Little Lisa is the bass player for the CATFIGHT cover band. However, she enjoys moonlighting as a DJ spinning hip tunes for parties!

from ChicagoPride.com

Jesse Mercado grew up in Crystal Lake and Cary, in the far Northwest suburbs, but he fell in love with Chicago as a kid and knew it was where he wanted to live – and he’s been a fan of local dance music since the late-1980s, when he used to sneak into Chicago on Sunday nights to attend the B96 dance parties at the Riviera Theater.

It was Steve “Silk” Hurley who inspired Mercado to be a DJ.

In 2005, Mercado watched Hurley spin one of the “DJ’s In The Park” events hosted by the Chicago Park District, “and he moved the crowd unlike anything I have ever seen,” Mercado said.  “The crowd erupted into a frenzy every time he introduced a new track; it was magical.

“At that point, I knew I wanted to be a DJ.”

In 2007, Mercado started learning the craft, and has since worked at multiple venues in Chicago as well as clubs in Dallas, New York, Kansas City, St Louis, Toronto, and elsewhere.

Jesse Mercado is now DJ Jesse Mercado, a fixture on the gay scene, known for his tribal/vocal house style.  He has been spinning at Hydrate Nightclub in Boystown for more than three years and has been an official resident since January, 2015.  Mercado spins at Hydrate six times a year, with his next stop at Hydrate is on April 29.  Plus, he’s been a resident DJ at Steamworks for the last five years, spinning at the bath house on the fourth Saturday of each month for its Bears, Bath and Beyond event.

“As a DJ (for gay venues), it’s very rewarding,” Mercado said.  “Everyone on the dance floor faces one another and feeds off of the energy of the music as well as each other, which allows me to take the crowd on a journey over the course of several hours.  I can play very high energy music and have them working up a sweat, then take them down a darker sexier path and watch sexual tensions rise.  It’s really fun to orchestrate and something that is very unique to the gay community.

“When I DJ a daytime event, the vibe is more carefree with lots of tracks that people can sing with and throw their hands up in the air.  When it’s a club event or something like Steamworks, it’s a sexier tribal or tech house sound with less vocals and hard driving beats.”

From do312.com

World renowned DJ & Producer Cajjmere Wray (aka: CCW) has been a staple in the dance music/club scene globally for many years. He stirs a mix of house styles primarily of circuit & tribal with vocals mixed in, which is definitely a part of what makes him a must see DJ.

In the studio Cajjmere Wray has officially remixed many of the world’s greatest talents including: Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Paulina Rubio, Offer Nissim, and Deborah Cox to name only a few. His widely supported productions are a large piece in the history of his notable style and sound. His contribution to dance music has helped many artists land the #1 spot on the Billboard Club Play Charts. Cajjmere’s remixing effort on singer/songwriter Natalia Safran’s “All I Feel Is You”, is featured in the Sony/Columbia Pictures major motion picture ‘FLATLINERS’ from 2017.

With 20 years and counting now behind him in the business, Cajjmere Wray has successfully headlined festivals & events on 2 major continents in various cities including:

White Party – Miami, 1LIFE Festival – LA, PRISM Festival – Toronto, DIVERSITÉ Festival – Montreal, VINYL WARRIORS Tour – Serbia. COUTURE LA, SCORE Miami, TRACKS Denver, STEREO – Montreal, CIRCUS – Montreal, and others.

Bonita is a Chicago based DJ that spins in an open format. She is also the resident DJ for AMFM.

DJ Anne Louise from Sao Paulo, Brazil, DJs at many fun parties around the world!

Caryn Robinson, or KayKay for short, maintains a dual DJ & Design practice which are both influenced by the cultural aesthetic of her hometown, Chicago. She matches beats with seamless transition and produces sets that are as sonically varied as her city’s streets. Designer by trade and DJ by craft, KayKay produces experiences that seduce the audience and lures them into her meticulously cultivated audiovisual realm. She believes that while a DJ’s skills can be sharpened, musical taste cannot be taught. While her first love is House, she is an open format DJ with an extensive collection of music that represents the best of Disco, Hip-Hop, R&B, Slow Jams, Dancehall, Baltimore Club, Vogue, Blog, Rock & Roll, Trap, Twerk and Chicago’s homebred sounds Drill and Juke.

