on, there was no way to hide her gifts. Arriving in Chicago to study at Northwestern University, Jordan promptly changed her major from journalism to theater and has been performing non-stop ever since. She performed as an Arts Ambassador representing the City of Chicago in Moscow and Kyiv and has graced stages throughout Europe and South America and is currently featured in the Jazz Opera, “Don’t Worry, Be HaRpy” by French composer Isabelle Olivier. The cast of four U.S. singers and an all-French orchestra triumphed but the real challenge for Lynne was when she portrayed all four characters in a solo tour de force performance. “I was terrified at first, but the experience was exhilarating!” The show returned to Paris for a third tour in June 2016. She has released two CD’s to date and is featured on recordings by Tom Waits, Urge Overkill and several compilations, most notably a tribute to Janis Joplin: “Blues Down Deep: Songs of Janis Joplin” which also featured Etta James, Otis Clay, Taj Mahal & Koko Taylor.

Boasting an effervescent selection of music and stories for her Nina Simone tribute, Jordan sold out Chicago’s City Winery and did the same in New York and Atlanta. “For so long, I was told to nail my music to a genre or language and like her, I never did. I will sing in English, French, Hebrew or Japanese. It’s the song and the story that matters. To me, she represents the indie spirit of individuality and inclusiveness.” Showcasing all that individuality, Jordan offers up an eclectic array of music to the audience as they get to experience the multi-faceted diva glory—alongside the excellent musicianship and energy of her band the Shivers – which Chicago has been enjoying for decades. She has written a one woman show with LA playwright Andrew Barrett. A GREAT BIG DIVA and reading from the script in December 2017.

She has recorded with Tom Waits; The Punk group Urge Overkill; Alligator Records Blues artist Toronzo Cannon; featured amongst Taj Mahal, Etta James, and Koko Taylor on Blues Down Deep: A Tribute to Janis Joplin and her own CD’s: Bit o Fun and Holiday Shivers. Lynne performed in Jazz Operas in Europe, performed her own one-woman show,  and is a featured vocalist with Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues.

Lynne has traveled the world with her band the Shivers including a life-changing performance in Kyiv, Ukraine in Freedom Square before an audience of 250,000. Jordan has performed her works at numerous Live lit (storytelling) shows in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Moscow, Rio, Riga, and Paris and is featured in the book: Chicago Storytellers, From Page to Stage.Because she is a popular entertainer in Chicago, she has honed her storytelling skills with every song, in every concert and event, and created a one-woman show “A Great Big Diva” that includes her wonderful stories and music.

Lynne is a 3Arts Make a Wave Artist, and recipient of the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago: Outstanding Achievement in Music – Rhythm & Blues award in 2017-2018. She is currently enjoying a “Diva Residency” as an artist in residence at the Raue Center for the Performing Arts in Illinois. Lynne is presently working on two new recordings: one includes original material from Corky Siegel, Toronzo Cannon, and John Cameron Mitchell and the other is exclusively classic blues tunes from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s.

 

One of the greatest Latin Hip Hop/Freestyle/Pop divas to come out of the 1980’s music scene is the legendary Lisa Velez also known as Lisa Lisa of the 80’s supergroup Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Produced by Full Force, the group shot straight up the charts and went platinum several times over their first few albums. Their freshman album “Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force”, had her break-out hits “I Wonder If I Take You Home” and “Can You Feel The Beat”. Those two songs alone helped to launch the underground genre of “Freestyle music” into the mainstream.

​Then the amazing 80’s supergroup did it again with the second album “Spanish Fly” by crossing over to the pop charts with mega-hits like “Head to Toe” and “Lost In Emotion”. If that wasn’t epic enough they sealed that success with their third album “Straight to the Sky” releasing another music number one pop single called “Little Jackie”. Needless to say, Columbia records had instant superstars on their roster of artists.

​As the ’80s faded out and the ’90s came in with a new sound merging both the dance music and hip hop seamlessly, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam rode that wave to a fourth album “Straight Out of Hell’s Kitchen”. The group collaborated with 2 of the 90’s hottest producers Robert Clivilles, and the late David Cole, a duo known as C&C Music Factory on a song called “Let The Beat Hit Em”. The song went on to be one of the biggest dance singles of that decade.

​The album, “Straight Out Of Hell’s Kitchen, ” was named after Lisa Velez’s childhood neighborhood. The youngest of 10 children, born in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City, Lisa aspired to be a singer very early on in life. At age 13, Lisa would sneak out to nightclubs where she met Mike Hughes of ”Cult Jam”. Mike introduced her to Full Force, the guys that would become her life-changing music producers. Full Force’s Bowlegged Lou, Paul Anthony, and B-Fine were immediately impressed with Lisa’s angelic sounding voice. The collective works of producers & artists would soon launch three individuals Lisa Velez, Mike Hughes, and Alex Mosley now known to the world as Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam to super-stardom.

