From playing sold out shows at some of the country’s most popular nightclubs with Artists like Drake, Diplo, and Ookay to playing star studded celebrity birthday parties for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio & Toby Maguire to shutting down festival stages Apollo has quickly became a premier Open-Format Dj. By the time he was 20 Apollo had become Western Michigan Universities Game-Day DJ for their football team and was DJ’ing in Stadiums for 30K+ people, By the time he was 21 he was headlining some of Chicago’s premier nightclubs with his signature fusion of Hip-hop, funk, Electro, house, latin & rock. Currently Apollo plays upwards of 200+ sets a year and holds residencies at Underground Nightclub (Chicago), FWD (Cleveland) and Blind Dragon (Chicago/LA). Apollo has also caught the eye of corporate brands such as Leo Burnett, Red Bull & Windy City Live where he is a recurring guest DJ. Through these connections Apollo has been able to create a massive online and real life following of party goers and people who love good music and continues to crank out genre bending sets and music in the studio when working on productions.
Ariana DJ
New to the scene but a veteran in the game, Ariana is a fashion model, entrepreneur, and our cities fastest growing DJ / Producer. She currently spins at a handful of Chicago’s hottest venues; such as Joy District, Replay, Progress, Wynwood, and others… Ariana’s vision to unify our diverse world through her music easily shows when you hear her live. She’s an open format DJ that infuses all genres of music in her sets, from hip hop, reggaeton to house and trap. Combined with seamless transitions and scratches, Ariana is candy for your ears and eyes all at once, and the energy she brings to the crowd is truly out of this world.
Avi Sic
Avi Sic is a driving force.
Performing over 300 shows a year at a variety of venues, her passion for music and unique style has gained the attention and respect of the entertainment field’s elite. From concert venues and top tier clubs to high profile media events, Avi Sic is one of the top open format DJ’s in the country. She also produces music which is fastely garnering a long list of press attention.
With over a decade of experience, her DJ skills combined with diverse and high energy performances set her apart from her peers. She rotates at festivals, entertains celebrities, and has shared the stage as support for artist’s including Calvin Harris, Diplo, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Lil Wayne, Flo Rida, Jason Derulo, Lil Jon, RL Grime, Gryffin and more. Avi is the official concourse DJ for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. Clients include high profile brands such as Google, Nike, Red Bull, OnlyFans, and more.
Her performances remain in demand and truly authentic.
Back Lot Bash
Back Lot Bash started in 2004 in response to the lack of women’s events and the limited presence of female artists in the Chicago LGBTQ community. What started as a one-day event to showcase local female artists and community organizations, has now grown into a 4-day festival due to the overwhelming response from local businesses, community partners, charitable organizations and the women’s community themselves.
Today, Back Lot Bash is an iconic staple of Chicago pride week and draws over 6000 attendees from Chicago, the Midwest and around the world to a unique outdoor venue in the historic Andersonville neighborhood. The event features local and emerging musicians and established performers of different genres as well as the first ever Chicago LGBTQ family day. Back Lot Bash highlights unity, equality, diversity and inclusiveness in an environment that is festive and celebratory of everyone in our community.
Every year, Back Lot Bash partners with local organizations such as HRC Chicago, CMSA and AIDS Ride Chicago to showcase their organizations at the event. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds are donated from Back Lot Bash to a number of charitable organizations including A Sister’s Hope, Girls in the Game, UCAN, and other groups focused on Women’s/LGBTQ issues.
In 2017, Roberts and Klujian had the honor and distinction of being recipients of the esteemed HRC Community Service Award in recognition of their community involvement and the impact they have had in supporting and advocating for Chicago’s LGBTQ community.
Please contact us at backlotbash@yahoo.com.
Thank You,
Christina and Amie
Bev Rage and The Drinks
Bev Rage and the Drinks are a loud, fast, and brash queer garage-pop band from Chicago. Fronted by guitarist Beverly Rage, a 7- foot tall drag queen with hair and heels, the band is known for their riveting live show of all original songs. Rounding out the band are Sam Westerling (bass, Swimsuit Addition, The Iceberg), Mary Rose Gonzales (drums, Mystery Actions, Super Sonic Space Rebels), and Dan Jarvis (guitar, Diagonal, Black Glass). Formed in 2015, the band has shared the stage with bands such as Pansy Division, A Giant Dog, Hunx & His Punx, Shonen Knife, Marc Rebillet, and many more.
Boy Band Review
Boy Band Review is the best Boy Band Tribute Show in the country! Bringing full production lights, video, choreography, harmonies, and energy, Boy Band Review has captured the hearts of fans with their #boyband shows that transport audience members back in time to the days of frosted tips and hunky front men professing their undying love.
Bringing some sweet hip thrusts and air grabs performed perfectly “N SYNC”, Boy Band Review, shows are an incredible throwback experience where fans relive the best years! They are playing to capacity crowds throughout the Midwest and spreading nationwide. They have played numerous high-profile events, private engagements, a Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Casino, and countless venues across the country to capacity crowds. Boy Band Review is everyone’s favorite show since the 1990s!
Boy Band Review is the original 90’s Boy Band tribute from Chicago. Boy Bands Review has captured the hearts of fans with their show that transport audience members back in time to the days of frosted tips and hunky front men professing their undying love. The BOY BAND REVIEW is spreading nationwide and have already played high profile events including the NHL Stadium Series, Dustin Diamond’s Bayside Bash, Yelp’s Chi-beria Send-off, Summerfest in Milwaukee and numerous private events where BBR became everyone’s favorite Boy Band!
