A Chicagoland native, Darryl’s love for music developed in the early 1990s. At the age of 12, Darryl was already DJing his school’s events and also putting together music and beats for his dance group, House Arrest II in Raleigh, NC. In 2002, Darryl joined the ballroom scene, starting in the House of Prodigy, helped Create the house of Herrera moving foward to Mugler, to putting together a rock socking Midwest Chapter of The House of Comme des Garçons, ruling the runway, coast to coast.
randyll garcon
Today, Darryl is known as Icon Darryl Garçon, known internationally for his craft in music, including productions, beat creation, mixes, etc. Darryl also has his own mobile Dj services for Weddings, Corporate Events, Baby Showers, Home Events, etc…
Darryl Garçon can be heard playing throughout Chicagoland clubs such as Progress Bar, Jeffery Pub, Fantasy, Krave, Nocturne, and The Promotory.
Sasha Love electrifies Chicago’s drag scene with vibrant performances blending bold charisma and impeccable style. Known for her dynamic stage presence, Sasha captivates audiences with dazzling costumes, fierce lip-syncing, and empowering messages. A beacon of creativity and inclusivity, Sasha Love reigns as a beloved icon, spreading love and glitter wherever she goes.
Armed with vocal prowess and an explosive stage presence, Kaleena Zanders is one of the fastest emerging stars in music. Earning comparisons to ’90s House vocalists like CeCe Peniston and Robin S – and even Whitney Houston – Zanders existence brings the genre back to its queer, Black origins giving passage to those who are sometimes unseen. Her songs usually pack a punch with social messages and upbeat music.
In her short career, Zanders has collaborated with the likes Finneas, Keke Palmer, Pasek and Paul and headlining dance artists such as AC Slater, Loud Luxury, Breathe Carolina, MoonBoots, Morgan Page, SNBRN to name a few. Zanders has released tracks through the most notable dance labels, including Spinnin’ Records, Ultra Music, Armada Music, Anjunadeep, and DIM MAK. She has taken the mic at major festivals including Coachella, EDC and Snow Globe, and has been highlighted as the cover star for editorial playlists for both Spotify and TIDAL.
In the wake of 2022, Kaleena became committed and vocal about pushing BIPOC artists and queer artists to the forefront in dance music to reclaim the space as their own. For the future, Kaleena Zanders plans to continue to create a space of diversity for others like her and make music that uplifts the world.
Amber Riley is an American actress and singer best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee. For her performance on the series, she and the rest of the cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and have been nominated for three Teen Choice Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and a Grammy Award.
In 2016, Riley originated the lead role of Effie White in the West End debut of Dreamgirls. She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance in 2017 for her work.
Riley won season 17 of Dancing with the Stars in 2013 and recently participated on the American and British versions of The Masked Singer. In February 2023, she confirmed her debut album would be released later in the year.
Platinum Carrington lives in Chicago and has been apart of the scene since 2020. She is commonly found producing and hosting parties and drag shows all throughout the North Halstead strip. She is extremely passionate for the art of drag, makeup, and loves finding new creative ways to execute the visions she has for her drag. Platinum is known for bringing high energy on the mic and creating a story for the
Blazian Sensation Aya Ito is a native of Tokyo, Japan and a multi-genre vocalist and songwriter. Pulling influence from Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, H.E.R., Robert Glasper, Rihanna, and Jhene Aiko, Aya Ito has created her signature Pop/R&B/Soul fusion sound, while also incorporating her trilingual abilities (English, Spanish and Japanese).
Aya has toured the US and Japan wowing crowds with her spirited performances and dynamic sound. Aya’s most recent release, “Just Might” reflects Aya’s pop and R&B influences in her own way and successfully mixes both production styles with live instrumentation.
Virago is a Chicago-based artist known for delivering genre-bending arrangements that ignite dance floors. With an electrifying mix of house, techno, disco, and everything in between; Virago commands the floor, driving the crowd with powerful, boundary-pushing sounds that redefine the dance experience. Virago has played all over the city of Chicago. You can catch her at her weekly residency at Splash Chicago.
Head of the infamous Midwest party crew, Organized Grime (CUNTea™️, LOAD™️ + Grizzly among others), Ryan Willing is known for Dark&Dirty House and TechHouse vibes with a heavy Chicago influence. With DJ residencies in Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Nashville, and Chicago, Willing is taking the industry by storm and heating up dance-floors all across the nation and world.