She has been the reigning queer female DJ of the Chicago scene for more than 10 years and has held residency at numerous Chicago bars and nightclubs, including, but not limited to: Not Safe for Wallflowers at the Shrine (Lesbifriends), Illuminaughty at Progress Bar (Lesbifriends), Honey Pot at Progress Bar (Chicago Twerkit Authority), Cirque de la Femme at Lincoln Tap, Menace2Sobriety at Subterranean (Lesbifriends) and the infamous Dirty Girl Thursdays at Berlin and the Lakeview Broadcasting Co. (Chicago Dirty Girls).

Her most recent collaboration mixtape “Roller Rank” (in collaboration with Rabid Vinyl Monks’ White Owl) is currently featured on the JUGRNAUT (Chicago’s premier street wear boutique) website. Her music is also featured on the Chicago based queer erotic calendar Q-We’re’s homepage, and has been broadcasted on WCRX Chicago’s Underground Radio on their programs “Masters In the Mix,” and “The Scene.”

She was also featured by the Chicago Reader for their column “In Rotation,” in which local music scenesters share their current interests with a citywide audience. KayKay also has a cameo in season 12 of Oxygen’s the Bad Girl’s Club, which contains footage of her residency at Progress Bar’s weekly queer ladies night, Honey Pot. Her events are frequently advertised in the press, including the Huffington Post, Do312, the L Stop, the Windy City Times and the Chicago RedEye. From the confines of the booth she has orchestrated the convergence of dancing bodies at parties like: Slo Mo’ at the Whistler, Bump & Grindcore at Beauty Bar Chicago (recently named by The Chicagoist as one of the top 8 dance parties in the city), Dollhouse Fridays, Dusty Grooves at Cobra Lounge, ISTILLLOVEHER at Subteranean, Stardust at Berlin, Femistry by BBliss at the House of Blues Foundation Room, and Queerer Park at Beauty Bar Chicago.

She has worked as the headlining DJ for several events, including: The Chicago Pride Parade Red Eye float, Back Lot Bash: Chicago’s Ladies Pride Weekend (2012 – present), the Chicago Reader Pride Cruise and Chicago Reader People Issue Party (2012) and the Halfway to MichFest Party (2011 – present). She has also shared the stage with the likes of Ruby Rose, Brenmar, Flosstradamus, Kid Sister, Psalm One, Hollywood Holt, Million Dollar Mano, DJ Tittsworth, DJ Gant-Man, Zebra Katz, Njena Reddd Foxxx, Big Dipper, God-des & She, Aneesa of MTV’s The Real World Chicago, Leisha Hailey of The L Word and Uh Huh Her, and Whitney Mixter of The Real L Word. All the Way Kay has also been an official DJ of the Chicago Outfit Roller Derby Team.

Mexican Sensation DJ and Producer Alex Acosta has taken over the world with his fresh, upbeat, and very energetic sound, playing at the hottest Music Festivals and Clubs around the globe. On top of that, he is a chart-topping producer, whose work is supported by several DJs and thousands of fans worldwide.

Alex Acosta’s name in the music industry has become the favorite of several DJs and Fans worldwide, who always support/feature his extensive Original Production and Remix work on their radio shows as well as their live sets. As an Independent Artist, Alex has stamped his signature sound through many tracks. Several of those have reached #1 sales on many online music stores, as well as a Top 20 on Beatport’s competitive House Music Charts. Furthermore several of his remixes have been key in helping tracks reach the high charting position on Billboard Charts: 10 #1s on Billboard’s Dance/Club Charts, with production for Rihanna, Kristine W, Dirty Werk, Skylar Stecker, Luciana & Dave Aude, Tony Moran feat. Jason Walker. A #2 for Martha Wash, and several other top 10 Billboard’s Dance/Club Charts for production work for Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, LeAnn Rimes, Duncan Morley, and many more. Among the Record labels where Alex’s tracks have been released, we have Pool E Music, LE7ELS/PRMD, Guareber Recordings, KULT Records, Carrillo Music, Matinée Music plus many more.