Brooke Eden
Lauded for her commanding stage presence and brassy straight-shooting style, vocal powerhouse Brooke Eden flaunts a sassy flare in her trio of new songs that vulnerably detail her journey to love. Championed by Billboard as a “fiery country star-in-the-making,” Eden pairs her honest songwriting with punchy tracks from producer Jesse Frasure (Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Like, Little Big Town) to deliver her most authentic work yet. Coupled with a trilogy of music videos that illustrate Brooke’s own path towards loving honestly, Eden confidently shares her romantic optimism and warmth, while sharing the joys of summer all year long. With over 40 million on-demand streams already, Eden has garnered new critical acclaim with her trilogy of new tracks. According to Rolling Stone, “with its loping banjo figure and some rhythmic swagger, … ‘No Shade’ is something to make you count the days until spring arrives.” Following with the release of “Sunroof,” Billboard says, “The breezy video, featuring Eden with her real-life girlfriend, feels as liberating, warm and lovely as the song itself.” The music video for “Sunroof” almost instantaneously shot to the top of iTunes’ all genre chart and was viewed over 6 million times in its first week alone, leading to the video being nominated for the CMT Awards Best Family Feature of 2021. Gay Times calls Eden the “queer country superstar we need and deserve,” as Eden actively strives to celebrate all forms of love within the Country genre. The highly anticipated conclusion to her trilogy, “Got No Choice,” premiered on CMT’s Hot 20 in North America and was featured on the Viacom billboard in Times Square, prompting them. to state, “Eden has literally and metaphorically come into full control of her life in the county music scene,” and MTV News to declare, “Her bliss bleeds into every resonant, twangy note she sings. It’s Infectious.” For more information, visit Brooke Eden’s website at www.brookeeden.com, or follow her on any social platform, @brookeedenmusic.
Catfight
Chicks that Rock!
Catfight covers pop and rock hits from the ’80s to today’s top 40. This all-female group keeps proving time and time again that girls just wanna have fun.
This all-girl band has been called “the darlings” of the Chicago cover band scene. From covering top artists of today including Brittany Spears, Icona Pop and One Republic, to playing classic favorites by Prince and Queen, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Catfight’s pure fun, party show.
From their humble beginnings to a host of high-profile events in Las Vegas, NV, and beyond….this litter of kittens has been playing their hearts out for over a decade!!! Join, LoriCat, MollyPop, Julie Pants, Little Lisa, Kimikat, and BabyCat as they tear their claws into every rip-roaring event this summer! Get ready to, 1, 2, 3 SOCIAL!
CeCe Peniston
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.
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus is an inclusive, community-based performing arts organization that creates musical experiences to entertain and enlighten, inspire change, and build community. Through colorful performances that blend traditional choral music with musical theater, jazz and pop, and a gay aesthetic, they seek to delight their audiences, enrich their members and explore issues relevant to LGBT people and their allies—enlivening Chicago’s cultural landscape and creating a better community for all.
The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) has been an integral part of Chicago’s cultural and gay communities since 1983. For the last three decades, they have entertained audiences across the continent with innovative musical programming, exploring everything from love to politics to the sometimes fabulous, sometimes challenging world of being gay-often all at the same time. Their always-memorable performances have included original musical revues; five popular productions celebrating the Sidetrack show tune experience; full-length book musicals including The Wizard of Oz, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore and our original work – Ten Commandments – The Musical; traditional choral concerts and intimate cabaret presentations-all punctuated with their signature joyous irreverence.
CGMC has traveled extensively across North America, representing Chicago in cities including Montreal, New York, Denver, Miami, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. They have also brought entertainment back home, hosting choruses from across the United States and Europe to sing with the chorus here in Chicago.
Most recently, CGMC proudly sang “America the Beautiful” for the Illinois Marriage Equality Act bill-signing ceremony and was the featured guest choral performer for the star-studded concert, Broadway Rocks, with the Grant Park Music Festival in 2011. Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001 and currently has four cd-recordings available: Cool Yule, featuring jazzy holiday selections; I Will Be Loved Tonight, a collection of their favorite love (and not-so-in-love) songs; Favorite Things, their second celebration of holiday music; and So Happy Together: Festival Gems, featuring all live performances from their appearances at the last three quadrennial GALA Festivals. CGMC has performed the National Anthem multiple times at world-famous Wrigley Field and for the WNBA Chicago Sky.
We Entertain.
CGMC delivers a unique entertainment experience found nowhere else in the city. We produce professional-quality shows that combine the best elements of musical theater, cabaret and traditional choral performance. But only CGMC can add that special “twist of gaiety” that can make each show fun, moving and memorable.
We Inspire.
Whether we’re representing the community while singing the national anthem at Wrigley Field or we’re providing rarely-seen GLBT-friendly entertainment in smaller cities downstate, CGMC serves as ambassadors and provides a positive image to countless thousands every year.
We Motivate.
Sometimes the message to take action can be delivered more effectively through song than through speech. That’s why CGMC has been heard regularly in the dome of the state Capitol (supporting GLBT rights and domestic partner benefits) and at major fundraising events throughout the city (often supporting AIDS-related organizations).
We Comfort.
CGMC is not only an integral part of the community, but we are a family. When asked to help, CGMC heeds the call. We’ve sung at at the Auditorium Theater honoring the victims of Sept. 11. We sing at smaller memorial services honoring local community leaders… and sometime our own members. We’re humbled to realize that CGMC’s presence can bring comfort and healing to those around us.
Chicago Spirit Brigade
The Chicago Spirit Brigade is a community-based fundraising organization whose purpose is to raise money and awareness for non-profit groups that provide direct care services to individuals with life-threatening challenges.
