Prepare yourself: the City of Chicago is pulling out all the stops. And what began as the best municipal event in the place that started it all is quickly transforming into one of the best House Music festivals in the world.

The Chicago House Music Festival was just announced, and the line-up is a stunner. Coming to Chicago on May 26 2018 for the first time ever is Grammy award winner Louie Vega‘s Elements of Life band featuring Josh Milan from Blaze and Luisito Quintero.

In addition, this year’s festival will be comprised two stages as well as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Aside from Elements of Life, the talent announced so far includes Joe Smooth, Chez Damier, Ron Trent, Paul Johnson, DJ Deeon, Zernell, Mike Dunn, Ron Carroll, John Simmons, Craig Loftis, Donna Edwards, Adam Gibbons, Duane Powell, Excursions’ Cordell Johnson and James Vincent, Celeste Alexander and DJ Sabine.

(Did we mention yet this event is free?)

Furthermore, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will host the Chicago House Music Conference on Thursday, May 24 from 6-9pm, Friday, May 25 from 3-10pm at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) and stretching into Saturday. [SEE FULL DETAILS OF THE CHICAGO HOUSE MUSIC CONFERENCE HERE.]

And on Friday, May 25, there will be a special House Dance workshop from 4pm to 6:30pm in the Dance Studio. Attendees will be able to take part in introductory and master classes led by local and national professional House Dancers. 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. [SEE FULL DETAILS OF THE DANCE CLASSES AND SUMMIT HERE.]

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 Chicago House Music Festival’s main stage will be opened with a special dance performance by Czarina Mirani’s Fivestar Boogie Dancers, special guest artists Lyrik Cruz and Carlos Lanvin and more.

“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,” Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, said in a release. “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.”

Here is the complete performance schedule for the Chicago House Music Festival:

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 Dunn
3–4 p.m. – Donna Edwards
2–3 p.m.- Jose Marquez
1:45 p.m.–2 p.m. – House Dance Performance by Fivestar Boogie Dancers

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.

For more information on the festival, visit chicagohousemusicfestival.com.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Not free…coming out of the pockets of hard working people, and used as a distraction by the Chicago Mayor’s Office to keep negros happy and mind off of the police shootings of unarmed black men…

    • Are you from the 60’s, I haven’t heard the word negro’s since then. Also, not just black people like house music. House music is for everyone.

  2. I’m from the 50’s and house music has been around as long as i have. That first comment has nothing to do with what’s going on in the streets and that brother needs a reality check. This is about a non aggressive way to have fun and enjoy life!!!

  4. I suppose the author has never heard of The Chosen Few House Music Picnic that occurs the 1st Saturday in July??

    It is and always will be the best house music festival in Chicago.

    PERIOD.

    No disrespect to this one. It will be nice. But come on…

    • It’s not about which one is best.. It’s that fact that there is more than on event in a big ass city such as Chicago..So are we not supposed to have more than one festival in Chicago? Not sure what the problem is.

  5. I went last year and let me tell you that Chase Tent was packed and rockin’!!! As a House Music survivor from The Warehouse on Jefferson, The PowerPlant @1015 N Halsted & The Muzic Box@16th & Indiana AND Lower Wacker Drive….I gotta say although I was in the minority (I am Black, Latin &Gay), even though we were the originators, I had a BLAST!! Dancin’ with all those young,white,Indian,str8 etc;….was a great uplifting experience. Annnnnd It’s FREE!! Anyone who truly knows House knows it’s a spiritual, uplifting thing. It’s about expressing yourself freely without judgement through dancin’ your ass off. I love The Chosen Few….but Chicago Cultural Affairs is giving them a serious run for their money! And did I mention it’s FREE. See you all there… I’ll be the old, bald-headed guy sweating his ass off! LOL

  6. Chitown underground kid here and this event is meant to bring people from all races, all gender, all places, to come together for the love of what(HOUSE)!!!! SO LET THERE HOUSE….SO LET YOUR SPIRIT FREE!!

  7. This is dope .. Chicago is big enough for two festivals ya know? lol!! TWO. that actually is a sad number.. Oh wait, there’s The Sliver Room Block party in July as well ..Yessss! So there are three that I know of.. Party On!

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