The Chicago Electronic Music Conference will return to the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport on April 9, offering a full day of panels, workshops, vendor exhibits, and DJ performances. Organizers said this year’s event expands on last year’s format by transforming the entire venue into a multi-room experience.
The conference aims to bring together musicians, producers, promoters, and other creatives interested in electronic music and related fields. It is designed not only for professionals but also for anyone interested in learning more about the music scene or social media work.
This year’s headliners include Chicago techno pioneer DJ Hyperactive and composer Kate Simko. The lineup features speakers such as Adam Weimann from IO Music Academy, Alejandra Roman from House of Jandra, Andrew Emil with Viva Acid collective, as well as performances by Diskoteka, Jac Høja + Saiklōn, J. Copes, Wolfy!, and others.
Attendees can participate in sessions covering topics like artificial intelligence’s impact on creativity and Chicago’s musical legacy. There will also be hands-on workshops focusing on DJing, music production, entrepreneurship, and content creation. A vendor hall will offer DJ equipment while local DJs perform at the venue’s attached Off Hours Beer Co. taproom.
“It’s a conference built by creatives,” said John Rynecki, co-founder of the event along with Nikhil Gidwani and Matthew Pest. “The whole team… we’re basically a nonprofit startup… And we all have at times felt like we didn’t know where we kind of belonged.”
Rynecki explained that this year’s theme is “Your Cue,” which he described as an invitation for Chicago creatives to get involved: “There’s a cue button on a DJ deck that you use to kind of start a song before you hit play. It’s like starting before you’re ready.”
Organizers developed this year’s programs with partners including Viva Acid collective; Museum of House—a nonprofit focused on preserving house music—and New York’s Elevated Academy. Last year drew between 350-400 attendees; organizers expect up to 600 people this Saturday.
Rynecki said hosting the event at Ramova Theatre feels “poetic” because it honors house music’s roots while helping shape its future: “We want to connect the legacy of house music from where it was to where it’s going.” He added that he hopes the conference helps unite different communities across Chicago: “It takes a village to make this happen… it’s by the community for the community.”