Chicago Spirit Brigade is a 501c3 non-profit organization and was formed in January of 2003 to raise money and awareness for other non-profits providing direct care services to people with life-threatening challenges.
Each time Chicago Spirit Brigade performs at an event, we take along our “spirit buckets” to accept the generous donations of spectators who have been moved by our thrilling performance and inspired by our mission. 125% of the monies raised go directly to the pre-selected beneficiary for that event.
Congress of Starlings
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.
Crystal Waters
Multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, pioneer, Dance Music Legend Crystal Waters was named by Billboard Magazine as one of the most successful Dance Music Artist in the history of the Billboard Dance Music Chart. In 2019 Ms Waters was featured in “Unsung” a TV documentary about the singers life . In 2022 Crystal received “Howard University’s Prestigious “Distinguished Post Graduate Achievement Award” and is also listed in the “Book of Who’s Who in Black America”.
Ms. Waters currently host her “I AM HOUSE Radio Show” on iTunes with over 7 million monthly listeners. Crystal’s radio show can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 141 Saturday and Sunday nights 8pm EST.
As a House Music Icon with over 2.5 million monthly listeners and 100,000 followers on Spotify, Crystal continues to consistently tour and engage her enormous fan base. She boasts 12 #1 Billboard Dance Chart hits and 11 top ten songs. Her music has been sampled and covered by the likes of T.I. , Mary Mary, Pit Bull, Alicia Keys, G-Easy and many more.
Crystal is best known for her songs; the groundbreaking 1991 single “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”, it was one of the first House songs to crossover into pop radio, her 1994 single “100% Pure Love” spent a record breaking 48 weeks on the Billboard Pop chart , in 2021 it re-entered the Billboard Electronic Dance Top 10 chart and in 2007 her #1 European hit “Destination Calabria” with Alex Gaudino, it went to number 1 on Pop Charts in over 40 countries.
Her accolades include 6 ASCAP Songwriter Awards, three American Music Award nominations, a MTV Video Music Award nod and four Billboard Music Awards. Always prolific, her latest release “Party People” with DJ Spen and remix by Michael Grey is a massive success garnering major support from the likes of BBC Radio One, Nexus Radio, Pete Tong, Carl Cox, Low-Steppa and more.
Dancing Queen/ABBA Salute
Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute is the ultimate tribute to the music of ABBA – sure to capture the hearts of fans and audiences of all ages! This live show is full of musical prowess, fabulous flair and fashion, and promises a mesmerizing ABBA experience for every Chiquitita, Super Trouper, Fernando, and Dancing Queen around!
Fronted by a dynamic Agnetha and Frida duo, the music of the greatest pop band in history comes to life in a joyful celebration of these timeless tunes. Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute is the Midwest’s longtime one-and-only resident ABBA tribute, with a repertoire of over 40 all-time favorite hits. From Waterloo to Mamma Mia, SOS to Knowing Me Knowing You, Honey Honey to Voulez-Vous, audiences won’t be able to help singing and dancing along with this high-energy homage to everything ABBA!
Danny Verde
Danny Verde is one of the most sought after DJs and remixers on the international and U.S. scene. He is a master in all aspects of music: including house, dance-pop productions, DJ, song writing, keyboardist and vocal arrangements.
He has remixed some of the biggest pop stars of our time: Avicii, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Selena Gomez & Scissor Sisters just to name a few and he had no less then fourteen number 1 Billboard Dance Chart hits.
He has headlined Xlsior Festival Mykonos, We Party Madrid, Sydney Mardi Gras, Masterbeat Los Angeles, Purple Party Dallas, White Party Palm Springs, Miami WInter Festival, Europride Rome sharing the stage with Lady Gaga, San Diego Pride, Magnitude San Francisco, Muccassassina Rome, Songkran Bangkok, Mexico City Pride, Montreal’s Black & Blue, The Week Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
Danny was part of the DJ line-up of the biggest pride in the world in New York in June 2019, where hundreds of thousands of people joined the events and celebrated the 50th anniversary of Stonewall uprising. His remix of the iconic song “Time After Time” (produced along with Steven Redant , as part of Bent Collective duo) has been chosen by legendary Cyndi Lauper herself for her perfomance at NYC World Pride stage.
He was recently hired to remix Cher’s latest single “Gimme Gimme Gimme (a man after midnight) off her ABBA cover album “Dancing Queen”, soundtrack of “Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again”, the sequel of the musical “Mamma Mia”; Danny remix is included in Cher’s E.P. “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)”.
Although Danny is often associated with his pop house productions, his sets might space from uplifting progressive house sound to hi energy tech-house, which will take you to a full-on unconventional musical trip!
Deanne
After nearly two decades of pleasing enthusiastic clubbers, Deanne is more passionate than ever about bringing the party to life and her music to the masses. Her continual evolution of sound provides infectious rhythms to intimate, sexy spaces or big, booming rooms and expansive stages through her signature combinations of big beats, strong synths, dramatic arrangements, and a soulful sprinkling of vocals. Tribal, Tech, House, and Progressive House beats and rhythms are combined to take her listeners on a unique journey that is marked with emotion, sensuality, undeniable energy, and a palpable “dance floor drama”.
