COMMUNITY

Contributing Writer (Chicago, Illinois)

Syd is a full-time camp director, bassist for Shotgun Funeral, part-time bartender, and writer from Chicago. Her published work can be found on her website: sydneysargis.com. She is the recipient of the 2022 Allen and Lynn Turner Commencement Prize and in 2019, was chosen to represent Columbia College at the 20th Annual Citywide Undergraduate Poetry Festival. She spends all her free time attending local Chicago DIY shows and making shitty dad jokes.

(photo by Vicki Holda)

Contributing Writer (Chicago, Illinois)

Amanda Garrity is a Chicago-based audiophile. She is a former children’s librarian currently spending time at home raising her (soon-to-be) three sons and family. She’s dabbled in a wealth of behind-the-scenes music work from mail order to ticketing to writing and event work and is happy to talk music any time.

Independent Photographer (Chicago, Illinois)

Vicki Holda is a multi-faceted photographer and content curator. The winner of the 2022 Mic1park Photographer of the Year Award, you're likely to see her at a Chicago-based local show on any given day of the week shooting for many of the dozens of bands who adore and trust her work.

In addition, Vicki is the Editor-In-Chief of The Underground Voice, a music media outlet founded by POC women.

Vicki was also a recent guest on the Mic1park Podcast, where you can hear her dive in detail about all the aforementioned work she does.

(photo by felixthehuman)

Local Venue (Akron, Ohio)

Having attended show(s) at, booked show(s) at, and worked with dozens of other venues prior, there is no doubt The Rialto Theatre in Akron, Ohio is one of the best.

According to the venue's website,

The Rialto Theatre opened in 2015 and is a benchmark in the revitalization of Kenmore Blvd. and the positioning of the district as Akron’s Music Row. Since opening, thousands of musicians from across the country have graced the Rialto’s stage. The Rialto building houses a music venue and performance art theatre, a front room known as “The Rialto Living Room” that features a small stage for solo performances and Paninoteca - a new restaurant serving paninis, desserts, drinks, and more. Additionally, the Rialto is home to a world-class recording facility that has produced records for a number of up-and-coming and established artists. 

Local Venue (Cleveland, Ohio)

TempleLive Cleveland, in particular its brand new 'Jester's Lounge', have also worked closely with Mic1park. According to the venue's website, it is located in downtown Cleveland at 3615 Euclid Ave., just east of Playhouse Square and near the Cleveland State University Campus. 

 Acquired by Beaty Capital Group, Inc. in 2017 through its TempleLive brand, the Cleveland Masonic Temple has undergone a revitalization and is now open to the public.   

The Cleveland Masonic Temple is available for events and offers several different event spaces at an affordable cost. With its rich history and unique architectural features, the venue is a unique and memorable location for any function.

Local Venue (Nashville, Tennessee)

The winner of the 2022 Mic1park Indie Venue of the Year, Springwater has continued its remarkable reputation working closely with Mic1park. According to the venue's website,

 Springwater Supper Club & Lounge is the oldest continuously open and operational bar in the great state of Tennessee. Happily hosting Live Music 5 nights a week, plenty of afternoon events, and the COLDEST beer in town! With the storied history and status comes all sorts of fantastic shows both big and up-and-coming, a plethora of big name music video shoots, loyal and neighborly regulars and plenty of tourists stopping in to grab a taste of Nashville history.  

Indie Punk/Rock Media Platform (St. Louis, Missouri)

Founded and operated by 2022 Mic1park John J. Vargo Award Winner Wes Hoffman, 314 Punk is a platform very similar to Mic1park, except exclusively working with and promoting bands in and around St. Louis.

With playlists, show bookings, a podcast, and more, 314Punk is a crucial relationship for the growth of the entire Mic1park Community.