On July 19th, bands on decorated pontoon boats will float down the Chicago river. Each boat will stop at three locations along the river. The band will disembark onto a floating stage. From there they will perform a set of music for an audience on shore.

This project is the culmination of several secret river shows. Over the past 4 years, I have been hosting bands on a pylon in the Chicago river. The city of Chicago awarded me a DCASE grant for my proposal to record an album and produce a river parade.

The purpose of the parade is to draw attention to the river and highlight the value of arts funding in the city of Chicago. If more people begin to engage with the river, policies that clean it and develop it can gain more traction. The parade also highlights the talent of the Chicago music scene.