It’s back, and it’s going full-building this time: Metro and Smartbar together will be taken over For Frankie, the 2022 Frankie Knuckles birthday bash.

For Frankie: a celebration of the life of Frankie Knuckles is this Sunday, January 16 and brings together all people, just the way Frankie’s Chicago parties always did.

Headlining in Metro, Chicago house legend Ralphi Rosario takes the helm, with NDATL’s Kai Alcé, vocalist Terisa Griffin and 5 Mag’s own Czboogie. In Smartbar will be the Queen! residents: Derrick Carter with Michael Serafini and Garrett David, with resident hosts Lucy Stoole, Nico and Jojo Baby, plus guest hosts Darling Shear, Miss Toto and Khloe Coulee.

Frankie’s Birthday at SmartBar (From 5 Magazine’s archives)

Frankie often spoke of the massive respect he had for Ralphi Rosario, as he told 5 Mag in a 2009 interview about a local last-minute show in which he was asked who he wanted to play with:

The whole thing came together last minute. Red Bull was in Chicago and at the very last minute they called to see if I was going to be in town. They’ve been trying to get me to do it for the last ten years, but I was never available. After everything had been set up they said, “Who would you like to play with you?” and I was like Ralphi Rosario.”

 

Tickets are available at metrochicago.com and via etix.com. Proceeds from the event benefit the Frankie Knuckles Foundation.

For Frankie Party