Besides being a successful music producer, Alex Acosta has become one of the most important Latin American DJs. With over 20 years in the DJ Industry, he has established himself in a Global Scale, by playing at the Hottest Venues and Festivals in major cities worldwide: Sydney, Mykonos, Madrid, Barcelona, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Provincetown, Orlando, Vancouver, Toronto, Playa del Carmen, Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, São Paulo, Lima, Medellin, Guangzhou, Playa del Carmen, Mexico City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Monterrey … and many more. He’s had the opportunity to take his sound Global, by playing in three different continents, for thousands of fans who travel throughout regions, to enjoy the high-energy and powerful beats that he drops on his sets.

Among the High Profile festivals where he has played, one can name: New York World Pride 2019, Sydney Mardi Gras, XLSior Festival (Mykonos), Winter Party Festival (Miami, FL), Madrid WE World Pride Festival, Muccassasina (Rome), The Week Brazil (Rio & São Paulo), Original Brazilian Pool Party (Rio de Janeiro), Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party Palm Springs (Palm Springs), Folsom St Fair (San Francisco), Independence Week (Provincetown), One Magical Weekend/GayDays (Orlando), Masterbeat NYLA (Los Angeles, CA), Arena & Paradiso (Playa del Carmen), Vallarta Fever & Latin Fever (Puerto Vallarta), Feel Alive (Mexico City Pride), Vancouver Gay Pride, WORK (New York), gCircuit Song Kran (Bangkok), G5 (Taipei), Glamorous (Tokyo), HEAVEN (Shanghai), PAPA Festival (Guangzhou).

Finally, he currently holds club residencies throughout several cities in the US: Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Provincetown, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego. Furthermore, he holds regular club/festival residencies in Mexico, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Brazil, Colombia, and Canada.

From America to Europe and Asia, Alex Acosta has become a Global Sensation and has proven himself to be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser on the most demanding dance floors around the world.

Since making her debut with 2016’s double-platinum “Hide Away,” 19-year-old singer/songwriter Daya won her first ever Grammy Award for her smash collaboration with The Chainsmokers “Don’t Let Me Down,” released a gold-certified album, and headlined a national tour. Just months after debuting at #5 on Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list in 2016, the Pittsburgh-born artist emerged as the youngest honoree on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 music list in 2017. Newly signed to Interscope Records, Daya is set to deliver a sophomore album that finally shows the full depth of her talent and scope of her artistry.

“I’ve been writing songs since I was 12, but working on this record helped me to find my voice in a whole new way,” says Daya, who co-wrote every track on the album. “Being in the studio every day and experimenting with new sounds has opened up all these parts of me that I didn’t even know were there.”

Made with producers like Joel Little (Lorde, Tove Lo), Stargate (Sam Smith, Rihanna), and Oren Yoel (Miley Cyrus, Tori Kelly), the follow-up to 2016’s Sit Still, Look Pretty takes on a more expansive sound while further proving Daya’s gift for unforgettable melody. Along with bringing elements of urban and electronic music to her brightly arranged breed of pop, Daya embraces a soulful sensibility closely shaped by her lifelong love of R&B and her experience in studying jazz piano.

“Before this album I felt like I had to fit my songs into some kind of a mold, but now I’m less worried about keeping everything in a particular structure,” says Daya, a classically trained pianist who began playing at the age of three, and later picked up guitar, ukulele, saxophone, and flute. “The process feels much more free-flowing now, where I’m just trying out different ideas and seeing where they lead me.”

That richer sonic palette serves as the backdrop for Daya’s more emotionally complex lyrics, an element echoed by her stunning vocal range. While she notes that her songwriting has long been a conduit for self-discovery, she’s recently felt more compelled to explore emotions that tend to go ignored in pop. “Writing these new songs, I wanted to continue with the theme of empowerment from my older music, but also get even more real about things I’ve gone through and what’s in my heart,” Daya says.