Throughout her journey, Lisa Lisa became the first Latin platinum artist to be recognized nationwide. She has paved the way for some of the Latin female artists to come after her, such as Selena and Jennifer Lopez. As the group went their separate ways in 1994, Lisa released her first solo album “LL77” on Chrysalis records which included a Top 40 hit “Skip To My Lu” and her first Spanish track “Cuando Me Enamore”. Driven, Lisa branched off into the acting world in the mid-’90s. She first gravitated to the theater world performing in Broadway and off-Broadway plays such as “Barrio Babes” and “West Side Story”. Then in 2001, she hit the television airways as a young sharp-witted mother Gloria Morales in the popular Nickelodeon series “Taina” that lasted 2 seasons. Lisa also made an appearance on the hit series Law & Order in 2003 as a desperate mother who made a bad decision to save her terminally ill son’s life and ends up on the wrong side of the law. This role showed the world her acting diversity.

​After more than 30 years of being a trailblazer in the music business and gracing the acting world Lisa’s journey is far from over. Lisa and her team Robert Drieslein “Bobby Dee Productions” & “Uncle Snoops Army” the legendary Snoop Dogg himself are working on bringing some amazing things. Lisa Lisa continues to tour the world with her band SoDisrespectful and her dance ensemble. Stay tuned!

La Roux is an English synth-pop artist, known for singles such as “Bulletproof” and “In for the Kill. ” Their debut album “La Roux” was a critical and commercial success, winning a Grammy Award and producing hit singles such as “In for the Kill” and “Bulletproof”.

In 2018, La Roux provided vocals for Whyte Horses’ “The Best of It”. The following year, she featured on their cover of “Mr. Natural” and provided background vocals for Tyler, the Creator’s track “Thank You” on his album “Igor”. In the meantime, she composed and recorded material for her third studio album, “Supervision”.

When Kimberley isn’t helping other artists to make their dreams come true, she’s creating and performing her own music.

Auditioning for the 2003 series of TV talent show American Idol® was a life-changing decision for Kimberley. She successfully passed the audition and became a firm fan favorite, eventually placing as second runner up and setting her on a new career path in the music industry.

Kimberley signed to Curb Records immediately after her American Idol journey, where she became a very successful recording artist and released three full-length albums with the label. Among her many achievements she’s had eight Top 20 Adult Contemporary hits and four #1 Dance hits across various Billboard charts. Her #1 club hit, a remake of the Freda Payne classic “Band of Gold,” was included on Billboard’s “Top 50 Dance Songs of the Decade” list. She’s also made history as being the only recording artist to score a #1 Christmas song on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart three years in a row.

In 2009, Kimberley parted ways with Curb Records and became the first artist to sign a deal with Randy Jackson’s record label, Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment. Two years later, she announced she was launching her own artist consulting company, I AM Entertainment, LLC. She released her first independent EP album, “Four for the Floor” through I AM Entertainment in July 2011, followed by a cover of “Silver Bells” four months later, and “Finally Free” the following year.

Most recently she was seen at the 2016 finale of American Idol, which was watched by around 13 million viewers. At the finale she sang her hugely successful 2004 single “8th World Wonder,” along with additional solo and group performances with other American Idol favorites.

KaJahn Ari, a Chicago native, had shown a great love for the arts at a young age and began on the path of a Triple Threat at the age of 5.  She started out in talent shows within the Chicago Public School system and Praise Dancing for various community church audiences. After her parents seeing the spark of pure and original talent, she received some formal training in Ballet and Gymnastics.  In her middle school years, she expanded her talent by joining the Drama Club, Concert Choir and Show Choir along with formal Vocal Tech training.  During this explosion of talent discovery, she was a participant in The Young Americans Workshop and the Darrin DeWitt Henson Dance Workshop.

In the summer of 2009, KaJahn continued her journey by joining the Community Engagement Program of the Joffrey Ballet Chicago. This intensive summer program included performances at Millennium Park and culminated with a community performance at the boat house in Chicago’s Humboldt Park.  As a reward for her hard work and dedication, she was offered a Scholarship into the Joffrey Ballet Chicago Bridge Program for 2009-2010. While in high school, she was a member of the Rich South Starettes Dance team, the School Choir and performed throughout 2010-2011 at various community events with a Hip-Hop Dance Crew called CrossXout.

In 2012 decided to take her singing career to the next level and becoming a recording artist. Working with her dad made her want to go to the next level. “I want to dance to my own music”. From there she began to expand on her vocals and teamed up with her cousin/writer Simone Ingram to create her first song “Voodoo” in 2014. After the passing of her dad, it only put more fire into her spirit. She spent the remainder of the year recording her own music at home with her fathers studio equipment the was left for her. She made herself a soundcloud account and started sharing her music and gaining a following. By the summer of 2015 she was opening up for great performers like Tyra B, Do or Die and performing at clubs and sold out local venues.

Today, KaJahn Ari plans to pursue her educational goals along with seeking out new and creative avenues in the performing arts. Her passion for performing continues to drive the need to expound on her talents by gaining new and challenging roles in theater, choreography and song.

