CHICAGO’S PREMIER CONFERENCE FOR ELECTRONIC MUSIC FANS AND CREATORS.
A SPOTLIGHT ON CHICAGO’S UNDERGROUND MUSIC AND CULTURE. A ONE-DAY EVENT TO CONNECT, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE.
PHASE 1
PANELS:
ARTISTS:
DARRYN JONES (DURTY TRUTH RECORDS) – LEGENDARY DISCO DJ AND RARE VINYL COLLECTOR
MAX JACOBSON (TIED CHICAGO) – LABEL HEAD AND THE UNDISPUTED KING OF CHICAGO MINIMAL HOUSE
CHACHI GUERRERO (BLESS THIS MESS) – UNDERGROUND STAR AND FOUNDER OF BLESS THIS MESS
Phase 2
Panels:
PRESERVING NIGHTLIFE CULTURE IN THE MODERN ERA
Hosts: Andrew Emil & Luis Baro (Viva Acid)
Speakers: Mamadou (Witch Finger), La Spacer (TRQPiTECA), Duane Powell (Sound Rotation)
MUSIC PRODUCTION & CREATIVITY: FINDING FLOW IN THE STUDIO
Host: Kai Castro
Speakers: Orville Kline (Chicago Ableton Instructor), Blu 9 (Poker Flat Recordings), I Am Me (Twitchin Skratch / Killer Mushrooms)
FROM DIY TO SOLD OUT: HOW TO THROW A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
Host: Steve Noah
Speakers: Rami Dabura (Dance Rituals), Jaggy (Green Machine), Flores Negras (MICTLAN Productions)
SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR ARTISTS: WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN 2025 AND BEYOND
Host: Olivia Mancuso
Speakers: Drew (House Calls), Janesita, TBA
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN: MENTORSHIP PATHWAYS IN THE DIY DANCE COMMUNITY
Hosts: Elly Schook & Sam Kern
Speakers: Patrixia (TRUST), Jarvi Schneider (Acid Daddy), Jenny Arcade (Deep Field Events), Sean Taylor (Humboldt Arboreal Society)
RESILIENCE & RHYTHM: THE ART OF THE COMEBACK & LONGEVITY IN DANCE MUSIC
Host: Czarina Mirani
Speakers: Joe Shanahan (Metro/Smartbar Founder), Mike Dunn (Chosen Few DJs), DJ Lady D (Best House Music DJ 2023)
Artists:
ADAM PECHO
CEMC designer and Techno’s favorite local producer (Format)
ALFRED CLAYTON
The mind behind Chicago Progressive House
BRENDA
Smartbar resident and Techno diva (Format)
CHACHI GUERRERO
Bless This Mess founder and underground star
DARRYN JONES
Legendary Disco DJ and rare vinyl collector
DJ LADY D
Chicago’s Queen of House music
ENBERG
Chicago Progressive House resident
HAPPYGHOST
Mixdown master and Aathee label head
HOOTIE
CSO percussionist and Aathee label head
HOPSCOTCH
CEMC co-founder and Aathee label head
INÉS
Creator of Work Ethic, avid digger, “Durty” dancer
JACE INMAN
Heavensware’s king DJ/VJ – Half of Shadow Work
JAGGY
Green Machine founder and fan-favorite selector
JAYAH
embrace radio show host and ATM resident
MAX JACOBSON
The undisputed king of Chicago Minimal House (Tied)
MIKE DEARBORN
Homegrown Techno pioneer and one of Daft Punk’s “Teachers” (Majesty // Chicago)
PATRICK CONAHAN
Green Machine boss and Guitarist of metal band Nequient
VENOSCI
Modular maestro – Half of Shadow Work (Heavensware)
Vendors:
IXXA COFFEE
A Chicago-born brand honoring Latin American coffee traditions. Founded by first-generation Americans, IXXA is a tribute to the hands that cultivate, craft, and sustain coffee culture.
RMBR KOMBUCHA
Chicago-born brand normalizing healthy, nonalcoholic beverages in social settings. RMBR = Real Memories, Better Rituals
ALM / BUSY CIRCUITS
A UK-based boutique manufacturer crafting innovative Eurorack modules that blend vintage warmth with modern flexibility.
DRIFT DJ
Chicago-based creators of Zero, a truly portable DJ system offering 2-deck playback, built-in effects, and a 32GB internal music library – featured in Mixmag’s best music tech 2024.
NO REQUESTS / FEELTRIP RECORDS
Blurring the lines between label, collective, and movement, No Requests / Feeltrip Records amplifies underground sounds with heart.
SENSAPHONICS
Industry-leading in-ear monitors designed to protect hearing while delivering pristine sound – trusted by top artists worldwide.
SMARTBAR
Chicago’s legendary underground club, shaping dance music culture with world-class DJs and a deep-rooted community spirit.
ZLOB MODULAR
Handmade in Chicago and unapologetically weird, Zlob Modular pushes Eurorack synthesis into uncharted territory with precision and grit.
See you there! Stay tuned as we reveal a final phase of music programming, vendors, and exciting features in the upcoming weeks.
Check out the official CEMC website for more details – chicagoemc.com
🔵 VENUE
Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St.
Chicago IL 60609
21+
🔵 DATE & TIME
April 26 2025
🔵 TICKETS
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