MICHELLADONNA
Michelladonna is an actress, comedian, producer and community organizer from Queens, NY. She is the creator and host of the I’m Finna Talk (@imfinnatalknyc) workshop/open mic series, which provides free events for Queer Black and Brown creatives in NYC. She is passionate about comedy, art creation and community. She is a student of HB Studio, the Magnet Theater, the Second City, the PIT and an alumna of the MCC Theater Youth Company. In the Summer of 2022, she received the PIT x SNL Scholarship which provides classes and industry showcases. She has also been featured on the HBO series Game Theory with Bomani Jones in Spring 2022. Michelladonna received the 2021 City Artist Corps Grant for “I’m Finna Talk”, making sure to re-invest into the arts and the community. She is focused on sharing her communities’ unique experiences with the world.
JILLIAN EBANKS
JILLIAN EBANKS (Ensemble; pronouns: She/Her/Hers) is thrilled to be a member of The Second City National Touring Company. An artist originally from New Jersey, she was awarded the 2018 NBC Bob Curry Fellowship. Past shows include America; It’s Complicated! at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Black History Month Show. She is the co-creator and co-producer of B.A.P.S Comedy. With a degree in sociology she refuses to use, Ebanks hopes all her hard work pays off one day when Ben & Jerry’s asks her to create her very own ice cream flavor. Also, like, an invitation to the Met Gala would be cool. Follow her at @Curlyhairnocare for pictures with hella filters. She is currently represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.
GLORELYS MORA
Glorelys “Glory” Mora is a New York-based stand-up comedian, writer and producer. She was born on June 15th, 1990 in New York City and grew up in between the worlds of Harlem and Washington Heights, raised by parents that immigrated from the Dominican Republic. The content for her comedy is pulled directly from interactions she has had with nepotism, racism and micro-aggressions throughout life and while working in the advertising industry. Additionally, she loves to discuss her observations of white privilege, the cis female experiences and social injustices in a ‘pretty’ digestible way for audiences to reflect upon after deep laughter. She is pretty funny.
COURTNEY ZELAZNY
I was an English major in college, but don’t worry, my parents are still very proud of me.
The common thread through my work has been my love of storytelling, whether that be by managing social media for a brand, performing stand-up comedy, or through my writing.
I have learned and performed in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Connecticut, and if not for COVID-19, Chicago and New York City, too. You can check out my current work on my podcast, The Witty Committee.
ANDRAIAH LUGO
TROCHE
RE’ALISSA
Ré Alissa is an R&B artist from Chicago, IL with a sound and look reminiscent of 90’s R&B. The vocalist and multi-instrumentalist uses a combination of soulful vocals and intricate rhythms and harmonies, captivating the attention of anyone who listens. Having worked with and been recognized by artists such as Juice WRLD, Bootsy Collins, Babyface, & Toni Braxton, the skyward R&B starlet is making her way through the industry as a refreshing and innovative force to be reckoned with. With an R&B sound that also incorporates genres such as pop, soul, and hip-hop, she brings exactly what the music industry has been waiting for. Her music take listeners on an intense rollercoaster of emotions— exploring the highs and lows of love, life, and relationships.
ZAE CONNIE
Growing up in the Chicago suburb of South Holland, IL, Hosea “Zae” Connie was inspired by all of the R&B greats like Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang – but for years, his personal musical focus was on classical clarinet, his first instrument. Then one day, when he was about 15, he accidentally turned to 95.5 FM on the dial and heard Kirk Whalum’s classic tune “The Wave”. This sparked a passion for urban jazz that led him to discover urban jazz sax masters Kim Waters, Walter Beasley, Najee, Candy Dulfer and Mindi Abair. He played clarinet in band for another year, but hearing their music led him to switch to saxophone – and he has not looked back since. His passion for fusing jazz and soul has led him on an exciting journey of discovery which now leads to his emergence as a solo recording artist.
PARK N RIDE
M’RELD GREEN
M’Reld Green is one of thee most dynamic spoken word artist of her generation. M’Reld has been featured on Russell Simmons presents HBO Def Poetry Jam, BET Lyric Cafe and TVOne Verses & Flow. She has shared the stage with a host of celebrated acts which includes Angie Stone, Ledisi, Eric Roberson, MC Lyte and many others. A true wordsmith M’Reld has performed for then Illinois State Senator now President Barack Obama.
Her gifted poetry has allowed her to travel across this country featuring at acclaimed venues such as the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe in New York City to Fly Poets in Los Angeles. M’Reld has shared her work in 33 of the 50 states and continues on touring to add to the completion of all 50 states by early 2016.
