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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2011

CHICAGO —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

ABOUT THE IDOL COMPETITION:

Windy City Gay Idol 2011 preliminary competitions are held one night only at different bars. As many as 20 participants sing at each venue, where all contestants compete for the chance to advance to the finals Saturday, June 18 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Results from every preliminary, semi-final and final event come from audience votes. Votes from friends, family and audience members hopefully land them on the stage at the finals.

With more than $5,000 in cash and prizes, all contestants will face local celebrity judges that include singers, DJs, actors, talent and casting agents, and others familiar with the performance arena.

Complete rules and regulations at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com

Windy City Media Group ( WCMG ) produces Windy City Times, Nightspots, OUT! Resource Guide, Identity online, WindyCityQueercast.com and QueerTVNetwork.com . WCMG is also the producer of these annual events: Windy City Gay Idol, Gays Got Talent, 30 Under 30 and the Windy City Times Theater Series. To download all of our products visit www.windycitymediagroup.com .