Chicago’s Smart Bar shuts due to coronavirus, launches fundraiser for staff affected
Metro Chicago, the concert hall which houses three venues including hallowed club, smart bar, has launched a fundraiser for its staff amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Given that three three venues, Metro, smart bar and GMan Tavern, will be closed indefinitely in the midst of the global spread of COVID-19, the fundraiser aims to provide aid and support for their staff. At the time of writing, over $19,000 has been raised.
Eris Drew: brighter days
Frankie Fest to launch at ADE to raise funds for the Frankie Knuckles Foundation
The first Frankie Fest will take place at this year's Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
Founded and organised by Eric Kupper and Kenny Summit, Frankie Fest will raise money for the Frankie Knuckles Foundation, which was set up after the Chicago house legend's passing in 2014 and supports music in schools, LGBTQ youth homelessness, AIDS research/prevention, and diabetes research/education.
How Paranoid London redefined acid house from their Hackney studio
Chicago house DJ Darrell Woodson has died
Iconic house vocalist Kim English has died
Kim English, the iconic Chicago-born vocalist who performed on multiple house classics, has died.
Vinyl is being pressed in Chicago for the first time in over 20 years
This new book tells a visual history of Chicago house using classic rave flyers
There’s a glory to whacking open a thick paperback cover of raised black title design, of a typical hand-drawn skyline and musical quavers, atop a gradient pink to blue. Through it, you discover far more than the pure basic beauty of a movement’s pre-Photoshop days. It’s a joy to get inside the early flyers via the archive of DJ Mario “Liv It Up” Luna, in Brandon Johnson’s new book, Beyond Heaven: Chicago House Party Flyers From 1983-1989.
Richie Hawtin wants to play a warehouse party in Chicago
Richie Hawtin has responded to a message from a Twitter user suggesting that he return to Chicago to play in a warehouse for an underground promoter.
“Would love to come back for a warehouse type party!,” Hawtin said, quoting the tweet. Now, all that remains to be seen is whether a promoter in the city will make it happen.
Dan Jugle, influential Chicago techno artist, has died
Dan Jugle, the influential, Chicago-based techno and experimental artist, died this past weekend.
John Ochoa is the editor-at-large of DJ Mag North America. You can find him living his best life on Twitter.
