Dark and eerie, with plumes of smoke lingering on the floor to mask the mass amounts of dancing feet that filled up Smart Bar for their weekly Dubstep/heavy Bass Thursday lineup the Chicago underground music scene has grown to know and love. This week, March 25th was a special day. Although the other events are growing in numbers as the popularity for the bass driven music genre is growing, this week in specific had a special guest. Coming all the way from the UK to blow the speakers and minds of local music enthusiasts, the dubstep DJ, DubPolice and Dubsoldiers founder, Caspa arrived ready to impress.
Spinning some old school classics, along with his personal favorites that he has grown to be known for, the dubstep DJ was a force to be reckoned with. Having done tracks with multiple worldwide artists such as Rusko and Deadmou5. Local favorite, Kid Sister was in the mix adding a guest appearance and vocals to an already mind blowing experience that would not be soon forgotten.
With the twirling of glow sticks, dancing of the full crowd, and sea of smiling faces, its amazing how quickly the new genre that is known for the skull crushing bass, wobble that makes the weak of heart dizzy, and overall mood of the songs, attract the most diverse crowd, from a multitude of different genres of music. All one can truly say is that each and every show is a great experience, accompanied by great people just looking to be moved by music like they have never been moved before. Welcome to the world of Dubstep.

Story by, Chris Hemstreet

Check out the rest of Caspa’s tunes at:
myspace.com/caspadubstep

as well as the local openers and residents for the Smart Bar event at:
Phaded:
myspace.com/sosophaded

Special Guest, MC Zulu:
myspace.com/zulumusic

November 16, 2009. Chicago, IL. The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival’s Last Banjo Standing tallied over 20,000 votes from Midwest music fans in the last month, yet a mere 7 votes separated 1^st and 2^nd place when voting ended at midnight on 11/16. Two bands earned it, so, two winners were crowned, as the Festival announced that both Sexfist and Great Divide will appear on the main stage with Bela Fleck & The Fleckstones, Dr. Dog and the Emmitt-Nershi Band this 12/12.

They’ll split the cash prize and share in the opportunity to repay their loyal followings with back-to-back sets to commence the day’s Main Stage lineup.  Blues fusion extraordinaires Great Divide will kickoff the mainstage event, followed immediately by the hootenanny that is Sexfist.  ADDED BONUS: Sexfist has invited its fans to enjoy “Break-Fist w/ Sexfist” while taking in the Great Divide set.  More to come on what the boys will serve.

Sexfist, Chicago’s most politically incorrect band name, started as a duo in 2001 and has since become the five-man band spawned in May 2003.  Recently, Sexfist has found themselves comfortably alongside Cornmeal as one of Chicago’s two most popular bluegrass acts.   On tour since 2004, you can find them every Tuesday night at the Red Line Tap.

Greta Divide, originally from Ann Arbor, MI, is a seven-piece band with two guitarists, drums, keyboards, bass and horns. Much like the festival itself, they are greatly influenced by the traditional roots of rock n roll, blues, country, funk and soul.

As our friends at Jambase so eloquently put, they’ll  “set the tone for the night with tight, soulful horns, keys and a great jazz guitar bass combo.”

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues and Kingtello Presents want to congratulate both bands on their efforts in the contest as well as all the fans for participating.

Until Wednesday, November 18^th at NOON, fans can visit www.ticketweb.com and use the Access Code “LBS” to save $5 celebrate the successful completion of the Last Banjo Standing contest.

Learn more about the righteous celebration at www.cbbfestival.com

LAST BANJO STANDING CONTEST HEATING UP AS CHICAGO COOLS DOWN: WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK

Chicago, IL – October 13, 2008. The 2008 Chicago Blues and Bluegrass Festival’s LAST BANJO STANDING CONTEST is in full swing, with over 75 bands vying to join David Grisman and the Avett Brothers on the festival’s main stage.

The event’s organizers are extremely grateful for the thousands who have already voted in support of their favorite acts, as some extremely talented acts have surged to the top of the leaderboard.

Current leading vote getters, Squeeze-Bot, a group of accordion, banjo, and tuba enthusiasts from Louisville, are trying to hang on to the top spot.  They are being closely pursued by North Carolina’s Josh Phillips Folk Festival, led by the former front man of the wildly popular Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band.

