More than just house, Silver Room Block Party returns to showcase Black art: 'It was always about community'

First publishedJul 19, 00:34 UTC

Last updatedJul 19, 06:55 UTC · 11m ago

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Chicago Sun-Times6More than just house, Silver Room Block Party returns to showcase Black art: 'It was always about community'Jul 19, 00:34 UTCOpen ↗

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<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://www.silverroomblockparty.com/" target="_blank" >Silver Room Sound System Block Party</a> made its official return on Saturday, demonstrating a wide range of Black art at the Salt Shed.</p><p>Performers ran the gamut from Piwa, a young, alternative Zimbabwe artist, who sang an unexpected but delightful cover of Betty Davis’ 50-year-old funk song “Nasty Gal," to the newly formed Black Opera Ensemble, which belted out everything from African American spirituals to traditional opera selections by Mozart and Georges Bizet. </p><p>Later, the same stage would be graced by the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/dance/2026/03/25/chicago-dance-contemporary-rena-butler-black-womanhood-red-clay-la-femme-festival" >Red Clay Dance Company</a>, DJs and legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-d10000" name="image-d10000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/862c367/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d1b02a3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e15310d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="SILVERROOM_260719-14.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e15310d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1db034c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e15310d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F52%2Ffe%2F1870c6c2491196cf41791c74d121%2Fsilverroom-260719-14.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Members of the Black Opera Ensemble perform during the Silver Room Sound System Block Party at the Salt Shed, Saturday, July 18, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Showcasing that diversity of Black talent at an event historically considered a house and hip-hop institution was a goal of its founder, Eric Williams. And it’s a major reason why he decided to bring the party back after announcing its end — especially during America’s 250th anniversary.</p><p>“It’s just reclaiming what being American means,”<b> </b>said Williams 56, who owns the the Silver Room boutique in Hyde Park, where he also lives.<b> </b>“If you think about American culture, mostly it's Black culture. The block party has been a celebration of music, art, dance and our contributions to this country.”</p><p>Originating in 2003, The Silver Room Sound System Block Party moved from an alley to a street in Wicker Park and then a festival in Hyde Park that drew approximately 40,000 attendees one year.

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  More than just house, Silver Room Block Party returns to showcase Black art: 'It was always about community'

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  Chicago Sun-TimesJul 19, 00:34

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