Harold Gonzalez Medina aka AfroQbano is a DJ, producer & eclectic music enthusiast. AfroQbano hails from Habana, Cuba, where he worked as a DJ for a number of underground House and Hip Hop clubs and also produced and toured with some of the most well-known Cuban artists and ensembles. After moving to Chicago, he established himself as an essential part of the local global music scene. A member of Future Rootz and Peoples DJs Collective, he’s a frequent contributor to cultural programming across the city. He regularly spins at some of the most popular Chicago clubs and coordinates biweekly programming with Lumpen Radio. His original tracks and remixes have been featured on albums and mix-tapes across the world. More recently he was recognized as one of Chicago’s top three DJs in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of 2016.”
While the Afro-Cuban and Latin rhythms of his culture are central to his sound, he embraces and merges a wide range of global & soulful music. His musical influences include diverse genres and styles such as House, Funk, Afrobeat, Hip Hop, Bhangra and Latin rhythms. Highlights of his career include sharing stages with luminaries like Mos Def, Pete Rock, Mulatu Astatke, Antibalas, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Rich Medina, La Mala Rodriguez and Los Van Van.
Ana Everling is an artist who has spent her life focusing on the practice and performance of vocal music. Her passion lies within the heart of Romanian Folklore from Moldova. With her practice, she has developed a unique style that reflects a deep love for tradition and yet propels these folkloric sounds into a new dimension. Are we listening to jazz? Are we walking through a misty Romanian forest?
Her storytelling and vision is one of a woman’s journey of studying music in art schools in Moldova to busking on the streets of Chicago and now sells out venues throughout the United States. One of her missions as a performer is to preserve a free form genre called “Doina” from disappearing. This effort lead her to be honored by the president of Moldova as she was given the title Artist Emerit for prodigious activity in culture, high professional mastery and substantial contribution to preserving and developing the spiritual values of Moldovan culture and promoting Moldova's image abroad.
Daniel Crane is a drummer, curator, creative producer. His diverse career in the creative industries spans over two decades, showcasing a journey of creative exploration and community impact.
After completing studies at a music conservatory in percussion, he began his career as a full-time musician in Chicago, performing across the city with acclaimed global music bands, house music DJs and hip hop bands. Building his community around the music scenes he entered he began to curate his own independent multi-media events at DIY spaces and music venues across the city.
Along with performing and curating, he taught music both privately and within educational institutions, fostering a new generation of musical talent.
With over a decade of dedicated work as a musician, educator, and independent curator, Daniel was hired by Navy Pier with the task of spearheading transformative initiatives in redefining the iconic landmark as a cultural district. Daniel's community centered approach led to the conception and execution of groundbreaking events such as Chi-Soul Fest, LatiNxt Festival, Housegiving, Holi, and Wave Wall Moves each leaving an indelible imprint on Chicago's cultural landscape and becoming cornerstone Navy Pier's programmatic offerings.
Concurrently, Daniel established Story7 Inc, a consultancy and production house focused on cultural programming, documentaries and music curation.