| |
Pitchfork Music Festival returns and turns 15 in 2021
Pitchfork Music Festival turned 15 years old in Chicago this year after being cancelled last year because of the pandemic. This lively celebration of eclectic music continued in the same spot (Union Park) with the usual ...
|
| |
| |
'Andersonville Homecoming' Sept. 24-26; line-up, vendors, safety protocols announced
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Sept. 15, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up and vendors for Andersonville Homecoming--a three-night, two-day outdoor festival featuring ...
|
|
| |
| |
CAIC announces 2021 Collaborative Works Festival, immigration, migration in song
--From a press release
CHICAGO— Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC) begins its eleventh anniversary season with its annual Collaborative Works Festival, held in venues around Chicago from October 6—9, 2021. The 2021 Collaborative ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Lil Nas X wins top award at MTV VMAs
The MTV VMA Awards took place Sept. 12—and an LGBTQ+ artist took home one of the night's top awards. Lil Nas X won Video of the Year for "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," besting Cardi ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Boy Meets Boy,' Jennifer Hudson, 'SVU,' tennis honor, ABBA
Ariztical Entertainment is releasing the German movie Boy Meets Boy on DVD and VOD on Oct. 26. According to a press release, the plot of the 70-minute movie is as follows: "Harry has been partying for ...
|
| |
| |
Pride Fest will extend to Oct. 3; headliners include Kristine W and Mya
Mya, Shangela, VINCINT, Crystal Waters, Kristine W, Brooke Eden and St. Panther are among the headliners for Chicago Pride Fest now taking place over three days, Oct. 1-3, in Chicago's LGBTQ+ landmark Northalsted/Lake View district. The ...
|
| |
| |
ARC Music Festival debuts in Chicago over Labor Day Weekend
Replacing North Coast Music Festival's usual spot in Union Park, ARC Music Festival launched Sept. 4-5. North Coast was forced to move to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, that same weekend to a stadium that was ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC 'Global Citizen Live' to run Sept. 25-26
International advocacy organization Global Citizen announced the expansion of "Global Citizen Live" to include Los Angeles and London with an outdoor event in L.A., which is presented by Verizon, and headlined by Stevie Wonder with Adam ...
|
| |
| |
'Close-Up with Carmen' Sept. 9 at Center on Halsted
'Close-Up with Carmen'—about the intersection of drag and opera—will take place Thursday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. During this event, participants will discuss cross-dressi ...
|
| |
| |
Britney Spears' dad petitions to end conservatorship
In a huge win for pop star Britney Spears, her father and the conservator of her estate, Jamie Spears, filed a petition to end the arrangement on Sept. 7, media outlets reported. Jamie cited his daughter's ...
|
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Upcoming 'Carmen' featuring queer lead, male drag
On Sept. 16 and 18 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago audiences will have the rare opportunity to hear two world-class dramatic mezzo-sopranos debut new roles opposite one another ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Idol' alums, Zendaya, Gaga, 'Queer As Folk,' women rappers
American Idol alum David Archuleta said that God urged him to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, NBC News noted. The Nashville resident told Today.com he wasn't sure if the community would embrace ...
|
| |
| |
Lil Nas X receives inaugural Trevor Project award
The Trevor Project announced that "Old Town Road" rapper Lil Was X was the recipient of its inaugural Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award. On its website, the organization stated, " Lil Nas X has ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Laura Jane Grace gives good advice to future trans and queer artists
For one hour and 48 minutes, Laura Jane Grace will take listeners on a journey with the new Audible project Black Me Out. This transgender musician covers a great deal of territory in the session, from ...
|
| |
| |
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' 'CGMC: Undressed' Sept. 17-18
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will hold its fall cabaret event "CGMC: Undressed" on Sept. 17-18 at two different venues. On Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m., the chorus will perform at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 ...
|
| |
| |
MUSICALS Highland Park Players to run 'Matilda' Sept. 24-Oct. 3
The Highland Park Players return to live theater with the Tony-winning musical Matilda The Musical! opening Sept. 24 and running through Oct. 3 at the Northbrook Theatre, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. Performances are Sept. 24-25 and ...
|
| |
| |
'Broadway in Your Backyard' event Sept. 28 at Gold Coast hotel
Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, in collaboration with Porchlight Music Theatre, will hold a special performance at the hotel—part of Porchlight's "Broadway in Your Backyard" series—on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Doors will open at 6:30 ...
|
| |
| |
Controversial rapper DaBaby meets with Black HIV advocates
On Aug. 31, Black leaders from nine HIV organizations across the country announced they held a virtual, private meeting with rapper Jonathan "DaBaby" Kirk to discuss HIV facts and share personal stories of living and thriving ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Local band Glad Rags releasing 'All of Them' on Oct. 15
Chicago-based queer psychedelic orchestra band Glad Rags will release the LP All of Them on Oct. 15. The six-member band began recording the record in late 2018 at Jamdek Studio, and spent 2019 tracking overdubs and ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Billy Porter, 'Death Drop,' Brandi Carlile, vintage films, Gaga
Billy Porter will direct a queer teen comedy feature titled To Be Real for Amazon Studios, which is being helmed by Gabrielle Union's I'll Have Another Productions, NME.com noted. Porter, who is currently working on his ...
|
|
| |
| |
MUSICALS 'Beautiful' in Chicago on Nov. 2-7; tickets on sale Sept. 1
Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced that individual tickets for the Tony- and Gramm-winning Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of ...
|
| |
| |
Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to present Andersonville Homecoming
--From a press release
CHICAGO (August 26, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce Andersonville Homecoming, a three-night, two-day outdoor festival featuring live entertainment, local artisans and merchants, food ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC R.E.M.'s 'Hi-Fi' set for 25th-anniversary reissue
Craft Recordings is celebrating the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi, with a special reissue, currently available for pre-order and set for release Oct. 29. The bonus-filled 2-CD/1-Blu-ray Deluxe Edition offers ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Diplo, Galantis part of Spring Awakening
The organizers of the Chicago electronic dance music (EDM) festival Spring Awakening have added the acts Diplo and Galantis to the Oct. 2-3 event. Spring Awakening will take place in Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St. ...
|
| |
| |
MOVIES 'Mr. SOUL!' looks at groundbreaking '60s show and Black, gay host
Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin, Cicely Tyson, Harry Belafonte, Muhammad Ali, The Last Poets, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sidney Poitier, Mavis Staples and even a teenaged Arsenio Hall were ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Morrissey, Slipknot added to Riot Fest
With Nine Inch Nails cancelling all 2021 tour dates, including this year's Riot Fest (Sept. 16-19, in Chicago's Douglass Park), festival organizers revealed headliner additions and that a second batch of Riot Fest Late Night show ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC George Clinton, Neko Case at Out of Space Fest on Sept. 2-5
The line-up of Evanston SPACE's summer concert series, "Out of Space"—at Temperance Beer Company (Sept. 2-5)—has been unveiled. Acts include Big Boi and Twista (Sept. 2); Drive-By Truckers and JD ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'Pagliacci' on film
Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that registration is now open for audiences to secure a free link to screen the new, original film production of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, filmed at the Lyric Opera House. Audiences can now ...
|
| |
| |
Madonna, Warner Bros. announce global partnership
Madonna and Warner Music Group announced a milestone, career-spanning global partnership that includes a new agreement for her entire recorded music catalog. With global sales of more than 300 million records, Madonna is the best-selling female ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Ben Platt, Billie Jean King, Megan Thee Stallion, 'Horror Stories' series
Queer Grammy, Tony and Emmy-winning artist Ben Platt has dropped his new album, Reverie, via Atlantic Records, per a press release. Platt will mark the arrival of Reverie with his biggest North American headline tour to ...
|
|
| |
| |
Lightfoot's "Chicago in Tune" music festival starting Thursday
--From a press release
CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced more details for the new "Chicago in Tune" music festival starting Thursday — including ...
|
| |
| |
LGBTQ women's music event 'Still Rising' on Aug. 21
Still Rising—for LGBTQ women DJs, producers, promoters and their allies—will take place Saturday, Aug. 21, at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave. There will be a mixer, workshops and, of course, music at ...
|
| |
| |
Sones de Mexico's 'Zulema' at Chicago venues through Sept. 2
Zulema—Grammy-nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble's new work—will be in various Chicago venues through Sept. 2. The ensemble is a Chicago folk music group that specializes in the Mexican musical tradition known as son. Zulema continues throug ...
|
| |
| |
Market Days returns as acts provide plenty of tunes and drama
One of the largest outdoor street festivals in the Midwest, Market Days began in 1982 and returned in 2021 for the 39th time. The Lake View area outdoor celebration ran Aug. 6-8 after being cancelled the ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Frank Ocean, NPH, Playboy-era film, Vogue model
Miranda Lambert video below
Frank Ocean will headline Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2023—three years after he was originally supposed to, according to co-founder Paul Tollett, Billboard noted. The Goldenvoice CEO broke the news in an interview with ...
|
| |
| |
Lollapalooza features the most diverse lineup seen in 30 years
The huge outdoor festival Lollapalooza celebrated its 30th anniversary July 29-Aug. 1—to full capacity. A livestream was broadcast in 2020 to keep in the spirit alive due to a pandemic, forcing a year's postponement for in ...
|
| |
| |
Angelica Ross gets 'Fierce' for Market Days
Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Angelica Ross was destined for great things in the future. After struggling with jobs for many years herself, Ross created TransTech Social Enterprises as an incubator for finding transgender talent in the ...
|
| |
| |
Chenoweth and Menzel to co-host 'Wicked in Concert' PBS special
PBS's Wicked in Concert special on Aug. 29 will be co-hosted by the musical's original Broadway stars, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, Deadline reported. The event is slated to feature performances by Mario Cantone, Gavin Creel, ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Marie Osmond talks Sound of Music, Ravinia, lesbian daughter [UPDATE]
The multitalented performer Marie Osmond continues to hit milestones in her more than five-decade-long career. She became a country music star with a cover of "Paper Roses" and then took over television with Donny & Marie, ...
|
| |
| |
DaBaby out of Lolla line-up after anti-gay rant, video
Following various homophobic comments made at another festival stage as well as on video, rapper DaBaby was taken out of the Lollapalooza line-up for Aug. 1, The Chicago Tribune reported. Young Thug, previously slated for ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Ruby Rose, Matt Ryan, Beyonce, The Dinah, Simone Biles
Ruby Rose (Batwoman; Orange Is the New Black) tearfully revealed that it took her hours to get accepted into an emergency room due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, EW.com revealed. Rose took to her Instagram Story ...
|
| |
| |
Millennium Park Summer Music Series starts Monday
--From a press release
Millennium Park Summer Music Series, presented by the Millennium Park Foundation, features a wide variety of music from established and emerging artists — in 10 genre-defying concerts at the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This year's series ...
|
| |
| |
Logan Center Bluesfest to include Shemekia Copeland, avery r. young
This year, the Third Logan Center Bluesfest will take place Oct. 15-17. It will be a hybrid model with a series of intimate concerts, conversations and special events in which select programming is offered in-person, at ...
|
| |
| |
Rapper DaBaby defends anti-gay comments
Rapper DaBaby addressed his recent controversial comments at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami—and drew the ire of many on social media, CNN.com noted. During the performance, he made false and insulting comments about gay ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Script contest, LGBTQ film, Lady Gaga, Showtime, out sprinter
GLAAD and The Black List—the writer-centric entity whose work includes its annual list, screenplay marketplace, writer labs, and film and television productions—announced plans for The 2021 GLAAD List, the third ...
|
| |
| |
Market Days performers include Jody Watley, Todrick Hall, Steve Grand
Northalsted Market Days—taking place Aug. 6-8—will feature a star-studded line-up. Just some of the performers slated to entertain are icon Jody Watley ("Looking for a New Love"), Todrick Hall, Steve ...
|
| |
| |
Ravinia to unveil 'Bernstein's Answer' immersive theater experience
--From a press release
HIGHLAND PARK, IL—On Saturday, August 7, the Ravinia Festival and Jeffrey P. Haydon, its President and CEO, will officially unveil the Ravinia Music Box (RMB) and its immersive theater experience, titled Bernstein's Answer, and fully open ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC 'I'm Every Woman: Divas Through the Decades' on Aug. 2
LGBTQ+ party organization Slo 'Mo: Slow Jams for Queer Fam is celebrating its 10th anniversary with "Slo 'Mo Presents: I'm Every Woman: Divas Through the Decades with Akenya & Friends" on Monday, Aug. 2, at Millennium ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Ben Whishaw, non-binary actor, Cardi B, Obama, 'Grease' prequel
Out actor Ben Whishaw stars in the film Surge, which will debut Sept. 24 and On Demand, a press release announced. Whishaw portrays Joseph, who is trapped in a soulless job, living a life devoid of ...
|
| |
| |
American Blues to present 'The Great American (and French) Songbook'
On Friday, July 16, American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, will present The Great American (and French) Songbook, performed by Suzy Petri and guests as part of its music series ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Pray Away,' film contest, LGBTQ book, musicians, 'Star Trek'
The new Netflix Original Documentary Pray Away, from executive producers Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum, will make its global launch on the platform Aug. 3, a press release noted. In the film, former leaders of the ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Hedwig,' Oscars, Demi Lovato, GLAAD, Stevie Nicks
Following 2019's sold-out, three-night engagement at The Town Hall in New York City (and several postponements in 2020), Hedwig and the Angry Inch co-creators John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask are returning with a rock spectacle ...
|
| |
| |
'Concert for Love and Acceptance' features LGBTQ artists, allies
Country music artist and philanthropist Ty Herndon, in partnership with CMT, held his annual Concert For Love & Acceptance on June 30. Presented virtually as an exclusive live streaming event, performances included Herndon, Brothers Osborne, Kristin ...
|
| |
| |
Judge denies Britney Spears' request regarding father
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny signed an order June 30 denying Britney Spears' request to have her father, Jamie Spears, removed from the financial aspects of her conservatorship, NPR reported. Spears' attorney, Samuel D. ...
|
| |
| |
Bienen School of Music launches 'Black Composer Showcase' series
The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University has launched a new series of videos featuring performances of art songs and chamber music by Black composers. The three-part Black Composer Showcase series (consisting of "Chicago Connections," ...
|
| |
| |
ARC Music Festival to take place Sept. 4-5 in Union Park
ARC Music Festival has announced the complete lineup for its Labor Day Weekend 2021 debut at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. The dance event will feature acts such as Channel Tres, Derrick Carter, DJ Heather, ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC 'Miley Cyrus Presents Stand by You' airing June 25
Peacock announced that the concert event Miley Cyrus Presents Stand by You will stream Friday, June 25 in celebration of Pride Month. The hour-long concert event, filmed in Nashville, will feature multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and ...
|
| |
| |
Local lesbian couple talks new band The Q's, love story, other endeavors
Singing has been a part of Debra Duncan and Kayla Quiros' lives since they were in high school. Now the married couple and The Q's bandmates have released their debut album, Us Who Know, chronicling their ...
|
| |
| |
Mayor Lightfoot and DCASE announce more summer cultural events across Chicago
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced even more returning, new and reimagined summer cultural events across Chicago — plus artist lineups and other details ...
|
| |
| |
National Women's Music Festival to stream June 30-July 4
The beauty, power and wisdom of women will be celebrated at the 45th Annual National Women's Music Festival, which will be streamed on Mandolin.com on June 30-July 4. There will be a SheRocks Stage, Spotlight Stage, ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Our America,' Randy Rainbow, Melissa Etheridge, 'Drag Race,' VINCINT
ABC Owned Television Stations announced that the first two-episodes of the Our America: Who I'm Meant to Be docuseries are now available on its 32 connected TV apps across streaming platforms Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, ...