Outside of being acknowledged as one of the nations premiere poets, M’Reld is also an ambassador for peace, social justice and youth advocacy. She continues her involvement with Chicago Public Schools. Also she has used her spoken word as a teaching tool for non for profit agencies such as The Black Star Program and Institute for Positive Living.
J.ARTIZ
“Josh Runnels, creatively known as J.ARTiz, is a Chicago native who is a vocalist, writer, band leader, community organizer plus more. Self expression through harmonic vocals, rap and spoken word poetry are the main mediums in which he learned to tell his own story. Residing in Chicago, J. has a heart for curating youth art & edu related programs while also recording, performing live music along with other art collaborations. J. performs multi-facedly from one man, up to 12 people on festival stages blending genres while using versatility in rhyme, poetry and soul vocalism Former male vocalist of “FutureSoul” band , “Loose Loose”, and founder of “MO’ Soul Collective”, J seeks to continue inspiring a larger movement of cultural art, black liberation, higher consciousness and Afrofuturistic inspiration amongst the population of youth/ young adult communities and beyond.”
JUSTIN FAMOUS
Justin Famous is a recording artist, producer and songwriter from Maywood, IL, near the westside of Chicago, IL. He has been immersed in music since childhood, often dancing and writing his own songs. That love for music made him the artist he is today. His music style is a unique blend of Hip Hop, Soul and R&B matched with thought-provoking, catchy, uplifting and thought challenging lyrics.
RICKY D AND THE SMOKESTACK MOJOS
Smokestack Mojos is a Chicago-based blues band specializing in Chicago-style blues Led by guitarist Ricky D, the group boast a rich Brass section and revels in juke joint classics that get the fun flowing and the room movin’!
SQUIRREL CAGE
CRAZY LOVE GRUNGE ROCK
FORT WAYNE , IN
OLDSPEAK
Heavy/Atmospheric from Dayton, OH
Jason Watkins – Vocals/Keys
Brett Barker – Guitar
Aaron Hardy – Drums
WINTERLAND
Grateful Dead cover band specializing in the music the Dead played during the 60’s and 70’s.
ILIJA AND THE SPOMENIKS
ASTRAL HAND
ASTRAL HAND is a 4-piece heavy-psych band that channels a deeply cosmic mood. By using synth-driven melodies, fuzzed-out guitar riffs, thundering drums, and lyrical themes meditating on interstellar deities, ASTRAL HAND searches for life and love in the universe at large.
MOLINA MOLINA
MYSIA CHABERT
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, started her comedy career in 2016 those 5 min at an open mic open the doors to tours all over Texas, New York, New Mexico, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. Her spicy and unfiltered comedy will make you blush but her passion is to make anyone laugh. “If you smile when you hear her name, then she’s accomplished her purpose”.
MICHELLE CANTU
Latina Stand-Up Comedian and Professional Speaker.
CHONA E
The sweetest Toxica you’ll ever meet! Oh and I’m a comedian too 😂
IRMA RUIZ
Irma Ruiz is a former wannabe chola, turned school teacher, turned comedian. Although she’s been kicked out of every neighborhood Nextdoor.com group she’s joined and is banned from 5 Facebook Mom groups, you can still find her performing in comedy clubs, casinos & festivals in Texas and various locations throughout the nation. Her comedy covers motherhood, education, marriage, family and more. She is the producer of the Teachers Gone Bad Show and even though she doesn’t believe in tarot cards, she pretends to in her Tarot Card Comedy Show on VivaLiveTv. Her comedy is not to be missed!
ELIZABETH PILAR
ELIANA LA CASA
Eliana La Casa is a bilingual Argentinean stand up comedian. She has been featured on Comedy Central Latinoamerica, as well as BBC Radio 4 London’s international live show “Welcome to Wherever You Are”. In Argentina, she performed at Festivals like Cuidad Emergente and Manso Comedy Fest as well as in local TV shows such as “Tipos de Minas”. Since moving to Chicago, she took part of Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, World Comedy Expo and Latina Comedy Festival. As a comedian she has toured Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and USA, where she was voted Best Stand Up Comedian of 2021 according to the Chicago Reader.
CHRISTINA GUTIERREZ
writer 🇲🇽 comedian 🫀 londoner 💷 ft baddie💅🏼
ANIRIA TURNEY
As the daughter of a Puerto Rican mom and a Salvadoran dad living in the South, Aniria lives the “Cultural Bermuda Triangle” daily! Having moved here from El Salvador at the age of 6, the culture shock and the pleasing of 3 cultural expectations lingers in her witty observations.
