9th Annual Windy City Gay Idol Finals June 18

Windy City Gay Idol, now in its 9th year, crowns a Gay Idol at the finals this weekend, Saturday, June 18 at Sidetrack, 3349 N Halsted, with doors at 2 p.m./ show at 3 p.m. The largest annual search for the best amateur gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered singers in the Chicago area concludes, after three months of preliminary events, with the Top 12 finalists all competing for the title.

Windy City Gay Idol winners have gone on to sing at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Market Days and at festivals in Illinois, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Toronto. Plus the Windy City Gay Idol Finals in 2008 featured a then unknown Lady Gaga as a guest performer.

Audience votes determine the winner.  Everyone in the audience will be given a ballot to vote. A panel of judges will provide feedback to the singers throughout the event. Judges include: Chicago talent agent Bob Schroeder of Aria Talent (www.ariatalent.com), Nightspots' editor Kirk Williamson, and actor/performer Mitchell Fain (Lookingglass, Midnight Circus, Second City).

Amazing Guest Artists will perform this year with Billboard recording artist/performer Cyon Flare, the new and exciting Double DJ dancers, and 2010 Windy City Gay Idol Matt Rivera. Hostess Sofia Saffire will also perform for the crowd.

The Windy City Gay Idol winner will be awarded $1,000 cash, a dream vacation to Vancouver, a Miller Lite mountain bike, theater and concert tickets, plus the coveted title of Windy City Gay Idol 2011. The winner also will be given a chance to sing at a Chicago Cubs and a Chicago Sky women's pro basketball game this summer.

And audience members will win big too, Audience prizes include a Trip for Two to Vancouver, a Miller Lite Trek Mountain bike, Ravinia tickets and more.  There is a $10 cover and all audience members are entered to win prizes.

The 2011 Windy City Gay Idol is produced by Windy City Media Group along with its Premium sponsor, Miller Lite. Other Sponsors include Creaoke, Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Coast & Mountains, Westin Hotels and Ravinia.

Participating 2011 bars include: Jackhammer, The Glenwood, The Call, Crew, Spin, DS Tequila, T's, Parlour, Scarlet, Roscoe's and Sidetrack