Apply to perform at Chicago Festivals

Every year the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) accepts music submissions (bio, tapes, cds, photos, etc.) for consideration for the Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago Bud Light Stage, Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago SummerDance, Chicago Cultural Center and others. 

Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays

• Date: Mondays - May 27 to July 29, 2013

• Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park

• Genre: Indie / Hip Hop / Undefinable

• Submissions Accepted: January 1,  2013 - March 31, 2013

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Chicago Blues Festival

• Dates: June 6-9, 2013

• Location: Grant Park, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Blues/ R&B, Traditional Blues, Contemporary Blues

• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2012
  

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Chicago Gospel Music Festival

• Dates: June 20 - 23, 2013

• Location: Multiple Locations

• Genres: Gospel, Contemporary Christian

• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1, 2012 - Jan. 18, 2013

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Chicago SummerDance

• Dates: June 27 - September 15, 2013 (Thurs., Fri., Sat. & Sun.)

• Location: Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden

• Genres: Tango, Salsa, Ballroom, Swing, Other (please specify)

• Submissions Accepted: January 18 -March 15, 2013

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Taste of Chicago - Bud Light Stage

• Date: July 10 - 14, 2013
• Location: Grant Park
• Genres: A Capella, Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Classic Rock, Contemporary Christian, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Punk, Reggae, Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Urban/R&B, and World Music.
  
• Submissions Accepted on Sonicbids: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2012

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Chicago Jazz Festival

• Date: August 29 - September 1, 2013
• Location: Millennium Park & Grant Park
• Genre: All forms of Jazz music
• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2012 

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World Music Festival Chicago

• Dates: September 12 - 22, 2013
• Location: Various locations, Chicago, IL
• Genres: World Music
• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2012

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Cultural Center Presents

• Dates: September 2013 – August 2014

• Location: The Storefront Theater, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Cultural Center Dance Studio, other locations.

• Genres: Theater, Dance, Performance

• Submissions Accepted: December 1, 2012 – January 15, 2013

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Cultural Center Film

• Dates: On-going

• Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

• Submissions Accepted: On-going

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Loops and Variations

• Dates: Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Thursdays between June 13th and July 18th (with the exception of June 20th), and continuing inside the Cultural Center beginning September 2013

• Location: Pritzker Pavilion Stage and the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Electronic Music, New Music Ensembles

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center and in Millennium Park, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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LunchBreak Concert Series

• Dates: September through May on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

• Location: Randolph Café at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Indie Music, Folk, Singer-songwriters, World Music, Jazz, Blues and Electronic

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis throughout the year and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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Sunday Salons and Classical Mondays

• Sunday Salon Series Dates: September through May on Sundays
• Classical Mondays Dates: Year Round on Mondays

• Location: Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Western Orchestral Compositions, Contemporary Improvisational Forms, International Classical Traditions, Instrumentalists and Vocalists

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis throughout the year and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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Supporting Information

• Chicago Blues Festival Application Procedures
• Chicago Gospel Music Festival Application Procedures
• Chicago Jazz Festival Application Procedures
• Chicago SummerDance Application Procedures
• Cultural Center Presents Application Procedures
• Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays Application Procedures
• Taste of Chicago - Bud Light Stage Application Procedures
• World Music Festival Chicago Application Procedures