Jill Hopkins is a Chicago broadcaster, DJ, writer, musician, and storyteller. After an eight-year stint at Vocalo Radio, Hopkins kicked off 2022 by joining the Metro family of venues (which also includes Smart Bar and GMan) as their new media and civic events producer. As told to Jamie Ludwig I was always a big radio […]
Tag: Vocalo
Posted inMusic
Sandra Treviño, DJ and founder of Latin-music site Enchúfate
“I love that I can share the music that I love, and that once people hear it they’re gonna love it too.”
Posted inMusic
Building on the pillars of Blue Groove Lounge
An oral history of DJ Jesse de la Peña’s foundational Blue Groove Lounge hip-hop night, on the occasion of its belated 25th birthday parties
Posted inMusic
Mavis Staples sanctified Friday night at Pitchfork
Even when Mavis Staples wasn’t singing gospel at Pitchfork, her powerful spiritual voice could bring together generations.
Posted inReader
Chicago Reader Pride Block Party 2019
There may have been rain on Sunday, but that didn’t stop the rainbows from taking over Marz Community Brewing for our Pride Block Party! Thanks to all who came out to celebrate our city’s rich and diverse 50 years of LGBTQ+ community legacy with Drag Queen Story Hour, house and salsa dance lessons, a Janet Jackson […]
Posted inMusic
The Growing Concerns Poetry Collective ask all races to fight racism
Mykele Deville, McKenzie Chinn, and Jeffrey Michael Austin—aka the Growing Concerns Poetry Collective—tell stories for black folks that aim to reach everyone.
Posted inMusic
The Green Music Fest catches Dave Mata’s Royal Hands
The Green Music Fest catches Dave Mata’s Royal Hands, Bric-a-Brac Records celebrates four years, and more.
Posted inMusic
Why little rappers still believe in big radio
Little rappers still believe in big radio thanks to DJs like Nehpets at Power 92.
Posted inMusic
The Palace Film Festival hosts two days of experimental music and movies
The Palace Film Festival hosts two days of experimental music and movies, Louder Than a Bomb celebrates a new mixtape at Metro, and more.
Posted inMusic
Slo ‘Mo DJ Tess Kisner on the antidote to terrible mainstream radio
Current musical obsessions of Slo ’Mo DJ Tess Kisner, MC Rita J, and Reader digital content editor Tal Rosenberg
Posted inBlogs
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Mick Jenkins headline two stacked hip-hop shows on Saturday
Two big local hip-hop shows kick off Saturday night, one featuring 90s legends Crucial Conflict and Twista, the other anchored by rising stars such as Mick Jenkins.
Posted inMusic
In Rotation: Ayana Contreras of Vocalo’s Reclaimed Soul on a softly stratospheric Andrew Hill LP
Current musical obsessions of Primeridian’s Simeon Viltz and Ayana Contreras of Vocalo’s Reclaimed Soul
Posted inMusic
Gossip Wolf: Ensemble dal Niente cellist Chris Wild drops a solo record
Ensemble dal Niente cellist Chris Wild drops a solo record, Chuck Wren celebrates 20 years of American Ska-thic, and more
Posted inBlogs
Chicago Public Media is now a union shop
Employees of Chicago Public Media vote overwhelmingly to join SAG-AFTRA.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
The highs and lows of longtime WBEZ visionary Torey Malatia
The highs and lows of longtime WBEZ visionary Torey Malatia