On lead single “New”—a fantastically intense powerhouse offering up both intimate confession and massive beats—Daya sheds light on the struggle of owning up to your vulnerability. “I’m usually very closed off in relationships; I’ll make all these excuses about why a situation isn’t good for me or why I don’t need this person in my life,” she admits. “‘New’ is about accepting that you have real feelings for someone and learning how to let them in, which is definitely a new perspective for me.” Hailed by Billboard as a “dynamic, bass-thumping pop anthem that tugs at the heartstrings,” the track is accompanied by a gorgeously cinematic video conceptualized by Daya (who also played a key role in creating its chaotic choreography).

Throughout her second album, Daya also touches on fragile emotions like feeling unable to move on from past relationships (on catchy “Outta My Head”) and trying to explain her quick fuse (on the sharp story-telling “Temper”). On “Safe”—penned the day after the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas—Daya turns in a gently devastating vocal performance perfectly suited to her thoughtful meditation on innocence and disillusionment.

“I was thinking how sad and crazy it is that these things happen so often now, they don’t even affect us the same way anymore,” Daya says of “Safe.” “I wanted look at why we’re so numb and why we haven’t done more to stop this sort of violence, but I also wanted to address that on a very personal level. It ended up becoming a song that looks back on the past, and asks why we can’t all feel as safe as when we were younger.

Born Grace Tandon, she devoted much of her childhood to honing her own musical talents.  Beginning with the piano (age 3), this Pittsburgh native picked up multiple instruments and later found her voice to accompany the songs she began writing. Her writing ability quickly garnered the attention of professionals in the music industry who invited to her to Los Angeles for her first co-writing sessions at age 16.  It was during this first trip West that “Hide Away” was born. Shortly thereafter, she became an independent artist, “Hide Away” was released and she adopted the moniker of Daya — the Hindi translation of her first name, and a nod to her Indian heritage. The track made an instant splash and transformed her into a full-time singer-songwriter who took to the road promoting her songs while remotely finishing high school.

Premiering in April 2015, “Hide Away” shot to the top 10 on Billboard’s Pop Digital Songs chart and reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, with Daya landing on Rolling Stone’s list of “10 New Artists You Need to Know” the following January. With Sit Still, Look Pretty arriving in October 2016, Daya soon found her full-length debut climbing to the top 40 on the US Billboard 200 and achieved colossal success with “Don’t Let Me Down” (winner of the Best Dance Recording prize at the 2017 Grammys).

Each track on Daya’s new album comes with a raw emotional charge partly inspired by her love of artists like Amy Winehouse. “I’ve always been drawn to very strong female voices—singers who have something say and keep their music honest,” she says. In the making of her new album, Daya spent much of her time reflecting on the growth she’s undergone in recent years. “When I started out, people seemed to treat me as a young female artist who didn’t really have a voice of her own,” she says. “It took me a while to speak up for myself, but now I’m at the point where I’m finally taking the creative reins.” And with empowerment more vital to her message than ever, Daya hopes that newfound confidence might help to inspire others. “Self-love, self-respect—I don’t know if you can really be taught those things, but it’s important to me to talk about my experience of being a young woman in a male-dominated world,” she says. “My hope is that people see the changes that I’ve made for myself, and maybe feel more motivated about going out and getting whatever it is that they want for their own lives.”

 

Dani Brasil started his career as a DJ in early 2017 but his passion and dedication to music began many years before. With already gaining residency at The Week, one of the world’s most iconic brands, it gave him a kickoff to be present at major events including the Main Party for World Pride NYC for WE Party and Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party Palm Springs. In addition to that, he has performed in over 16 countries and more than 50 international dates so far.

Growing up in New York City and currently living in Brazil, he has always been involved in the nightlife scene and close to renowned djs such as Peter Rauhofer, Tony Moran and Hector Fonseca. With these influences, he developed a unique music collection that he’s known for, with high energy tribal house vocal sets with some Brazilian roots that have him constantly connected to the crowd.