The Joe Policastro Trio is a Chicago-based jazz trio led by bassist Joe Policastro featuring guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature also brings rock, soul, funk, Brazilian, and free jazz to the surface while keeping the aesthetic of an acoustic jazz trio intact. Their third album, Screen Sounds (JeruJazz Records, August 11, 2017), is an assemblage of movie/TV music re-imagined by the trio. Both a musical tapestry and personal soundtrack, the trio has re-purposed these selections blending each member’s unique voice into a unified sound while shedding new light on these musical touchstones. Other releases by the band include 2013’s West Side Story Suite For Jazz Trio, and 2016’s POPS!, also on JeruJazz Records.

Bands are a rarity in jazz these days, especially ones who hone their craft as consistently as this one does. Their last album, POPS! (2016), was a collection of the trio’s re-workings of “pop” tunes, and a nod to Pops For Champagne, the famed Chicago nightclub where the trio continues its long-running, three-nights-a-week residency. Beyond Chicago, the band has been extensively playing together on the road having completed several tours even performing for President Barack Obama in October of 2016.

As sidemen, Joe Policastro (Jeff Hamilton, Pat and Debby Boone, Phil Woods, Diane Schuur), Dave Miller (Clarice Assad, Patricia Barber, Algernon), and Mikel Avery (Joshua Abrams, Theaster Gates, Rob Mazurek) have shared the stage with a wide array of musicians but dedicate collectively to this trio. Whether highlighting the original music of its member, re-contextualizing modern music, or performing jazz classics of the likes of Thelonious Monk, Chico Hamilton, or Charles Lloyd, the trio readily displays its singular approach, sound, texture, and simultaneity.

“The trio have refined their layered blend of the familiar and faintly far out, playing three nights a week at Chicago’s Pops For Champagne and through extensive roadwork. Their deep understanding of each other and deft analysis of choice repertoire repays repeat and close listening.”
– Michael Jackson, Downbeat

Known for its eclectic taste and approach, the Joe Policastro Trio “makes the case that such musical hybridity is worth celebrating.” “Policastro…is a melody-minded bassist who prioritizes group cohesion over individual displays of virtuosity.”
– Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat

“There are always new wrinkles to be found in the familiar. That’s a political stance that seems to serve the Joe Policastro Trio well…putting alternately gritty and focused touches on songs we’ve come to love….Policastro and company have found their niche tapping into different breeds of treasured songs.”
– Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

The Joe Policastro Trio is a band that can turn “pop tart into Jazz art” (Travis Rogers, Jazz Owl) and one that “should have wide appeal among both jazz fans and listeners of other genres.” (Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine)

As one of the most sought after DJs and Producers in the industry, Joe Gauthreaux (pronounced GO TROW) has a resume full of club appearances and main events that spans the last 15 years – with the list ever growing. He has played almost every major circuit event all over the world, including Winter Party Festival, Black Party New York, White Party Miami, Song Kran Bangkok, New Year’s Rio at The Week, Atlantis Cruises, among others. A staple at major clubs across North America, Brazil and Asia, while holding multi-year residencies in several key markets across the world, his name is synonymous with having a driving and  unique musical experience.

His production career has included official remixes of major dance artists like Steven Redant, Leo Blanco, Tony Moran and Kristine W., not to mention mainstream top 40 artists like Adele, Rita Ora, Blondie, Troye Sivan, Justin Bieber, & Brian Justin Crum. Most recently, his big room progressive-tribal remix of Diana Ross’ classic anthem “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” with Brazilian producer DJ Leanh, has taken the circuit by storm, with major support from many leading DJs.

Constantly evolving, Gauthreaux has now taken his music to the next level with his own house music label “Prop D Recordings,” with his 2014 debut single “Bye Felicia” featuring Mitch Amtrak reaching number 5 on the Billboard Dance Chart, making Gauthreaux an official Billboard Recording Artist. Follow up singles “February (Our Last Kiss)” featuring Abigail, and “The Urge In Me” featuring Inaya Day, rose even higher, peaking at numbers 4 & 3, repectively . He also wrote and produced the sleeper hit “You Are My Family,” also featuring Inaya Day on vocals, which has turned into a modern day gay pride classic. The heartfelt anthem has united crowds all over the world with its important message of family and brotherhood.   As both songwriter and producer on his original productions, Gauthreaux is a major creative force to be reckoned with in the dance music industry.   As for where he goes next, he says “Challenging myself is the only way I know how to keep growing.  Staying still or moving sideways has never been of interest to me – I’m always looking forward.”

Whether you are expecting big vocals, house rhythms, progressive-tech beats, or tribal drums, Joe Gauthreaux will have you experiencing a musical journey you won’t ever forget.

You know you’re not just another indie soul band when your city sends you halfway around the world to showcase the sound of 21st century Chicago. Or when the mayor of Chicago personally invites you to play his inauguration concert or calls you to entertain foreign dignitaries. The JC Brooks Band came from humble beginnings, dreaming about getting the cool kids to shake it at the Empty Bottle and since have collected a wide range of fans around the globe.

