CHICAGO —Windy City Gay Idol, now in its eighth year, kicks off the year's search for the best LGBT singers in the Chicago area.
What started as a fun promotion has become the largest and most highly anticipated annual competition event in Chicago's LGBT community. Many winners have gone on to sing at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Market Days and at festivals around Illinois, Milwaukee and even Toronto. Plus the Windy City Gay Idol Finals in 2008 featured a then unknown Lady Gaga as a guest performer. So you never know what you will see and hear! You don't have to sing to be a part of it. Just come and vote!
Windy City Gay Idol, produced by Windy City Media Group and premium sponsors Miller Lite and Bacardi, kicks off Thursday, April 8 at the Glenwood Bar in Rogers Park and continues with preliminary competitions around Chicago's LGBT bars.
Windy City Gay Idol 2010 preliminary competitions are one night only at many different bar locations where as many as 20 participants sing at each venue. All contestants compete for the chance to advance to the semifinals Saturday, June 5, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Results from every preliminary, semifinal and final event come from audience votes. Votes from friends, family and audience members hopefully land them on the stage at the Finals Saturday, June 19 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.
Premium sponsors this year are Miller Lite and Bacardi. Other co-sponsors include: American Airlines, Ravinia, Autobarn Limited, Creaoke, and Windy City Media Group.
With more than $5,000 in cash and prizes, the road to the 8th Anniversary of the Windy City Gay Idol finals is not easy. All contestants face local celebrity judges that include cabaret singers, DJs, actors, talent and casting agents and those familiar with the performance arena.
Each winner collecting the most votes at each preliminary bar will win $100 cash. Two winners from each bar will advance to the semifinals. Audience members at each bar also have the chance to win great prizes, such as Miller and Bacardi merchandise, Ravinia tickets, local theater tickets, new DVD releases, and much more.
The finals includes big prizes for audience members as well as the top three contestants, including weekend stays at downtown hotels, American Airlines tickets and tickets to top Chicago theaters and concert venues.
The winner of the entire event at Sidetrack is awarded $1,000 in cash, a pair of American Airlines tickets, Bacardi and Miller Lite premium gifts, Ravinia tickets, and more, not to mention the coveted title of Windy City Gay Idol 2010.
The event is open to all amateur singers age 21 and above, regardless of sexual orientation. There is a $10 signup fee for singers, and a $5 fee for audience members at all preliminary events. There is a $10 cover at the semifinals and finals at Sidetrack.
The Windy City Gay Idol 2010 schedule:
—Thursday, April 8: The Glenwood, 6962 N Glenwood, 7 p.m. sign up, 8 p.m. start.
—Tuesday, April 20: Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, 9 p.m. sign up, 10 p.m. start.
—Thursday, April 22: Spin, 800 W. Belmont, 8 p.m. sign up, 9 p.m. start.
—Thursday, April 29: Wild Pug, 4810 N. Broadway, 7 p.m. sign up, 8 p.m. start.
—Tuesday, May 4: Scarlet, 3320 N. Halsted, 7 p.m. sign up, 8 p.m. start.
—Thursday, May 13: Sofo bar, 4923 N. Clark, 7 p.m. sign up, 8 p.m. start.
—Sunday, May 23: Berlin, 5355 N. Clark, 9 p.m. sign up, 10 p.m. start.
—Wed., May 26: WILD CARD, Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted, 9 p.m. door opens, 10 p.m. start. Invited guests plus open slots for new singers.
—Saturday, June 5: SEMI-FINALS, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, 1 p.m. door opens, 3 p.m. start.
—Saturday, June 19: FINALS, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, 1 p.m. door, 3 p.m. start.
Complete rules and regulations are 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.
