Kane Brown headlines the third night of Windy City Smokeout 2025 (Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
Windy City Smokeout hit full stride on Saturday night as country superstar Kane Brown lit up the stage for a sold-out crowd outside the United Center. Following a strong set from Megan Moroney, Brown’s high-energy headlining performance capped off a stacked third night of the four-day BBQ and country music bash in the heart of Chicago.
Fans packed into the festival grounds hours before the main event, some securing a spot for Megan Moroney’s early evening set, which included fan favorites like “Tennessee Orange” and “I’m Not Pretty.” Moroney’s effortless charm and twangy vocals were a perfect appetizer for what was to come, and judging by the sea of boots and beer cans already in motion, the crowd was more than ready for round two.
By the time Kane Brown hit the stage, the sun had dipped low and the skyline backdrop gave way to festival lights and phone flashlights. From the opening notes of “I Am” to the encore of “Miles On It”, Brown gave fans the full range of his catalog. The crowd erupted for “Be Like That” and swayed during the heartfelt “Homesick,” proving Kane’s ability to bounce between stadium-sized energy and intimate connection with ease.
The production was large, with plenty of pyro and Kane striding across the catwalk to interact with fans in every direction. At several points, he paused to soak in the energy of the night.
Scroll down to check out our favorite shots from Kane Brown’s unforgettable Saturday night set at Windy City Smokeout 2025.
Photos by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Kane Brown headlines the third night of Windy City Smokeout 2025 (Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
Bailey Zimmerman performed for his home crowd to kick off night one of the Windy City Smokeout 2025 (Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
Windy City Smokeout 2025 opened with a bang, and a boom of thunder, as Day 1 of the beloved country and BBQ festival brought music, chaos, and a whole lot of rain to the United Center parking lot. What began as a hot and humid Thursday quickly turned into a weather rollercoaster, but that didn’t stop Illinois native Bailey Zimmerman from closing out the night with a powerful, high-energy set that felt like a homecoming celebration.
Earlier in the evening, Koe Wetzel took the stage for a shortened performance. Originally scheduled to play for over an hour, Koe cut his set short after a little more than 30 minutes. Fans could tell something was off, his trademark grit was there, but he was clearly battling vocal issues, often stepping back from the mic between songs. Despite the abbreviated set, Wetzel powered through with crowd favorites.
Just before 7 p.m., the sky opened up and festival organizers made the difficult call to evacuate the grounds due to lightning in the area. For two hours, fans huddled under shelter or headed back to their cars, unsure whether the night’s headlining performance would still go on. But just after 9 p.m., the all-clear was given, and Bailey Zimmerman took the stage, greeted by a roar of cheers from a soaked but thrilled audience.
Zimmerman, who proudly hails from Illinois, didn’t let the rain or delay slow him down. He came out with unmatched energy, making up for lost time with an explosive set that kept fans singing and dancing late into the night. His gratitude for the crowd’s patience and passion was evident, turning the set into something that felt more like a celebration than just a concert.
Day 1 may not have gone exactly as planned, but thanks to Bailey Zimmerman, it still ended on a high note.
Scroll down to check out some of our favorite photos from Day 1 of Windy City Smokeout 2025 (Photos by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
The Lumineers closed out Summerfest 2025 the way only they could, with sincerity, harmony, and a sold-out amphitheater full of fans yelling “Ho!” and “Hey!” like their lives depended on it.
Headlining the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Saturday night, the Colorado-born folk rock band brought a warm, emotional close to three weekends of nonstop music on Milwaukee’s lakefront. This wasn’t their first time playing Summerfest or the venue, but it might’ve been their most triumphant.
For many in the crowd, it wasn’t just the end of a festival, it was a moment of reflection, connection, and collective singing that felt bigger than any fireworks show that the holiday weekend could offer. From early hits to newer gems, The Lumineers reminded us how powerful simple and honest songwriting can still be.
