The grand finale concert features headliner Music Soul Child, Alex Boyd and Chicago's own Syleena Johnson and Carl Thomas.
The Chicago Westside Music Festival is presented by The Chicago Community Trust (Lead Foundation), the Chicago Park District (Lead Partner), Parkways Foundation (Fiscal Agent) and sponsored by BMO Harris (Platinum Sponsor), ComEd (Silver Sponsor), Friends of Michael Alvarez (Friend), Comcast (Media Sponsor) and Hard Rock Hotel Chicago (Hotel Partner)
Concert details:
Saturday 12-8 p.m.
Garfield Park
100 N. Central Park Ave.
More information:
312-961-2025 or visit www.chicagowestsidemusicfestival.com
More about the artists:
Musiq Soulchild: As an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter whose style blends contemporary R&B, neo- soul, funk, alternative, blues, jazz, gospel influences and hip hop, Musiq Soulchild is a highly accomplished, award winning artist. His awards include 2 platinum albums, 2 gold albums and 7 hit singles. He has received accolades from Billboard, BET, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, BMI, and Soul Train. Musiq has also been recognized by various outlets including MTV, The American Music Awards, the NAACP, and has received 11 Grammy nominations, including 3 for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq.
Alex Boyd: Newly-signed RCA Recording artist ALEX BOYD is a triple threat - by the young age of 13 he was dancing with Debbie Allen at the Kennedy Center, singing with Patti LaBelle and acting alongside Bruce Willis. Alex possesses a strong reverence for the soul masters, which is heard in his expressive vocals, as well as throughout the instrumentation and production of his music. Alex is currently in the studio putting the final touches on his debut album for RCA Records and will spend the summer performing at the famed Essence Festival, Hampton Jazz Festival, Cincinnati Jazz Festival, and the Chicago Westside Music Festival.
Syleena Johnson: Chicago's own Syleena Johnson is an American Grammy Award nominated R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress. Imagine this: you're a Grammy-nominated singer, considered one of the best vocalists of your generation, who has scored major R&B hits and been invited to collaborate with the likes of Kanye West and R. Kelly, yet some folks consider you "underrated." This has been the plight of Syleena Johnson, acclaimed as one of the finest R&B voices to have emerged during the past decade. Through it all, she has persevered and with the September 27th release of the new CD, Chapter 5: Underrated, and an upcoming reality show, Syleena is poised to continue to take the industry by storm.
Carl Thomas: The R&B crooner, best known for his #1 R&B smash "I Wish" from the album So Emotional, which sold nearly 2 million copies, is back! Conquer, his first album in 4 years, is bursting with lush orchestrations and entrancing chords. The core of Conquer is comparable to Coldplay's soulful sparseness. It's the spirited pop of Maroon Five on a hot Harlem night. While he wants to make timeless and genre-pushing music, his mission this time is even grander in scope. He wants to help and inspire someone future artists. The word "conquer" is an admittance that you've won. With the battles in his life over the past several years, he definitely considers himself victorious.
