Black Madonna Archives - Chicago Reader

The Daphne festival elevates women and nonbinary DJs

by Jamie Ludwig March 1, 2018February 23, 2022

The folks behind Daphne—including Eris Drew, Sold, and DJ Kiddo—discuss how the festival’s workshops aim to help women and nonbinary people claim their place in electronic-music history.

Blogs

Electronic-music site Resident Advisor takes over a month of Saturdays at Smart Bar

by Tal Rosenberg March 11, 2016August 18, 2021

Resident Advisor supplements its monthlong Smart Bar residency with a thorough feature about the storied club.

Blogs

Reader track premiere: An electronic-music tribute to Smart Bar bouncer Karl Stein

by Leor Galil January 16, 2015August 18, 2021

Next month local electronic label Argot will release Thanks, Karl, a tribute to a Smart Bar bouncer made by a couple of the club’s junior residents, Olin & Savile.

Music

Gossip Wolf: New music and a new side project from black-metal band Vukari

by J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil August 27, 2014August 18, 2021

New music and a new side project from Vukari, crowdfunding for a documentary on Ella Jenkins, and more

Music

In Rotation: Metro publicist Jenny Lizak on a punk documentary to give teenage girls for Christmas

by Philip Montoro May 5, 2014August 18, 2021

Current obsessions of Metro publicist Jenny Lizak, and Smart Bar booker Marea Stamper (aka the Black Madonna)

Music

In Rotation: The Reader’s Tal Rosenberg on the only house musician in the Harper’s Letters section

by Tal Rosenberg December 16, 2013August 19, 2021

Current musical obsessions of DJs and producers Ross Kelly and Samantha Roberts

Music

Gossip Wolf: Cassette Store Day is definitely silly but might be fun

by J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil September 4, 2013August 19, 2021

Gossip Wolf: Two fun Cassette Store Day events to distract you from the nonexistence of “cassette stores,” a second LP for dark dance-rock duo Post Honeymoon, and more.