Here are 9 reasons you shouldn’t have missed it.
1. They always deliver on the Summerfest grounds
Whether it’s a headlining tour or part of Summerfest’s official lineup, The Lumineers have made Milwaukee a frequent stop and every time they show up, they bring the house down.
2. It was the final night of this year’s Summerfest
You only get one shot to close out the world’s largest music festival, and The Lumineers made sure the last night was something to remember.
3. It was another sell-out
If you were still hunting for tickets the week of, you were out of luck. It was one of the most in-demand sets of the entire festival and the packed amphitheater proved it.
4. “Ho Hey” was made for this setting
Some songs are destined to be sung outdoors, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, all yelling in rhythm. “Ho Hey” isn’t just a hit it’s a group therapy session under the stars.
5. They sounded flawless
No frills, no filler, just pitch-perfect vocals, tight instrumentation, and harmonies that hit you in the chest. Wesley Schultz sounded as fresh as ever.
6. One of their last Milwaukee shows triggered the end of the world, so it couldn’t get any worse than that
One of the last times The Lumineers were performing in Milwaukee (at the Fiserv), the world shut down due to COVID-19. This time? No global pandemic followed. Just good vibes and banjo solos.
7. They played the hits and then some
“Ophelia,” “Angela,” “Stubborn Love”, they were all there. But fans were also treated to deeper cuts and newer favorites that made the set feel rich and well-rounded.
8. They proved why they’re perfect festival closers
Not every band can command a massive amphitheater crowd without pyrotechnics or flashy visuals. The Lumineers did it with raw emotion and timeless songs.
9. Jeremiah and Wesley are still doing it 20 years later
Bandmates Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz have been making music together for two decades now, and it shows. Their chemistry, trust, and passion radiated from the stage and it was contagious.
On Thursday night, Benson Boone took over the iconic American Family Insurance Amphitheater at Summerfest, and boy, did he deliver. Against the sprawling backdrop of Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park, Boone commanded a sold-out crowd with a 18-song set that showcased his growth from breakout artist to stage-born performer. From tender vocal feels to full-throttle anthems, his Summerfest set was nothing short of unforgettable.
Boone kicked things off with an emotional punch, launching into “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “I Wanna Be the One You Call”, immediately engaging fans with his soulful vocal timbre and intimate stage presence. Things got sweet and intimate with “Coffee Cake”, before transitioning into high-energy territory with “Drunk in My Mind” and “There She Goes”, where he paced the stage, waving his arms and feeding off the crowd’s infectious energy.
Mid-set, the mood shifted. With “Slow It Down” and “Be Someone”, Boone stripped things back, his voice crystal clear against the amphitheater lights and the night sky. Then of course, what better way to cap off a memorable night than with his breakout single “Beautiful Things”, the track that made him a star. Spanning bangers, ballads, and emotional crescendos, Boone’s performance at the AmFam Amp confirmed that he’s far more than a TikTok flipping darling, he’s a full-fledged performer capable of moving a massive crowd with both vocal finesse and authentic connection.
Check out our photos of the sold-out performance below!
Isabel Dumaa may not have been the most familiar name on this year’s Summerfest lineup, but by the time her set wrapped on Friday, it was clear Milwaukee had just witnessed one of the best breakout acts of the festival. Performing a late-afternoon set on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage, Dumaa brought the kind of warmth, charm, and raw talent that instantly made fans out of first-time listeners.
Armed with a guitar and a voice that blends vulnerability with polish, the California-born singer-songwriter shared originals from her debut project Just My Nature, captivating the crowd with standout tracks like “Quarter Life Crisis” and “C’est La Vie.” Her indie-pop melodies, poetic lyrics, and stage presence made her performance feel both intimate and full of potential, the kind of set that leaves you saying, “Wait, who was that?” before quickly adding her to your playlist.
Isabel Dumaa didn’t need pyro or flashy visuals to win over the Summerfest crowd, just great songs, a clear sense of self, and the quiet power of an artist at the very beginning of something special. Keep an eye on her, we definitely will.