Max Rae is an LA and Las Vegas based pop artist who is making a splash in the music industry. Max’s intoxicatingly unique voice, songwriting talent, and killer dance skills make her a powerhouse artist and performer. Max has been a dancer since she was 3 years old, which shows in her hip-hop dance performances where her fans state that this is what sets her apart from all the rest.
Her influences include Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Tori Kelly, and Bruno Mars to name a few. “The way these artists perform and interact with their fans has really shaped me as an artist and has helped me to be unique in my own way.”
Lorely Rodriguez, the singular mind behind Empress Of, is a songwriter and producer living Brooklyn, NY. In the early part of 2012, she began a personal songwriting exercise, writing, and recording a daily series of one-minute ideas. Completing each of these snippets in several hours apiece, she eventually amassed a catalog of about fifty. Selections from this series were eventually uploaded to YouTube anonymously, each paired with a blank color swatch. The fruits of this project, deemed a series of “colorminutes”, were released on cassette via the Japanese record label, Big Love, and effectively served as the launch of Empress Of.
empress of chicago pride fest
In the latter half of 2013, following domestic and international touring stints, her most ambitious recording to date, Realize You was self-released online to critical acclaim. Illustrating great progress in production and an even more broad swath of songwriting chops, incorporating witty lyricism and soaring melodies, this is just a hint of what remains in store for the future.
Miami based Producer/DJ Alex Lo has traveled the world bringing his sexy sounds to dance floors for the past 16 years. Leaving his hometown of Mexico City, he set out to showcase his signature style combining progressive house, tribal beats and circuit sounds to the masses and has captured the attention of club goers from Rio to Tel Aviv, Palm Springs to New York and everywhere in between. Alex credits iconic producers such as Peter Rauhofer’s contributions to the progressive house and tribal circuit, Offer Nissim’s energetic and emotional house music, and DJ Paulo’s tribal beats as his inspiration for shaping how he hears music, plays and programs his own sets and produces dance music he can call his own.
A few of the clubs and promoters Alex has worked with include The Week (Rio de Janeiro), Privilege (Ibiza), Legaga (Dubai), XLSIOR (Mykonos), Rapido and Warehouse (Amsterdam), Beyond (London),Papa Party (Tel Aviv), Jaleo (Madrid), Black Room (Barcelona), PAPA Party (Paris), Trumps (Lisbon), CircuitMOM (Chicago), Alegria (NYC), Masterbeat (LA), El Mozo (Bogota), WE Party (Madrid), Taurus Group (Santiago Chile).Alex has also participated in festivals such as Winter Party Festival and Urge Thanksgiving(Miami), White Party (Palm Spring), Circuit Festival (Barcelona), Supermartxe (Ibiza), Tel Aviv Pride, Zurich Pride, Feel Alive (Mexico’s Pride and NYE) and Arena Festival, (Playa del Carmen).
Alex dreams of one day producing dance music with Coldplay and Dua Lipa, but until then, he will keep bringing his unique style to packed dance floors and festivals around the world.
CircuitMOM, Chicago’s legendary drag performer, DJ, producer and community activist has been gracing the stages, bars and clubs of Chicago’s Boystown as well as international festivals and clubs for close to three decades. “Broadway meets the Circuit Party” is the best way to describe the experience an audience will have at a CircuitMOM event. Her brand proudly welcomes anyone and everyone to come join the party and celebrate the best in music, self-expression and authenticity while elevating the dance floor experience to next level of immersive entertainment.
CircuitMOM has headlined appearances in Vancouver, Prague, Miami, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Palm Spring, San Francisco and Hollywood to name a few along with network appearances for ABC and MTV. Gay and straight audiences alike embrace CircuitMOM’s unique combination of over-the-top productions and performances that fuse glamour, wit, and audacity. Their creativity is irrepressible and the keen eye for fostering talent has also become a hallmark of their productions. Up and coming artists, DJ’s, photographers, dancers, actors, musicians, costume designers and more have not only added their incomparable talents to countless event productions but have become family and continue to work as a collective force to bring audiences the very best in entertainment.
Their event production includes such major venues as the House of Blues Chicago, the Aragon Ballroom, the Uptown Theater Grand Lobby, Sidetrack Video Bar, Chicago’s Museum Of Contemporary Art, Venue610, ABC 7 Studios-Chicago, Windy City Live and countless other performance spaces locally and nationally where they have worked as artistic directors, actors, performance artists, production managers, television producers, podcast talent, DJs and so much more.
