Voice and Drumming Class at Innergy

Chicago Reclaiming sponsors: "Finding Your Voice, Calling Back Your Power Using Voice, Movement, and Drumming to Access Our Core Selves." Join River and Ravyn as the class "explores ways to shift focus and open our hearts and voices through rhythm, sacred song, and movement...creating a vocal community." Saturday and Sunday, April 10-11th, 12:30 p.m.to 6:30 p.m. at Innergy located at 2041 W. Dickens in Chicago. This class is open to women and men 18 and over. Fees are on a sliding scale depending on affordability. No experience in singing or drumming is required. To register, contact Web (Robin Simons) at 773-764-3477 or e-mail catbirdgirl@yahoo.com.

SPEC presents "Breakups & Ex's"

SPEC Chicago presents an evening of readings concerning "Breakups & Ex's" Saturday, April 10 at 7:00 pm at Mojoe's Cafe Lounge in Roscoe Village (2256 W. Roscoe, Chicago). Readers include:
Andrew Mall (Living Proof zine)
Grant Schreiber (Judas Goat Quarterly)
Emerson Dameron (Kazoo zine)
Anna Weiler (independent writer)
Brandon Wetherbee (www.foulinc.com)
Brent Ritzel (Zine Guide & Tail Spins)
Aaron Cynic (Diatribe zine)
Larry O. Dean (www.larryodean.com)
Leonard "The Ludic Kid" Pierce (The Ludic Log)
Kevin Skomsvold (http://www.nadablog.com)

Muted Tones Narrowcast

Tenseforms is throwing a Muted Tones listening party at Open End Gallery, 2000 W. Fulton, tonight at 8pm. It's a bit of a twist on the standard listening party format though -- here's their description:
"We've gotten ourselves a little transmitter and we are filling the gallery with radios. We will be broadcasting (narrowcasting!?) volumes One and Two of the series to the radios. There will also be a live set featuring some of our local curators collaborating together. There will also be a giant parachute hung from the ceiling. The evening should be sonically and visually strange and beautiful, and hopefully pretty fun too."
A $3 donation gets you beer at the event. More info at the tenseforms site.

Reproductive Rights Conference

Interested in reprorductive and sexual rights in this country and others? Then the Controlled Bodies, Uprising Voices conference might be very interesting to you. Beginning today at 9 am at the Latin American Cultural Center (803 S. Morgan, University of Illinois at Chicago) you'll be able to attend workshop on abortion, HIV/AIDS, glbt rights, globalization, homeless rights, the murders of women in Juarez, and issues for women of color. You'll need to pre-register by emailing your name, contact info, and school/organization to registration4_10@yahoo.com. If you want more information, drop your query in an email to uicconference@hotmail.com.

Graham Smith, May Or May Not @ The Hideout

The Artist Formerly Known As Kleenex Girl Wonder, otherwise known as Graham Smith, will be playing songs from his forthcoming album on March Records, "Final Battle." Chicago newcomers May Or May Not play various styles of pop music, including a three-song "abridged" rock opera. At the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, at 8pm. For more information, see the Hideout website. $5 suggested donation, 21 and over.

Chicago Artists Space & Housing Expo

Are you a Chicago artist in need of a home or other physical space? Then you might be interested in the the Chicago Artists Space and Housing Expo taking place today at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) from 9am to 3pm. You'll get free access to information on how to buy a home, make a studio safe, get health insurance, and many other city programs provided by bankers, housing experts, developers, not-for-profit agencies and the like. There will be many workshops. To register or get more info, call (312) 747-8529.

New Workshop @ Chicago Reclaiming

New workshop at Chicago Reclaiming "Finding Your Voice, Calling Back Your Power: Using Voice, Movement, and Drumming to Access Our Core Selves"

Saturday and Sunday April 10-11th, 12:30 PM-6:30 PM.

From the Chicago Reclaiming website: "Join us as we explore ways to shift our focus and open our hearts and voices through rhythm, sacred song, and movement... co-creating a vocal community. We will explore how these ecstatic tools can be used to heal and spiritually empower ourselves and each other.

When in your personal history have you been silenced for speaking when others felt it was inappropriate? When have you held back your truth out of fear or shame? What would it be like to stand in your center and speak from a deep place of integrity? How would it feel to take an authentic risk to communicate by speaking your truth with courage and above all - joy?

No prerequisites for this class. This class is open to women and men 18 and over. No pre-requisite or experience in singing or drumming is required. Everyone who has ever thought, "I love to sing but I don't sound good", or "I love drumming but I'm rhythmically challenged" -- as well as those who consider themselves singers, dancers, and drummers -- are invited to come together for inspiration and power emanating from your personal truth! All spiritual backgrounds are welcome."