Scroll down to see our favorite photos from Isabel Dumaa’s Summerfest performance (Photos by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
What started as a one-off joke in a 2008 T-Pain lyric, rhyming “mansion” with “Wiscansin”, has evolved into one of the Midwest’s most consistently stacked and wildly entertaining hip-hop events of the summer. On Friday night, T-Pain’s Wiscansin Fest returned to The Rave in Milwaukee for its latest installment, and the “Buy U a Drank” hitmaker once again proved he knows how to throw a party, even in a state he has no formal ties to, except in rhyme.
This year’s lineup was easily one of the most eclectic and star-studded yet. The crowd was already buzzing early in the night when viral rapper Armani White, best known for his TikTok hit “Billie Eilish,” opened things up. The energy continued with NLE Choppa, who gave fans both high-octane bangers and a heartwarming moment by bringing his young daughter on stage. Prof followed with a set tailored to the hip-hop purists in the crowd, delivering clever rhymes and offbeat humor with the confidence of an underground king.
The night’s biggest curveball, in the best way, came courtesy of DJ Diesel, a.k.a. Shaquille O’Neal. Towering over his turntables like a living meme, Shaq unleashed an electrifying set that fused hip-hop with EDM drops, shaking the entire ballroom. It wasn’t his first time bringing chaos to The Rave, and based on crowd reaction, it better not be his last.
While the schedule ran about 15 minutes behind throughout the night, it was Glorilla’s delayed set that drew the most attention, and not the good kind. The Memphis rapper, who headlined and sold out The Rave earlier this year, took the stage late and left after performing only one song (“TGIF”), resulting in a wave of boos from disappointed fans. Her brief appearance felt more like a cameo than a performance, especially considering her prominence on the flyer.
Kash Doll got the show back on track with a fan-involved set that included a surprise onstage duet with one lucky audience member, who nailed every word. Wale followed with one of the most engaging performances of the night, jumping into the crowd and spitting bars shoulder-to-shoulder with fans. A regular at The Rave, Wale’s familiarity with the venue shined through, making his set feel like a reunion more than a concert.
The night also included a surprise that didn’t disappoint: Flo Milli. Unbilled until she hit the stage, the rising rap star brought infectious energy and gave fans a teaser of what they can expect when she returns to Milwaukee later this summer to open for Megan Thee Stallion at Summerfest.
Still, all eyes turned to the stage when Pusha T arrived. One-half of the legendary duo Clipse, Pusha tore through his solo catalog with razor-sharp precision, giving Milwaukee fans a preview of what’s to come when he returns with Malice later this year for the Clipse reunion tour.
Just as many fans, however, came for Colombian superstar Feid, who nearly matched T-Pain in crowd size and energy. Donning his signature green shades and delivering hit after hit in Spanish, Feid transformed The Rave into a reggaeton hotspot, proving why he’s become one of Latin music’s most in-demand names.
T-Pain, of course, closed out the night, and as always, he delivered. Backed by a full band and a catalog packed with timeless party anthems, Pain balanced hype and heart as only he can, moving effortlessly from chart-toppers like “Bartender” and “Can’t Believe It” to deeper cuts for the day-one fans. His charisma filled the room, his vocals were sharp, and his genuine joy in hosting Wiscansin Fest was unmistakable.
Despite a couple hiccups, including Keyshia Cole’s unexplained last-minute absence, Wiscansin Fest 2025 was a celebration of music, community, and T-Pain’s ever-growing impact on hip-hop and pop culture. From start to finish, the night reminded us why this fest has become such a staple, even if it all started with a made-up word.
The Ravinia Festival isn’t your typical concert venue and Saturday night wasn’t your typical show.