Miami based Producer/DJ Alex Lo has traveled the world bringing his sexy sounds to dance floors for the past 16 years. Leaving his hometown of Mexico City, he set out to showcase his signature style combining progressive house, tribal beats and circuit sounds to the masses and has captured the attention of club goers from Rio to Tel Aviv, Palm Springs to New York and everywhere in between. Alex credits iconic producers such as Peter Rauhofer’s contributions to the progressive house and tribal circuit, Offer Nissim’s energetic and emotional house music, and DJ Paulo’s tribal beats as his inspiration for shaping how he hears music, plays and programs his own sets and produces dance music he can call his own.
A few of the clubs and promoters Alex has worked with include The Week (Rio de Janeiro), Privilege (Ibiza), Legaga (Dubai), XLSIOR (Mykonos), Rapido and Warehouse (Amsterdam), Beyond (London),Papa Party (Tel Aviv), Jaleo (Madrid), Black Room (Barcelona), PAPA Party (Paris), Trumps (Lisbon), CircuitMOM (Chicago), Alegria (NYC), Masterbeat (LA), El Mozo (Bogota), WE Party (Madrid), Taurus Group (Santiago Chile).Alex has also participated in festivals such as Winter Party Festival and Urge Thanksgiving(Miami), White Party (Palm Spring), Circuit Festival (Barcelona), Supermartxe (Ibiza), Tel Aviv Pride, Zurich Pride, Feel Alive (Mexico’s Pride and NYE) and Arena Festival, (Playa del Carmen).
Alex dreams of one day producing dance music with Coldplay and Dua Lipa, but until then, he will keep bringing his unique style to packed dance floors and festivals around the world.
Alex Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released in October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, peaking at number 30. Following an EP issued during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she released her third record, The Answer Is Always Yes, in May 2023.
Natasha Bedingfield is an English–New Zealand singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed international success with more than 2.3 million copies sold worldwide. Bedingfield received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the title track Unwritten, and at the 2005 and 2006 Brit Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Artist. Unwritten also produced her only UK number one, These Words.Bedingfield has sold over 10 million albums and 10 million singles worldwide, totaling over 20 million records worldwide.
JoJo Siwa a singer, dancer, actress and internet personality. From 2015 to 2016, she appeared as a dancer on two seasons of the reality television show Dance Moms alongside her mother, Jessalynn Siwa. In 2017, Siwa signed to Nickelodeon and acted in various shows and films. Under Nickelodeon, she released several children’s songs and her own feature film, The J Team. She was included on Time‘s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. In 2024, she launched her adult music career with the single “Karma” and its music video.
Sapphira Cristál is a classically trained opera singer, composer, and drag queen known for her theatrical lip sync style and six-octave vocal range. She holds 14 pageant crowns — including Miss’d America 2020/2021 —and has performed nationwide. Sapphira was a contestant onseason 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and is renowned as a charismatic host who commands the room and establishes a special, intimate connection with her audience.
John Duff is a singer, songwriter, actor, director, dancer, choreographer, and social media influencer. Duff came to prominence on social media and rose to greater prominence following the release of several viral hit singles, including Girly, Rich, and Hokie Pokie. In 2023, Duff released four independent singles: Cruise Control, House on Fire, Somebody’s Daughter, and Gravity.
The alter ego of non-binary comic/actor Caldwell Tidicue, Bob The Drag Queen describes herself as “hilarious, beautiful, talented and…humble.” Bob’s unabashed confidence won her the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” on season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as multiple acting roles for HBO, Netflix, Sony Tristar, MTV, and VH1. The third season of Bob’s Emmy Award nominate HBO Max series We’re Here was released in 2022. Bob is also an accomplished stand up comedian with two solo specials under his belt and a starring role in the recent Netflix comedy concert film Stand Out executive produced by Wanda Sykes. Sibling Rivalry – Bob’s podcast with his comedy partner Monet X Change – is now on its sixth season.
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, we 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. Our 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 our signature joyous irreverence.
CGMC
CGMC has traveled extensively across North America, representing Chicago in cities including Montreal, New York, Denver, Miami, Los Angeles and New Orleans. We have also brought entertainment back home, hosting choruses from across the United States and Europe to sing with us here in Chicago.
DSC 1184 Chicago Photographer G Thomas Ward
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 our favorite love (and not-so-in-love) songs; Favorite Things, our second celebration of holiday music; and So Happy Together: Festival Gems, featuring all live performances from our 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.
