Sunday’s weather snarls unintentionally made Jowell y Randy one of the first acts of the Sueños Music Festival’s final day, after a short set by Delilah. It’s no pressure for the Puerto Rican duo, who have been making music since the early 2000s.
It’s clear that the weather initially bummed out the crowd, some of whom spent hundreds of dollars on tickets and outfits and had been waiting outside the gates since early morning. It’s not so easy for many to stunt their outfits with damp hair and muddy shoes.
Perhaps that’s why the dembow artists decided to open their set with “SAFAERA,” their hit collaboration with fellow Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny. The high-energy song was the cure to a rough morning filled with delays and cancellations amid severe weather concerns.
“A cheer for the Latinos!” a high-pitched Jowell called out to the semi-full house. Though the two set expectations high, the remainder of their set was at times hard to follow.
When they announced their transition to “old school” reggaetón via the iconic “Murder She Wrote” sample echoing in the background, few fans pulled out their phones to record the two — call the lackluster response a sign of the times. Despite the awkward murmuring among concertgoers during the middle part of their set, Jowell y Randy delivered true perreo, including “No Te Veo,” a 2008 hit they originally sang with the supergroup Casa de Leones.
Other hits include “Loco,” “Sensación del Bloque” and “Siente el Boom” (a collaboration with Tito el Bambino). It was during this set that the sun started to peek through the fog, which was fitting for a final set of songs that re-energized a possibly sleepy crowd. Jowell y Randy played their J Balvin collab hit “Bonita.”
“Before we leave, we want to say that Jowell and Randy are celebrating 24 years as a duo,” Randy said. “We are also celebrating that quarantine is over.” With that, the singers segued into their post-quarantine banger “Se Acabó la Cuarentena” with Kiko el Crazy, ensuing madness among the crowd.
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
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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Sueños organizers the delayed the start of Day 2, and the Maxwell Street Market closed early Sunday because of the rain.
