Arts & Entertainment
Lupe Fiasco, JoJo, Elvis Crespo to Headline Taste of Chicago Concerts
Lupe Fiasco performs for a packed crowd in Washington, D.C. (Dan Swartz)
Chicago-born rapper Lupe Fiasco, pop and R&B singer JoJo and Latin music superstar Elvis Crespo will headline the Taste of Chicago concert series Sept. 5-7, Chicago officials announced Friday.
Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Jaco in Chicago, will bring his sharp-tongued raps like “Kick Push” and “Superstar” to Grant Park Sept. 5. JoJo will perform Sept. 6, and Crespo will close out the fest Sept. 7. All concerts start at 5 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
Taste of Chicago will feature a total of 45 food vendors and 17 food trucks, officials said. Approximately 20% of the vendors are making their first appearance at the Taste of Chicago, “offering fresh flavors and unique bites to explore,” officials said in a statement.
Food vendors include:
- Beat Kitchen Cantina
- ChefLife19
- Chillafry
- Crave Cookies
- Dao Thai Restaurant
- Hubbard Inn
- Khmai
- Lexington Betty Smoke House
- Nitro Nostalgia Ice Cream and Board Game Cafe
- Thimi’s Empanadas
- Eli’s Cheesecake
- African Food Palace
- BJ’s Market & Bakery
- Churro Factory
- Connie’s Pizza
- Franco’s Ristorante
- Harold’s Chicken #55
- JJ Thai Street Food
- Porkchop
- Prime Tacos
- Moore Poppin Gourmet Popcorn
- The Original Rainbow Cone
- Yum Dum
Ahead of the main event, three neighborhood “mini-Tastes” will be held across the city.
The first neighborhood pop-up will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday in Marquette Park, 6743 S. Kedzie Ave., featuring performances by ALäZ, Keya Trammell and DJ Boolumaster and Perreo 101.
The second neighborhood pop-up event will take place from noon to 8 p.m. July 19 at Pullman Park, 11101 S. Cottage Grove Ave., featuring performances by Meagan McNeal & Friends, Johnny Blas and the Afro Libre Orchestra and DJ Duane Powell.
The final neighborhood pop-up event will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 along Kimball Avenue between Lawrence and Leland avenues, featuring Los Gaiteros de Pueblo Santo, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, Surabhi Ensemble, FUGU DUGU and DJ BMazed.
More information is available online at TasteofChicago.us.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