Hailing from Indianapolis, her style and sound set her apart and took her to the top where she commanded the Indy scene for over 10 years. Long-running residencies on internet stations like EnergyRadio.FM, FusionChicago, PartyRadioUSA, WeDanceAs1, GayInternetRadioLive (G.I.R.L.) and FGRadioUSA created a global audience. Looking to expand her audience stateside and catapult her career, Deanne relocated to South Florida in late 2013. Since then, Deanne has secured headlining appearances with WE Party, One Magical Weekend, Winter Party Festival, Peach Party, Miami Beach Pride, Gay Days, White Party Week Miami, IML (Chicago), Distrkt C, Reload (LA), Purple Party, Dallas Pride, Circuit Saturday (Denver), Gus Presents, and Joining Hearts (Atlanta), to name a few. Deanne also has regular appearances at legendary clubs, Crown & Anchor, The EndUp, Hydrate, Manhole, Jungle, Xion, Heretic, The Cuff, Pavilion, Score, Heart, The Manor, Rich’s Houston, and more.
As a Producer and # 1 Billboard Remixer, Deanne is also making music to move the masses. With recent releases on record labels like Queen House Music, Pump Records, Hammer Music, Big Mouth Music, Gonna Be Records, and more, Billboard Dance Chart-topping remixes and support from colleagues and tastemakers, Deanne’s unique sound is pumping through venues and parties all over the world. Having played alongside Paulo, Isaac Escalante, Alex Acosta, Twisted Dee, DJ Grind, Cindel, Marco Da Silva, Brett Henrichsen, and DJ Aron, to name a few, Deanne is a force to be reckoned with and a bright shining star.
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson burst onto the music scene at 16 and instantly became the youngest artist in history to write, produce and perform a number one hit, “Foolish Beat.” She is still the youngest female and has held the world record for over three decades. Gibson has sold more than 16 million albums and has starred in 17 musicals in 17 years, from Broadway’s Les Miserables to the West End’s Grease. In 2019, Gibson launched her SiriusXM radio show, “Debbie Gibson’s Mixtape,” on The Blend and joined NKOTB on The Mixtape Arena Tour. Later that year, she also served as a celebrity judge on Nickelodeon’s “America’s Most Musical Family.” In 2020, her single “Girls Night Out” soared to No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard and U.K. MusicWeek charts. Her guest starring role in the musical episode of “Lucifer” debuted May 28, 2021, on Netflix.
This summer, Gibson filmed “The Class” with Anthony Michael Hall and Charlie Gillespie. Gibson’s new duet of “Lost in Your Eyes” featuring Joey McIntyre, was released June 4, her new single “One Step Closer” was released July 16, and her first pop album in 20 years, The Body Remembers, was released August 20 on her own label Stargirl Records. She brings “Debbie Gibson & Joey McIntyre Live from Las Vegas” to The Sands Showroom inside The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas for a limited engagement in August and September. From No. 1 hits and platinum albums to starring roles on stage and screen, Debbie Gibson is a true entertainer with timeless talent and charisma.
DJ Alex Acosta
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.
DJ Bryan
DJ Bryan honed his video and music mixing skills at a young age making mix CDs for friends, working at a video store as a teenager and studying video production in college. He started VJing at Northalsted bars like SPIN & Roscoe’s, and now works exclusively in the booth at Sidetrack The Video Bar. Bryan also is please to VJ the annual Equality Illinois Gala and to DJ private and corporate events. He has had the great pleasure of working in the booth with many pop stars like Erasure’s Andy Bell, Cazwell, Leona Lewis, JoJo, Kid Sister, Kim Petras and more.
DJ Bryan is pleased to return to the Pride Fest DJ Stage to play a mix of pop favorites and current hits with entertainment from Sidetrack Divas Zamora Love & Sapphire Feliciano. Check him out spinning the dance floor at Sidetrack, VJing Sidetrack’s All Things Diva Wednesday nights as well as rotating as one of Sidetrack’s Show Tunes VJs on Fridays, Sundays & Mondays.
DJ Ca$h Era
A lover of community, connection, and all things Chicago, CaSera Heining, best known as DJ Ca$h Era, continues to shake the room as a multifaceted, internationally recognized, performer. CaSera discovered her love for the craft in 2013 while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Radio Broadcasting and Video Production from Columbia College Chicago. Initially focused on becoming an on-air radio host, CaSera decided to invest in combining her love for radio and creating spaces filled with memories, love, and organic vibes from music coming through her speaker. CaSera is a producer at 720AM WGN Radio and a highly sought-after DJ in Chicago and beyond.
With over 7 years of professional experience, DJ Ca$h Era’s open-format and masterful mixing style has captivated crowds at a large variety of spaces such as nightclubs, bars, music festivals, private events, corporate galas, weddings, and much more. In addition, she has continued to curate and host her own sold-out parties such as, Mission: Kiss a Boo.
DJ Ca$h Era is the official DJ for the Coulee Sisters and current preferred and resident DJ for Chicago’s hottest venues like Hydrate, Scarlet Bar, The Promontory, Soho House, and more. DJ Ca$h Era has worked with notable brands including Nike, BET, Adidas, Beats by Dre, AT&T, and Jugrnaut. She has held stages at notorious music festivals including Lollapalooza, My House Music Festival, Pitchfork, Burning Man Music Festival, and more. She has also opened for well-known artists including G Herbo, Taylor Bennett, Jamila Woods, Ghostface Killah, and more. From Chicago to ATL and all the way to London, DJ Ca$h Era has brought energy, elevation, and true Chicago culture to every space, city, and event she performs at. Let her be your tour guide on your next musical adventure.
DJ Cindel
DJ Cindel grew up around Chicago where his endless exposure to house music led to his love, and eventual practice, of producing it. Having done so since the age of 15, he has especially honed his skills creating drum mixes and tribal-house vocals, earning him the title “The King of Drums”. Major influences such as Danny Tenaglia, Chus and Ceballos and Ralphi Rosario, along with his Puerto Rican roots, have helped mold his high-energy style into a successful career.
