MARIO SMITH - HOST

---

Photo credit Sophia Castro

Chicago poet, educator, producer, and radio chat show host, Mario is the host/executive producer of News From the Service Entrance with Mario Smith on WLPN-LP Lumpen Radio in Chicago and the host of the Silverroom’s Randomly Selected podcast.

He was featured in the Chicago Reader’s The People Issue in 2022. His poetry appears in the books Power Lines: A Decade Of Poetry from Chicago’s Guild Complex and The Break Beat Poets published by Haymarket Press. 

INSTAGRAM / TIKTOK

A premier Chicago studio session vocalist with over a decade of background vocal credits, Vernard has lent his rich tone and gospel-trained precision to some of the genre’s most celebrated recordings alongside Grammy-winning legends like Donald Lawrence, Smokie Norful, and Take 6. 

Now stepping fully into the spotlight, the local powerhouse brings his acclaimed solo showcase, Vernard Live: The R&B Revival, to the Harper Court stage.

Grounded in the warm, emotive traditions of classic soul crooners while infusing fresh, modern vitality into every arrangement, Vernard’s music is anchored by his signature anthem and guiding ethos, "Finish Strong." 

Delivering a performance rooted in passion, perseverance, and undeniable authenticity, he creates an electric, intimate atmosphere that both soothes and stirs the soul. Don't miss an unforgettable night of live rhythm and blues right in the heart of Hyde Park.

INSTAGRAM

Chicago has always been a city that produces artists who lead with soul, and DJ Celeste Alexander is no exception. A fixture in the city's vibrant DJ culture, Celeste brings a rare combination of technical skill, musical depth, and undeniable charisma to every performance — commanding the room from the first track to the last.

Rooted in Chicago house and deeply influenced by R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop, Celeste curates sets that feel less like playlists and more like conversations — each song chosen with intention, each transition a seamless move forward. Her ear for what a crowd needs, and what it doesn't yet know it wants, sets her apart.

As one of Chicago's most celebrated women behind the decks, Celeste has built a following that spans generations and neighborhoods. She doesn't just play music — she creates an experience. Tonight is no different. Come prepared to feel every moment.

INSTAGRAM

DJ Selah Say is a Chicago force — a DJ whose name carries weight in the city's music community and whose sets carry even more. With a style that honors the past while pushing forward, Selah Say moves fluidly between genres, weaving together gospel-rooted soul, house, hip-hop, and afrobeats into something that feels both timeless and entirely her own.

The name says it all — Selah, a word that calls you to pause and reflect, and Say, a reminder that music always has something to tell you. That duality lives in every set she plays: moments that make you stop and feel, and moments that make you move without thinking. She doesn't just fill a room with sound — she fills it with meaning.

A respected presence across Chicago's club, cultural, and community spaces, Selah Say has earned her reputation the right way — through consistency, creativity, and a genuine love for the art. Tonight, she brings all of that to the stage. Pause, listen, and let the music say what words can't.
 

INSTAGRAM