Tanner Dane, along with his childhood friends, spent countless hours in his Elgin attic, playing music. Initially covering songs, they quickly developed their unique blend of blues, alternative rock, and soul. Using GarageBand, they self-produced music, distributing CDs locally despite their amateurish marketing. For them, the joy of playing outweighed any commercial ambition.
Two decades later, Dane channels the same grassroots approach through free performances at Chicago’s lakefront. He now works both as a solo artist and with his band, Hollyy. Over the last year and a half, Dane and his bandmates, including some who grew up with him, have become well-known locally, performing regularly at AIDS Garden Chicago in Lakeview.
The performances, announced only a day or two in advance on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, have drawn hundreds from varied backgrounds, including families and commuters from Indianapolis and Wisconsin. Their latest show, this summer, attracted a large crowd, filling Belmont Rocks with picnic blankets and enthusiastic listeners.
Music has been a constant in Dane’s life. He and his older sister got their first instruments, guitar and drums, as preteens. Influenced by their musically inclined family—his mother taught them piano—Dane naturally gravitated towards music. His parents shared a passion for music; his mother, Jean Bednar, grew up surrounded by music, her father being a fan of classical music, and her mother having had a stint in radio as a singer.
As children, Dane and his sister formed bonds over music with their friends, creating a neighborhood band that rehearsed endlessly in his attic, even in sweltering heat. A local bodega stop punctuated their practice sessions, as they developed an affinity for Motown and B-side blues records, shaping their musical style. Their band, The Reverends, recorded their first album thanks to a battle-of-the-bands competition and distributed it at school and local record stores.
Despite achieving early local success, the band eventually dispersed as members pursued college and other endeavors. Dane attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, initially eyeing law school but took time to reconsider, realizing his deep longing for music. He reunited with old friends, rekindling their musical camaraderie. Among them was Rafael Soto-Marquez, who connected with Dane through a local charity and shared a keen interest in music.
Soto-Marquez was already familiar with Chicago’s music scene, having experimented with open mics and college performances. Reuniting with Dane, they gathered former Elgin bandmates to reform their musical group, which eventually became Hollyy. Dane, motivated to fully embrace his passion, chose to forego law school, instead taking a corporate job to support his musical pursuits.
Hollyy has been performing steadily for six years, creating a retro rock and soul sound while Dane explores his solo career. Writing began as a personal outlet during rough times, but burgeoned into a successful solo venture, leading to a solo record deal and the release of two EPs alongside Hollyy’s first full album. Their growing popularity paved the way for spontaneous lakefront performances, adopting busking as a novel way to engage their audiences.
The lakefront shows, birthed from Dane’s thwarted summer tour, quickly gained traction. Despite initial hiccups, crowd numbers steadily increased. Their debut show this season, however, met with pushback from authorities due to overwhelming attendance, resulting in police involvement. Yet legal support emerged, offering free representation.
The performances continue to attract loyal attendees, including Liz Gazal, who followed the band from previous shows, and the Campbell family, celebrating their daughter’s birthday with music. The lake buzzes with life—patrons picnicking, boats listening, swimmers enjoying the melodies.
Dane reflects on the overwhelming yet invigorating journey. His family often joins these celebrations of artistry—a testament to community support. As the sun sets on each performance, Chicagoans revel in a shared love for spontaneous music by Lake Michigan.