Sun. August 8, 2021
Forget the Market Days blues on Monday morning, August 9, and instead get ready for the final Market Days beats.
All roads lead to Fantasy Nightclub on Monday, for the 6-hour finale to the 39th annual Northalsted Market Days as DJs Oscar G and Martin Fry wrap-up the weekend shenanigans with the Xxposed Afterhours, starting at 7 a.m.
“Market Days (is) the weekend that our mental and emotional well-being has been craving and needed,” said Alex Cabot, the co-producer of Xxposed along with his business partner, Ryan Willing, of Organized Grime.
The first official Xxposed was New Year's Day 2020.
The event name reflects the way organizers stripped away the glitzy production elements, the costumed dancers, and all the other elaborate visuals and special effects that captivate partygoers at countless festivals and parties. “Thus, what is left 'xxposed' are the foundational elements of an amazing party, the sound and lights,” said Cabot, a noted local DJ. “The entanglement of those two pieces is what fosters the musical magic we experience while unifying different backgrounds, languages, and cultures as the people and the colors of light dance for hours on end.
“I also think the self-reflection brought about by the pandemic allowed us to 'xxpose' what mattered to us most in life and strengthened the bond we have for the people we love and cherish. So, after a long-overdue action-packed weekend, Market Days 2021 is guaranteed to be, Xxposed Afterhours, an event that celebrates living in the moment through music with the people you love and appreciate, and that is nothing short of poetic.”
DJs Martin Fry and Oscar G truly reflect “our appreciation of the past with inspiration towards the future,” Cabot said.
Fry has an extensive resume, 20-plus years of experience having produced many amazing tracks, some in collaboration with the likes of Ralphi Rosario and David Knapp. As a DJ, he has studied and/or performed with some of the biggest names in house music, including Chus & Ceballos and Peter Rauhofer. “His style is a mix of progressive-tribal and tech house, laced with vocals and beats that are just sexy and perfect for our event,” Cabot said.
Oscar G is the epitome of a house music legend.
“Through his partnership with Ralph Falcon, known as Murk, Oscar G is known for some of the most well-known underground house classics that are still heard in clubs internationally today, most notably the mega-popular track 'Dark Beat,'” Cabot said.
“Personally, I discovered Oscar G's anthems during my high school years, when I would sneak watch Queer As Folk and copy the names of the artists credited to produce the music featured in the show. I would listen to these tracks in secret and the motivation to live I found in the music helped me survive a very dark period of my youth. As a fellow Cuban, I also find a deep and profound connection to Oscar G's music as he magnificently incorporates the island's unique culture and spirituality into his art. Oscar G continues to shine light into darkness for millions of others by using his platform to raise awareness to the suffering and despair of the people in Cuba.”
Oscar G last spun in Chicago in 2016, mostly in the River North area. Fry has not had an appearance in Chicago for more than 10 years.
“While the rest of the world begins its weekly monotony of daily work-week life Monday morning, Xxposed will have state-of-the-art light and sound installation specifically for this event. And it is the first legally allowed nightclub-hosted afterhours (party) since a global pandemic turned every aspect of society upside down,” Cabot said. “That more than demonstrates why this event is a must-attend event.
“Xxposed Afterhours exists because it is in these spaces that precious time is spent with friends and loved ones, facilitated by the captivating power of music, creating those memories and moments that no pandemic can ever take away from us.”
Cabot admitted it will be “a bit strange” to transition to a management role from that of party DJ, especially since, to this day, his best performing set on SoundCloud is the last Market Days afterhours party in 2019.
“True progress as well as lasting fulfillment in one's work, to me, comes in the moments we set aside personal ego and work toward advancement of something greater than ourselves,” he said. “Stepping aside and focusing on the production of the event while bringing in two iconic, forward-thinking DJs improves the quality of the experience for the customer, which also pushes the rest of the scene's creativity and caliber. Stagnation and complacency are never good for anyone's business.”
More From … DJ Alex Cabot
On Ryan Willing: “None of this would be possible without Ryan. He not only is a great business partner, but he has been a true friend in so many ways during the pandemic. A true friend is someone who pushes us to be better, and Ryan most certainly does that for me and for the brand. Working with him (on Xxposed Afterhours) has been an honor and a privilege.”
Reflecting: “Although the weekend will bring exponential amounts of love, positivity and healing, many attendees of Market Days will be reminded of the close friend or family member who is not with us this year because they are a part of the 4 million-plus killed globally by COVID-19. So, I think this Market Days brings a profound collective sense of appreciation for life.”
Tickets: To get tickets to Xxposed Afterhours, go to: www.xxposedafters.com.
DJ Oscar G · OSCAR G ~ Live @ 1-800-Lucky - July 2021
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