Rock The Future!, founded in 2007 by DJ/promoter Carlos Torres and guest curator/DJ Sadie Woods, is a concert and exhibition fundraiser for Chicago-based nonprofit Rock For Kids. RFK provides quality music education to underserved youth. RTF! seeks to raise funds in effort to support RFK in their mission through community partnerships throughout the city of Chicago.
In 2007, featured band performances included Hotel 45 and The Strange Young Lovers with DJ sets from Brock (The Beta Theta), Sadie Woods (White Label) and Martin Atkins alongside a silent auction with merchandise donated from Martin Atkins, The Faint, OK GO, Local H and Walter Meego at The Empty Bottle. In 2008, bands included Sounds Happy, FFM, Boatzz and Hey Champ with DJ sets by Brock, Trancid (Dark Wave Disco), Madrid (White Label), Willy Joy (Fly By Night) and Sammy Bananas (Fly By Night/Fool's Gold) alongside a curated slideshow installation of designer toy photography from national and international artists from the U.S and France at Debonair Social Club.
In early 2010, RTF! was organized into two events: an exhibition and a concert. The exhibition, which took place in January, featured artwork from Martin Atkins, Jason Brammer, Nicole Briggs, Terence Dredrok Byas, Orlando Camacho, Monica Cruz, Terry Dixon, Ricardo Gamboa, Jada Gaspar, John Huyhn, Lacey Pipher and the OhNo!Doom Collective at the OhNo!Doom Gallery. The concert this November will feature local Chicago talent in a concert, including musicians Illuminati Congo, Walter J. Liveharder and DJ ALO, Kinky Notti and DJ Lady D (D'lectable Music) with a guest performance by comedian Ricky Carmona and Master of Ceremonies Brian Babylon (Vocalo) at Subterranean.
The Organizers
Carlos Torres (DJ CT) runs and operates U R WE Productions which produces high quality events through the convergence of art and music by collaborating with local artists and promoters. DJ CT recently created a DJ duo with WYSER of Custom Vibes called REDUX and in just a few months have played heavy hitting sets with established artists including Codebreaker, Lady Starlight and Cazwell. REDUX has established a presence in Boystown having played Berlin Nightclub, Scarlet and now residents at Cocktail Lounge. The focus on being able to play any set in any genre has led them to play alongside myriad DJ talent in Chicago including White Label DJs Sadie Woods and Madrid, Zebo, SoSo Disco DJs, Custom Vibes DJs, Scotty Brandon, Greg Haus and more.
With a background in visual and performance arts, Sadie has freelanced and worked with independent businesses and institutions, including Around the Coyote, Fluxcore, Fusion Dance, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Marwen, Rock for Kids, ShrinkBoutique, The Silver Room and Translucent Chocolates. She completed the International Curatorial Training Program at Ecole Du Magasin (FR) and continues to freelance as a curator and DJ as half of duo White Label, who toured as exclusive music curators for Oprah Winfrey's company-wide Trip of a Lifetime Mediterranean cruise.
Sadie has performed in Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, Turkey and
throughout the states at venues, such as The Anthenaeum Theater, Armani Exchange, Around the Coyote, Auditorium Theater, Beauty Bar, Centro Abreu (DR), Chicago Theater, Columbia College, Debonair Social Club, DePaul University, The Empty Bottle, The Field Museum, Island Recorders, Juicy Wine Co, Magasin-Centre National d'Art Contemporain (FR), Mark XIII (FR), The Museum of Contemporary Art, Nacional 27, National Museum of Mexican Art, The Palmer House, River East Art Center, Sotheby's Auction House, Sonotheque, Sound Bar, Spanish Villa (ES), University of Illinois at Chicago, Victor Hotel, The Virgin Megastore and VerveLife. Sadie has created and implemented curatorial projects and happenings throughout Chicago at venues including AMC River East 21, Around The Coyote Gallery, Galleria Marchetti, Lumen, OhNo!Doom and more. Current DJ residencies include Luxbar, restaurant lounge Rodan, SUSHISAMBA Rio supper club, Vertigo Sky Lounge at dana hotel and spa and the Whiskey Sky Lounge at the W Hotel Lakeshore.