Because she started her passion for stand up later in life, it quickly became therapy that helped her get through a divorce and juggling a new dating life with raising kids. Now remarried, her repertoire has expanded.
Her comedy expresses the “in your face” truths about cultural differences, dating, kids, sex and how men and women relate.
Aside from stand up, Aniria is also an actor. She got her first break in the Netflix film “Naked” with Marlon Wayans. Other TV credits include NBC’s Chicago Med and Hulu’s The Act with Patricia Arquette. She was also voted Tampa Bay’s 2017 Best Up and Coming Comic by Creative Loafing and she performed at the 2019 Burbank Comedy Festival.
HYRYDER
Hyryder strives musically to create an authentic Grateful Dead experience, paying close attention to detail. The band routinely performs “monster” 3 set shows, weaving in and out from one song to the next. While paying tribute to the original compositions, Hyryder indeed craft’s their own unique take on the music focusing on extended improvisational jamming. The band prides itself on its ever changing progressive jams and set lists that are unique to each particular show. Hyryder performs multiple night runs without ever repeating any material giving fans an intimately different experience each time they take the stage.
JC AND THE REUP BAND
TONY CASTRO
Chicago-based stand up comic
DEADLY DAPPER
ADORNMENTS TO DIE FOR. Wearable art. Ungovernable passion.
EM GRACE & THE UNDERCUTS
From experiencing ghosting, heartache and love to discovering her non linear healing journey around sexuality, self love, body neutrality, and addiction; Em Grace untangles an intimate part of herself and gifts you with a mirror. Her deepest intention is to use her music to heal; to connect and unify communities all over the world with vulnerability.
EM GRACE & the Undercuts is an all queer band making ukulele punk, defying the perceived contrast between sweet tones and strong electric waves. Front woman, Em, pairs her electric baritone ukulele with emotionally visceral vocals and is amplified by bass (Sage), and drums (Rachael V.).
Em Grace has independently released two EPs, “Peach Tree” and “Waves of Grief”, which are on all listening platforms.
Em Grace started in 2017 as a solo project and the Undercuts joined in 2022.
We have headlined at The Golden Dagger Chicago and Burlington Bar; performed at Chicago staples Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, Reggie’s Music Joint, Fruit Salad and The Second City. In March and April we’ll be making our debut at Liars Club and Subterranean.
We’ve paid our dues and played at copious amounts of local comedy shows, DIY venues, bars, restaurants, professional studios, apartments, and speakeasies.
FIRE CAT!
Chicago Punk est. 2016
Liam – Drums/Vocals
Lou – Bass
Tim – Guitar/Vocals
Justin (aka cheese)
JESSE RAY AND THE CAROLINA CATFISH
Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish is a Rock N’ Roll Blues duo from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band is known for their Elvis-style vocals, amazing guitar riffs, splitting harmonica, and danceable drumming.
Starting out in 2014 with open-mics in Grand Rapids, MI, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish now perform their hypnotic rock music across the United States.
Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish is Jesse Ray (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica) and Paul Jensen (Drums, Percussion)
MURPHY’S LAW + THE RUMJACKS + THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS (CO-HEADLINE)
JER + VIAL CO-HEADLINE
BOY JR.
writer producer singer guitarist etc etc etc
listen to Pay Attention To Meee before you listen to my 5 most popular tracks OKAY?! 👁️ 👁️
10 bands in a trench coat / genrefluid / escape room lite / post-genre / hyperpoppostpunkindiesleaze / they-rock / internet pop? / allkind pop-rock house dnb+evrythn / the one with sounds / post-pop / relatable bangers / everything / tasty gnoshw / golden brick wrapped in bubble wrap to the head rock / futuristic 80s vibe music / somewhat nightmare dream pop / goblin / hot / alt pop / idk but it’s great / marshmallow / eclectic / maybe new wave / synth wave comes to mind / mhm / sarcastic pop rock / coach / social media rock / gay anarchy / music for people who regularly have to deal with fuckboys / power / eeby deeby / electro magnetic anti-troll / queer pop / jersey mikes sub pop / rocktronica / sad bitch pop / no / scrollcore / tiktok shame / 60s french ye-ye pop / hero having sex with the villain ost / yandere-core / girl sr. / perfect /
VIAL
VIAL is a Minneapolis-based indie punk trio of best friends: Bassist Taylor Kraemer (she/they), guitarist KT Branscom (they/them), and drummer Katie Fischer (she/they). VIAL has brought their genre-bending cascade of sound into electrifying live performances since their formation (On Tinder, mind you) in mid-2019. They’ve got songs that smack you in the face: Rage-written speedruns about running over misogynists (“Roadkill”) and head-bopping, cheek-blushing queer love songs to tingle your toes (“Violet”); VIAL is a powerhouse who knows how to adapt their sound, and themselves, allowing them to grow in new ways during 2020’s days of quarantine by creating a wide audience on Tik Tok and other social media while revving up to release their blossoming debut album, LOUDMOUTH (2021). This record was highly anticipated after the success of their debut EP, “Grow Up,” which hit streaming sites soon after the group’s formation in late 2019.
