Summer in Chicago just got hotter with the return of the incredible Levitt VIBE Chicago Music Series! Get ready for ten unforgettable weekends of vibrant rhythms, cultural celebration, and community connection—all completely FREE!
What’s the VIBE All About?
The International Latino Cultural Center is proud to present the second season of this groundbreaking series showcasing the extraordinary diversity within Latino music. From June 14 through August 16, four Chicago parks will transform into cultural hotspots featuring 15 amazing musical acts from across the Latino diaspora.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Latin music or just looking to discover something new, this series offers the perfect soundtrack to your summer. Bring your friends, family, and dancing shoes—these performances are guaranteed to move your body and lift your spirit!
TAKE A LISTEN…
Where to Find the Beat
The music flows across four beautiful Chicago parks:
- Gage Park (2411 W. 55th St.)
- La Villita Park (2800 S Sacramento Ave.)
- Riis Park (6100 W Fullerton Ave.)
- Rainbow Beach (3111 E 77th St.)
Each location brings the vibrant sounds of Latin America directly to Chicago neighborhoods, creating accessible cultural experiences for all.
Mark Your Calendar: Week-by-Week Artist Showcase
June 14: Kick-Off Celebration at Gage Park (3:00-5:00 PM)
Double-bill extravaganza featuring:
Yasser Tejeda – This Dominican guitar virtuoso blends Afro-Dominican roots music with jazz, rock, and Caribbean rhythms. With three award-winning albums and praise from Juan Luis Guerra who called him a “marvelous example of what is happening with Dominican music,” Tejeda’s rare Chicago appearance is not to be missed!
Los Rakas – This Grammy-nominated Panamanian duo (Raka Rich and Raka Dun) brings electrifying hip-hop, plena, reggaeton, and dancehall rhythms that will get you moving! These Bay Area-based cousins are pioneers of a new Latin urban sound that’s redefining Pan-American music.
June 21: Family Traditions at La Villita Park (3:00-5:00 PM)
TBD
June 28: Modern Colombian Sounds at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
La Muchacha y El Propio Junte – Colombian artist La Muchacha (Isabel Ramirez Ocampo) and her band merge traditional Colombian rhythms with powerful contemporary commentary. Her direct lyrics address social inequality, feminism, and environmental issues while celebrating Colombia’s rich musical traditions—protest music with a modern twist that moves both body and mind.
July 5: Chicago Salsa Celebration at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
Jesús Enríquez & Jennzy – These Chicago-based salsa powerhouses join forces with the Caribe Project to bring the best of the city’s tropical music scene. Enríquez, a Mexican salsero who rose to fame in the 90s with hits like “De Que Manera Te Olvido,” shares the stage with Jennzy, a dynamic Puerto Rican vocalist with a stellar career in salsa and bolero.
July 12: Genre-Bending Double Bill at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
The Braided Janes – This queer, fem-fronted post-punk Latin alt band from Chicago transcends language and genre barriers. Founded by family members Jessica Rodriguez, Juny Alvarez, and Andrew Doyle, their bilingual music has earned NPR recognition and a growing fanbase for their powerful sound.
Los Vicios de Papá – Born from the struggles of undocumented youth, this high-energy 8-piece Latin ska fusion collective delivers socially conscious lyrics that respond to societal injustices. A Chicago staple, they’ll get you dancing while delivering messages that matter.
July 19: Grupero & Banda Night at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
Grupo Love Secreto – Since 2015, this popular Chicago band has been performing the greatest hits of the Grupero Music scene from the 80s and 90s. Now the premiere band of the genre in the Midwest, they’re also creating original music heard across Mexico, Central and South America.
Banda El Recuerdo – True veterans of Chicago’s banda scene since 1986, this 16-piece brass powerhouse from Celaya, Guanajuato has numerous recordings and has accompanied many of the genre’s greatest stars. Experience the authentic sound that helped launch Chicago’s vibrant banda movement!
July 26: Girl Power at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
Las Karamba – Making their Chicago debut, this all-female ensemble based in Barcelona brings together six musicians from Venezuela, Cuba, Catalonia, France, and Argentina. They infuse traditional styles like Son, Cha-Cha-Cha, Salsa, and Timba with rap and urban influences for a powerful, infectious sound. Their current album, dedicated to Celia Cruz, features high-energy tracks guaranteed to fill the dance floor!
August 2: Accordion Face-Off at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
La Ley del Norte – At the forefront of Chicago’s Mexican norteño scene since 1985, this band is led by accordion master Roberto Serrato, a true icon who has mentored countless musicians. With numerous recordings and performances throughout the U.S. and Mexico, they embody the authentic norteño tradition.
Yeison Landero – Grandson of the legendary “King of Cumbia” Andrés Landero, Yeison carries forward Colombia’s rich musical legacy while forging his own innovative path. Experience both traditional and contemporary sounds with his all-star Colombian band in this exciting Chicago debut!
August 9: Traditional Colombian Sounds at Riis Park (6:00-8:00 PM)
Gaiteros de Pueblo Santo – Founded in 2007 and composed of the finest artists from Colombia’s Caribbean region, this ensemble specializes in traditional gaita music featuring indigenous flutes, percussion, and call-and-response vocals. The new generation of Gaiteros brings their cultural heritage to Chicago for the first time!
August 16: Grand Finale at Rainbow Beach (3:00-5:00 PM)
Dos Santos – One of Chicago’s most innovative Latin alternative bands, Dos Santos delivers a psychedelic approach to pan-Latin rhythms. Drawing from cumbia, salsa, and rock while incorporating elements of Chicanx activism, they create a socially conscious sound uniquely their own.
Los Crema Paraiso – For 16 years, this power rock trio has been redefining Venezuelan joropo music through their innovative “Neofolklore” approach. Founded by established Venezuelan musicians Neil Ochoa and Jose Luis Pardo, they bring fresh energy to traditional forms that will close out the series with a bang!
Why We Can’t Stop Talking About This Series
“This series will showcase the extraordinary diversity that exists within the world of Latin music in predominantly Latino neighborhoods across the City with the goal of bringing free live music programming to underrepresented communities in need of cultural programming,” says Mateo Mulcahy, Deputy Executive Director of the International Latino Cultural Center.
The Levitt VIBE Chicago Music Series is made possible through partnerships with the Levitt Foundation and the Chicago Park District’s Night Out In The Parks program, bringing high-quality cultural experiences to neighborhoods throughout Chicago.
Your Summer Sound Prescription
Whether you’re looking to discover new artists, dance to familiar rhythms, or simply enjoy beautiful summer evenings in the park, the Levitt VIBE Chicago Music Series offers something for everyone. With musical styles spanning from traditional Colombian gaita to cutting-edge Latin alternative, you’ll experience the incredible diversity of Latino musical expression—all for FREE!
So gather your friends and family, pack a picnic blanket, and prepare to be moved by the sounds, stories, and spirit of Latin America’s finest musicians. See you at the parks this summer!
For the most up-to-date information about this series and other events, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com and levitt.org.
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago is a Pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting, and increasing awareness of Latino cultures among Latinos and other communities through film, music, dance, visual arts, comedy, theater and culinary arts.
