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Home » open mike

Tag: open mike

Posted inArts & Culture

Showing up for one another

by Alejandro Hernandez September 29, 2022October 12, 2022

Poet and organizer JazStarr builds bridges on the page and in the community.

Posted inArts & Culture

The jokes must go on

by Zach Freeman April 15, 2020August 18, 2021

One of the city’s most iconic open-mike nights finds a virtual home.

Posted inMusic

Keeping the beat

by Leor Galil September 25, 2019August 18, 2021

Chicago’s beat scene has to do without the attention the city’s rappers get, but it’s a vital incubator for adventurous, ambitious instrumental hip-hop.

Posted inBlogs

South-side poet Kwynology wants you to fall back in love with Chicago at her open mike

by Matt Harvey June 25, 2018August 18, 2021

In the Yard will let south- and west-siders share their work in their own community.

Posted inMusic

Jessica Risker sharpens her sweet songs on a hazy new album

by Peter Margasak April 18, 2018August 18, 2021

Deadbeat front woman Jessica Risker releases the sweet, hazy I See You Among the Stars, her most confident and consistent album yet.

Posted inMusic

A people’s history of Kevin Coval

by Leor Galil April 12, 2017August 18, 2021

Louder Than a Bomb cofounder Kevin Coval in the words of people in Chicago’s poetry, spoken-word, and hip-hop scenes whose lives he’s touched

Posted inArts & Culture

‘Once you’ve seen a guy jerk off a piano, you can never really unsee it’

by Brianna Wellen March 14, 2017August 18, 2021

The cast of the new webseries The Open Mic share their open-mike horror stories.

Posted inBlogs

Chicago teaching artist Matt Muse makes music that might as well be designed to inspire his students

by Leor Galil March 9, 2017August 18, 2021

Like Chance the Rapper, Matt Muse is affiliated with the after-school program Young Chicago Authors—and like Chance, he teaches by example with his own music, including the new Sikk Tape.

Posted inBlogs

Chance the Rapper’s Grammy nominations are a win for his community

by Leor Galil December 8, 2016August 18, 2021

You don’t have to care about the Grammys to care about Chance’s nominations—you only need to care about the young people of color he mentors and inspires.

Posted inBlogs

Love illuminates Chance the Rapper’s highly anticipated new Coloring Book

by Leor Galil May 13, 2016August 18, 2021

Chatham superstar Chance the Rapper rhymes about family, religion, and Chicago throughout his brand-new mixtape, binding it all together with irrepressible love.

Posted inBlogs

Malcolm London broadens the Chicago hip-hop scene with ‘I’mPossible’

by Leor Galil October 21, 2015August 18, 2021

The activist, poet, and educator officially adds “rapper” to his growing CV, and the scene is better for it.

Posted inBlogs

6/10 — Free summer improv at ComedySportz

by Nicholas Teddy June 10, 2009August 19, 2021

Free Wednesday improv nights all summer at the ComedySportz Theatre.

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