|
| |
| |
Ravinia Festival announces updates to 2021 summer programming
--From a press release
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Ravinia Festival is pleased to announce the following additions to its summer 2021 schedule: Counting Crows, Aug. 19 Marie Osmond with special guest David Archuleta (Ravinia debuts), Aug. 25 Allison Russell ...
|
| |
| |
Chaka Khan, Tiesto, drag queens to be at 'Pride in the Park' June 26-27
The acts have been revealed who will perform at Pride in the Park on June 26-27 in Grant Park. It will be 2-10 p.m. on June 26, and 3-10 p.m. the following day. Performers in the line-ups include Chaka Khan, Tiesto, ...
|
| |
| |
Tracy Young: DJ on Kim Zolciak, pronouns and 'Pride in the Park'
From DJ Steve Aoki throwing rainbow cakes into the crowd to drag queens keeping the party pumping for two fun filled days in 2019 at the Petrillo Music Shell stage in Grant Park, music has quickly ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC Adam Lambert, Billy Porter, Demi Lovato
part of 4th Annual Stonewall Day
On June 6, Pride Live held the 4th annual Stonewall Day event—a global campaign to elevate awareness and support for the Stonewall legacy and the continuing fight for full LGBTQ+ equality. This year, Pride Live teamed ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Todrick Hall, LGBTQIA+ podcast, Pride TV programs, '80s music
Todrick Hall is celebrating Pride with the release of his new album, Femuline, on June 8, a press release noted. The album's lead single, "Boys In The Ocean," is described as "an irresistible funk jam." Femuline ...
|
| |
| |
New Streisand album coming out Aug. 6
Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will present Release Me 2—a new collection of 10 previously unreleased studio performances from the legendary Barbra Streisand—on Friday ...
|
| |
| |
VIRTUAL CONCERT Lyric Opera airing 'The New Classics' on June 10
On Thursday, June 10, The Lyric Opera will air airtual cabaret featuring Broadway and Lyric artists in "The New Classics: Songs from the New Golden Age of Musical Theater." The event will start at 7 p.m ...
|
| |
| |
MUSIC
Chicago Philharmonic announces new Executive Director Terell M. Johnson
After a four-month, nationwide search, The Chicago Philharmonic Society's Board-appointed Search Committee has chosen Terell M. Johnson as the new executive director of the Society, effective July 1. Johnson succeeds ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters
"I will never trust pants again!"—Lil Nas X on his wardrobe malfunction on Saturday Night Live. To see the incident—and Lil's commentary—check out BillyMasters.com. We have a Memorial Day tradition ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Red Hot' album, 'Drag Race,' 'L Word,' Qveen Herby, Lee Daniels
The Red Hot organization, which raises funds to fight HIV/AIDS, announced Red Hot + Free—a mixtape of dance beats, electro grooves and global anthems, a press release noted. Out July 2 and helmed by producer-provocateur Bill ...
|
| |
| |
Lady Gaga releasing 10th-anniversary edition of 'Born This Way' June 25
Lady Gaga announced a special-edition Born This Way: The Tenth Anniversary album that will be released via Interscope on June 25, according to a press release. (The release date was previously June 18.) ...
|
| |
| |
Virtual concert 'Night of a Thousand Judys' on June 24
The ninth annual "Night of a Thousand Judys"—the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center that's written and hosted by Justin Sayre—will be presented as a streaming online event Thursday, June 24, at 8 p.m. ...
|
| |
| |
ARTS New cabaret series 'Emerge' taking place this summer
Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective (LAPC) will present Emerge—a new cabaret series of live music and performance art—on June 11, July 9 and Aug. 13 at 10 p.m. in the cabaret space of Pork Chop, 1132 ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Love, Victor,' R.E.M., Cher, HIV film, Jane Lynch
The Holy teen dramedy series Love, Victor returns June 11, as season two finds a newly out of the closet Victor entering his junior year at Creekwood High, a press release noted. This season, Victor faces ...
|
| |
