DeffJam is an evening of live music and art celebrating the life of Ryan Deffet. Join us at Thalia Hall on Saturday, January 3rd - all ages welcome, pay what you can. 

The night will feature dynamic sets from Space Gators & Faux Furrs as they welcome special guests Sima Cunningham (Finom), V.V. Lightbody, Ratboys (duo), Andrew Sa, Kathy Patino (Girl K), Engine Summer, Lainey Strange, Rory Papania (Little Miami), Derek Weber (Head), Chris Devlin (Trinity Irish Dance Company), & Spencer Oullette (REZN). An array of art installations will be displayed throughout the evening, and we cannot wait for you to be apart of this communal extravaganza. Time will be dedicated to catching up with and embracing loved ones, accompanied by live instrumental music from Mich Shirey & The Nightwatch.

With roots in Dayton, OH, branching off to Chicago, and a DIY attitude - Ryan Deffet kicked off DeffJam in 2016. This year’s rendition of DeffJam carries this energy forward as friends take the stage and come together from all over - celebrating his life and everlasting impact.

Proceeds will go towards the Ryan Deffet Studio Grant and the Ryan Deffet Engineer Apprenticeship Award at Experimental Sound Studio (ESS). Experimental Sound Studio is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to artistic evolution and the creative exploration of sound. 

As an international hub for sonic experimentation, ESS nurtures artists, heralds new works, and builds a broad, supportive community of makers, enthusiasts, and creative partners through production, presentation, education, and preservation.