Sueños team delivered on their promise. They expanded the fairgrounds to include two additional stages, La Plaza and La Fuente. They also added more vendors for food tents and shopping areas, and included art installations for photo opps, keeping congestion down and the fun flowing. Lastly, Sueños continues to bring together some of the biggest Latino artists in the world to Chicago, showing why it is becoming the go-to event for Latino music.

The big expansion gave people a reason to step away from the main stage, shop a little, and see more artists. La Plaza stage, located directly across the iconic Buckingham Fountain, focused on highlighting local Latino talent. It was a beautiful sight to behold when the fountain erupted with the Chicago skyline in the background.  La Fuente stage was catered more to DJ vibes. Being the Windy City, DJs like Deorro knew the assignment mixing Raggaeton with Classic House music along with modern EDM and Trap.

One decision that was deemed controversial when the initial artist lineup was announced was the inclusion of Grupo Frontera. Apparently, a relative of one of the band members made a post in favour of U.S. President Donald Trump. The band responded, saying they had no affiliation with any political party after facing backlash. However, Chicago being a sanctuary city, this response wasn’t enough for many, leading to a petition from residents to have the band removed from the lineup.

Organisers refused to back down, as Sueños Music Festival’s message has always been to be welcoming and inclusive. Many worried what the outcome would be when Grupo Frontera took the stage. Like most things on the Internet, it was blown out of proportion. The field was half full, but once the band started playing “Tulum,” fans rushed to the field. Singing from the heart, ignoring the “controversy,” and having a good time. There were no protests, only celebration when they played “Coqueto” or “No Se Va (En Vivo)”. Matter of fact, Grupo Frontera probably gained a lot of new fans.

Last year’s event was sadly cut short on the final day due to an extreme rainstorm. Everyone was disappointed as the main headliner that weekend, Peso Pluma, had to cancel his set. Even his aftershow at a local club was only three songs long before he promptly left; making some wonder if Peso Pluma even liked playing in Chicago. Fortunately, Peso Pluma returned to Sueños this year and gave a performance to remember. When the sun began to set, the city got chilly, but fans waited a year to see Peso Pluma to perform hits like “Luna” so a little cold wasn’t going to stop them. Adorned in a black fur coat, Peso Pluma bellowed as he sang “Bandida” making the crowd cheers echo throughout the field. Hearing “Nueva Vida” live made the wait worth it.

The biggest artist on the lineup this year was none other than Shakira. Fans had suspicions she would not be included this year because her current tour dates for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran noticeably had Chicago missing. But fans rejoiced once her performance announcement became official. Shakira committed to doing her full two-hour set at Sueños Music Festival, making her set alone worth the price of admission.

Everyone and their mothers were trying to see Shakira. By the time the Grammy Award-winning artist took the stage, the sun was long gone, making the weather in the mid-40s next to the lake. Those of us who prepared had sweaters to endure the cold, while those who didn’t huddled in the crowd to stay warm. It was all worth it once the queen arrived. She wasted little time performing classics such as “Girl Like Me,” and “La Tortura”. The stage production was magnificent with multiple wardrobe changes; dancers with fire and Shakira belly dancing with swords. The hits continued with “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” “Waka, Waka,” and she still gave fans an encore.

The final night had similar weather conditions to the previous day, and it was difficult to top the brilliance of Shakira. However, the weekend ended with the perfect sendoff from one of Raggaeton’s pioneers, Don Omar. One of the founding fathers of Reggaeton, Don Omar music has stood the test of time. His setlist was a throwback to yesteryear, reminding some of us of our junior high school dances. His catalogue has a plethora of recognisable hits like “Dile,” “Dale Don Dale,” before ending his set with party anthem “Danza Kuduro”.

Sueños Music Festival was a beautiful celebration of all Latino cultures. From the different music backgrounds to the various faces in the crowd, everyone was welcomed and represented proudly. The additional expansion was a welcome change, and though the weather wasn’t the warmest, there were no complaints as Sueños Music Festival knocked it out of the park this year.

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Sueños Music Festival creates a complete experience for the attendees by offering plenty of photo ops, an abundance of food options, a Ferris Wheel with a great skyline view, and a multitude of beverage pop-ups. But the main reason people come together is to dance to some of the best Latino artists. Fans were elated once Xavi arrived, rocking a crimson Chicago Bulls jersey with a Mexican flag draped over his shoulders, the 19-year-old Arizona stud sang his heart out for “Corazon de Piedra”. The speakers blasted his corridos horn instrumental as he wailed the lyrics of favorites “La Victima” and “La Diabla”.

DJ/producer Bizarrap kept the party going, playing bangers from his catalog in collaboration with artists like Shakira to other mixes with artists on the lineup such as Yung Miko, Rauw Alejandro, Young Miko, and Peso Pluma. The amount of hits Bizarrap has been able to produce in his short career is simply incredible. The music was complemented by cartoony visuals which worked perfectly with Bizarrap’s brand. 