As thousands gathered in Highland Park, just outside of Chicago, with picnic baskets, bottles of rosé, and rainbow flags in hand, the second major concert of Ravinia’s 2025 season transformed the scenic, tree-lined amphitheater into a sanctuary of sound, style, and self-expression. The pairing of two genre-bending icons, Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that felt tailor made for Pride Month. It was futuristic. It was funky. It was fearless.
Janelle Monáe: Opening with Headliner Energy
Janelle Monáe might have technically opened the night, but her performance was anything but secondary. The acclaimed artist brought her unmistakable blend of Afrofuturism, soul, and pop polish to Ravinia’s stage with commanding presence, igniting the crowd from the jump. With hits like “Make Me Feel” and selections from her Age of Pleasure era, Monáe blurred the lines between concert and theatrical production, dripping charisma and reminding everyone that she can, and does, headline festivals on her own.
Monáe’s performance also echoed the spirit of Pride in both message and aesthetic. Between songs, she shared messages of empowerment and visibility, championing queer joy in a world that too often stifles it. She made Ravinia’s lawn feel less like a north shore park and more like a utopian block party, with concertgoers dancing in the grass, glitter on their cheeks.
Grace Jones: The Queen Ascends (Literally)
Then came Grace Jones.
As the curtain fell, the stage revealed Jones poised atop a towering platform, wearing a striking red mask that looked like a cyberpunk welder’s helmet. It was theatrical, menacing, iconic. She opened with her take of Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing,” her voice slinking through the air like velvet smoke, and from that moment on, the audience was hers.
At 77, Grace Jones remains a marvel. Her set was part fashion show, part performance art, part dance party, and all Grace. The hits came one after the other: “Demolition Man” and the sly groove of “My Jamaican Guy” drew roars from both the pavilion and the packed lawn. Lawngoers, some listening from their blankets on the ground, others sipping cocktails from crystal glasses, were just as locked in as those with front-row seats.
She commanded the stage with magnetic eccentricity, balancing avant-garde visuals with raw musical power. During “Williams’ Blood,” she delivered vocals that were chilling in their intensity. Her take on “Amazing Grace” was stirring and oddly intimate, even in a venue filled with thousands.
But the night’s true climax came during “Pull Up to the Bumper,” when Monáe reappeared to join Jones on stage. It was a generational summit of two trailblazers, exuding mutual respect, joy, and defiance. Finally, “Slave to the Rhythm” closed the night in spectacular fashion, although the crowd certainly didn’t want it to end.
Ravinia’s Unique Magic
There’s truly nowhere else like Ravinia. While many venues are content with plastic chairs and overpriced beer, Ravinia invites fans to build their own experience. Couples on the lawn dined by candlelight, groups of friends lounged on picnic blankets decked out like living rooms, and families danced among hanging string lights and garden gnomes.
That sense of personal celebration blended perfectly with the ethos of the night: be yourself, love freely, live loudly.
Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe gave Pride Month a North Shore moment it won’t soon forget.
Check out photos from Saturday night’s unforgettable performances below (Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration).
If you weren’t at Soldier Field this past weekend for The Weeknd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” Tour stop in Chicago, you missed a spectacle that was just as much dystopian sci-fi as it was pop-R&B party. With a stage setup that looked like Blade Runner meets Mad Max, Abel Tesfaye turned the lakefront stadium into a post-apocalyptic dancefloor—and 60,000 fans couldn’t get enough.
The Canadian megastar performed under a blood-red moon and towering city ruins, leading a faceless army of masked dancers and bathing the night in fire and lasers. But despite the end-of-the-world vibes, the show itself felt like a celebration—of music, of survival, and of The Weeknd’s genre-defying, chart-dominating career.
The setlist was a no-skips mix of greatest hits and deep cuts, opening with the haunting “Alone Again” and flowing into synth-heavy anthems like “Gasoline,” “Sacrifice,” and “How Do I Make You Love Me?” From there, it was wall-to-wall bangers—“Can’t Feel My Face,” “I Feel It Coming,” “Starboy,” “Heartless,” “The Hills,” and of course, the mega-hit “Blinding Lights” that lit up every corner of the stadium. And that’s not even the full list.