Following the release of LOUDMOUTH, VIAL has made an explosive return to live music, playing historic venues across Minnesota, including First Avenue’s iconic main stage, and have hit many of their favorite cities while supporting artists such as FIDLAR, HUNNY, and Mal Blum.
MATT CARTER BAND
CHOCOLATE IN YOUR POCKET
Like a cold glass of water on a summer’s day, Chocolate In Your Pocket provides a refreshing mix of rock, jazz, pop, and electronic to create a blend of their own.
Started while attending Millikin University, the band took advantage of the many amenities that the school of music had to offer and started releasing their music. After establishing a successful following at Millikin, Chocolate released their most popular single to date, “Bradford Baby”, which currently sits at more than 500,000 streams worldwide.
Catch Chocolate around Chicago and be on the lookout for more music on all streaming services coming soon.
HARLEM HAYFIELD
Harlem Hayfield is out to spread the gospel of Rustbelt Soul.
A 6-piece ensemble from a small, industrial city called Decatur, Illinois, who have managed to blend key aspects of alternative rock and Motown to create a unique, heartfelt sound. Drawing influence from such bands as Afghan Whigs and The Black Crowes, but with the added touch of neo-soul artists like Curtis Harding & Anthony Hamilton. Since first forming in 2019, Harlem Hayfield has successfully fused sophisticated, catchy melodies enveloped with a barrage of driving guitar tones, all while incorporating gospel-inspired harmonies.
DJ SOUTH SIDE ERIC KEOGH
DRAB
Apocalyptic rock from New Orleans.
ACTON’S DICTUM
A new take on old-school punk from Berwyn, IL.
MIKEYEVERYTHING
Michael Nelson, better known as, “Mikey Everything”, hasn’t taken on the stage name “Everything” for nothing. Everything’s salacious debut EP “The Reason” is an undeniable fusion of House, Hip Hop, & 90’s R&B. A carefully crafted collection of songs, “The Reason” EP is a journey through emotions – sex, romance & the harsh realities of being a black gay man in America. Mikey has risen to the top as one of the leading independent artists with a legion of talented dancers to showcase a new sound rooted in old school flavored hip hop. Jam packed with collaborations with some of Chicago’s finest on the Indie scene, catchy samples and racey lyrics, this EP is an obvious release of an array of pent up emotions. Mikey Everything holds down being a Recording Artist, Dancer, and LGBTQ Activist all while working with 4 Star Casting. His knack for adding the perfect visual presentation to any creative piece has led him to working behind the scenes on the smash television show Empire during its last 2 Seasons. Known for his vibrant, open, and charismatic personality. His position on the set of a hit television show has afforded him the opportunity to utilize his talents and skills for a major production. As an established “visual artist” he is known for his vibrant and charismatic personality. Proving to be more than a “one trick pony” Mikey is making his reason clear, he is just getting started. “The Reason” EP has something for every music fan and is streaming everywhere.
MUDTOMB
Guitars: Dennis Bereza
Vocals: Brian Gulliford
Drums: David Devich
Bass: Steven Chave
TWIN WIZARD
Twin Wizard is a two piece Doom/Rock and Roll band from Northwest Illinois.
FULCI
The death metal band named after the Godfather of gore
DRAWN & QUARTERED
Classic death metal from Seattle since 1992! Dark atmospheres, melodic solos, incredible quality control, and brutal riffs across the decades have made Drawn and Quartered a legend in the underground death metal scene, with good reason!
DRAWN & QUARTERED + FULCI CO-HEADLINE
CARLOS JOHNSON BAND
Carlos Johnson is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is left-handed, but plays a right-handed instrument upside-down like players such as Otis Rush, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix. Johnson is known for his aggressive playing which has attracted audiences in Chicago blue scene since the 1970s. He has played on recordings of notable musicians including Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and Son Seals.
BILLY FLYNN BLUES BAND
Billy Flynn is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.
TRAGIC TIMES
We are Shaun, Jason and Tom. We are TRAGIC TIMES.