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy befriended the post-punk soul group after they scored a viral hit with their amped-up re-imagining of his song “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”, performing it with them at Chicago’s Park West and inviting them to appear at Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival alongside heavy hitters such as Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and the Band’s Levon Helm. Jake Johnson and Aubrey Plaza appeared in a music video with them. The taste-making crate diggers at the Numero Group were impressed enough by the band’s take-no-prisoners live show to include them in their Eccentric Soul Revue, where they had the pleasure of collaborating with the spectacular Syl Johnson. The JC Brooks Band has shared stages with a staggering array of artists, from legends like Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, and Chicago, to indie faves Peter Bjorn & John and the Dismemberment Plan, and soul stirrers Fitz & the Tantrums, Sharon Jones, Lisa Loeb, Lee Fields, and Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens.

Erupting with raw emotion, JC Brooks unleashes his soulful shouts and heart-wrenching falsetto over the relentless rhythm of guitarist Evan Pinter, drummer Kevin Marks, bassist Theodore Berry IV, keyboardist Jeremy Tromberg and percussionist-extraordinaire, JoVia Armstrong. JC Brooks and his band are a force to be reckoned with, leading the Chicago Tribune to call them “the real deal” and MOJO Magazine identifying them as “one of the hottest US soul acts”, while the New York Times praised their “neo-soul glory” and the Onion AV Club declared their first album “relentlessly catchy”. It’s live, it’s compelling, it’s now, it’s theatrical. So theatrical, in fact, that they were tapped to star in the critically-acclaimed run of the Tony Award-winning musical “Passing Strange” at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts.

After a forced hiatus this band is a sleeping dragon awakened from hibernation and hungry. Whether they’re wowing crowds in the US, Canada, or Europe, the JC Brooks Band has toured, warred, scored, and they’re not to be ignored. Bear witness, for they’re on the move and they’re ready to make you MOVE by any means necessary.

 

JAKE SHEARS is the lead singer of the multiplatinum-selling glam rock band Scissor Sisters. Born in Arizona, he grew up in the Seattle area before moving to New York City, where he studied fiction writing at The New School. He wrote the music for Tales of the City, a 2011 stage musical based on Armistead Maupin’s bestselling book series of the same name, and will join the cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway in the role of Charlie Price in January 2018. Jake Shears recently finished his debut solo album, which will be released in 2018. He divides his time between Los Angeles and New Orleans.

In the US and abroad Jacob Bjorge has earned a reputation as a creative innovator, combining high octane future-focused rock with the artistic imaging of contemporary art & fashion. Jacob creates a world that is unique to his cowboy past and rock n’ roll present.

Jacob Bjorge has capitalized on his years as an entertainment producer to become an artist with a unique vision. From bespoke videos & visuals to installation art, each Jacob Bjorge show is a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether it’s turned up to 11 or playing to an intimate crowd, Jacob has developed sets that can be performed on large stages or in intimate nightclubs, both electric and acoustic.

From Soundcloud

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Isis Muretech is an aspiring and talented DJ/Producer that has become famous for her unique style of music in the LGBTQ club scene. Currently, she is one of the most-demanded female DJs in Mexico, USA, and Latin America.

She has played in over 30 cities all over her country from north to south with her music, breaking all posible borders, resident DJ at Mantamar Beach Club and DJ resident at the biggest gay circuit brand in Mexico: Jubileo
She is known for her powerful energy in Tribal house, House, and Techno, and she leaves a memorable mark with the audience of every party she plays.

Isis Muretech is the first woman in her country to deejay outside of Mexico, playing in cities such as: Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, El Paso, Seattle, Rehoboth, Palm Springs, Cartagena, San Juan (PR), Belo Horizonte, Bogotá, Guatemala City, Cúcuta, San Antonio, Denver and Paris.

DJ Isaac Escalante, renowned Mexican DJ and producer, has taken over the musical scene of Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Montreal, New York, Tel Aviv, Rome, Barcelona and many other cities since his first gigs at 16. DJ Isaac Escalante’s house, tribal and electro house mixes capture the dance floor of Mexico’s #1 DJ club every weekend, where thousands of music fans enjoy his talent and craft.

For Isaac Escalante the musical experience goes beyond the dance floor, being responsible for various hit tracks. Isaac has conquered the world market. In less than a year he has become one of the most important international DJs in Latin America. He is one of a very few International DJs that obtained a residence at the best and biggest club of South America, “The Week”. Talent, wit, experience and an incredible talent for music, has been Isaac Escalante’s trademark for many years.

 

When Caroline and Aino first met at a party in 2009, it was ‘love at first sight’. Determined to create “the best band ever”, their musical collaboration started on the very next day, and they had their first gig three weeks later. They quickly released their first single ‘Manners’ and the future wonder of Icona Pop was officially formed.