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!
Conceived in 2018, The Weekend Run Club remains a band of musical and narrative evolution. Driven by dancey introspection rather than genre alone, The Weekend Run Club teases out technical elements from rock, alternative, indie, punk, and power-pop.They just released their sophomore LP ‘Liminal Space Race’ via Say-10 Records.
Weekend Run Club 2024 Market Days
“Coming of age is an animal experience that humans share on a global scale. ‘Liminal Space Race’ addresses the nebulous, yet frenetic paradigm shifts of growing up. At the end of the tunnel of adolescence and early adulthood is an unavoidable, rueful acceptance: a fleeting truth which spares no one, especially the queer people of yesterday, today, and tomorrow: We never really stop coming out.”
Chicago-based disco/funk tribute band, The Disco Circus, creates a NEXT LEVEL nostalgic experience by combining the energy and excitement of a 3-ring circus with the grooviest music from the 1970’s!
The Disco Circus features three dedicated lead vocalists, two female and one male, who act as the ringleaders for the funky festivities. Behind them…the tightest and grooviest band in all the land, featuring drums, bass, guitar, percussion and horns! And while the core of the band is made up of the members of legendary Chicago band, Libido Funk Circus…the additional players, a brand new stage show, and their funk-tastic outfits help to create an over-the-top experience all its own!
If you’re longing for the days of platform shoes, bell bottoms, sparkles galore and music that gets your booty movin’…then put on some polyester and your boogie shoes and let The Disco Circus take you directly to Funkytown!
It’s UltraBeat’s mission to ensure the audience has the time of their lives the UltraBeat way! The wildly entertaining group applies a unique approach where they deliver high-energy dance remix multi-song medleys to ensure there is a continuous flow of music on stage.
Ultrabeat
UltraBeat purposely infuse every performance with the best selections of power pop dance songs from the biggest artists of today such as The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Rihanna, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Usher, Kesha, and many more like them.
For the first time, you will hear all the hits of Queen and Lady Gaga in this Vegas-style production show, complete with eye-popping costuming, dazzling choreography, and unmatched showmanship. Prepare to be wowed as the vision and spirit of these performers emanates from the stage, delivering the “Concert That Never Was”!
From the creative minds of/at Magnificent Events and Entertainment, Radio Gaga is the first production of its kind! Audiences experience outstanding vocals, precise choreography, exciting participation opportunities, and to top it all off, viewers of all ages are welcome! You can find Radio Gaga touring all over the Chicago-land and Midwest area, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for exciting behind the scene shots, upcoming shows, and much more!
With her world famous greeting “Hello Pineapples!” and loving heart bigger than her hair, it’s impossible to imagine Chicago without Miss Foozie. She is a Character Artist, hostess, entertainer, producer, animal lover and a famed personality and household name in the city’s LGBT plus community and beyond for over 27 years, she’s won several awards, including nods from several publications. Miss Foozie is about fun and loves to involve the audience and hear them laugh. No matter if she’s performing onstage, socializing with bar patrons or prancing joyfully throughout the neighborhood, she spreads happiness and love to everyone who crosses her path. She has big plans for expansion and is embarking on a journey to win more hearts across the country.
Miss Toto lives in Chicago but started drag in Miami. She is a shark tagging, bodybuilding, international DJ/drag sensation. Outside of being a drag queen, she has taken her passion for philanthropy to raise over $50,000 for the Black Lives Matter movement. More recently she created and lead the first annual Drag-N-Tag shark tagging fundraiser with Field School for Pridelines.
Miss Toto’s other pursuits are the #SEEETOTODIE series, Choke Hole XXXTreme Drag Wrestling, producing events, as well as designing a fashion collaboration. It just takes one second until you’ll be saying “#IMINLOVEWITHMISSTOTO”!
Originally from Southern California, Ethan has always had a passion for music. His journey began spinning house tracks with vintage vinyl records on an old Technics system in a Southern California dive bar. As his love and passion for house music began to evolve, he started producing his own original tracks and official remixes. Major influences such as Nina Flowers, Ralphi Rosario, Bodhi Calagna, and Honey Dijon have helped mold his dynamic style. Now residing in Lakeview Chicago, his mixing of a wide and diverse range of house music gives him the ability to rock different crowds all over the city.
