Chicago House Music Festival in Millennium Park Announces Lineup For 5/26

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is pleased to announce the lineup for the Chicago House Music Festival in Millennium Park on Saturday, May 26, from 1 to 9 p.m. The expanded festival now features three stages of national and local DJs and live performers, including headliners Louie Vega and Elements of Life band, Joe Smooth, Chez Damier, Ron Trent and DJ Sabine among others. Admission to the event is free. For complete details, visit ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us.

Chicago is the birthplace of house music, gospel music, urban blues and more. In 2018 over three consecutive weekends, DCASE will celebrate the city's music legacy at the Chicago House Music Festival (May 26), the Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June 1-2) and the Chicago Blues Festival (June 8-10) on stage in Millennium Park, at the Chicago Cultural Center as well as in music venues and clubs throughout the city. Chicago is an arts powerhouse and a global destination for music lovers.

"This Memorial Day weekend, the Chicago House Music Festival in Millennium Park celebrates a truly original genre created in the city during the 1980s by DJ Frankie Knuckles and others," said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. "House music is part of the city's rich music legacy with influences from disco, blues, gospel music, soul, R&B, funk and jazz. Whether you're a house music fan or just love to dance, I hope to see everyone coming together and enjoying this great art form."

In addition to the festival in Millennium Park, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will host the Chicago House Music Conference on Thursday, May 24, 6-9 p.m. and Friday, May 25, 3-10 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) for musicians, DJs and industry professionals. A special House Dance Summit will take place as part of the conference on Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees will be able to take part in introductory and master classes led by local and national professional House Dancers in the Dance Studio. The evening continues on Friday with a House Dance demonstration at 7:30 p.m. in the Keith Haring Exhibition in the Yates Gallery, followed by a Chicago House Music Festival preview and networking event with DJ Ron Trent until 11 p.m. Admission is free, and registration is not required. The full schedule will be posted soon at ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us .

The festival on May 26 in Millennium Park will also feature a new Vinyl Records Fair on Chase Promenade Central (near Cloud Gate) from 1 to 8 p.m.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion will feature performances from 2-9 p.m. This year's lineup includes GRAMMY® award winner Louie Vega and Elements of Life band from New York City at 7:30 p.m. Considered one of House Music's foremost artists, this project will feature Josh Milan, Anane and Luisito Quintero in its' Chicago debut. Other artists include Donna Edwards, also from New York City.

The new Deep House Stage located in the Chase Promenade North tent between 1 and 8 p.m. will feature the deeper soulful side of house music which incorporates the use of percussion, muted basslines, softer key pads, ambient mixes and sometimes even soulful vocals. Featured DJs and artists include Chicago's own Ron Trent, Adam Gibbons from Boston, and DJ Sabine from New York City.

The new Chicago House Stage will be on Chase Promenade South from 1 to 8 p.m. and will include the classic and contemporary sound of House in Chicago which incorporates more disco, funk, jazz and gospel elements that were closely attributed to the early influences on the Chicago sound as well as its offshoots like Acid House. Featured Chicago DJs and artists include Paul Johnson and DJ Deeon along with Zernell from Los Angeles.

Chicago House Music Festival Schedule

Millennium Park

Saturday, May 26

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

7:30-9 p.m. Louie Vega and Elements of Life

7:15-7:30 p.m. House Music Awards

6-7:15 p.m. Gifted Souls featuring Joe Smooth & Craig Loftis

5-6 p.m. Chez Damier

4-5 p.m. Mike Dunne

3-4 p.m. Donna Edwards

2-3 p.m. TBA

1:45 p.m.-2 p.m. House Dance Performance

Deep House Stage (Chase Promenade North)

7-8 p.m. Ron Trent

6-7 p.m. Adam Gibbons

4-6 p.m. DJ Sabine

3-4 p.m. Excursions with Cordell Johnson & James Vincent

2-3 p.m. DJ Duane Powell

1-2 p.m. John Simmons

Chicago Stage (Chase Promenade South)

7-8 p.m. Paul Johnson

6-7 p.m. DJ Deeon

4-6 p.m. Ron Carroll

3-4 p.m. Zernell

2-3 p.m. Celeste Alexander

1-2 p.m. Boogie McClarin Dance Workshop

The Chicago House Music Festival is produced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored by the Chicago Transit Authority. For more information, please visit ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us and follow us on Facebook (Millennium Park) Twitter, Instagram (@ChicagoDCASE #ChicagoHouseMusicFestival) and Snapchat (ChicagoDCASE). To plan your trip to Chicago for the Chicago House Music Festival, visit choosechicago.com.

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