His big break came from a gig at Chicago’s Skybar, which led to a residency at Spin in Boystown where he held his own night called Sound Factory in the year 2006. Cindel later earned a residency at Club Ibiza in North Carolina opening for Hector Fonseca, as well as Palace on Ocean Drive in South Beach. He spent some time living in Miami playing other clubs such as Twist, Mekka, Euphoria, Therapy, white party, winter party, and getting an official yearly residency at Score nightclub.
Cindel made great strides by being named the WINNER of Matinee Las Vegas in 2013 and debuting at Circuit Barcelona Festival where he headlined the Beyond party in 2013. Other noted credits include working alongside two-time Grammy nominee Tony Moran as a part of Chicago’s Freedom Revolution at The Castle. He is the first DJ to play 2 consecutive years at Puerto Rico’s Choreographers Ball and was a headliner at Fly in Toronto for their Memorial Day Weekend Military Ball.
After a great year working hard on his craft and making a name for himself, Cindel was nominated and voted Best Circuit DJ at the Odyssey NYC nightlife awards, booked world Pride Toronto for two consecutive years playing the amazing TreeHouse party alongside world-renowned DJ’s Isaac Escalante & Alain Jackinsky and also headlined the official rooftop party at NYC pride. Cindel also made his big debut at one of the most popular and famous circuit events of today’s scene, XLSIOR Mykonos Greece.
Now back in Chicago, DJ Cindel continues to land bookings all over the US as well as internationally, holding 7 residencies in LA, Chicago, SF, Atlanta, Boston, Vancouver & Toronto. Cindel is very known for his deep tribal after-hours sounds mixed with lots of drums. No matter what the event or venue, he commits to giving you a set full of fantastic beats and quality sound.
DJ Diox
Diox is a 20-year young in-demand touring DJ from the suburbs of Chicago. It didn’t take much for Diox to fall in love with mixing, as music has always been a part of his life. Nevertheless, he always puts forth a unique & unpredictable blend of house, dutch, electro, & trance. His biggest Influences include Kaskade, Afrojack, Calvin Harris, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Sidney Samson, Chuckie, Dada Life, & Tiesto. Currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he definitely knows how to blend sounds of the college life with that of the club life. Not only that, he has been attending and following festivals since 2009, from Lollapalooza, to Ultra Music Festival to Electric Daisy Carnival to Sensation White. College Sound + Club Sound + Festival Sound = DIOX. Don’t miss any opportunity to see him.
DJ Laura B
bio from hydratechicago.com
Packed dance floors and long lines prevail at clubs when Laura B is spinning. Her ability for any music genre has had the crowds moving in the clubs since 1982 in Chicago. Open format remains her specialty, but make no mistake: she has held residencies with specific genres including house, hip hop, and top 40. This talent kept Laura B a buzz and moved the “Bee” into Queen Bee status. Her experience has kept her working hard hailing over 13 years of residency at Excalibur/Vision Chicago’s largest Nightclub and over 16 years residency Hydrate Nightclub Chicago’s premier gay club where she still reigns. Other residencies also included Manhole, Hunters, and Club Escape, all in Chicago. Most recently she can be found regularly at Lark, Joy District, and STK.
Chicago radio waves have broadcasted several “live from the club” mix shows with Laura B. Q101 aired her show Alternative Beats for several years where she spun trance, techno, and house live from the club Aura every Thursday night. She also played for Energy 97’s Friday night dance parties. Prerecorded mix sets were heard on B96 and several Internet radio shows spanning decades.
For over 20 years she’s provided her skills for Runway Fashion Shows in Chicago including pre-production planning, music selection, and sound engineer for each fashion event. Fashion shows were held in several different locations including the Drake Hotel, Germania Place, and White Star Nightclub.
During Chicago’s festival season Laura provided and continues to provide her DJ skills on many stages in Chicago. Windy City Rib Fest, Andersonville Midsummer Street Festival, Pride Fest Chicago, and Northalsted Market Days.
Laura B continues to thrive using her musical expertise and shows no sign of slowing any time soon. This Queen Bee is sticking around for good!
DJ Martin
Originally from Los Angeles, Martin has had a love for DJing since the early 2000’s collecting many CD’s, Vinyl records and MP3’s along the way. Martin made the move to Chicago in 2013 he has been working service at Hydrate night club since 2014 and as a DJ at Replay Lakeview since 2018. Throughout that time Martin has been able to share his open-format DJ style to many different venues and events in Chicago becoming a resident at local bars; Replay Beer & Bourbon, Barcocina, Progress Bar, Splash, and Atmosphere Bar. His gift of being able to blend old school classics with top records of today and every genre/era in-between has afforded him the opportunity to perform at some of Chicago’s most popular events, including Pride Fest 2021, which he is “crazy amped” to play for. See you there.
DJ Nina Flowers
Jorge Flores, aka NINA FLOWERS, was born in the city of Bayamon Puerto Rico in 1974.He began his career in music in 1989, where he became a resident Dj at one of the most prestigious clubs in the Caribbean, Krash Klub Kafe. As a DJ/Producer he brings an infectious understanding of how to bring music alive on the dance floor.As a recording artist he has collaborated with some of the most talented Dj’s/Producers/Remixers of this new Era in music. Today Nina Flowers holds Dj residencies in several cities in the US and, and he continues to captivate fans around the globe with his powerfully engaging connection to the audiences, and his progressive sound filled with tribal beats.“The lights, the music, the stage, and the crowd – putting it all together – magic in the making” – Nina Flowers
DJ Rae Chardonnay
Rae Chardonnay Taylor is a DJ and Arts Administrator with a background in events management and production. She began DJing in 2010 and has since held residencies at venues in Chicago including Underground Wonder Bar and The Promontory and has circulated many private and public events to share her musical styling techniques. She is the Founder of Black Eutopia, a series of segmented programming intended to cultivate space for marginalized communities. She is also a co-founder of Party Noire. Rae utilizes her passion for activism to create community outreach and development strategies through event coordination. Her involvement in programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Stony Island Arts Bank, School of the Art Institute and various arts organizations have catapulted her career in unimaginable ways. She is dedicated to encouraging a life of open-minded learning and expression.
