Pride Entertainer Bios
To see what time your favorite performer took the stage, visit the Entertainment Schedule page.
Saturday Block Party Entertainers
Charm City Boys
The Charm City Boys began their genderful journey in May, 2002, in the Greatest City in America, Baltimore, Maryland. They have continuously graced numerous stages through Charm City and all over the country and Canada. The Charm City Boys will celebrate ten years of gender performance in Baltimore. Ongoing support from a constantly growing fan base has enabled the Charm City Boys to become the second-longest running Drag King troupe in the world.
Charm City Cabaret
Charm City Cabaret is Baltimore based contemporary cabaret group founded by sisters, Aimée & Missi Real. “We are a diverse group of women from various backgrounds in dance and music who have come together to create and perform contemporary cabaret pieces. We cover an eclectic mix of songs from jazz standards and R&B, to pop and rock. Our choreography is a fusion of contemporary/lyrical, jazz, hip hop, and ballroom. Our goal is to provide the audience with sultry, fun, cool, intelligent entertainment. We are always looking to network with local promoters in order to perform at various Baltimore clubs, lounges and festivals.”
The CooLots
The CooLots are the original all female Rock and Soul band hailing from the Washington, DC area. A melting pot of different styles and talents, The CooLots come together to create feelings never experienced before. These creations embody sincerity, musicality, rock, funk, and soul, with influences including: N.E.R.D, Me’Shell N’Degeocello, Sade, Stained, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, and System of A Down. The Coolots are Awesome Rita (vocals/bass), Crystal (vocals), Dappho the Flow-Er (bass/vocals), Huggie (electric guitar/vocals), Yaz (vocals/keys), and Boom-Clak (percussion). Find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.
DDm
The Baltimore native, who made his name on the local battle rap circuit, manages to straddle the fence between cool kid and weirdo with a charming accessibility. Fusing together Baltimore club, hip hop and ball culture, the self proclaimed renegade is garnering significant critical acclaim with his mixtape series ‘Muse: A Collection Of Cool.’ The hypnotic lead single ‘Velvet Limousine,’ with its sassy chorus and drum and bass influenced production, is a catchy and witty ode to the female anatomy. Featured in the City Paper for the tracks accompanying music video, Dappa Dan Midas (DDm) is being championed as the most significant vocalist for Baltimore club since local legends Ms. Tony and Jimmy Jones.
DJ India
DJ India is a native Washingtonian and has been spinnin since the age of 10. As one of the nation’s first female djs she is a trailblazer that has kept thousands of people dancing for over 20 years. She is the promoter of the World Famous Bar Hop Block Party that draws thousands of women to that event during DC Black Pride weekend. Find her spinnin for diverse crowds at her residency club on the weekends and she spins and promotes a Lesbian Thursday Night weekly event at District Underground in Washington DC. Join the Legendary DJ India to celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, July 3rd @ Grand Central in Adams Morgan, Washington DC. The NYC’s Legendary DJ Mary Mac will be spinnin for this LEGENDARY EVENT!
DJ Lucky (Youth Zone Mini Ball DJ)
DJ Lucky (often referred to as Legendary DJ Lucky) is an American DJ, Musician, Record Producer and Remixer, who has done what he likes to call, “Blessing the turntables,” (DJing) since the ’90s. From local bars/clubs to mainstream and prestigious venues Worldwide, he says the same thing about what drives him to continue his successful DJ career, “I do this for the people, whether 300 or 3,000! If people want to dance, I want to be the reason they are doing it! I look at my DJ career like a video game, I have the controller and I use it to make people dance. When I walk out of a club, I’ve just completed another level in the video game. There is no final level, no evil monster to beat…just happy people who want to hear good music! I win the game every time I see people dancing and smiling, forgetting about the pressures of the World and letting the music take them to an inescapable land of happiness!”
DJ Madscience
Madscience has been punishing the dance floors all across the nation with his intense sounds for over three years. After years of working as a music producer collaborating with major artists and record companies, Madscience grew tired of the corporate mainstream music industry and pursued other avenues in the scene. Madscience had a growing passion for indie music; and with a knowledge of what is brewing in the current music industry, he adds his high-energy, cutting edge twist to various music genres including electronic dance, hip hop, drum and bass, today’s pop, dubstep, new wave, Dutch house, etc. Madscience has commanded the dance floor at Grand Central as the resident DJ in Friday nights, experimenting with the Baltimore club sound and loving the challenge of expanding his fan base.
DJ Rosie
Rosie “DJ Rosie” Hicks might be new to the Pride Mainstage this year, but she certainly isn’t new on the scene. Coming from Baltimore, DJ Rosie can be regularly heard at Club Hippo for their weekly Hip Hop night as well as Spin, a monthly women’s party. She makes monthly appearances at both Cobalt and Apex in Washington, DC. With over 10 years in the game and spinning a diverse blend of Hip Hop, Top 40 and Old school, DJ Rosie has earned her reputation as the one to keep you moving!