The duo’s big breakthrough can be described with one phrase: ‘I Love It’. The 2012 monster hit (which dominated many top lists in the Western World, and appeared on several TV- and talk shows), became a milestone for Swedish pop music. The song had big success worldwide, especially in the US, where the single sold over 2 million copies and reached US Platinum sales.

Other great hits by Icona Pop are ‘All night’, ‘We Got the World’, ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Let’s Go’ ft. Tiesto. Icona Pop is greatly awarded for their musical brilliance. For instance, they’ve received prizes and titles like “Swedish Breakthrough of the Year”, “Group of the Year” and “Song of the Year” (‘I Love It’). On 26 May 2015, the duo released the single ‘Emergency’. The song peaked a few weeks later on the Billboard Dance Chart, making their second single to top that chart after ‘All Night’. The song was also featured in the video game FIFA 16. In July, the EP Emergency was released. It includes the critically acclaimed “First Time” and the smash-hit ‘Clap Snap’.

The girls have toured with mega stars Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and One Direction. On February 23rd, 2016, Icona Pop performed their single, ‘Someone Who Can Dance‘ at the Grammys in Stockholm. Caroline and Aino are though not only known as cool icons and great singers, they are also known for being talented songwriters that write the majority of their own songs.

Summer saw the act drop long anticipated single ‘Girls Girls.’ Among the huge tastemaker support, Entertainment Weekly commented: “This buoyant, rosé-soaked tribute to throwing down with your gal pals will have you saying “I love it!” all over again.” 7m streams later and setting the duo up for a marker appearance on Swedish TV show “Så Mycket Bättre” (So Much Better), Sweden’s leading female pop provocateurs have never looked stronger.

After touring the world during the summer of 2018 – now, Icona Pop has released a collection together with Swedish clothing brand Gina Tricot along with new pop-dance single – Rhythm In My Blood. A party anthem which will leave no one standing still. The entire collection has a vibrant party pulse, which is exactly what you need to boost energy on dark fall days, according to Icona themselves. Disco, glitter, pop, power and rock’n’roll – inspiration for the collection comes directly from Icona Pop’s sizzling music career, where the stage is their own catwalk. Now the girls are focusing on writing new music – planning on coming back with full-fledged power during 2019.

Cheap Thrill brings the raw energy of Hank & Cupcakes’ live shows off the stage and onto your home stereo, with a grungier edgier record than ever before while holding onto their fierce signature off-the-walls infectious sound.

Seeing Hank & Cupcakes live, and hearing their latest album, Cheap Thrill, is like watching two of your best friends fall in love. The record truly captures the band’s sound: sensual, powerful, and highly energetic. There’s no careful choreography here, no proliferation of autotune to mold the songs into something palatable to the sterile chewed up standards of today’s Top 40 culture. The raw, unfiltered, uncensored reality of Hank & Cupcakes is what Cheap Thrill is built on. It’s a sonic revolution and it’s calling you to join in and rock out.

Hank & Cupcakes are Aliens of Extraordinary Ability… At least according to the US immigration services. Hailing from Tel Aviv to New York City in late 08’, the duo, consisting of powerhouse vocalist/drummer Cupcakes and bassist extraordinaire Hank were quickly dubbed a “must see” live act on the local scene. Attracting praise from MTV and New York Post, the buzzworthy band were signed to BMG with whom they released their 2012 ‘Aint No Love’ EP. When faced with the choice of creative compromise vs. artistic freedom, Hank & Cupcakes chose the latter, walking away from the deal to self release their debut LP ‘Naked’ in 2013, followed by ‘Cash 4 Gold’ in 2014. The two are known for their explosive live performance which has finally met it’s match in the form of the band’s forthcoming record, Cheap Thrill.

The album was recorded in a custom setup in the duo’s new Atlanta home where Brooklyn producer Van Goose, who spent a week down south, joined them, immersed in the project. Microphones were set up in & out of the house infrastructure including heating shafts, closets and different rooms all intended to create an array of sonic chambers & an ambient live record.

The striking cover art for Cheap Thrill is the fruit of a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Mexican artist Claudio Limon. Like their music, Hank & Cupcakes’ cover image comes across at first as pure energetic art but Shir explains that there’s more to it than meets the eye: “The on the album cover is deliberately gender-blurry and set in a religious-looking environment. The idea came to us while working on the record when many “religious freedom” bills discriminating against LGBT community & bills curbing women’s reproductive rights were (and still are) brought up constantly. We strongly object to this and wanted to comment on the absurdity and misuse of religion as a tool of discrimination and oppression and on the lack of equality we still see in our society.