Another 19-year-old heartthrob who made his presence known during the weekend was Ivan Cornejo. Dressed in a black suit and turtleneck, Ivan passed out roses to the lucky few in the front section walking up the stage. He melted hearts serenading listeners with his ballads. Cornejo’s acoustic tunes echoed throughout the crowd, softly speaking the emotional lyrics for “Dónde Estás” and pouring his soul for “La Última Vez”.

Next was Young Miko. It’s been great to see her growth as an artist over the past year witnessing her meteoric rise to fame first-hand. Sueños has been supporting her from the start having her open last year and now giving her top billing. Young Miko showed off why she’s been successful by performing club hits “Colmillo,” “Classy 101,” and “Offline”. The young Puerto Rican rapper has already collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest acts like J. Balvin, Bad Bunny, Feid, Karol G, and many others. Young Miko also surprised fans by bringing out Bad Gyal to perform their team-up track “Chulo Pt. 2”.

Rauw Alejandro was the perfect artist to end Day One. The roaring screams of female fans in attendance were deafening upon his arrival and he certainly had the stage presence to earn it. The full setup included pyro, choreographed backup dancers, and fantastic vocals were on full display, especially for  “Espectaular”. He got the crowd riled up for “Panties Y Brasieres” and caused another wave of cheers when Alvaro Diaz joined him on stage for “BYAK”.

The first day was a dream of heavenly bliss. Unfortunately, Day Twp started off rough when a terrible rainstorm caused a delay in opening the gates. Fans frantically watched social media updates while committee members surveyed unstable conditions. When the gates were allowed to open midday, herds of attendees congested the entrance leading to more frustrating wait times. Credit is due to the event workers doing due diligence and keeping the festival grounds as safe and pleasant as possible. 

Bad Gyal got the restless crowd back into the swing of things by performing the sensual “Perdió Este Culo,” “Bota Niña,” and her single track “Chulo”. Next was Colombian rapper/singer Maluma. There was a full video hype package shown before he hit the stage creating anticipation. Being in the game for a while Maluma had a plethora of tracks to pull from including  “Borró Cassette,” “El Perdedor,” and “Según Quién” before wrapping up his set.

Ultimately, the collecting gray clouds overhead became too concerning. A severe weather report was issued and organizers had to come to the difficult realization that the best option for everyone’s safety was to evacuate and end the festival early. Fans were understandably heartbroken because it meant for the third time this year there would be no Peso Pluma. 

Leaving the park as the downpour came was an insult to injury. The weather was an unexpected factor and coordinators have stated fans will receive partial refunds for their troubles. The abrupt ending was disappointing but only because Sueños Music Festival has delivered on their past promises. However, the future is bright for Sueños Music Festival and we look forward to what they could bring next year.

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Right off the bat, fans were excited to see the plethora of artists announced on the lineup. Having a solid mix of music genres across the many different Latino cultures gives everyone a moment to shine. From Reggaeton, Corridos, Pop etc., it was a great way to get a taste of each.

Unfortunately getting inside the event wasn’t as smooth as many hoped it would be. Many attendees arrived late and were stuck in entry lineups but once you were things were all smooth sailing. Unless of course, you were trying to get food or drinks, which is a pretty typical issue when it comes to music festivals. Walking through the festival grounds you quickly noticed many fun popups to take photos in, relax or dance your heart away in the safety of the “Girls Only” dance area. There was even a giant Ferris wheel that gave fans a nice view of Downtown and Lake Michigan, especially at sunset.

With beautiful weather being on our side 2 years in a row, we embraced the sun and lakefront breeze to gather for Mexican superstar Junior H. The young Corridos Tumbados singer had the crowd in a frenzy right away. Bangers like “Mente Positiva” and “Como Jordan” made us all sing till our cups were empty. Junior H did run into audio issues with his mic cutting out but was able to play it off by being honest with the crowd.

Another high-profile singer that ran into audio issues was reggaeton legend Ivy Queen. She was visibly upset during her set by the distraction but was able to recover. She overcame the obstacle by putting on a great show like the illustrious artist she is. Ivy Queen hit us with the throwbacks like “Quiero Bailar” and “La Vida Es Así” making me reminisce all those junior high dances.

Another artist that had the same nostalgic feel were Wisin Y Yandel – the duo has been rocking shows for over 20 years! In late 2022, the pair announced that 2023 would be their last time touring together. While they haven’t specified when exactly their last performance will be, it was a must-see featured act on Sueños lineup. Their impressive catalog has plenty of iconic club tunes like “Rakata,” “Me Estás Tentando,” and “Mirala Bien”.