In 2007, featured band performances included Hotel 45 and The Strange Young Lovers with DJ sets from Brock (The Beta Theta), Sadie Woods (White Label) and Martin Atkins alongside a silent auction with merchandise donated from Martin Atkins, The Faint, OK GO, Local H and Walter Meego at The Empty Bottle. In 2008, bands included Sounds Happy, FFM, Boatzz and Hey Champ with DJ sets by Brock, Trancid (Dark Wave Disco), Madrid (White Label), Willy Joy (Fly By Night) and Sammy Bananas (Fly By Night/Fool's Gold) alongside a curated slideshow installation of designer toy photography from national and international artists from the U.S and France at Debonair Social Club.
In early 2010, RTF! was organized into two events: an exhibition and a concert. The exhibition, which took place in January, featured artwork from Martin Atkins, Jason Brammer, Nicole Briggs, Terence Dredrok Byas, Orlando Camacho, Monica Cruz, Terry Dixon, Ricardo Gamboa, Jada Gaspar, John Huyhn, Lacey Pipher and the OhNo!Doom Collective at the OhNo!Doom Gallery. The concert this November will feature local Chicago talent in a concert, including musicians Illuminati Congo, Walter J. Liveharder and DJ ALO, Kinky Notti and DJ Lady D (D'lectable Music) with a guest performance by comedian Ricky Carmona and Master of Ceremonies Brian Babylon (Vocalo) at Subterranean.
The Organizers
Carlos Torres (DJ CT) runs and operates U R WE Productions which produces high quality events through the convergence of art and music by collaborating with local artists and promoters. DJ CT recently created a DJ duo with WYSER of Custom Vibes called REDUX and in just a few months have played heavy hitting sets with established artists including Codebreaker, Lady Starlight and Cazwell. REDUX has established a presence in Boystown having played Berlin Nightclub, Scarlet and now residents at Cocktail Lounge. The focus on being able to play any set in any genre has led them to play alongside myriad DJ talent in Chicago including White Label DJs Sadie Woods and Madrid, Zebo, SoSo Disco DJs, Custom Vibes DJs, Scotty Brandon, Greg Haus and more. With a background in visual and performance arts, Sadie has freelanced and worked with independent businesses and institutions, including Around the Coyote, Fluxcore, Fusion Dance, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Marwen, Rock for Kids, ShrinkBoutique, The Silver Room and Translucent Chocolates. She completed the International Curatorial Training Program at Ecole Du Magasin (FR) and continues to freelance as a curator and DJ as half of duo White Label, who toured as exclusive music curators for Oprah Winfrey's company-wide Trip of a Lifetime Mediterranean cruise.
Sadie has performed in Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, Turkey and
throughout the states at venues, such as The Anthenaeum Theater, Armani Exchange, Around the Coyote, Auditorium Theater, Beauty Bar, Centro Abreu (DR), Chicago Theater, Columbia College, Debonair Social Club, DePaul University, The Empty Bottle, The Field Museum, Island Recorders, Juicy Wine Co, Magasin-Centre National d'Art Contemporain (FR), Mark XIII (FR), The Museum of Contemporary Art, Nacional 27, National Museum of Mexican Art, The Palmer House, River East Art Center, Sotheby's Auction House, Sonotheque, Sound Bar, Spanish Villa (ES), University of Illinois at Chicago, Victor Hotel, The Virgin Megastore and VerveLife. Sadie has created and implemented curatorial projects and happenings throughout Chicago at venues including AMC River East 21, Around The Coyote Gallery, Galleria Marchetti, Lumen, OhNo!Doom and more. Current DJ residencies include Luxbar, restaurant lounge Rodan, SUSHISAMBA Rio supper club, Vertigo Sky Lounge at dana hotel and spa and the Whiskey Sky Lounge at the W Hotel Lakeshore. 