Hank & Cupcakes will be taking Cheap Thrill on the road this summer with an explosive live show accompanied by a huge stage design corresponding with the album art and will be touring all over the East Coast, Midwest and South. Do not miss the chance to see them live this summer!

bio from allmusic.com by Matt Collar

Singer/songwriter Greyson Chance is an emotive, pop-oriented artist known for his lyrical, often piano-based material. Chance first garnered attention online before breaking through with his 2011 debut, Hold on ‘Til the Night, which hit number 29 on the Billboard 200. His sound has grown ever more nuanced, incorporating textured electronic production alongside his acoustic work, as on 2019’s Portraits and 2021’s Trophies EP.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1997 and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Chance first began playing piano at age eight. In April 2010, a video of Chance performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at his middle-school talent show was uploaded to YouTube and went viral. It soon caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who invited the 12-year-old to perform on her show, and eventually signed him to her then newly launched eleveneleven record label. A deal with Interscope followed, and in December 2010 he delivered his debut single, “Waiting Outside the Lines.” The full-length Hold on ‘Til the Night followed in 2011 and cracked the Top 40 during its first week of release. The EP Truth Be Told, Pt. 1 arrived in 2012.

Chance continued to tour and record over the next few years. As he matured his voice deepened, and his taste shifted toward nuanced indie rock and alternative electronic pop. He showcased this sophisticated sound on his 2016 EP Somewhere Over My Head. Included on the set were the singles “Afterlife,” “Hit & Run,” and “Back on the Wall.” Also that year, he guested on tyDi and Jack Novak’s dance track “Oceans.” Chance came out as gay in July 2017, making the announcement via social media and stating that he was happy and proud of who he was. The dramatic single “Low” followed that December. A spate of singles appeared over the next year including “Lighthouse,” a collaboration with DJ/producer Fabian Mazur, “Good as Gold,” and “Twenty One.”

In 2019, Chance delivered his sophomore full-length album, Portraits, which featured production by Willy Beaman, Christian Medice, and Todd Spadafore. Included was the single “Shut Up.” The EP Trophies arrived in June 2021, as did the stand-alone track “Hellboy.”

 

Tired of shows that just fell short in the delivery, Anna and Mollie got together to create something fresh that encompasses energy, dance, and great songs… all in the name of Girl Power!  Now with a dynamic stage show complete with choreography and awesome mash-ups, Girl Power Night sets off as the cool new Chicago group dancing and singing their way into everyone’s heart.

Anna and Mollie rock the stage as their DJ  plays all the Girl Power hits mashed up and delivered uniquely girl power style. From Britney, Pink, Gwen, to Spice Girls, Destiny’s Destiny’s Child and more. With a DJ mixing the tracks and dancers fully choreographed, the show is a non-stop dance party.

Girls that Rock and Women who influence the world! Including: Michelle Bachelet, Benazir Bhutto, Katie Couric, Drew Gilpin Faust, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Sonia Gandhi, Melinda Gates, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Wangari Maathai, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Angela Merkel, Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi, to name a few!

Originally hailing from small town Leesburg, Florida, Ginger Minj made her first splash on the global stage as a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7. As a fan favorite and triple threat she was invited back for Drag Race All Stars 2 and made it to the top 3 of All Stars 6.

She has starred in the Anne Fletcher helmed “Dumplin” for Netflix alongside Jennifer Aniston and Dove Cameron, in the Netflix series “AJ & The Queen”, and most recently in VH1’s “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas”.  When she is not touring the world or appearing in movies and live theatrical shows, Ginger can be heard on her three studio albums, Sweet T, Gummybear and her newest EP, Double Wide Diva!

Fleece is a neo-psychedelic project from Canada. On stage, they bring an unforgettable energy to compliment their unique indie, psychedelic sound. Sonically, some of Fleece’s many influences include Tame Impala, Herbie Hancock, The Beatles, and Joni Mitchell.

Fleece was founded on the song-writing and lead vocals of Matt Rogers alongside the perpetual energy of drummer Ethan Soil. After some personnel changes, Megan Ennenberg (guitar/vocals) and Jameson Daniel (guitar) joined the band, fulfilling the missing pieces and completing the band as a cohesive whole.

Chicago’s own cabaret act made up of Kylie Bear, Olin, Kiki and Dustin. The beaus sing the gambit of music styles from blues to jazz to musical theatre to pop! They do it all with style, sassiness, humor and dazzling vocal harmonies.

Established and incorporated in 2007, the Chicago Cabaret Project began entertaining and stimulating audiences at various venues throughout  the city of Chicago. The momentum gained after years in the cabaret scene marked a significant presence for the ensemble among the theatre and entertainment professionals of Chicago, garnering praise and admiration for their beautiful vocal stylings and their ever exciting and provocative, sexy presentations.

In 2012, The Chicago Cabaret Project reincorporated as The Cabaret Project. Continuing the spotlight in the following years, the troupe has worked all over the Chicagoland area, Lake Geneva (WI), St. Louis (MO) and Puerto Vallarta (MX).

Exposé is an American Latin freestyle vocal group formed in 1984 in Miami, Florida. Primarily consisting of lead vocalists Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless, and Gioia Bruno, the group achieved much of their success between 1984 and 1993. They became the first group to attain four top-10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 since their debut album, including 1988 number-one single “Seasons Change.” In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the eighth most-successful girl group of all-time.

