CHICAGO - Windy City Gay Idol, now in its 10th year, will crown a new Gay Idol Saturday, June 16 at Sidetrack, 3349 N Halsted, with doors open at 2 p.m., show at 3 p.m. The largest annual search for the best amateur gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered singers in the Chicago area ends after three months of events with 12 finalists competing for the title of the 2012 Windy City Gay Idol.
Print out the finalist roundup at: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/WCT_20110613_idolballot.pdf .
Windy City Gay Idol is produced by Windy City Times and Windy City Media Group. Idol winners have gone on to sing at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Market Days and at festivals in Illinois, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Toronto. Plus the Windy City Gay Idol Finals in 2008 featured a then-unknown Lady Gaga as a guest performer.
Audience votes determine the Idol winner. A panel of judges will provide feedback throughout the event. Judges include: Movie Critic, Writer/Performer, and Film Director Richard Knight, Jr. (director of upcoming feature film Scrooge & Marley), Meghan Murphy (local cabaret diva) and writer/personality Jerry Nunn (national columnist of Nunn on the Run).
The Windy City Gay Idol winner will be awarded $1,000 cash, a dream vacation to Vancouver (courtesy of Tourism Vancouver and American Airlines), tickets to Madonna in her Chicago concert (courtesy of Smirnoff), theater tickets, and more. Plus they win the coveted title of Windy City Gay Idol 2012.
Audience members will win big as well at the Finals. One audience member at the Semifinals will win a trip for two to Vancouver. Others will win tickets to Rock of Ages (courtesy of Broadway in Chicago), Cubs tickets, Chicago Sky tickets, and other exciting Chicago theater events.
Guest performer at the Finals include the new hot group Chicago Cabaret Project, Burlesque darlings Frenchie Kiss and May Oui, and 2011's Windy City Gay Idol TJ Chernick.
There is a $10 cover, which includes a free drink ticket. And all audience members are entered to win prizes.
The 2012 Windy City Gay Idol is produced by Windy City Media Group alongside its Premium sponsor, Smirnoff Vodka. Other Sponsors include: Creaoke, Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver Coast & Mountains, Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel, Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle, Speed Pro Imaging, Broadway in Chicago, and American Airlines.
Participating 2012 bars include: Jackhammer, The Glenwood, The Call, Crew, Spin, DS Tequila, T's, Touche, The Closet, Roscoe's and Sidetrack.
ABOUT THE IDOL COMPETITION:
Windy City Gay Idol 2012 preliminary competitions were held one night only at different bars. As many as 20 participants sang at each venue, where all contestants competed for the chance to advance to the finals Saturday, June 16 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Results from every preliminary, semi-final and final event come from audience votes. Votes from friends, family and audience members hopefully land them on the stage at the finals.
With more than $5,000 in cash and prizes, all contestants will face local celebrity judges that include singers, DJs, actors, talent and casting agents, and others familiar with the performance arena.
Complete rules and regulations at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com
Windy City Media Group (WCMG) produces Windy City Times, Nightspots, OUT! Resource Guide, Identity online, WindyCityQueercast.com and QueerTVNetwork.com . WCMG is also the producer of these annual events: Windy City Gay Idol, Gays Got Talent, 30 Under 30 and the Windy City Times Theater Series. To download all of our products visit www.windycitymediagroup.com . Send questions to publisher@windycitymediagroup.com or call (773) 871-7610.
Contact: Cynthia Holmes, Promotions Director
WCMGpromotions@gmail.com 734-834-0491