MUSICAL EXPLORATIONS INCLUDE HOUSE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SOUL, FUNK, DISCO & HIP HOP FROM THE NEW AND OLD SCHOOL. RECENTLY NOTED AS CHICAGO’S BEST DJ BY THE CHICAGO READER, SHE IS DEDICATED TO MAKING BACKS SWEAT ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
Rae Chardonnay Taylor is graduate of Columbia College Chicago, holding a B.A. in Arts Management.
DJ Vlad
Now, as a practicing commercial litigation attorney, Vlad has been the open-format Resident DJ at D.S. Tequila on Saturday nights since 2016, when he helped start #DSLate. Vlad is also a monthly resident at Electric Hotel, ROCBAR, and Uproar in River North. DJ Vlad has performed at venues all over the city, including Scarlet, ProgressBar, Splash, LIQRBOX, The River Kitchen and Bar, Old Crow Wrigleyville, Clutch Bar, Happy’s Bamboo Bar & Lounge, Maxbar, Play Chicago Kitchen & Cocktails, HVAC Pub, Tavern on Rush, Whiskey Sky (W Chicago Rooftop), Bar Umbriago, Newport Bar and Grill, and many others.
By fifteen, Vlad’s DJ business had grown, and he founded his first mobile DJ company, employing a staff of DJs, dancers, event coordinators, and audio/visual technicians. Vlad trained several young, aspiring DJs and held mixing and dancing workshops for entertainers and emcees. Before graduating from high school, Vlad’s company was performing at over 50 shows per year, from corporate events, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, to high school dances, fundraisers, and local social events. In addition, DJ Vlad was booked at 17+ and 18+ club events, including several performances at the Warehouse nightclub and pop-up events such as Raver’s Fantasy, Club 500, and Existence.
In college, as tailgate chair of his fraternity, Vlad revolutionized the tailgate scene at Indiana University by putting on a complete performance on the grassy tailgate fields across from the stadium, with a generator, speakers, lights, and a live DJ. Soon, all of the other fraternities began putting on performances of their own. Shortly thereafter, Vlad landed his first residency as the Friday night headliner at Brothers Bar & Grill.
DJ X-tasy
bio from mixcloud.com
Born in Mexico City, but raised in the northwest side of Chicago IL. Julio Gomez, also known as D.j. X-tasy, had a passion for music since the age of eight. His ability to mix different genres and decades of music has made him one of Chicago’s most talented and favorite DJs!
Today, D.j. X-tasy holds residencies all over the city and suburbs. Make sure to follow him on all social media to stay up to date with his latest appearances.
Known for his unique and diverse talent, Julio Gomez (DJ X-Tasy) has been in the LGBTQ community for over ten years.
DJ X-Tasy debuted in the LGBT+ community since 2009 with one of the longest long running 18+ nights, “Wild Thursdays.”
His unique way and ability of mixing different genres has given him the ability to rock any crowd no matter the race or age, and has made him one of the best in Boystown!
With his ability to mix different eras and genres of music, he can pretty much rock any club or venue he gets to perform.
DJ ZEL
Ethan Cole
Originally from Southern California, Ethan has always had a passion for music. His journey began spinning house tracks with vintage vinyl records on an old Technics system in a Southern California dive bar. As his love and passion for house music began to evolve, he started producing his own original tracks and official remixes. Major influences such as Nina Flowers, Ralphi Rosario, Bodhi Calagna, and Honey Dijon have helped mold his dynamic style. Now residing in Lakeview Chicago, his mixing of a wide and diverse range of house music gives him the ability to rock different crowds all over the city.
Most recently Ethan has created a new weekly house music night at Hydrate Nightclub called House Collective. This is a permanent residency every Sunday night. He is also a resident with Organized Grime. He continues to land bookings such as Chicago Pride, Chicago Pridefest, Market Days Chicago, IML Chicago, Milwaukee Pride, various Tea Dances, and private after-hours events. His ability to mix upbeat progressive house to deep house and tech house has given him the ability to play different venues all over the city.
Greyson Chance
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.”
Hello Weekend
Hello Weekend is a nonstop, hit after hit, party band. They not only bring high-energy sound with Christina’s heart stopping vocals, but they bring a captivating stage presence and an overall transfixing performance, the likes of which, you won’t soon forget!
Hello Weekend strives to keep you dancing with a wide ranging set list that covers everything from Gaga to Guns N’ Roses, Bruno Mars to The Beach Boys and performs countless festivals, weddings, private and corporate functions each year. When working with clients our number one goal is to truly provide an unforgettable Hello Weekend experience!
Hello Weekend delivers the goods and will have you wanting more! This group not only allures with their infectious stage performance, but will wow you with their raw musical talent. You’re sure to have an amazing time that will leave you shouting “Hello Weekend!”
Inaya Day
bio from swishcraftmusic.com
Whether it’s Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, or House music, she’s in there. You’ve heard her voice on Mousse T’s “HORNY”, on “NASTY GIRL”, and “KEEP PUSHIN”, but we must go on to mention a few others like, “I AM THA 1”, “STAND BY ME”, “GLAMOROUS LIFE”, “SHOUT IT OUT”, “MOVIN UP”, “BREAKAWAY”, & “NATURAL HIGH”. She’s had numerous UK, Aria, and Billboard top tens, (including 6 Billboard #1 dance-charters), and is still going strong!