Most recently Ethan has created a new weekly house music night at Hydrate Nightclub called House Collective. This is a permanent residency every Sunday night. He is also a resident with Organized Grime. He continues to land bookings such as Chicago Pride, Chicago Pridefest, Market Days Chicago, IML Chicago, Milwaukee Pride, various Tea Dances, and private after-hours events. His ability to mix upbeat progressive house to deep house and tech house has given him the ability to play different venues all over the city.
A lover of community, connection, and all things Chicago, CaSera Heining, best known as DJ Ca$h Era, continues to shake the room as a multifaceted, internationally recognized, performer. With over 10 years of professional experience, DJ Ca$h Era’s open-format and masterful mixing style has captivated crowds at a large variety of spaces such as nightclubs, bars, music festivals, private events, corporate galas, weddings, and much more.
Winning the title of Chicago’s Best Hip-Hop DJ since 2021 by the Chicago Reader; DJ Ca$h Era is also one of the Official Atrium and Concourse DJs for the Chicago Bulls, member of the Jordan Brand’s Global Women’s Collective, and current preferred and resident DJ for Chicago’s hottest venues like Broken Shaker, Scarlet Bar, The Promontory, Soho House, and more. DJ Ca$h Era has worked with notable brands including Jordan, Nike, BET, Adidas, Beats by Dre, AT&T, Jugrnaut, and more.
Hypnotic and hyper-imaginative, Ariana and the Rose exists in a wildly dazzling world all its own. Since first emerging, the NYC-based artist has built up a rapturous following on the strength of her ultra-vivid synth-pop. Amassing over 12M streams and more than 75k followers on TikTok (where her videos have drawn over 15M views). She releasedher debut album Lonely Hearts Club in 2022, which People Mag called “an impressive dance LP packed with hummable hooks and empowering lyrics that her foremothers (like Robyn and Kylie Minogue) would be proud of.
Avi Sic’s unique style has quickly gained the attention and respect of the entertainment field’s
elite. By effortlessly blending various genres and exercising discerning selection, she possesses
the versatility to handle a diverse range of music. She has shared the stage with the biggest names in the industry including Calvin Harris, Diplo, Kaskade, Joel Corry, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Lil Wayne, Flo Rida, Lil Jon, Icona Pop, and many others.
She hosts her own weekly show called ‘Late Checkout’ which is broadcast on over 60 radio stations worldwide, garnering 3 million weekly listeners. The Chainsmokers, Nicky Romero, Blond:ISH, Quintino, Ship Wrek, Wenzday, Mike Williams, EDX, MOTi, and more have been guests on her show. Avi is also the official concourse DJ for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls andworks with other high profile brands such as Google, Nike, Red Bull, McDonald’s, AT&T, and ESPN. Her performances remain in demand and are truly authentic.
These chicks rock!” is the reaction you hear when The Gingers hit the stage! Their high-energy arsenal is filled with the greatest rock covers sprinkled with playful surprises. Their rough edge tackles traditionally testosterone-fueled tunes and is nicely bookended with plenty of layer-cake harmonies and melodic favorites that audiences know and love.
Each of The Gingers has a road-tested performance history around the Chicago festival & club music scene. Their genuine love for fun is contagious! “The Gingers Rock!” Visit their website to learn more about them.
Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press is a peak experience band from Chicago. With a focus on bone-crushing 3 part harmonies, laser-sharp musicianship, and a top tier light show, Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press is a live performance powerhouse. The band carefully curates each show from a truly eclectic and massive repertoire in order to cultivate an unclassifiable experience of joy and entertainment for everyone in attendance. Go see Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press!
Peach is a brand and event team grown and raised in Chicago. We are dedicated to unifying and celebrating LGBTQ+ women and femme family through music, drinks, food, art and visually stimulating entertainment. Peach brings a fully immersive design for each event, partners with world-class brands to donate thousands to nonprofits, and creates elevated, inclusive experiences.
While the brand’s mission centers queer women and femmes, allies and identities across the LGBTQ+ spectrum are encouraged to join in our safe space.
Lorely Rodriguez, the singular mind behind Empress Of, is a songwriter and producer living Brooklyn, NY. In the early part of 2012, she began a personal songwriting exercise, writing, and recording a daily series of one-minute ideas. Completing each of these snippets in several hours apiece, she eventually amassed a catalog of about fifty. Selections from this series were eventually uploaded to YouTube anonymously, each paired with a blank color swatch. The fruits of this project, deemed a series of “colorminutes”, were released on cassette via the Japanese record label, Big Love, and effectively served as the launch of Empress Of.