Myke Towers is another artist that returned for another year of Sueños. He was featured in the seminal promotional video with former Mayor Lori Litefoot. Myke Towers came onstage decked out in Bulls leather jacket with backup dancers dressed in gold, all fitting the championship theme. He did songs off his Easy Money Baby and Lyke Myke albums as well as his verse on Fied’s “Jordan IV” adding to the Chicago Bulls love. Speaking of Feid, he was one of the new faces the crowd was excited to see. Throughout the day you saw hundreds of attendees wearing green to match the signature color of the Columbian singer. Green aesthetics covered the stage including a green monster truck. He got the crowd hyped right away with “Castigo” followed by “Otra Vez”.

However, the loudest crowd reaction erupted for Becky G. It Felt like the president was in town with how intense security got. For 20 minutes the DJ hyped the crowd up as we swarmed the stage waiting in anticipation for her arrival. When she did arrive, the crowd exploded in thunderous applause. Wearing a matching light purple shirt and skirt, she opened up her set with “Mayores”. The crowd was ecstatic by everything, hanging on to each word she sang from “Mamii” to “Sin Pijamas”. The pop star created hysteria by the time she performed “Baile Con Mi Ex” yet we were civil enough to keep it fun and dance to it.

Sueños Music Festival is quickly becoming the summer kickoff party to attend in late May. For 2 years in a row, the festival team has knocked it out of the park. While there were a few hiccups that still need to be figured out, this event is showing its determination to continue to grow. It’s a great way to experience the variety of Latino culture has to offer in a diverse city like Chicago in one weekend. From great food to have more interactive features to of course some of Latin America’s biggest stars. Most importantly it brings a sense of unity amongst Latinos, everyone is welcome to join.

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Despite the rainy weather threatening the event days before beaming sun came out to welcome enthusiastic fans ready to dance the weekend away. From the start, the crowd was not were for a treat when Dominican artist Tokischa lit up the stage. Styled with shades, braids, and white pants eventually revealing her backside Tokischa got the party rowdy. She was seductive not only in appearance but in how she dominated the stage, getting the crowd riled up as she twerked while singing “Singamo.”

Things slowed down a bit when Mexican rapper Natanael Cano took the stage singing his popular tune “Amor Tumbado,” having heard the song in bars it was cool seeing it performed live. Usually, a little buzzed when the song comes on the jukebox but the chorus always hits home: “Yo no soy aquel que te dio rosas, pero te di mi corazon y es mas valiosa”.

The energy picked back up when heavy hitters like Farruko, Myke Towers, and El Alpha took their turns. Farruko absolutely had to play his hit song “Pepas” – if you have been to any parties in the last year then you’ve definitely heard the song. The synthesized horns ringing vibrantly and Spanish chanting engulf you, forcing you to jump around sharing energy with the crowd. Ozuna took the reins next closing out the first night. The heat from his pyrotechnics set the intensity of the audience to high, the crowd was electric, singing along and vibing to some of his classic bangers like “Dile Que Tu Me Quieres” and “Se Preparo”.

Day tw had a high standard to live up to but this lineup was no pushover. Even when artists weren’t performing it was still a celebration of Latino culture, it is after all what we were all here for. The in-house DJ’s would ask the crowd, “Where are my Puerto Ricans? Where are my Mexicans?” etc.,  while also showing love to the non-Latino participants for we are all familia in the end. They played songs our parents listened to, tracks by Selina, Vicente Fernandez, Celia Cruz, and old school reggaton of yesteryear like Don Omar and Daddy Yankee. Anything to keep the good times rolling!

Arguably one of the best performances was by Sech (photos above). The big Panamanian stud controlled the audience expertly while playing through his vibrant tunes, stopping a few times to make sure people in the audience were safe and ordering water to be handed out in the pit. Sech was followed by one of my personal favorite artists, Puerto Rican singer Jhay Cortez (photo below and cover image). Dressed in green leather with a skeleton pattern, Cortez danced with backup dancers and a ton of swagger.

Following Jhay Cortez were Wisin Y Yandel, legends in the raggaeton scene. In fact, many in attendance argued the duo probably should have closed out the event since they were one of the best acts. They went through the back catalog of tracks that made them famous including “Pam Pam”, “Me Estas Tentando,” and “Sexy Movimiento”. The crowd absolutely loved their performance.

Colombian sensation J. Balvin was the one to close out the weekend. Easily one of the hottest acts in music right now J. Balvin, dressed in a pajama-like fit, in a way was reflective of the state of the exhausted crowd. Fans were tired from all the dancing and drinking while the sun beat on them and were not too engaged at first but J. Balvin brought them back to life with “Mi Gente”.

Suenos Festival was a damn good time. Everyone was dressed for the occasion and came with the dance moves to back it up. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of freedom, everyone was letting loose and getting wild. But more importantly, it was a celebration for the Latino community. From all backgrounds, we danced united inviting everyone who came out to support. The audience represented our culture and our city with pride. It was a huge success and we can’t wait to see Sueños Festival return next year.

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