Featuring an evening of five musical acts, ALT Q's mission is to raise awareness of out performers among the general public and the LGBT community. A meet-the-artists wine reception will follow the event. "One of the hippest GLBT concerts in the midwest" - Time Out Chicago

 
CRIS WILLIAMSOM
Decades before indie labels were the norm, and years before women had any real access in the industry, Cris Williamson was busy changing the face of popular music. During an interview in Washington, D.C., she conceived of a national, all-women's record company, which subsequently issued her now-legendary classic, 'The Changer and the Changed' - one of the best-selling independent releases of all time. Finally, the stage had been set for women, and particularly for lesbians, to write, produce, record, and issue their own material - on their own terms. For nearly thirty years, Cris has toured incessantly, as is one of the most sought-after performers on the acoustic circuit. She continues to crisscross America, selling out Carnegie Hall three times, and headlining, among others, the Newport and Kerrville Folk Festivals. Cris has devoted a portion of her heart and time to The Songbird Foundation, sharing the stage and cause with Bonnie Raitt, Danny O'Keefe, Tom Robbins and Keb Mo. Considered by many to be her finest work to date, Ashes, her latest CD on her own label, Wolf Moon Records, is a powerhouse collection of twelve artfully crafted songs which read like a map of the heart's own landscape.
photo by Irene Young
 CRIS WILLIAMSON 


 
COYOTE GRACE
Coyote Grace is the acoustic duo comprised of Joe Stevens, a transman singer/songwriter from Northern California, on vocals and guitar, and Ingrid Elizabeth, a sassy femme originally hailing from the hills of Southeastern Ohio, on vocals and upright bass. The two met while living in Seattle, and have been performing together since December, 2004, sharing the stage with bluegrass, old-time, folk rock, jazz, and cabaret artists alike. Their aptly titled debut studio album "Boxes & Bags" pays homage to the trademarks of their nomadic troubadour lifestyle with twelve original tracks of acoustic alt-folk, upbeat folkgrass, front-porch blues, lovesick serenades, broody funk, and freight train folk rock, conveying themes of transformation, introspection, and the impermanence of identity. They were the recipient of the 2007 Stonewall Society's Pride In The Arts Award for "Favorite Transgender Musician", and featured on the nationally syndicated program Queer Music Heritage Radio. They were also honored to perform at events for Trans Day of Remembrance at both the Utah Pride Center (2006) and Brown University (2007). Coyote Grace was the featured artist for National Coming Out Day at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. They are working on two new albums – a live collection from their year on the road, and their highly anticipated second studio release.
Photo by Trevor McKee
 COYOTE GRACE 


 
EDWARD THOMAS-HERRERA
Edward Thomas-Herrera (aka, "Worlds Most Famous Salvadoran-American") is thrilled to be from Houston, Texas, the largest city in the US in terms of square mileage. As a long-time artistic associate of Live Bait Theater, Edward has authored three plays: Of Diamonds and Diplomats, Mondo Edwardo, and Death on a Pink Carpet. He is also a stample of Live Bait's annual Fillet of Solo Festival, where he debuted his one-man show, 'Fun While It Lasted: A Farewell Tour' (directed by the lovely and talented Stephanie Shaw). His directing credits include Stephanie Shaw's 'Materia Prima' and David Koleski's 'And Some Can Remember Something of Some Such Thing', as well as hour installments of the Neo-Futureists' 'It Came From The Neo-Futurarium!' annual festival of staged readings of bad movie scripts. In 2005, 'Of Diamonds and Diplomats' was re-mounted as part of the Field Museum's exhibit 'Jacqueline Kennedy" The White House Years'. Edward's father is a fifth-generation Texas who thinks the Bush family is just a bunch of rich, carpetbagging Yankees.
 EDWARD THOMAS-HERRERA 


 
MEKOLE WELLS
Out and proud artist Mekole Wells began singing in church at the age of five. In the '80's, she had three Billboard Top 40 dance singles under the name Eleesa. In 1998, Mekole was stabbed ten times in the throat, and was told she would probably never be able to sing again. But through the miracles of heaven, Mekole is singing better than ever. She played "The Power Woman" in the off-Broadway musical 'Menopause The Musical', which ran for two years in Chicago, and she has earned her name as a jazz, soul, and dance artist. Her upcoming CD release is entitled 'Covers'
 MEKOLE WELLS 


 
THE ERIN WATERS SHOW
Erin Waters grew up in a twenty member, all-girl jug band co-founded by her guitar playing mother and her banjo playing godmother. This glorious introduction to music formed the base for Erin's unique brand of Alternative Lifestyle Country music. Solid guitar playing, a gorgeous voice, and sly humor make this one show you won't want to miss.
 THE ERIN WATERS SHOW 


 
SCOTT FREE
Scott Free, the queer-rock singer/songwriter extraordinaire, is one of America's leading openly-gay male artists. His sometimes humorous, sometimes angry, always touching songs of queer life have gained him acclaim in both gay and straight media across the globe. His early forays into rap produced his first single 'Beat The Rap', who's video was on rotation on Black Entertainment Television. In 2005, he received two Outmusic Awards - Outmusician of the Year and Out Song of the Year (for 'Another Day of the Cruelty'). He also received two Stonewall Society Pride in the Arts Awards that year for Song of the Year (The Muffin Song) and Producer of the Year (Homolatte/Queer Is Folk Festival). He was also inducted into the Stonewall Society's GLBT Hall Of Fame in 2005. Scott has appeared on Canada's MuchMusic video channel, and has been featured on National Public Radio's 'All Things Considered". Along with Alt Q, Scott is the host and curator of 'Homolatte', the longest running queer performance series in the country, at Big Chicks/Tweet. Scott's latest CD is entitled 'The Pink Album (A Pop Opera)'.
 SCOTT FREE