In third is the “explosively intoxicating” and fellow Carolinian natives Holy Ghost Tent Revival, a clear favorite of Avett Brothers fans, as evidenced by some good-spirited campaigning on the Avett’s online message board.

Rounding out the top five are some local talents.  In fourth is newcomer Donnie Biggins, an Oak Park, IL native who has mounted an impressive community-wide campaign to emerge from the pack.  In fifth is Tangleweed, a hometown Americana group trying to inject some Chicago talent into the mix.

While the leaders have been established, the contest isn’t over by any means.  The polls remain open until the end of day on 10/17.  The votes will be tallied and a jury comprised of artists already on the bill will choose the winning artist amongst the top 5 vote-getters.  The winner will be announced at 12:00 a.m. on October 18th, at www.cbbfestival.com.

Will the previously mentioned five hold onto the top spots?  Or will another artist emerge from the pack to claim a spot in what will surely be a taxing decision for the jury of their peers.  With only four days of voting left, it is up to the fans to decide.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL:

On November 22nd, 2008, the Congress Theater will host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (cbbfestival.com). While rooted in the foot-stomping influences of bluegrass and blues, the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival will transport the concertgoer through the genre-defying evolution of music today.  The one-day event will serve as a tribute to two schools of music that continue to shape and inspire contemporary rock, jamband, funk, folk, roots, Americana, and indie cultures, while allowing festivalgoers to save a heart.  A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), an non-profit organization that raises money for America’s #1 birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD).

The polls are open and the time has come to make your voice heard in the Last Banjo Standing contest for the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival.  Listen to the sample tracks and cast your ballot for the best of a field of over 75 bands.  Every day you can vote for your favorite, and track their progress on the leaderboard.  The winning artist gets a cash prize of $500 and a spot on the festival’s main stage along with David Grisman, the Avett Brothers and many others.  Your vote can make a huge difference in the lives of some very talented artists, so vote early and vote often. VOTE HERE

HOMETOWN WINNER WILL PERFORM ALONGSIDE NATIONAL HEADLINERS AT THE CONGRESS THEATER’S INAUGURAL CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL

The Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, a one-day music fest to be held this November at the legendary Congress Theater, is bringing the Battle of the Banjos to the Windy City. Organizers today announce the kickoff of “LAST BANJO STANDING,” an online contest that will scour

Chicagoland to find the top bluegrass or blues inspired artist.

The winner, as voted on by fans, family, friends and music lovers around the city, will join a slew of national headliners including the legendary David Grisman Quintet, and the chart-blazing Avett Brothers, on stage this fall. 16 bands for a mere $31 bucks just got a whole lot sweeter, as one local band will get the chance to bring down the house, alongside:

The Avett Brothers, The David Grisman Quintet, Ha Ha Tonka, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Majors Junction, Billy Childers, Dollar Store, Blackdog, Blue Mother Tupelo, How Far to Austin, Mike Mangione, Cobalt & the Hired Guns, The Lindsay O’Brien Band, Jessica Lee, and Blue Room Hero

How Bands/Artists can enter:
Starting September 15th, until October 1st, bands can fill out an entry form and upload two of their original tracks to www.cbbfestival.com. Keep in mind that artists do not have to be of the traditional bluegrass and blues persuasions to be considered.

Winner will be announced:
On October 16th, the votes will be tallied and Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival organizers will choose the winning artist amongst the top 5 vote-getters. The winner will be announced at 12:00 a.m. on October 17th, at www.cbbfestival.com.

Online Voting:
The online voting period begins on October 2ndth, and concludes on October 16th, 2008. Each e-mail address will be allotted one vote per day, and as is the tradition in Chicago, encourage your supporters to vote early and often!

“As we kick off the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, we launched the Last Banjo Standing contest to give every musician a shot at taking the stage. Chicago boasts an un-elitist reputation for recognizing good music, and we’re excited to give an up-and-coming, still-to-be-discovered musician the exposure they need to break through to the next level,” said Michael Raspatello, founder/organizer of the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival.

And although the festival will get to break a band, festivalgoers will get to save a heart. A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving Tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), a non-profit organization that raises money for grossly under-funded, crucial, life-saving research of congenital heart defects (CHD), America’s #1 birth defect. Nearly one of every 125 babies born in America each year is affected by a Congenital Heart Defect.