In the latter half of 2013, following domestic and international touring stints, her most ambitious recording to date, Realize You was self-released online to critical acclaim. Illustrating great progress in production and an even more broad swath of songwriting chops, incorporating witty lyricism and soaring melodies, this is just a hint of what remains in store for the future.
Blazian Sensation Aya Ito is a native of Tokyo, Japan and a multi-genre vocalist and songwriter. Pulling influence from Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, H.E.R., Robert Glasper, Rihanna, and Jhene Aiko, Aya Ito has created her signature Pop/R&B/Soul fusion sound, while also incorporating her trilingual abilities (English, Spanish and Japanese).
Aya has toured the US and Japan wowing crowds with her spirited performances and dynamic sound. Aya’s most recent release, “Just Might” reflects Aya’s pop and R&B influences in her own way and successfully mixes both production styles with live instrumentation.
Rhea the Second is an Alternative Pop and R&B recording artist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. Her most recent achievements as an Independent artist working the reigns of the Chicago Music scene include working with Leon Bridges, Roy Kinsey, Kristen Kaza, Manasseh, Akenya Seymour, Amyna Love, Loona Dae, Melvin Knight, LeftJones, Noname, Chicago Afrobeat Project and more. She was also nominated for Chicago Reader’s Best Pop Artist and Best R&B Artist of 2023.
With over a decade of experience, Rhea the Second is remarkably skilled and unique. Ranging from experimental to the very heart of R&B, the canticles in which Second’s voice reigns over on stage graciously unveils the undeniable beauty of a confident woman creative who isn’t afraid to speak and live her truth in life or on stage.
B.Blyss! Takeover ft. Sandra Suave, DJ Feen & Ayodele Drum & Dance
Since 2004, B.Blyss! has produced culturally diverse events for individuals who self-identify as women, sapphic, or LGBTQIAA+. Those familiar with our brand know that we believe in providing inclusive yet exclusive upscale, mature, and professionally crafted events to our supporters who represent the beauty and the essence of the community and its allies.
Cobra B is a Chicago-born, St. Louis-raised DJ, musician, writer, editor and artist who mixes house music, techno, afrobeats, afro house, rap, soul, amapiano, kwaito, jungle, juke, and punk. Since launching her DJ career, she has made appearances in some of Chicago’s most legendary spaces, including Smartbar. From the Zambian house parties she went to as a kid, to the European raves and underground punk shows she went to as a young adult, Cobra B pulls from her unique influences to create energizing, boundary-pushing dance floor experiences.
In 2017, the cultural marketing company Black Thread Agency launched Peach, a Chicago-based brand and event series devoted to celebrating LGBTQ+ women and femmes. Bre Auberry (Breberries), president of the Black Thread Agency, says Peach exists to give the queer community experiences it does not always have access to. Through its themed events, Peach works to give attendees something more than just a party, but rather, a fully immersive and unique experience.
NDULGNCE is a dynamic force in music, art, and curation, known for orchestrating unforgettable experiences. As a genre-bending DJ, NDULGNCE captivates audiences at prestigious events, festivals, nightclubs, and lounges. NDULGNCE’s prowess as an artist and curator shines through in producing music, directing photoshoots, and conceptualizing graphic materials. With a proven track record of curating exceptional events and fostering community empowerment, NDULGNCE is a visionary leader at the intersection of creativity and innovation.
For well over a decade, iPOP has been booked at festivals, clubs, corporate events, and weddings all across the Midwest. With an emphasis on variety, the band seamlessly transitions from genre to genre – from Top 40 favorites, to Classic Rock, to Country, to Hip-Hop, to 80’s & 90’s nostalgia – all performed with an engaging stage show!
DJ OSCAR VELAZQUEZ is easily one of the most influential DJ’s on the Mexican house music scene.
He started his career as an amateur disc jockey in 1984. In January 2005, he was invited to become a staff member at a Mexico City radio station named BEAT 100.9 FM. The station was the first in the country to program electronic music exclusively. In this position, Oscar catapulted radio listeners to the dance floor without leaving home. His weekly 2 hour broadcast, club diez cero nueve (club10/09), is dedicated to showing his abilities both as a DJ and as a producer.
In 2008 he won the DJ Concept Award for BEST MEXICAN DJ, and for the past 3 years he has appeared constantly on the Top Ten DJ’s list.