Who is she? She’s Inaya Day!
Besides writing for herself, Inaya has written for Bootsie Collins, Randy Crawford, and Missy Elliot, to name just a few. In addition to house music, Inaya writes, records and performs gospel, musical theater, jazz, hip-hop (Queen Latifa, MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, Sean Puffy Combs, Big Daddy Cane, etc), and R&B. Seeking to gain more control over the fate of her music, Inaya started her own record label, Ny-O-Dae Music, from which she’s released the titles, “HIGHER PLACE”, “CHASE ME”, “THAT NIGHT”, “ONE WAY” (which graced the ARIA chart in 2011 and 2012), the reggae-flavored, “JUMP UP & DOWN”, and “LOOKING FORWARD”.
Inaya also had a moment in film when she acted and sang as “Jiffy” in “WHO SHOT PAT?” with Sandra Bullock in 1989.
It’s no wonder that this card-carrying member of the Actor’s Equity Association, groomed in church and musical theater (THE WIZ, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, etc), would become one of the most prolific writers and frequently heard voices on the Universe’s dance floors.
Listen out for Inaya’s music, including her collaboration with Crystal Waters & Stonebridge, “LONG DAY”, her collaboration with Marc JB of Bimbo Jones, “EVERY BREATH” (w/mixes by Bimbo Jones, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Moran, GoldLock & Octagon) Billboard #6 “STRANDED” with Dirty Disco, and her 2016 Swishcraft Music release “DO WHAT WE DO” with Bit Error & Country Club Martini Crew, on a dance floor near you.
iPop
A variety band extraordinaire featuring seamlessly combined talent with music, versatility, energy, innovation and charisma. The moment iPop hits the stage, the playlist is set to shuffle and the music never stops. Delivering a DJ style approach to live music – offering something for everyone, from Top 40 to Motown, Classic Rock to Pop, Hip Hop, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s in an electrifying show.
iPop is more than just a great wedding band… They have a passion for top quality entertainment and provide whatever it takes to make your event a complete success. The members of iPop have entertained and delighted hundreds of thousands of people all over the US at corporate events, weddings, festivals and nightclubs. Their wealth of experience is undeniably evident in their performances and professionalism – both on and off the stage. With iPop on the stage, you can rest assured that your event will be one to remember!
Jacob Bjorge
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.
Jade the Ivy
Jazz, Funk, R&B, and classic Hip-Hop are at the core of Jade the Ivy’s unique sound. A gifted and inventive story teller, this independent rapper from the South Side of Chicago has been experimenting with sounds and clever word play since her youth, first using poetry as a means to express herself and share her story. Her lyrics run the gamut from triumph in love, to the agony of heartbreak, to taking the world by storm. She holds nothing back in her honesty on a track or her live performances. Her perspective on life is raw and real and there is no question that audiences can feel that energy every time she hits the stage. Jade released her first official EP “Euphoric Wasteland” in early 2017.
Since that release, Jade has been captivating crowds with her infectous grooves in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Backed by a live band, Jade’s flow sets her apart from other rappers, paying homage to hip-hop’s golden era while bringing a flavor all her own.
Jamila Woods
Tempering sharp and powerful lyrics with a sweetly melodic voice, Jamila Woods is a Chicago-bred singer/songwriter and award-winning poet whose inspirations include Gwendolyn Brooks and Toni Morrison. Following the 2016 release of her debut album HEAVN, Jamila received critical acclaim for her singular sound that is both rooted in soul and wholly modern. Her 2019 sophomore release LEGACY! LEGACY! featured 12-tracks named after writers, thinkers, and visual artists who have influenced her life and work. She is a Pushcart Prize-winning poet and co-editor of “BreakBeat Poets: Black Girl Magic” (2018). Her poetry was recently published in the Library of America anthology “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song” (2020). Jamila recently made her television debut, performing “SULA (Paperback)” on Colbert on Jan 6th, 2021.
Janky
From Boystown to the Downtown club scene, Janky has become a prominent staple within the queer music scene with residencies at Hydrate and Joy District for a bi-monthly drag brunch. He is a self-taught DJ whose musical tastes were influenced by his father. Janky has been DJing for the last seven years. Seamlessly weaving through tech house, techno, deep tech, and minimal with familiar sassy vocal samples has been a successful contribution to the North Halsted community, drawing packed dance floors. Janky has established himself as a respected part of the DJ community in the neighborhood and city of Chicago.
JC Brooks
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.
Jesus Montanez
Internationally Renowned DJ & Producer Jesus Montanez has been in the music industry for 12 years. From Chihuahua Mexico Jesus is considered one of the Top DJ`s in Mexico.
He currently spins in the best nightclubs and big parties in different countries including Australia, South Korea, China, Singapore, Brazil, USA, Chile, Malaysia, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and many more.
Jody Watley
Grammy winner and 3 time Grammy nominee Jody Watley; multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer/independent label owner and style icon is one of the architects of 21st-century Pop/R&B/Dance music.
From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1987’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim) to her vision-forward marriage of high fashion, street fashion, and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre, Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook.
To date as a solo artist, she’s had 6 Hot 100 Singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, 13 #1 Dance Singles, 2 #1 R&B Singles.
Listed as one of Billboard Magazine’s Top Female Artists and Top Dance Artists of All Time in 2018; Winner of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, Jody Watley’s entire career has been about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes and iconoclasts always ten steps ahead of the pack since her days as the original female lead and sound of the group Shalamar. The Chicago native’s eclectic repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word – is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk. The Jody Watley concert experience is an energetic hit packed music journey spanning decades.
