The latest edition of the global mix series features Chicago House veteran DJ Sneak.

This week we heard that the next release in a long line of epic compilations from Fabric, the London-based nightclub and record label, will be mixed by US house music legend DJ Sneak. Edition 62 sees Sneak select and compile a mix of his classic shuffling Chicago House sounds, along with the tougher rhythms and acidic basslines of a European techno style. He says, “I am very proud, excited and confident this mix will entertain for many years to come… As long as I’m alive, house music is not dead!“.

Being a DJ and producer for over 20 years teaches you abut the short cyclical peaks and troughs of trends. The fashionable music will come and go at lightning speed, while developing a sound that has longevity, and having people pick out and play your records as both a nostalgic trip and an instance of foresight, is a rarer gem. From his early beginnings in Puerto Rico, establishing the strong Latin rhythms and percussion in him, Sneak moved to Chicago in 1983 and was equally immersed in the Jazz, Funk and Disco sounds of the US. A few years later and the Chicago House sound had him hooked, and provided a style for him to become involved in the music industry, first as a record shop worker, then by launching a label and releasing his own records. The mid-nineties saw his work pick up global recognition, and working and DJing alongside key industry people such as Cajmere, Derrick Carter, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim and Mr C.

His constant musical output and tireless touring schedule has helped prove that DJ Sneak has stuck it out and firmly earned his place in the mix series, alongside fellow house music greats and Fabric chosen ones such as Mark Farina and DJ Heather.

You can get a taste of the compilation from the promo video below.

Fabric 62: DJ Sneak Tracklisting

1. Strip Steve & Das Glow – Calcium
2. Markus Homm & Philipp Gonzales – Got To Make It
3. Basti Grub feat Agent! – Walking In My Blues
4. Yeshua Murillo – I’m Gonna Make You Mine (Joss Moog Mix)
5. Arturo Garces – Light It Up
6. Tripmastaz – No Turning Back
7. Mike Jules – Crack Ass
8. Hector Couto – Creampie (Darius Syrossian Remix)
9. Mendo – Old School
10. Alex Tepper – In, Out, Life
11. DJ Sneak – My Love (Ramon Tapia Remix)
12. Sir James – Special (Ramon Tapia Remix)
13. Christian Burkhardt & Einzelkind – Cooper
14. Luca M – Funk My Sax
15. Muto – Wait A Minute
16. DJ W!ld feat Hector Moralez – Take A Trip
17. Willie Graff & Tuccillo – To The Music (Tato Remix)
18. Cause & Affect – Beware Of The Swingers

DJ Sneak Tour Dates

Fri Jan 27: Terminal, Naples, Italy
Sat Jan 28: Sankeys, Manchester, UK
Fri Feb 3: Headway, Dundee, UK
Sat Feb 4: Showcase, Paris, France
Fri Feb 17: Watergate, Berlin, Germany
Sat Feb 18: Fabric, London, UK
Fri Feb 24: Dolans, Limerick, Ireland
Sat Feb 25: Grelle Forelle, Vienna, Austria
Thu Mar 15: Jacked Up, Atlanta, USA
Fri Mar 23: Shine, Miami Beach, USA

Fabric 62 : DJ Sneak will be released Worldwide on CD and Digital on 20th February 2012 with the USA CD release on 27th March 2012. Pre-order the album here.

by Lee Jarvis.

Interested in finding more music jobs in Chicago?

Join Music Jobs at Bangers & Lace in Chicago! Alongside our sister TV and film production jobs website, Media Match, we will be meeting and mingling at an informal (free) gathering in Chicago’s West Town/Wicker Park neighborhood.

Who is invited? Everyone!

Our wonderful members (that’s you), who include musicians, producers, record label workers, recording engineers, marketing specialists, journalists, teachers, conductors, DJs, soundtrack composers, radio presenters, music supervisors and more. Also attending will be some of the team behind Music Jobs, and you can ask us questions, share your feedback, get to know our musical tastes and initiate new rivalries just in time for the football season. We want to meet new faces, see old friends and spend some time getting to know our local members. If you can stop by at any point, it’d be great to hang out with you.

INFO

Where? Bangers and Lace, 1670 W.Division, Chicago, IL (view map)
When? Thursday, October 6th
Time? Starts at 5:30 pm – 9:30pm
Price? FREE
Cool? Then RSVP here if you’re coming

Hope to see you there!

The Music Jobs Team

Simultaneously summarizing their nonchalant, fun attitude and also throwing them into the ‘website-now-hosting-a-music-event’ pool, The A.V. Club of Chicago has announced “Screw it, we’re doing a music festival too.”

To be held outside The Hideout (1354 West Wabansia Avenue) over the weekend of September 10th and 11th, The A.V. Fest will see 12 bands play, including Archers of Loaf, Hum, Tokyo Police Club, Maps and Atlases and more. Below you can check out Maps and Atlases covering Seals & Croft’s Summer Breeze. It’s pretty groovy.

Maps & Atlases cover “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Croft at the Threadless warehouse

Further details are still being announced on the two-day festival, and tickets are not available in advance, seeing as it is held on public streets. But you can RSVP here, and then turn up on the day to pay a suggested $10 donation, part of which will benefit the Rock For Kids charity.

For more info, stay tuned to http://www.avclub.com/fest/


by Lee Jarvis.

Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival is definitely making waves this year. After a hugely successful weekend in 2010, but somehow remaining one of the slightly more ‘under the radar’ shows, Labor Day weekend 2011 sees more big hitting DJs headline the newcomer festival. Fatboy Slim, David Guetta and Bassnectar are three of the biggest DJ names in the US, and they’ll all be in the Windy City for the weekend of Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th September.

As mentioned, 2010 was already a monster, with the equally huge Paul Van Dyk, The Chemical Brothers and Moby all headlining, and the event’s return this year will surely earn it a place on the map for US festival goers for future seasons to come, placing it amongst Lollapalooza, Coachella and the like. Solid production, great backdrop and friendly vibe all add to the atmosphere of the music. Homegrown support is also rounded up via various ‘win a set’ style promotions, encouraging local Chicago musicians and DJs to submit themselves to public voting for the grand prize.

Check out some of the 2010 show here…

Whilst heavily electronic influenced, with young fresh artists such as SBTRKT and legendary DJs such as Carl Cox, North Coast also welcomes the soulful jamming of The Budos Band, the cut-up live hip-hop-RnB of Keys N Krates, and rapper Common, helping give the weekend a more diverse sound and some respite from the typical 4/4 beat of electronic music sets.

Having just announced the full schedule and the release of single day tickets, expect sales and hype to build and build all through the peak summer months, and be prepared to commit early for ‘summer’s last stand’.

Full Line-Up:

Friday, September 2, 2011
David Guetta * Wiz Khalifa * Lotus * Wolfgang Gartner * James Zabiela * SBTRKT * Auto Body * The Hood Internet * Orchard Lounge * Keys N Krates * Midnight Conspiracy * Perfect Kiss * Ghosthouse * * Fifth World

Saturday, September 3, 2011
STS9 * Fatboy Slim * Common * Rusko * Carl Cox * Major Lazer * Future Rock * Neon Indian * New Mastersounds * Zeds Dead * Big Gigantic * Lettuce * Felix Cartel * California Wives * Gemini Club * Great Divide * Team Bayside High * BBU * Wyllys * DJ Thibault * Nameloc * Pyro Fighter * The Werks * Digital Driver * Intonation Music Workshop

Sunday, September 4, 2011
Bassnectar * Thievery Corporation * Gogol Bordello * Benny Benassi * ATB * Of Montreal * Little Dragon * Latyrx * Van Ghost * The Budos Band * Soul Rebels Brass Brand * Paper Diamond * Rubblebucket * Lance Herbstrong * Loyal Divide * Zebo * The Coop * ProbCause * Mario Florek * The Ill & The Restless * Orville Kline * Midwest Hype * NORdjs * The Arts of Life Band

More info and tickets at http://www.northcoastfestival.com/


by Lee Jarvis.

Summertime has finally reached Chicago, and as if to make it official, the first street fest of the season kicks off this weekend. Do Division is a West Town neighborhood jam that brings in a variety of rising stars and local talent for the weekend of June 4th-5th. The diverse music experience is split between a live stage at either end of the 10 block span, and musicians and acts are selected by the talent bookers at Subterranean, Beat Kitchen and Empty Bottle.

This year sees bands playing indie rock, psych, metal, garage, dance pop and more. Saturday’s bill includes Mira & Thao, Bonobo, CoCoComa, and mashup technicians the Hood Internet. A Place to Bury Strangers, Big Freedia, and local covers outfit This Must Be the Band (A Talking Heads Tribute Band) are included on Sunday’s bill.

The fest is open from noon until 10pm both days, and the music itself kicks of at 1pm on both stages. A $5 donation is requested that will benefit local non-profits.

Check out http://do-divisionstreetfest.com/ for more information.


by Lee Jarvis.

As a singer / songwriter / poet from Chicago, Darcy is involved in the music industry in a number of ways. Production and recording work with friends and family, collaborations across a number of music styles, and performing with one of the most exciting new bands have all helped envelope her into the dynamic local music scene. We decided to interview her on the cusp of launching her new website, Elizabeth Darcy Music, as well as recording the first Elev8tor album and her blossoming solo projects.

Darcy’s latest release, Feel The Love, with Burton L., is available now on Revolutionary Music

Feel The Love Snippets by Darcymusic

by Lee Jarvis.

Chicago musicians JaGoFF are a funky bunch. Their music is George Clinton meets Deadmou5, often with a message akin to lyrical wordsmiths such as Public Enemy. They helped spur mass resistance to the Chicago Promoters’ Ordinance, took part in the Warp tour, and are in the process of giving their latest album away. To find out what makes these guys tick, and to see what advice we could gain from their experiences, we sat down with them at the end of last year for a video interview. Enjoy…

JaGoFF links:
http://twitter.com/JaGoFFmusic
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=609361935
http://www.myspace.com/jagoff
http://www.youtube.com/user/JaGoFFmusic
http://soundcloud.com/jagoff
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jagoff

This was also only my second foray into video production and editing – feel free to comment or share any tips and advice!

by Lee Jarvis.

Chicago house music staple 5 Magazine have just celebrated their 5th anniversary, and not only did they hold a fantastic event for Boom Boom Room at Green Dolphin, but they embarked on an epic project of live video and interview footage with 40 of the greatest DJs and Producers in the Chicago electronic music scene.

Spanning the last wave of disco and early house years with Farley Jackmaster Funk and Steve Silk Hurley, the acid house and hip-house eras, DJ legend Justin Long, Grammy-Award winning Frankie Knuckles, into the techno of Green Velvet, the new school funk of South Of Roosevelt, and the fidget of bass-bin destroyers Santiago & Bushido. In addition to the video footage, each of the producers has offered a track from their catalogue for free download.

As a bonus, there is also a short film shot by John Pappas on the subject of 5 Magazine’s Five Year Anniversary, with Czarina Mirani, Rees Urban and a cast of Chicago’s Househeads, including Byrd Bardot, Chitown Ronnie, David Sabat, Christopher Banks and many more.

5 Years of 5 Magazine from Czarina Mirani on Vimeo.

I think it is a wonderful idea that 5 Magazine put all this together to celebrate, and the idea of sharing information, video and music among the Chicago community is one of the things that makes the Chicago music scene a great place. Presenting some of the great names of the past, present and future, and creating a package for worldwide fans of Chicago-based music to enjoy for free is a humble and noble thing to do, and an extension of the education and exposure that the magazine delivers on a regular basis. Check out the official ‘The Project’ website and pass on to people you know in the worldwide house music community.

Lee Jarvis.

Legendary music event Sónar is about to venture to the US and hold their first event in Chicago on September 9th, 10th and 11th.

The Barcelona festival has been established for 26 years, and continues to grow, throwing events of “advanced music and multimedia art” at various venues across the European city, every year, during the third week of June. In 2009, they held an event in New York, and having created a positive experience, they are set to launch their first multi-day event in Chicago next month. The objective is “to take the philosophy of the Barcelona festival to the North American city, with all the features that have made Sónar an international touchstone: with an ambitious and high quality line-up featuring plenty of electronic experimentation and its derivations and unusual venues of the highest calibre.” For Chicago, this means that the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (designed by Frank Ghery) and the famous Chicago Cultural Center will host some of that experimental electronic music.

Some of the artists already confirmed are, The Slew (the scratch-rock project led by the wizard on the decks Kid Koala), Oval (a key project in 1990s electronica, featuring Germany’s Markus Popp, back with a new album), the Australian – resident in Iceland – Ben Frost (one of the most acclaimed sonic experimentalists working today), Nosaj Thing (the Los Angeles beatmaker featuring a show with serious visual impact), the Dutchman Martyn (a key name at the techno-dubstep crossroads), Nicolas Bernier + Martin Messier: La Chambre des Machines (a Canadian duo that base their show on rudimentary noise machines from the early twentieth century) and Lesley Flanigan (a New York artist who constructs her music with hand-made instruments and the sounds created by her own voice). The full program is being announced here.

