Zrazy. Chris Garneau. Scott Free. Photo by Kevin Berrett________
As Chicago's most celebrated queer music festival, Alt Q, returns on Saturday May 12 to The Old Town School Of Folk Music. Hosted by Chicago's godfather of queer music, Scott Free, this year's event benefits AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
The scheduled performers are Chris Garneau, Natalia Zuckerman, Tom Yore, Actor Slash Model and Zrazy as the headlining act.
New York's Chris Garneau makes an impressive debut with Music For Tourists, which is produced by Duncan Sheik. His soft singing and piano skills already have him compared to crossovers James Blunt and Damien Rice.
The classically trained Natalia Zuckerman blends folk with jazz and blues. Just imagine Sheryl Crow singing Roseanne Cash's catalogue. Also a painter, the multi-talented Zuckerman also has her own label Talisman Records. Now she has begun working on her fourth album, the follow up to 2006's Only One.
Already an alumnus to Alt Q, Tom Yore offers wit in his lyrics on top of elaborate instrumentations meshed with his soft melodies. On Museum, Yore gives a walking tour to more than just his art gallery. Museum has since been followed up by Yore's cleverly titled albums You Put Your Whole Self In You Put Your Whole Self Out and 4 Songs For Improved Mental Health.
Chicago's pair Actor Slash Model has the headline ready name for a band. Highlights from the 2007 album Cheap Date include TN Tranny Two Step and Soapbox Waltz. Both leave the listener amazed that something so bluegrass has stemmed from The Windy City. The ukulele adds a certain class to Cheap Date. Actor Slash Model is embarking on a tour, during which a documentary on queers and music will be made per their myspace page.
This year's Alt Q goes international with Zrazy, which consists of Irish vocalist Maria Walsh and British saxophonist and pianist Carole Nelson. On the smooth jazz hued Dream On, Walsh sounds like a young Tracey Thorn at times. Zrazy's previous efforts have the women leaning on the more experimental dance music, but Dream On nests on ambience.
The Alt Q series not only showcases music from the GLBT community, but also expresses the queer experience in a unique manner via the singers and songwriters. While these artists will tell stories during their sets, to further narrow the gap between the artist and the audience, following the show, there will be a meet the artists wine reception.
Tickets are available via TICKETWEB or the Old Town School box office. For more details, please visit www.altqfestival.com .
