• Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

The Third Annual Sueños Music Festival Brings Latin Music and It’s Culture To Chicago’s Grant Park

Photo credit: Sueños / @diegoguillen

Since 2022, Sueños Music Festival has been kicking off summertime in Chicago with performances by many of the biggest stars in Latin Music. The festival returned for another year at Grant Park, as the sold out crowd settled in for performances by over a dozen artists from across the Spanish-language spectrum. Some of the acts included Rauw Alejandro, Young Miko, and Red Hot Mexican Musicians like Ivan Cornejo, Xavi, and Latin Mafia, among many more.

On Saturday, May 25, Rauw Alejandro showed why he is one of the most acclaimed and adventurous artists in the game today. The Puerto Rican superstar left the stratosphere with his closing performance, featuring songs from his sci-fi-themed album Saturno and career highlights like “Todo De Ti” and “Fantasias.”

Young Miko stunned in the penultimate slot, radiating an uncommon swag as she performed hit songs like “Classy 101” and highlights from her new album att. 

Riverside, CA heartthrob Ivan Cornejo serenaded the crowd as the sun began to set, moving fans to tears with his heartfelt corridos. Earlier in the day, rising hitmaker Xavi performed at his first-ever music festival, unleashing Billboard Hot 100-charting hits like “La Diabla” and “La Víctima.” Three-man Mexican group LATIN MAFIA showcased a different side of Mexican music, performing their melodic, mutating, crossover bangers for the receptive crowd.

The rest of Saturday’s show did not disappoint: Argentinian super-producer Bizarrap spun a dazzling DJ set, while icons like Rels B and Alvaro Diaz performed songs from their brand new albums for the first time live in concert.

On Sunday, May 26, during the early morning storms caused festival gates to be delayed, but this did not stop festival organizers from bringing the best in Latin music to the Windy City. Reconfiguring the day’s lineup to accommodate as many artist performances as possible, Sueños saw their dedicated fans gathered in the thousands to enjoy performances from quintessential Latin stars who have been tearing up the airwaves.

Colombian singer Maluma commanded the headlining spot, performing the night’s penultimate set, inspiring swoons throughout the crowd with his deep catalog of romantic jams. Raspy-voiced reggaetonero Mora also took the stage to fulfill the potential he flashed and symbolizing his rise to the genre’s elite.

Spanish singer-songwriter Bad Gyal flashed her inimitable stage presence and Gabito Ballesteros brought class and a full a banda ensemble to bring his corridos to life, including a guest appearance from teenage phenom, Chino Pacas, to perform their recent collaboration, “Tunechi.” As a treat for longtime reggaeton fans, Sueños welcomed an acclaimed duo who has been there since the beginning: Jowell Y Randy, now entering their third decade as major hitmakers.

Ahead of the night’s final performance from Peso Pluma, severe weather conditions forced Sueños to call an early end to the show for crowd safety.

Through sun and showers, the tens of thousands of fans at Sueños embodied the joy, vibrance and resilience of the Latino community!