Thousands of people crowded the Sueños Music Festival entrance at Grant Park by noon on Saturday in anticipation of Xavi, who’s the world’s most-played artist in the Mexican regional genre. Before the festival organizers released the official schedule, fans had expected him to be one of the headliners.
With Xavi’s sudden rise to stardom, listeners outside of the West Coast haven’t always known how to pronounce his name. DJ Fresco, the official host of Sueños, introduced him on the stage as “Sha-vee” instead of “Ha-vee,” provoking some chuckles and boos from the crowd.
Earlier this year, Xavi became the first Mexican artist to top the global Spotify chart with his solo hit “La Diabla,” despite having launched his career in the middle of the pandemic with Interscope Records. His YouTube and online presence quickly amassed fans and millions of views after his debut “La Víctima.”
Xavi’s set at Sueños included both “La Diabla” and “La Víctima” in addition to his latest hit, “Corazón de Piedra.”
Gabito Ballesteros performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Gabito Ballesteros performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Gabito Ballesteros performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Gabito Ballesteros performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Maluma performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Maluma performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Maluma performs at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
People line up downtown waiting for an announcement from Sueños Music Festival about it possibly being canceled due to inclement weather at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Joel A. Muñoz Martínez and Randy Nota Loca of Jowell y Randy perform at Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Festival goers can grub on jibaritos, a Chicago-Rican staple, from Smash Jibarito, which are $15 at the Sueños Music Festival.
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Ambar Colón | Chicago Sun-Times
Rauw Alejandro performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Rauw Alejandro performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Sueños festival goers can enjoy Japanese-inspired chicken teriyaki bowls from Kamehachi for $15.
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Ambar Colón | Chicago Sun-Times
Rels B performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Rels B performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Melba Serrano, owner of Lito’s Taco and Empanada House in Lincoln Park, is dishing out four flavors of Colombian-style empanadas. Attendees can pick from chorizo cheese, chicken and rice, beef and rice and spinach and cheese.
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Ambar Colón | Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks before local artist Sorry Papi performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Sorry Papi performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Sorry Papi performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Global food options at the Sueños Music Festival include tikka masala tacos (two for $11) from Tandoor Char House.
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Ambar Colón | Chicago Sun-Times
Bizarrap performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024. | Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
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Young Miko performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024. | Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Young Miko performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024. | Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Xavi performs at the Sueños Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Alex Wroblewski/For the Sun-Times
Xavi danced and skipped on the stage sporting a red Chicago Bulls jersey with his first name and the number 24 over a white tee and ripped baggy jeans and sneakers. He rocked his signature haircut with medium wavy locks framing his face.
The highlight of the show was when Xavi unfolded a Mexican flag and draped it over his back while he continued to sing, causing the crowd to erupt and yell out “Viva Mexico.” The 19-year-old recently collaborated with the traditional sierreño group Los Dareyes de La Sierra on the song Poco a Poco, which he sang at Sueños sans Dareyes.
Sueños Music Festival has a few more Mexican performances on the schedule, notably Peso Pluma on Sunday, who is credited for pushing modern corridos into the mainstream.
After his debut performance at Sueños Music Festival last month, Álvaro Díaz spent a few minutes speaking to La Voz following the years-long delay of the release of his sophomore album “SAYONARA.”
By Ambar Colón
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“We essentially only got a day and a quarter of what we paid for.”
By Ambar Colón
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Aunque Peso Pluma no actuó, hizo una breve aparición en el after party oficial de Sueños en The Mine.
By Jackie Serrato
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El titular del sábado y los pocos actos del domingo definieron el Festival Sueños 2024.
Chicago fans of superstar Peso Pluma are left high and dry, for the third time this year, because of the threat of severe weather. Two other Pluma concerts were canceled in Chicago because of the alleged threat of cartels.
By Jackie Serrato
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The 30-year-old Colombian star gave an outstanding performance filled with nostalgic hits. Due to the weather, he was the final performer of the festival.
By Andrea Flores
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Chino Pacas of Street Mob Records joined Gabito Ballesteros on stage. The Mexican singer-songwriters are rising corrido tumbado artists, blending traditional Mexican ballads with hip-hop elements.
By Jackie Serrato
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“A cheer for the Latinos!” a high-pitched Jowell called to damp Sueños attendees who waited out the weather. Though the two set expectations high, the remainder of their set was at times hard to follow.
By Andrea Flores
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