..

Meanwhile, SonarCinema presents five films: “Synth Britannia” (the BBC documentary telling the story of the birth of synth pop in Great Britain), “Amplified Gesture” (a film produced by David Sylvian on the art of improvisation), “Sensuous Cornelius” (the excellent filming of the live show by the Japanese musician), “Finisterrae” (the full-length film providing the image for Sónar 2010) and “Sónar Around The World” (which documents an entire year of Sónar, produced and made by Televisió de Catalunya).

Having experienced the heady festival in Barcelona in 2008, I believe that the music, venues and artists involved are going to provide a true Sónar experience. Their philosophy of pioneering futuristic and retro music mash-ups, and showcasing unique artists is a rare thing; a promoter who puts on risky acts, and holds the whole ‘experience’ in higher regard than profit is something to grasp and rejoice. I know I’ll be there, exploring and supporting the music scene.

All the shows and activities at the festival are free of charge and open to all.

The Slew [Kid Koala & Dynomite D] – It’s All Over





Lee Jarvis.

The good people of JaGoFF spend a lot of time on worthy causes. Over the last couple of years, Chicago has been under threat of an ill-conceived ‘Chicago Promoters’ Ordinance’ and the JaGoFF crew have been raising awareness, pointing out the huge holes an ridiculous impact it would have. This Promoters’ Ordinance, if passed into law, would effectively “drop a bomb on Chicago’s independent music community, if not nuke it entirely.” according to Jim DeRogatis at the Chicago Sun-Times.

To break it down:
*You would be required to submit to fingerprinting and background checks.
*If approved, you would be required to purchase a renewable license for $500 – $2000, even when working with a fully licensed venue.
*You must acquire $300,000 in liability insurance, even if working with a fully insured venue.
*You must notify chief of police seven days prior to event.
*The definition of “promoter” is vague and open to wide interpretation.
*The Ordinance targets the little guy while providing a big business exemption.

Although the Ordinance has currently been tabled, that does not mean it has disappeared; it can rear it’s ugly head in a mutated form at any time. It has also inspired Philadelphia to try and construct an equally-ridiculous set of rules that will crush the independent creative community.

JaGoFF have filmed a documentary to prove it. Do yourself and everyone a favor – Watch it, embed it, download it, share it… DO SOMETHING about it.

The Chicago Promoters’ Ordinance Kills Independent Music: A Documentary from the Street.
Part 01 of 07 (Head to The Record Industry’s Youtube Channel for all seven parts)

Filmed live in Chicago by: Sir Real, MOFO, 3Phaze & Joel Cote in the summer of 2008.
Produced & Directed by: JaGoFF
Presented in conjunction with: TheRecordIndustry.com
Film narration contains select excerpts from the white paper: “Why Chicago’s Event Promoters Ordinance Should Be Rejected” – courtesy of: Henry H. Perritt, Jr.; Professor of Law & Former Dean of Chicago Kent School of Law.

NOTE: All issues discussed reflect the time of filming and may not include recent revisions resulting from ongoing closed-door negotiations with “invited” members of the entertainment industry. However, the proposed ordinance as written is unconstitutional and should not pass in ANY form whatsoever.

Reaction to the ordinance:
“… a threat to the creative communities throughout the country and sets a very dangerous precedent – as one city goes, so goes another. Rinse and repeat.” – TheRecordIndustry.com

“… will pretty much drop a bomb on Chicago’s independent music community, if not nuke it entirely.” – Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times

“… it doesn’t meet any public need and is very ill-suited to Chicago’s independent music community – as written, it is unconstitutional.” – Henry H. Perritt, Jr., Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law

“I cannot imagine a major metropolitan city, a world class city with the stature of Chicago having an ordinance like this on the books. It’s frankly embarrassing …” – Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune

“this really has a chilling effect…” – Shawn Campbell, CHIRP [Chicago Independent Radio Project]

“The ordinance will reduce the amount of music in Chicago, make events more expensive for consumers, dampen the large and growing economic engine that is Chicago music, and create a much less supportive business climate for Chicago’s small music business community.” – The Chicago Music Commission

For more info on the Promoters’ Ordinance and what you can do to help visit: http://www.TheRecordIndustry.com/

Lee Jarvis