The group was popular in dance clubs, mainstream Top 40, and adult contemporary charts in the United States. They actively toured and recorded music from 1984 to 1995, then retired from recording and public performances for 8 years until 2003. They currently tour today.

Emily Blue is a rare flavor of pop. Glitchy, sophisticated, and infectiously catchy, the Chicago vocalist and writer draws inspiration from Maggie Rogers, FKA Twigs, and Sylvan Esso. Her most recent release, nicknamed #BubbleGumAcidPop, features the dual-single “Blackberries // Rico Acid,” which gives a small but powerful preview of Blue’s (and producer Max Perenchio’s) capabilities. Her love of quirk and color expand into the new visual for “Rico Acid,” which premiered July 21 via ELEVATOR magazine. Look out for a very packed 2017 for Blue, whose musical direction may lean into even stranger territory.

“Emily Blue plays sugary-sweet pop songs that will stick with you long after her session ends.” – Daytrotter / Paste Magazine
“Our favorite new music of 2017. . . Blue’s knack for melody pairs well with her glitch pop arrangements and unique take on relationships and life.” – It’s All Dead

Chicago jazz singer Elaine Dame sings – and people stop and listen. Since 1996, the woman Time Out Chicago calls “a jazz dynamo” and “a gem in the city’s vocal jazz scene” has been turning heads and capturing attention at the nation’s finest clubs and venues. From her multiple appearances at the world-famous Rainbow Room, Michael Feinstein’s 54 Below, The Triad Theater and The Metropolitan Room in New York City to her performances at the 2015 and 2017 Chicago Jazz Festivals, to headlining venerable jazz venues across the country, Elaine brings her virtuosic interpretations to vintage vocal gems and modern standards alike.

It’s the joy she exudes with every note that makes Elaine’s performances unforgettable. A graduate of The Theater Repertory Program at California State Northridge, Elaine worked for years in Chicago’s theater scene before turning her whole focus to jazz. She’s a singer who understands the importance of stage presence. It’s no wonder the Chicago Reader wrote, “Ms.Dame has a winning stage presence and chameleon-like vocal flexibility.”

Comes Love, Ms. Dame’s debut recording on the blujazz record label was released to wide critical acclaim and international radio play. “Her joy in the act of singing is obvious throughout the entirety of Comes Love. Dame combines a freshness of approach with an unaffected fondness for the music she sings. The result is a clear-eyed approach to her material that remains accessible to a broad cross-section of listeners, potentially enlarging the audience for jazz,” says Jazz Improv Magazine.

Elaine’s sophomore recording You’re My Thrill was released on December 1st, 2014 and has garnered rave reviews. Neil Tesser, Grammy award-winning writer, and author, The Playboy Guide to Jazz said this: “Elaine possesses an exacting, exhilarating command of melodic lines and emotional currents. It helps that she has pinpoint intonation: in performance, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard her miss her mark, even on difficult leaps or drops in a melody line. But she handles those intervals with a dancer’s grace and a nuanced attack, which allow the line to unfold seamlessly. She floats through a melody without any apparent effort; to appreciate her musicianship, listen to most other singers handle the same material (you can practically hear them sweat). And Dame’s phrasing manages to wed an improviser’s expressiveness with a welcome fidelity to the words and their meaning. I think if a saxophone could speak, it might sound like this.”

For the past twelve years, in addition to her consistent work as a jazz singer, Ms. Dame has been a private jazz vocal instructor and was honored to have been a 2013 teaching artist at Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Summer Jazz Academy, where she taught scatting workshops. Ms. Dame has also presented jazz clinics at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, where she presented clinics: Jazz Singer PR Bootcamp and Stage Presence and Stylizing the Standards.

Elaine also performs for Chicago weddings, Chicago corporate events, private parties, and fundraisers. She has provided music for such corporate clients as BMO Financial Group, Meyer Corporation, and Philips Healthcare, to name a few.

While her ensembles range from a guitar and vocal duo for cocktails and dinner to a full octet for dancing, Elaine is most often found performing with her trio or quartet for Chicago corporate events and Chicago weddings. The musicians she works with rank among Chicago’s finest: a pianist who played with Dizzy Gillespie and Joni Mitchell, a guitarist who accompanied Barbra Streisand on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and a saxophonist who toured with Frank Sinatra whom the New York Times describes as in the virtuoso range.

To book Chicago jazz singer Elaine Dame for your event, call 773-296-0831 or click here. You may view samples of Elaine Dame’s club performances, read reviews from previous clients, read the press or view her extensive song list.

