Windy City Gay Idol has started its seventh annual count-down, with great competitions at Star Gaze and Jackhammer bars. A new venue has been added to the preliminary rounds: Sofo bar, which will be the site of Gay Idol Thursday, May 14. Windy City Gay Idol features the best amateur gay and lesbian singers in the Chicago area.

What started as a fun promotion with Windy City Media Group has become the largest and most highly anticipated annual competition in Chicago's LGBT community. And you don't have to sing to be a part of it. Just come and vote!

Windy City Gay Idol 2009 includes preliminary competitions one night only at different bars where as many as 20 participants sing at each venue. All contestants compete for the chance to advance to the Semi-finals Saturday, May 30 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Results from every preliminary, semifinal and Final event come from audience votes. Votes from friends, family and audience members hopefully land them on the stage at the finals Saturday, June 13 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.

Premium sponsors this year are Miller Lite and Skyy Vodka. Other co-sponsors include: American Airlines, Broadway in Chicago, Creaoke, Ravinia, and WCPT AM & FM: Chicago's Progressive Talk and Windy City Media Group.

Each winner collecting the most votes at a preliminary bar will win $100. Two winners from each bar will advance to the Semi-finals. Audience members at each bar also have the chance to win great prizes, such as Miller ad Skyy merchandise, Broadway in Chicago and Ravinia tickets and much more.

The Finals event includes big prizes for audience members as well as the top three contestants, including weekend stays at downtown hotels, travel packages and theater tickets to top Chicago theaters and concert venues.

The winner of the entire event at Sidetrack will win $1,000 in cash, a pair of American Airlines, a Miller Lite iPod Touch, Skyy Vodka basket featuring Skyy Pineapple Infusion, Broadway in Chicago tickets, and more, not to mention the coveted title of Windy City Gay Idol 2009. The event is open to all amateur singers age 21 and above, regardless of sexual orientation. There is a $10 signup fee for singers, and a $5 fee for audience members at all preliminary events. There is a $10 cover at the semifinals and finals at Sidetrack.

The remaining 2009 schedule:

—Thursday, May 14: Sofo bar, 4923 N. Clark, 7 p.m. sign up, 8 p.m. start.

—Wed., May 20: @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark, 8 p.m. sign up, 9 p.m. start.

—Thursday, May 28: WILD CARD, Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted, 9 p.m. door opens, 10 p.m. start. Invited guests plus open slots for new singers.

—Sat., May 30: SEMI-FINALS, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, 2 p.m. door opens, 4 p.m. start.

—Sat., June 13: FINALS, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, 2 p.m. door, 4 p.m. start.

For more information or photos, contact Cynthia Holmes at 773-871-7610, ext. 301 or cynthia@windycitymediagroup.com . Complete rules and regulations are at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com .