A collection of performing artists and DJ’s will be performing at bookclub Chicago this Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. Organized by recent Columbia College Chicago alumni Zay Anderson, the show will bring together two DJ’s and six performing artists that span genre and style.
Anderson, who graduated from Columbia last May with a degree in music business and focus in talent management, selected local musicians and performers that he thought would offer a versatile performance to the audience.
“I just knew that I wanted to utilize my community in some capacity,” Anderson said. “I hit up all the people I had in mind and asked them if they would be interested and down to perform and everybody said yes.”
After seeing peers of his post about shows at bookclub, Anderson chose to pursue the venue for his event. Anderson hopes to draw a big crowd to support the array of talent slated to perform.
“We’re all gonna have a good time,” he said.
The majority of the performers for Friday’s event were selected by Anderson after he met them either through Columbia or the local nightlife scene.
Franchise Porter, who performs as “Mr. 97,” met Anderson at Columbia’s Manifest celebration last May. Porter attended the festival to meet fellow local performers and make connections, ultimately walking away with his valuable connection with Anderson.
Porter said that he plans on continuing this practice of connecting with his community on Friday.
“After I’m done performing, I’ll go in the crowd and engage with people,” he said. “I’m looking to gain more exposure, fanbase and even more opportunities to perform.”
Porter will bring his fusion of pop and hip-hop to bookclub’s stage with the hopes of bringing an energetic experience that will stick with attendees afterwards.
“I hope that they can take home a story, something they can share with their friends,” he said. “If they had a bad day earlier that day, my performance, all of our performances, are [hopefully] able to reverse that bad day and make it a good day.”