Congress of Starlings is a long-time favorite on the Chicago indie music scene. Aerin Tedesco and Andrea Bunch have been called ‘two of the most beautiful noises on the planet.’ The Starlings have brought their music to world famous venues like Milwaukee’s Summerfest, The National Women’s Music Festival, Halsted Market Days, Taste of Chicago, Pride Fest, Hard Rock Café, The House of Blues, and to beloved Chicago venues like The Old Town School of Folk Music, SPACE, Schuba’s and Martyr’s.

Whether as an acoustic duo or a full band, Congress of Starlings joyfully delivers a unique, startling blend of unearthly harmonies, rich melodies, and unusual metres. Lyrically, their concerns reach from the depths of the heart, across the damaged American landscape, and through the mists of other worlds. Their voices are unmatched in their ability to move and enrapture audiences. Their songs are raw and powerful.

​The current line up for full band shows features Janet Cramer on drums, (Grupo Paz, www.cramerdrums.com); Greg Nergaard on bass, (The Right Now, www.therightnow.com, Soulio Jazz, https://souliojazz.com/) and Lindsay Weinberg on vocals (Lindsay and the Lights Go Out, Come Sunday, Conspiracy Theories, lindsayweinbergmusic.com).​​

Aerin and Andrea have collaborated on 3 albums; Albedo, Faun Songs, and Numinous, which was named best album of 2004 by Indie Music Review. Together, they’ve earned the prestigious Three Arts Excellence grant to attend the Ragdale Artist’s retreat, were named best new artist of 2011 by Bump N Grind indie music publication and runners up for best new queer artist by OutMusic.

The Starlings have also created stellar tributes to Heart, as Little Queens, and to the Indigo Girls with Great Moments in Vinyl.

CeCe Peniston was born Cecilia Veronica Peniston in Dayton, Ohio. CeCe Peniston spent most of her formative years in Phoenix, Arizona, and got her start in singing at church. She performed in plays and musicals and participated in talent shows while learning to play the piano. Cece studied Liberal Arts at the University of Phoenix, which allowed her to develop her skills in writing lyrics. In 1989, CeCe was crowned Miss Black Arizona and reigned as Miss Galaxy in 1990.

In 1991, CeCe elevated as a true artist when a friend and Phoenix-based record producer, Felipe “DJ Wax Dawg” Delgado, asked her to record back- up vocals for a female rapper slated to release an album on A&M Records. Soon after, Peniston showed her willingness to make her own individual mark in the business, and land her solo project commissioned by then A&M Records music executive, Manny Lehman. Peniston’s hit single known today as “Finally” was born and CeCe accomplished what all talented artists only dream of, inking a deal for her own debut album.

The 1990s proved to be substantial for the Dayton, Ohio native. She became an international sensation and was considered to be one of the most successful dance club artists in the history of the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Charts. Peniston was successful at scoring five major number one hits within three years. Her signature Dance hit “Finally” was #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and #2 on the UK Top 75. It became one of the biggest dance records in history to sell over 3 million copies worldwide.

Peniston set in motion a series of singles and videos, all of which had varying success. Many of her songs triggered a series of Billboard Awards nominations in several categories and gained acceptability and appeal from fans across many genres of music. She is incredibly successful! However, the years leading up to 2014 have been filled with ups and downs for the now 45-year-old Singer, Writer, and Performer. Still an artist at heart, CeCe is reinventing herself and taking on a whole new image through television, fitness, and social media.

Her charitable organizations, LOTS (Lifting Voices To Succeed), and being an Ambassador to the National PT A, are also of great importance to her. Both have kept her dedicated to establishing the significance of placing the right values on youth in the early stages of their lives so that in their formative years, their milestones will be great and their struggles will be few. This love of bringing care and goodness to others is a way of inspiring her to write lyrics to songs that really matter.

Caitlin Simone is a versatile vocalist, actress, promotional model, and voiceover artist, with over 15 years of professional experience in Chicago and nationwide.