The beats which characterize Oscar’s style is the result of more than 25 years inside the music industry, using trends from house, progressive house, techno & tribal, he creates a very eclectic mix of rhythms, genres and crossovers which tend to satisfy the most demanding clubbers and allows him to keep doing what he likes most in life: mixing.
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
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.
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!
Freddie Ross Jr. (born January 28, 1978), better known by her stage name Big Freedia (/ˈfriːdə/ FREE-də), is an American rapper and performer known for her work in the New Orleans genre of hip hop called bounce music. Freedia has been credited with helping popularize the genre, which had been largely underground since developing in the early 1990s.
Freedia is a gay man who also embraces his “feminine side”; he believes gender is on a spectrum and is ambivalent about his pronouns, stating, “I’m gender nonconforming, fluid, nonbinary. If I had known the ‘queen’ in Queen Diva would cause so much confusion, I might have called myself the king!”
He has collaborated with artists including Beyoncé, who sampled his voice for her song, “Formation” and on her 2022 number-one hit “Break My Soul”, Lizzo, Kesha, New Kids on the Block, Jordin Sparks, Naughty by Nature, Boyz II Men, and with Drake on his 2018 number-one hit “Nice for What”.
In 2011, he was named Best Emerging Artist and Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist in January’s “Best of the Beat Awards”, and was nominated for the 2011 22nd GLAAD Media Awards. In 2013, he got his own reality show on the Fuse Channel, which chronicles his life on tour and at home. On July 7, 2015, he released his autobiography God Save the Queen Diva!.
At the end of 2016, Freedia was featured in a local New Orleans television ad for Juan LaFonta Law Office, in which he is shown rapping with bounce music and dancers. In 2018, he released the EP Third Ward Bounce.
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.
3 Martini Jeannie is a band featuring three dynamic personalities – musicians who love to entertain. Jeannie Tanner sings, plays piano/keys, trumpet and percussion; and Stacy McMichael lays down bass lines that compliment perfectly the feel-good rhythms of drummer Derek Henderson.
The energy they bring to every performance is infectious. They’re fun to watch – or you can dance to their incredible grooves and interesting arrangements of music in every genre including pop, R&B, Latin grooves and Jeannie’s funk-based originals. They cover Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Stevie Wonder, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Black Crowes, One Republic, Amy Winehouse and more…
3MJ has performed at Northalsted Market Days, City Winery, Midsommarfest (Andersonville), Whiskey Lounge, Backlot Bash, Roscoe Village Porch Fest, Untitled, the Metropolitan Club, Wells Street Art Festival, Sheffield-Belmont Music Festival and at many more venues, clubs and for private events.
3 MARTINI JEANNIE
About 3 Martini Jeannie:
Bandleader Jeannie Tanner is an award winning composer with 9 Grammy® considered albums and 5 ASCAP composer awards. She is a vocalist, piano player, trumpeter, percussionist, songwriter and producer who performs and records her original music, a mix of pop, jazz and R&B. Jeannie’s music has been used for many TV/film projects including Single Ladies (VH1 – produced by Queen Latifah), Real Wives of Beverly Hills (Bravo), the Young and the Restless (CBS) and Days of Our Lives (NBC). Her music has been featured in many Hallmark movies including A Christmas Duet, and Christmas Cookies; in Lifetime’s Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story; and in Dolly Parton’s Netflix series Heartstrings.
Stacy McMichael (bassist) has most recently been a featured on-stage talent in Broadway shows & tours – such as Hairspray, Teatro ZinZanni, Taste of Things to Come, and the MEGA-hit SIX: the Musical. Her diverse musical accolades include the upcoming 2022 musical film & cast album by 2-time GRAMMY winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer “All Wigged Out,” a #1 debut album on the Billboard Traditional Jazz chart (featuring Frank Catalano & Jimmy Chamberlin – drummer of the Smashing Pumpkins), multiple tv/podcast appearances, national publication articles and international tours.
Derek Henderson (drummer/percussionist) is well known on the Chicago music scene and has performed with artists such as Paul Wertico, David Garibaldi, Omar Hakim, Art Porter, Buddy Guy, Ramsey Lewis, Bernie Mac, David Sanborn, Tom Scott and Earl Klugh, just to name a few. Derek has toured the world in various bands, traveling to 22 cities in 8 countries. His vast knowledge of studio recording and live performances keeps him in demand, and he is a featured drummer with the Larry King Orchestra.