DJ XP specializes in spinning Latin bass, hip hop, and club music. He was born in Texas, grew up in Florida, and now resides in Chicago. XP often performs at the Berlin Nightclub and the Beauty Bar Chicago

Born in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1980, Toy started DJing at the age of 23. He was given the title “Head DJ” of BED Manila from the moment he received his residency till the day they finally closed it’s doors in 2015. He made his name with his own signature sound of thunderous tribal beats and soaring vocal anthems that is recognized instantly.
He has performed for major event’s like Jeffrey Sanker’s legendary White Party Palm Springs, New Year’s Eve at White Party Bangkok and the massive beach party at Winter Party Festival in Miami to name a few, establishing him as one of Asia’s mightiest talents.

Toy’s production work began in 2010, but it wouldn’t be until 2012 when he would meet his partner
DJ GRIND that would open more doors and lead to US & UK billboard #1 remixes with artists like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Hailee Steinfeld, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kylie Minogue, Cher, Mel B, Demi Lovato, Inaya Day, Abigail, Ella Henderson and a lot more.
Today Toy Armada enjoys playing in main festivals, cities and events around the world.

Tom Stephan is an artist who truly marches to his own drum. The US-born, UK-based DJ has headlined the world’s most highly regarded parties and clubs from the Black Party New York to the White Party Palm Springs, from Space Ibiza to Stereo Montreal to Ageha Tokyo, while holding down residencies at Beyond London, Matinee Barcelona, WE Party Madrid, Big Paris, Rapido Amsterdam, Karmabeat Mexico City and Alegria NYC. In the studio, he’s among the most accomplished, with a discography of original and remix work that includes 18 Billboard Dance Chart Number One’s, and reads like a who’s-who of global dance music producers: from Basement Jaxx to Beyoncé, Missy Elliot to Major Lazer.

Most well known for his “Superchumbo” moniker, Tom’s sound was born out of the NYC after-hours scene and merged with his home base in East London. Never one to accept complacency, Tom has embraced the creative advantages of using Traktor as his DJing “instrument.” This full-fledged flexing of technology allows him to create an unrelenting dance-floor experience that is unrivaled in terms of intensity, creativity, and fluidity. Come hear for yourself why Tom Stephan is heralded as one of the best in the game.

Tess moved to Chicago in 2002 from Baton Rouge as a visual artist, but eventually turned to the music scene for creative expression. In 2011, she co-founded award-winning dance party, slo’mo, and holds multiple residencies in the city, including soho house and the ace hotel. Tess is known for her vibrant energy on stage, mixing old school into contemporary music and all-around dance party magic.

Sandra Suave’s career began in 2004 as Co-Founder of B.BLYSS! Productions. She has been producing events for the past 12 years. Sandra Suave and her partners began cultivating a new type of nightlife. High quality cultured events at exclusive venues across the city. This opportunity opened the door for Sandra Suave as a DJ. She spent the following years studying and learning from some of the most versatile and finest dj’s in the city.

Given her range of music, she is able to spin at a variety of events. She has been featured on a variety of radio shows including Power Style Radio, The Hip Hop Project, and WCRX.

Sandra Suave has played at well known venues across the city of Chicago including The IO Godfrey, Simones, The House of Blues and The Foundation Room, SubT, The Promontory, Progress Bar, East Room Chicago, Punch House, and The Shrine. She is also a dj at Cage and Aquarium and Scratch Events.

Over the past 4 years she has been a guest DJ aboard Carnival Cruise Line for Festival At Sea. She has rocked crowds at festivals such as Cuban Fest, Backlot Bash Chicago, Pride Fest North, and My House Music Fest Chicago.

Corporate clients include RedBull, H&M, Carson’s, CellMark, DreamTown Realty, & The Center on Halsted.

A few years ago, Sandra Suave decided to dive deeper into the art form of djing/turntablism and is a graduate of Scratch Academy.

With the skills she possesses and her desire to continue to grow as a DJ, there is no telling where her talents will take her next!

DJ Mary Mac was introduced to the art of turntables and mixing by her older brother while he practiced daily in the basement of their family’s Queens, NY home. Barely a teen, and yet highly intrigued by the techniques of the many notable DJ’s of that era, Mary Mac began working diligently to hone and perfect her skills behind the wheels. With a combination of natural talent and passion, she quickly made a name for herself as a sought-after female DJ. Needless to say, this was quite ground-breaking in the predominantly male-driven industry.

During the early 90’s her career was further ignited while attending Mitchell College. As a full-time student, she began spinning for college parties in the area. This earned her the coveted position of Music Director at Eastern Connecticut State University’s radio station where she remained for the next two years. Following her reign at the radio station, she began to earn solid credibility. By the mid 90’s, she had managed to establish a “rooted recognition” which then led her to valuable opportunities that were key in her growth as an artist of the turn-tables.

Since then, Mary has been exclusively requested to play at various national events and celebrity parties offering a seemingly endless and impressive list that includes birthday parties for Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Queen Pen as well as promotional release parties for Cassidy, Fatty Koo, Dead Prez, Hush Magazine, Monica, and Clipse. She has played for multiple other artists and events as well. Mary most recently has been pairing up with the renowned Madonna for new mixes. Catch DJ Mary Mac spinning at the Norhtalsted Market Days this year!