Midwest Ska Fest 2015 Returning to Double Door on August 8th
Get your three-piece suits ready - ska's coming back to Chicago, and in a very big way. Midwest Ska Fest is returning to the Double Door on August 8th for its third annual flagship show. The day-long event will feature eleven amazing ska bands from the Midwest alongside a special headliner coming in from Tennessee to prove that ska isn't dead, but very much alive and skanking in Chicago.
Midwest Ska Fest has previously revealed Bumsy and the Moochers, Evil Empire, Beat the Smart Kids, Ska's the Limit, The Circle City Deacons, Run and Punch, Fairhaven, Bootsmoke Rhythm, On Your Marx, Tone Zone Skam, and Something to Do for the lineup, but we are glad to announce that the Soul Radics will be making their way up from Tennessee to grace the stage. The festival will also be presented in conjunction with Jump Up Records and Dark Matter Coffee to commemorate their specially-made new brew, the Pressure Drip!
There will also be 21+ only after party immediately following the end of Midwest Ska Fest 2015 held in Double Door's Door No. 3 in conjunction with Simmer Down Sound featuring Akasha.
As an official sponsor of Midwest Ska Fest 2015, Ruby Hornet will be your source for all things Midwest Ska Fest. Trust me, we have a ton of surprises to reveal over the upcoming weeks. Whether your leanings are towards reggae, 2-Tone, trad, or ska/punk, Midwest Ska Fest 2015 will have you covered. Tickets are now on sale for $12!
Take a listen to all of this year's bands below!
Bumsy and the Moochers
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Evil Empire
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Beat the Smart Kids
Ska's the Limit
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The Circle City Deacons
Run and Punch
Fairhaven
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Bootsmoke Rhythm
On Your Marx
Tone Zone Skam
Something To Do
Soul Radics
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[RH Photos] Brisk Bodega Presents: Dj Mustard, Do Or Die and More at Double Door (7/12/2014)
Photos by AngieStar Photo
This summer, Brisk is partnering with Noisey, VICE’s music channel, to bring the Brisk Bodega, a live music party experience to 6 cities across the US. Just this past weekend, Brisk Bodega Chicago featured Dj Mustard, Do Or Die, Tree, and Dj Moondawg at Double Door, and the night was a hit. The venue was comfortably crowded, full with good vibes, and non-stop dancing or head bopping from start to finish. The complimentary Brisk cocktails made it even better.
In case you haven't heard of all the artists featured, you will definitely hear their names more in the near future. Headlining all Brisk Bodega shows is DJ Mustard, an LA native, who is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after producers in the music business. Some of the most recent songs he has produced include chart-topping hits like 2 Chainz ("I'm Different"), Young Jeezy ("R.I.P.") and Tyga ("Rack City"). Complex has also taken note, naming him one of their "25 New Producers To Watch Out For", sequentially, he signed with Roc Nation late last year. Mustard ended the night at Double Door, playing all his smash hits to date, and leaving everyone wanting more.
Amongst Chicago's exclusive featured artists for Brisk Bodega were Do Or Die, the west side rap trio, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, topping charts in the 1990's and the 2000's, and are set to release a new album by the end of the year. Performing tracks like "Po Pimp", "Playa Like Me and You", and "Do You", kept the crowd reminiscent and proud of their distinct home town sound.
One of the newer faces to perform that evening was Tree, a producer, rapper stemming from the city's notorious Cabrini Green projects. He brought to the stage Chris Crack and the New Deal Crew, partners in the Soul Trap movement, and kept the vibe live and energetic for the whole set. All members involved are rising to be major trendsetters for the Chicago Hip-Hop scene.
Lastly, we can't forget to mention Dj Moondawg, one of the country’s premier DJs, responsible for discovering, breaking, and supporting Chicago artists Chief Keef (Interscope), Lil Durk & Lil Reese (Def Jam), King Louie (Epic), and YP (Universal) on his radio show with WGCI. He kicked off the night's pulsing energy with non-stop bangers, and proved to be a key player to night's success.
I was able to get exclusive full media/ stage access, and got to experience each performer's great energy from beginning to end. Check out some of our favorite shots below and be sure to check out more here. Brisk Bodega is headed to hit New York City on July 18th. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and RSVP for NYC here.
