HF freshman Stacy Norris nominated for Chicago Music Award

Homewood-Flossmoor High School freshman Stacy Norris and her blues band The Instinct were nominated for a Chicago Music Award January 29.

The Chicago Music Awards honor musicians and performers in over 40 categories of musical genres. Norris and her band, The Instinct Chicago, were nominated in the Most Talented Teen(s) (ages 13-19 years) category. After music experts’ nominations were announced this past Tuesday, the public is now invited to vote for the best artist in each category at www.chicagomusicawards.org.

The Instinct formed in 2016 when the five teens met at the Fernando Jones blues camp in Chicago. In 2017, they won the Westmont Battle of the Bands, played at the Chicago Blues Fest and in many other local blues festivals. In January, they were selected to perform in the Youth Showcase of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. This summer, they will be playing in Ontario, Canada at the Bluesfest in Windsor. Her family and friends call her YCATS (reverse of Stacy) because when she is on the drums, she is the total reverse of her quiet and calm personality. Her influences include Buddy Rich, Clyde Stubblefield, Tony Royster Jr., and Sheila E. About her nomination, she said: “It’s cool to be recognized and I enjoy playing with my ‘blues brothers’”.

The Chicago Music Awards is Sunday, March 18, at the Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago.