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Patrick Hicks
Patrick Hicks is a storyteller, digital creator, podcaster, and dad based in Chicago. His mini music documentaries on TikTok have gotten him 450,000+ followers and millions of views. He also hosts a music history podcast called Good Measure with Patrick Hicks. He has worked with and created content for major record labels, publishers, music festivals, films, and symphonies. And musicians from Willie Nelson to Questlove have reposted his videos.
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Andrew Sa
Actor and Vocalist Andrew Sa has earned the title of Chicago's premiere queer country crooner. Sa's career has always been rooted in songwriting that highlights his easy and elegant voice, but when he met mentor and pioneer Patrick Hagerty of Lavender Country, “Lonesome Andrew” was born. Diving headfirst into the catalogs of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and other classic songwriters that defined his childhood, Sa easily slipped into this new but familiar persona. It wasn't long before all of Chicago was seeking out his voice.
Sa quickly became the star of The Cosmic Country Showcase, an instant smash hit camp-country revue based out of the Hideout, a bar that has fostered many golden voices for decades. One of those legendary voices, Kelly Hogan (Mavis Staples, Neko Case), instantly recognized Sa's abilities and quickly the two were booking gigs across the city as a duo. The young and talented Liam Kazar (Tweedy, Marrow) also recruited Sa for a duet on his debut album Due North. Sa also created a stunning film, Andrew in Anotherland, which was a celebration of Chicago's many voices that accompanied a live revue at the prestigious public amphitheater Millennium Park. Audiences and fellow artists alike reveled in Sa's intra-generational appeal that, while timeless, is rooted in a definitively young, queer perspective.
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Nestor Gomez
Nestor “the Boss” Gomez was born in Guatemala and traveled to Chicago Undocumented in the mid 80’s. He told his first story at a Moth story slam to get over the stuttering that plagued his childhood, since then he has won more than 80 Moth Slams. Nestor has performed and conducted storytelling workshops in multiple locations around the country. He also created his own storytelling show 80 Minutes Around the World a show that features the stories of Immigrants and refugees from different parts of the world, their descendants, and allies. 80 Minutes Around the World is also available as a Podcast. Nestor also published a collection of stories detailing his experiences driving for ride sharing title “Your Driver Has Arrived” To listen and subscribe to the podcast, to buy his book and to learn more about Nestor visit his website Nestorgomezstoryteller.com
Nestor “the boss” Gomez nacio en Guatemala y viajo a Chicago sin documentos a mediados de los 80. Nestor conto su primer relato en un evento de la Moth para poder vencer la tartamudez que atormento su niñez, desde entonces a ganado mas de 80 competencias de la Moth. Sus relatos han sido transmitidos en programas de radio a nivel nacional. Nestor es el creador, director y anfitrion de su propio programa de relatos 80 minutos alrededor del mundo en que se relatan las historias de Immigrantes y refugiados de diferentes partes del mundo, ademas de los relatos de sus descendientes y aliados con el fin de proveer un major entendimineto de las realidades, luchas y sueños de la experiencia migratoria. 80 minutos alreadedor del mundo tambien esta disponible come Podcast. Para escuchar y subscribirse al programa y para aprender aun mas sobre Nestor por favor de visitar la pagina de internet Nestorgomezstoryteller.com
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Erin Allen
Erin Allen is an artist and communicator, driven by her curiosity about the stories of people. She hosts "The Rundown" podcast and Prisoncast at WBEZ, and she has produced audio and multimedia projects at stations and companies across the country, including WDET and Pizza Shark Productions. Erin has also produced several audio-based events, including the Detroit Podcast Festival and Radio Campfire. Her passion for social justice and art with her skills in marketing and communications have led her to spaces like Allied Media Projects and Stone Soup Housing Cooperative. With spare time, she dances her heart out at music festivals and binges science fiction media of the Octavia Butler persuasion.
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Amy Sumpter
Amy Sumpter is a stand up comedienne who has performed all over the Midwest. Her nephew once called her a Joke Star. You can also see her rapping with She's Crafty, Chicago's all-female Beastie Boy tribute band.
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Carolyn Kassnoff
Carolyn Kassnoff is an illustrator who creates artwork under the name It'll Glow On You. She was the Chicago Public Library's Maker in Residence, and has studied almost every kind of art under the sun, including papercutting and neon sign bending. She is currently working on a Chicago music venue journal. She has about 200 close dog best friends, and you've probably seen her on the north side walking dogs sized anywhere from a yorkie to a newfoundland. She DJs occasionally on CHIRP, designs shirts and graphics for the station, and is also the person who picks up your donated records and cds.