The crowd sang every word back to him, arms raised, phones lit. The show wasn’t just performed—it was felt.
And visually? It was absolutely wild. From the mile-long runway to the LED-drenched skyline collapsing in slow motion, every moment begged to be photographed (which, lucky for us, we did; scroll down for our full photo gallery).
The Weeknd’s Soldier Field performance was another reminder that this isn’t just a tour—it’s a fully immersive experience, one of the most cinematic and creatively ambitious stadium shows we’ve seen in a long time. If this is what the end of the world looks like, we’ll take it—so long as The Weeknd is on the aux.
Check out our favorite shots from the night below.
Chicago’s Grant Park turned into a reggaetón dream this Memorial Day weekend as Sueños Festival returned for another stacked two-day party in the heart of the city. Thousands of fans showed up ready to dance, drip, and sing every lyric at the top of their lungs—and the lineup gave them plenty to work with.
Saturday’s lineup was all killer, no filler, capped by a star-powered set from Shakira, who delivered an hour and 45 minutes of nonstop hits. Whether she was throwing it back to “Hips Don’t Lie” or showing love to her newest music, Shakira reminded everyone why she’s one of the greatest global performers alive. Her stage presence? Untouchable. Her vocals? Flawless. And when she closed with “Waka Waka,” it felt like the entire park jumped in unison.
Right before Shakira, Peso Pluma lit up the crowd with a performance that felt like a coronation. The rising superstar brought out surprise guests like Oscar Maydon, El Alfa, Jasiel Nuñez, and Tito Doble P—each one upping the energy and keeping the crowd guessing. Peso’s stage design, charisma, and gritty vocals were a perfect blend of street and spectacle. And don’t forget, this is a guy who’s already worked with Kanye, Kali Uchis, and Rich the Kid. He’s only getting started.
Sunday didn’t slow things down either. Don Omar and Wisin threw it back with classics that still hit as hard as ever, Grupo Frontera showed why they’re one of the most exciting bands in the game right now, and Tito Doble P doubled up with another strong showing. Even in the sweltering heat, the crowd stayed locked in and loud from open to close.
Sueños continues to cement itself as the go-to Latin music festival in the Midwest. If you weren’t there, scroll through our full photo gallery below, then go ahead and set that calendar alert for next May. Because when Sueños returns in 2026, you’ll want to be front and center.
Post Malone’s music may be evolving, but one thing hasn’t changed: the man knows how to put on a show.
Performing under the lights at Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field, Post brought the latest leg of his tour to the Windy City and gave fans a night packed with heart, hits, and a whole lot of twang. The setlist pulled from every era of his career—hip-hop, heartbreak, and now, honky-tonk—with fans singing along whether he was crooning country ballads or turning up to “Wow.” and “Congratulations.”
Leaning into his new cowboy persona, Post still showed plenty of love to the rap songs that made him a household name. From “Rockstar” to “Psycho” to “I Fall Apart,” he made sure longtime fans felt seen. But it was the new material that really gave the night its flavor. Country Post is officially here, and it works. Songs like “I Had Some Help” had the crowd swaying with their arms around each other, while the stripped-down acoustic moments gave the sold-out stadium a chance to breathe, cheer, and cry (yes, people cried).
Posty was in great spirits all night—grinning, sipping out of a red Solo cup, and thanking the crowd a dozen times over. And the visuals? Fire. Literally. With flames shooting up from the stage and a lighting rig that followed him like a spotlighted lasso, every moment felt tailor-made for your camera roll.
It was a reminder that even as Post Malone continues to genre-hop, his live show remains one of the most consistent and entertaining in the game.
Scroll down to check out our favorite photos from the night, and trust us, if you missed this one, make sure you don’t miss him next time he rides into town.
Photos by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
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