Classic Hits Include: Looking For A New Love, Don’t You Want Me, Friends, Everything, Real Love and More.
Joe Pacheco
Known for his tribal and progressive house sound, as well as tech, disco house, deep house, trance and techno – Joe Pacheco brings this and more to Market Days. Pacheco, a DJ since 2015, has been a resident DJ for a New York-based party, M.E.A.T. He also is a regular in Atlanta, Miami and Columbus, Ohio.
Serving you that NYC Big Room Sound, Joe Pacheco will take you on a euphoric journey reminiscent of the Concrete Jungle he grew up in.
Having spun in major world capitals such as Mykonos, Amsterdam, London, Sydney, New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles for parties such as WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL, XLSIOR Mykonos, M.E.A.T., HIM PARTY, BEYOND, and GPS along with superstar DJs such as Nina Flowers, Alex Acosta, Tom Stephan, Rick Braile, Paulo Pacheco, Anne Louise, GSP, and Danny Verde, Pacheco continues to hone his craft with each experience he encounters.
Inspired also by an international sound, he delivers a sensual sound that spans the electronic dance music spectrum; with a mixture of addictive beats and powerful vocals, be prepared for your deep-seated carnal soul to emerge
KaJahn Ari
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.
Katie Kadan
Katie Kadan is a Chicago-based blues and soul singer/songwriter whose meteoric rise to “one-name” status was recently launched by making it to the top 4 finale and global crowd-favorite on NBC’s The Voice. Born, raised and living in Chicago, Kadan’s epic vocal prowess is a force of nature. Her blues-infused style of soul-bearing belting is Katie’s moniker on her original and familiar songs alike, with a constant presence of her roots in the church choirs. Kadan’s passion for song is equally matched by the power, range, control and musicality in her voice, where she can easily flip from R&B to gut-wrenching rock to songs of longing angst with her signature playful growl.
Katie has also been an advocate for confidence and body positivity. She’s opened up about her years of insecurities, as well as how she overcame them to become a confident performer. This has helped Katie connect to her legions of fans on a deeper level, and she admitted that she’s been flooded with messages on Twitter and Instagram by those who have been inspired by her story. “I feel I have done my job if people who have been inspired by my story start to talk about it more and do something about it,” Katie explained. “It can be scary to be vulnerable and to put yourself out there and talk about your insecurities and to work through that whole process and to have people reach out and say they feel braver because they watch my story. It makes them want to stick it out and makes them want to change things up. If it makes people want to say they like themselves more, that’s awesome. If I can make people feel better…that’s wonderful.”
Kristine W
Kristine Elizabeth Weitz, widely known by her stage name Kristine W, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and entrepreneur. She is most widely known as a dance music artist. Born and raised in Pasco, Washington, she found early success competing in pageants and talent contests, winning Miss Washington and a preliminary swimsuit award as well as a NFT award in the Miss America pageant. Kristine W is now one of the most popular dance club artists of all time, with 17 #1s to date on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. She is currently listed among Billboard’s 8 Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists, and she was ranked number three in Billboard’s Top Dance Artists of the Decade. She is especially popular in the gay community and is an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights, frequently performing at pride rallies and charity events for pro-LGBT organizations throughout the U.S.
After competing in Miss America, Kristine W moved to Las Vegas, where she regularly performed at the Las Vegas Hilton and won “Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year” for several years. Kristine W was recognized by the city of Las Vegas for her record-breaking number of shows, which lead to June 28 being officially designated as Kristine W Day by the state of Nevada. Those performances lead to her first record deal and subsequent debut single, “Feel What You Want”, marking the singer’s first of 17 #1s on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Kristine W is also tied for third place with Beyoncé for the most consecutive #1 hits with nine. In addition, her album The Power of Music is one of only three albums in the history of the chart to produce at least seven No. 1s from one album (Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream [2010] also had seven, and Rihanna’s Anti [2016] had eight).
Lisa Lisa
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!
Lynne Jordan & The Shivers
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.
Meghan Murphy
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.
Mel Senese
Mel Senese offers a highly inspired take on Alternative Pop-Rock. A queer artist of the Windy City, Mel has had the honor of not just performing throughout the midwest but competing in Chicago as well, earning her the title of “Big Break Champion” in 2017.
An absolute powerhouse, Mel channels the rock energy of female icons like P!nk, Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne but infuses it with her own alt-rock influences. She has focused on finding inspiration within life’s everyday struggles, offering her own interpretation of current themes like feminism, independence, justice and self-love. Mel tells listeners to craft their own happiness, but serves it up with catchy hooks, quirky rhythms and her signature power vocal. With lyrical storytelling that is both empowering and energized, Mel’s presence is something that will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
“I hope that my lyrics can connect with others who are going through similar experiences and be strong enough to know when it’s time to fight for your life and your happiness.”
Mila Jam
NYC pop recording artivist & transgender star, Mila Jam fills every room with talent, personality & undeniable style. A YouTube sensation turned Original Pop Artist, Mila is known around the world for her unforgettable stage performances & one of a kind music videos.
Mila has toured internationally with the Boradway musical Rent; performed alongside James Brown, Mark Ronson, Laverne Cox, Travis Wall, Jody Watley, Lady Keir (Deee-Lite) & Natasha Bedingfield. Appearances include BBC’s The Lilly Allen Show, MTV & MTV News, the GLAAD Media Awards with features on The Huffington Post, MTV.com, OUT.com, Shondaland.com & Perezhilton.com