Q&A: Sweet Mary

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Q&As and tagged blues, blues music, Chicago, Chicago music, Doug Shotwell and The Right Hand Band, Eryn Allen Kane, From Tha 99, jazz, listen live and local, live music, Low Spark, q&a, R&B, Sweet Mary, The Main Squeeze, Walsher Clemons, Woo Park.

Stationed in the Windy City by way of St.Louis, Mary Porzelt, known to fans by her stage name, Sweet Mary, is getting ready to add a new city to her list of addresses. Following in the footsteps of her close mentors and friends, The Main Squeeze, the blues singer will be moving to Los Angeles later this year in pursuit of new musical opportunities. But before leaving the home of blues, Sweet Mary spoke with Listen Live and Local about her upcoming show, her passions outside of music and even let us in on a secret about where she feels most inspired to write.

Show Preview: Dunn Dunn Fest (2/18-2/20)

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Show Previews and tagged American Grizzly, Beat Kitchen, BoneLang, Calliope Musicals, Chicago music, Dunn Dunn Fest 2016, Falcor Friends, funk, Harmonica Dunn, jam bands, jazz, Lincoln Hall, listen live and local, live music, local music, Low Spark, music, OBY, Schubas, show preview, Sidewalk Chalk, soul, Spare Parts, Strange Americans, Subterranean, The Hideout, Tonic Room, Woo Park.

This week Chicago promoter Harmonica Dunn will be hosting Dunn Dunn Fest; a three night, six venue showcase featuring a number of local (and non local) bands. The fest will run from Thursday, February 18th to Saturday, February 20th with performances at Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, Tonic Room, Lincoln Hall, Schubas and The Hideout.

With so many great local bands at some of Chicago’s top venues, you really can’t go wrong with any show. Nonetheless, here’s who we’re excited to see:

Q&A: Woo Park

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Q&As and tagged Calliope Musicals, Chicago, Chicago music, Dunn Dunn Fest 2016, listen live and local, live music, local music, Low Spark, neo-soul, q&a, Subterranean, Woo Park.

A little bit funk, a little bit soul, a little bit rock and roll; Woo Park embodies everything that makes Chicago’s music scene great. The talented band composed of vocalist Emily Nichols, bassist Parker Grogan, keyboardist Christian Zwit, drummer Luke Sangerman, and guitarist Brian Sanborn can be described as nothing other than a choir of rhythmic chaos. Their sound is undeniably composed of practice, passion and true musicianship. An eccentric ascetic combined with undeniable chemistry, it’s no surprise Woo Park has become beloved to so many dedicated fans.

With their last show (for the time being) right around the corner (Feb 20th @ Subterranean) Listen Live and Local spoke with Nichols for the low down on their drive, their passion and what their futures hold.