The competition, in its second year, will visit eleven city and suburban GLBT bars/nightclubs. The event will feature Windy City Radio hosts Amy Matheny and Jim Bennett leading the night's competitors through backstage interviews and on-stage introductions. But don't worry, the infamous judges will be up front to critique the competitors. The panel of judges will include Chicago performers and industry experts.

Windy City Gay Idol will kick-off on Sunday, March 7 and feature eleven preliminary events, the first-ever Semi-Final event and then a final extravaganza in June during "Pride Month" to crown the 2004 winner. Bigger and better than last year's inaugural event, the finals are bound to be an all out, wild night of high entertainment with finalists vying for the title of Windy City Gay Idol 2004 as well as the grand prizes. The crowned winner will walk away with $1000 cash, two American Airlines tickets to anywhere in the U.S., a Bud Light Bike and much more along with the coveted title of Gay Idol spokesperson for the duration of 2004.

Performers must be 21 years of age and be required to sign agreements and release forms pertaining to the event rules prior to competing in the competition. Rules can be found at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com .

Competitors will be "first come, first to perform" at each venue. Sign-ups will start at 6 p.m. at each venue the night of the event and the first 20 people signed up will get to compete that night. The entry fee to perform is $10. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. each night. Winners of every event (including the finals) will be decided by an audience vote (each person entering the event will get one ballot).

The Windy City Gay Idol Events :

Sunday, March 7 – Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark – KICK-OFF – 7 pm start time

Tuesday, March 9 – Charlie's, 3726 N. Halsted – 7 pm start time

Monday, March 22 – SPIN, Corner of Halsted & Belmont – 7 pm start time

Thursday, April 1 – Closet, 3325 N. Broadway – 7 pm start time

Thursday, April 15 – Clark's, 5001 N. Clark – 7 p.m. start time

Monday, April 19 – Madrigal's, 5316 N. Clark – 7 pm start time

Tuesday, April 27 – Hunter's – 1932 E. Higgens, Elk Grove7 pm start time

Friday, April 30 – The Patch 201 – 155th St. Calumet City, IL - 7 pm start time

Tuesday, May 4 – Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted - 7 p.m. start time

Friday, May 14 – Temptations, 10235 W. Grand - 7 p.m. start time

Tuesday, May 25 – Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark - 7 p.m. start time

Saturday, June 12 – The Eagle, 5015 N. Clark - 7 p.m. start time

Finals Saturday, June 19 at Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted

For more information about the competition, to request interviews with Gay Idol hosts, press passes for events or any other information please contact Kathleen Ulm, Marketing Director, Windy City Media Group, 773-871-7610, WindyCityMedia@aol.com

Sponsors for Gay Idol include Bud Light, VOX Vodka, Windy City Media Group, American Airlines, Materville Studios and Creaoke.