Unfamiliar Sessions - A Night Out Ft. Camila, Sam Thousand, and Lima

Unfamiliar Sessions - A Night Out Ft. Camila, Sam Thousand, and Lima

Unfamiliar Sessions returns to Dorian's for a night of live R&B, soul, and community. Music paired with elevated eats from Jade The Chef. With over 95+ in attendance - we suggest arriving EARLY.

What is Unfamiliar Sessions? A curated event series that brings musicians and creatives together for a night of community building, high energy, great music, and more. The experience started as a monthly Jam Session series at Cole's Bar. Now Unfamiliar Sessions expands with "A Night Out": a curated show spotlighting Chicago's powerhouse musicians throughout the night, with catered meals by Jade The Chef.

Backed by the live band — Jeremy on drums, Chris Robbin on vocals, Gordon on bass, Lee on percussion, Kelly on guitar, and Zach on keys — this show features Chicago's standout community leaders. Vocalists Camila, Lima, and Sam Thousand perform across two full sets of soulful, improvisational live music. Expect extended jams, standout solos, and the raw, community-driven energy Unfamiliar Sessions is known for.

Learn more about the featured artists:

Camila
Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Camíla Isabel is a multifaceted artist who explores vocals, poetry, performance, and visual art in her work. Camíla has performed at the Jazz Showcase and participated in the Artist Corps Series performances with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. In 2025, she showcased her music at Arts and Public Life, celebrating the work of Elizabeth Catlett for the UofC summer. Her work blends the intricate textures of jazz and soul with rhythms influenced by her Caribbean heritage, evoking intimacy and nostalgia in both her solo and collaborative projects.

Sam Thousand
Sam Thousand is an award-winning performing artist, curator, and social entrepreneur with 15+ years in live performance, curation, and artist advocacy. A trumpet player since age seven with a Jazz Studies BFA, he is a full-time artist who has toured and recorded with dozens of collaborators. His multidisciplinary practice — bridging performance art, curation, and social entrepreneurship — has earned awards from 3Arts (2019) and the Walder Foundation (2024). Sam is the founding Executive Director of ChiBrations, advancing artist-centered infrastructure through programming, storytelling, and the ChiBrations App. He serves as Co-Chair of the Arts Leadership Council at Arts Alliance Illinois and is a '25–'26 fellow with Chicago United for Equity.

Lima
Lima is a composer, vocalist, and producer whose work explores catharsis, identity, introspection, love, and loss. They released their debut single 'Vincennes (The End)' in 2024. With airy yet soulful vocals and a tender, thoughtful lyrical approach, Lima uses a mix of soul, folk, and Midwest emo alternative styles to draw audiences in, with their latest single, Cicada. The collaborative work hinges upon the dreamy instrumentation by renowned guitarist Dante Swan.

Eats by Jade the Chef — expect elevated bites throughout the night, while supplies last. Full bar. Happy Hour 6–8PM.

September 10th · Doors 8:15PM · $15 · 21+
Dorian's — 1939 W. North Ave, Chicago

Small room, big night. Get there early.