Damien Crawford
Singer, songwriter, and entertainer Damien Crawford is a gifted and versatile performer who has been dominating the stage with electrifying performances. His musical genre is hip-hop, mixed with pop and a touch of R&B. The talented singer released his self-written, debut EP, “The Crawford Chronicles,” in June 2011. The album has reached downloads in the thousands and has been critically acclaimed one of the best musical collections of 2011. In February 2012, Damien released his highly anticipated new album “The Reign” to iTunes and Amazon. This album gained him features in DBQ, Bleu, and Krave magazine! DamienCrawford.bandcamp.com, @DamienCrawford
Dry Sea
The Dry Sea is a mostly instrumental “Strange Rock” group from Baltimore. Their early incarnations were an exploration of post-rock and noise that relied heavily on improvisation and the importance of tone. More recently, there has been a much stronger emphasis on composition and demonstration of each member’s musical strengths. With the release of Eromi Tlab, the band has discovered a driving and eccentric edge to match the intensity of their live performances. The Dry Sea brings every influence at their disposal to the table, from the profound to the absurd.
Gilded Lily Burlesque
Gilded Lily Burlesque has been entertaining audiences up and down the East Coast for the past five years. Having graced the stage with some of the biggest and best names in the business it’s no wonder that Gilded Lily was named “Best of Baltimore” by the City Paper.
LAZERlibby
LAZERlibby sings, songwrites, dances, and DJs. She is a party in a person. She released her first record in 1999 and never looked back. She’s performed and recorded under the names Libby Picken, Zna.Queene, Libby of LAZERBITCH, and LAZERlibby, and is currently a part of the group LAZERBITCH. She’s shared CD space with the likes of Madonna, Bjork, and Justin Timberlake. LAZERlibby is incredibly excited to perform at Baltimore Pride for her first time ever, accompanied by her amazing dancers, and DJ James Nasty. LazerBitchMusic.com, SoundCloud.com/LAZERlibby
Miss Gay Maryland America Stephanie Micheals
“Hello and welcome to Pride 2012! I’ve been in the art of female impersonation for 33 years and have rode in past parades under differ titles, thinking that one day I would ride in the parade as Miss Gay Maryland America. Well, my dream came true after 14 years of competing. I’m from Hagerstown, Md. where my partner James and I share our lives together. I hope that each one of you keeps your dreams alive and never gives up. May your Pride this weekend be full of fun. Remember to play safe and happy Pride 2012! With all my love, Miss Gay Maryland America.”
Shawnna Alexander
Miss Shawnna has held several titles including former Queen of Pride, Entertainer of the Year, Miss Gay Baltimore, Miss Stage Coach, Baltimore Apollo Amateur Winner, Miss Club Phoenix, a three-time City Paper Drag Performer of the Year, and is a two-time ARGIE (Drag Performer of the Year).
Shiragirl
After rocking many stages across the US and Canada with her all-girl band Shiragirl, including support slots for Rancid, NOFX, Juliette Lewis, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Taylor Dayne and Joan Jett herself, Shira realized it was time to break out in a new direction. Shira and drummer/musical director Rainey P teamed up with hip-hop superproducer Swizz Beatz on “Stomp it Out,” a song for breast cancer awareness, featuring Lil Wayne. In the summer of 2011, Shira returned to Warped Tour and blew away the crowd with a new musical sound, highlighting her background as a dancer and an in-your-face theatrical performer. Journalists and fans compare Shira’s energetic onstage persona to Gwen Stefani, Madonna, and Pink.
Sue Nami
“Twelve years ago I left my home country of Indonesia to come to America for freedom. I was in the audience at a cabaret show five years ago produced by Josie Foster and Sabrina White. With a little encouragement and inspiration, I got ready for what was going to be a one-time thing! I was fortunate to have the opportunity for some amazing rewarding experiences as Miss Gay Maryland 2009, 1st Alternate to Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic 2010, and Miss Ziegfeld’s 2011.”
Tatiyanna Voche
Tatiyanna Voché is the current reigning Miss Mid-East America and the Queen of the house to Washington, DC’s premiere show bar: Ziegfelds & Secrets. In her quest to become Miss Gay America, placing in the top ten the past two years—one as Miss Gay Maryland America—Baltimore has always been considered home.
Sunday Pride Festival Entertainers
Big Gay Band (BGB)
Big Gay Band aka BGB is a professional LGBT wedding and events band! “Our mission is to perform at LGBT and LGBT-friendly weddings, ceremonies, and events all across the county. We’re here to spread the message that LOVE should NOT have a sexual orientation and neither should marriage! From pop, R&B to show tunes and everything in between, BGB aims to entertain, and we want to work with your event and themes to make them the best that they can be.” Featuring off-Broadway and national touring performer Vincent Leggett! Facebook.com/VincentBGB, @biggayband, vincentbgb@gmail.com
Charm City Kitty Club
The Charm City Kitty Club is an all volunteer run collective whose mission is to carve a unique social and cultural niche for lesbian, dyke, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual women and all our allies. Three times a year the Charm City Kitty Club presents a knock-out line-up of dancers, burlesque performers, drag kings and queens, poets, authors, acrobats, comedians, performance artists and musicians in a cabaret show at the Creative Alliance. Check them out at CharmCityKittyClub.com!
Danielle Revlon
Born in the eastern area of Baltimore, Danielle Revlon knew that she wanted to be an entertainer at an early age. She began her entertaining career in elementary school where she received an internship to the Johns Hopkins Peabody School of Art, a program for youth expressing talent in the area of entertainment. During her later years, she began to realize that she was harboring a gift that needed to be expressed. She then found an outlet within the LGBT community that allowed this gift to be utilized. Danielle has been noted for her pageant career as one of the hardest working women in the business. She has won many titles and has even claimed the title of Miss International Plus 2008. With her driven, determination, ambition, and talent there is not much that can stop this young woman from reaching and moving people through music.
Dorothy Milone
Dorothy Milone is a female pop group and dance ensemble. Founded in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia), the group consists of four young ladies (Anna, Brittany, Jolee & Michelle) with various backgrounds and ethnicities. They range in age from 17 to 22. They have all been involved in music and dance since childhood. They love a variety of musical genres, but their energy, talent, and bubbly personalities fit most naturally with Pop. Dorothy Milone is a force to be reckoned with. They plan to set the world on fire with great music and dynamic live performances. Dorothy Milone is setting a new standard for girls everywhere. They have a voice and it’s not just for singing. They speak up and support organizations that want to make a positive difference, especially those that give back. Dorothy Milone’s first video was dedicated to breast cancer survivors. The video received over 20,000 hits. During the 2011 holiday season Dorothy Milone supported Toys for Tots and a food drive with the local Fire Department. Catch their new single this summer! Follow Dorothy Milone on twitter @DorothyMilone, Facebook.com/DorothyMilone, DorothyMilone.com, or contact at DorothyMilone@gmail.com.
Humble Tripe
Durham, NC’s Humble Tripe came to form as the music project of Shawn Luby. Luby, who spent 15 years as a young competitive classical guitar player, walked away from performance at age 20. He emerged ten years later as a song writer, perfecting the combination of haunting musical sensibility with equally matched insight into the stories of the human heart. He is joined by Berklee College of Music graduate, Stud Green, on violin and mandolin. Combining modern americana/folk/pop with the delicacy and movement found in their classical roots, Humble Tripe embraces tender, plaintive melodies that waver between introspection and jubilance, capturing the liminality of love, exhilaration, and the many spaces in between.
Karl Marks
Karl Marks has hosted and performed at countless clubs, YWCA assemblies, comedy shows, and stages of ill repute, including last year’s Baltimore Pride Festival. Donning wigs, animal hats, roller skates, and anything else that fits on his body, Señor Marks works crowds into frenzies with his exotic, exciting and questionable talent. Coming off performances this past year at the International Drag King Extravaganza in Baltimore and select cabaret nights in “that other city,” he can also be seen drinking cans of “sprepper” and re-interpreting scenes from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3 at Charm City’s finest thrift stores. Most recently, he was featured in Baltimore’s Transmodern Festival.
Marshall Roberts
Marshall Roberts is originally from Blairsville, Pa and is former student of Point Park Conservatory of Performing Arts. He started dancing at the age of 17 months, and by 10 years old, he was part of his first professional company. His dancing and baton twirling have been seen worldwide on a variety of professional stages. Previous dance and baton twirling titles include, but are not limited to, Mr. Starpower 1999-2002, and National Men’s Dance Twirl Champion from 1997 to 2000. He has been serving the leather community for over 10 years, and in 2006 was awarded the title of Southwest Leatherboy where he went to Dallas, Texas and won the title of International 2006 Leatherboy. Marshall is humbled and excited to be Baltimore’s King of Pride 2012, and along with Sue Nami, his 2012 Queen of Pride, hopes to leave an indelible mark on Baltimore. Though a leathermen in heart, body and soul, Marshall stresses that pride is not the clothes one wears but what shines from their heart, body and soul. It’s about how you carry yourself with values and morals on a daily basis. As he matures, he is eager to pass on the knowledge and skills taught to him by those that came before. A lover of history, Marshall believes in learning from it and stresses three L’s; “Learn from the past, Live in the Present, and Look towards the future.”
New Wave Singers
New Wave Singers of Baltimore is Maryland’s only GLBTS chorus. NWS is a mixed chorus, made up of men and women who embrace diversity and strive to be an all-inclusive chorus working toward making music that matters. NWS has an incredible repertoire of music that encompasses the environment, the passion of people, to losing a loved one, different languages, spirituality, and even humor.
Transcendence Tribal Bellydance Collective
Transcendence Tribal Bellydance Collective brings together eight dancers from Maryland and Northern Virginia to create performances imbued with passion, fun, and friendship. The dancers are both soloists and members of three troupes: Kallisti Tribal, Verve Tribal, and Lilam Bellydance. Grounded in group improvisational tribal style bellydance, Transcendence Tribal weaves together our various styles into a magical expression of the joy of dance.