Whether she’s performing in an intimate atmosphere or a large scale stage production, Caitlin’s unique talents will bring something special to any event!

Caitlin Simone and Lloyd Snyder will entertain you with high-energy pop hits, as well as creative covers of nostalgic pop favorites. Including sequins, Cheez-its, and awkward banter!

The BMR4 is an accomplished Chicago jazz quartet that features some of the best players in the city including members of the Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, and Patricia Barber bands. Current venues that the group are playing include Andy’s Jazz Club, Shaw’s Crabhouse, Pops For Champagne, Pete Millers (all locations), Navy Pier, United Center (Chicago Bulls), and official City of Chicago events/functions for Mayor Daley. Our latest CD, ‘Turning Point’, was released on the Hallway Records label (Chicago) in 2007.

As a versatile player with eclectic tastes, bassist Bernhardt has never been content to stay in one musical style. Before BMR4 became his main project he was hired extensively in the blues, rock, and hip-hop fields. As a founder of the roots rock band, The Buzz, he has toured the country in support of the groups’s releases “Highway” and “Live At Buddy Guys Legends”. These recordings have received airplay on over 200 radio stations,garnered favorable reviews,and sold over 10,000 copies.The band toured under established booking agencies, such as Monterey International, and The Billions Corporation.

I am Jason Moynihan , or ‘Jay’ by some, a professional freelance musician that plays Saxophone, Piano, and Guitar based out of  Chicago, Illinois and Niagara Falls, N.Y…..I have extensive experience in touring, recording and education . I graduated from Berklee College of  Music in ’94 (Music Performance and a Minor in Arranging).

Beginning in 1989, with a weekly gig at the famous Wise Fool’s Pub in Chicago with legendary blues singer L.C. Walker, Mike Rodbard has been working steadily in the music “biz” since he was eighteen years old. With his hard-swinging shuffles and his dynamic and deep grooves, Mike has continuously played with some of the best musicians in Chicago, and the world.

It makes perfect sense that Neal Alger’s jazz guitar style and compositions reflect a variety of styles and approaches. Over the years, Neal has played different kinds of music and they’ve continued to influence him up to this day. For example, Neal performed hard rock/heavy metal as a teenager and co-wrote nearly all of the music in his first rock band entitled Requiem.

Bitch makes witchy poet pop. She does it with violins and synthesizers. The resulting songs from her new album Bitchcraft, which came out on Kill Rock Stars February 4th, 2022, are heartbreaking, spectral, political and beautiful. Bitch is based in Los Angeles after living in New York for many years. She’s a longstanding queer music icon and “Bitchcraft” is her 9th studio album.

Bitch first achieved notoriety as one half of the queer folk duo Bitch & Animal. The band went on tour with Ani DiFranco, whom they met while playing a gig at a pizza shop in Provincetown. In the mid 2000s, Bitch went solo, and shared stages with the Indigo Girls, acted in John Cameron Mitchell’s film Shortbus, co-wrote a song with Margaret Cho, produced two albums of her elder folk hero Ferron, and licensed some of her songs to The L Word.

Ada Vox is an accomplished vocalist, songwriter, and drag queen who found success and pushed boundaries as a contestant on the hit singing competition series American Idol, becoming the first drag artist to place in the top 10 in the show’s history.

Ada most recently appeared on Queen of the Universe, the brand new international drag singing competition, and finished as the runner-up!

There are singers all round the globe that unleash a worthy listen, an enjoyable song and a memorable sound. There are very few singers in the universe who embed that utterly unique tone you instantly, undoubtedly recognize. That captivating, spine tingling, soulful, big voice that warrants a superstar status.

In 2000, Anastacia had her first hit with ‘l’m Outta Love’ which became the biggest selling single of the year from her first studio album ‘Not That Kind’. She went on to thrive success with a further 6 studio albums that threw her into that very superstar status we talk of, having sold over 30 million records to date.

10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man’s Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992) and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording but before the release of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career, while the remaining members continued the band.