Chicago’s Forever Mine Music Festival Brings R&B Royalty And House Legends Together This Spring – Essence

All roads lead to Chicago this Memorial Day weekend as the city gets ready for Forever Mine Music Festival, a new two-day event bringing together early 2000s R&B stars and the house music legends that built the city’s sound.

The inaugural festival happens at Union Park May 23-24 with headliners including Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland, Kaytranada, and Monica. The weekend also features JoJo, Mario, Mýa, Juvenile and The 400 Degreez Band, and more across three different stages. If you’ve ever sung ‘Love’ drunk at the top of your lungs at the end of the night or have ever set foot in a Chicago club, this lineup was made for you.

“Chicago gave the world house music, and this city has always been where house and R&B intersect. That’s why we’re bringing them together at Forever Mine,” said co-owners Fernando Nieto and Miguel Torres. 

“We want to see a crowd of all ages singing the anthems that defined the early 2000s and are now finding new life with the next generation.”

The festival reflects that with its three-stage setup. The Main Stage showcases the weekend’s biggest names, with Saturday bringing Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland, Juvenile and The 400 Degreez Band, JoJo, and Lloyd. Sunday’s Main Stage lineup features Kaytranada, Monica, Mario, and Shaggy. These are the artists behind songs that still show up on playlists today, the ones that get entire rooms singing along.

The Warehouse Stage takes things in a different direction, focusing squarely on the city’s house music legacy. Saturday features Chicago pioneers like Terry Hunter, Lady D, and DJ Slugo, while Sunday brings Joe Kay, Lou Phelps, and Kitty Ca$h. These are the DJs and producers who helped shape Chicago house music from the ground up. There’s also a Silent Disco Stage highlighting local artists throughout the weekend. Attendees can pick up wireless headphones and switch between different channels to catch live performances from up-and-coming Chicago talent.

Power 92’s DJ Pharris will host both days, bringing his energy to the stage between performances. Between sets, attendees can explore what the festival has going on beyond the music, from live art to photo ops to local vendors set up throughout the park.

Forever Mine has planned activations and installations from Chicago-based artists, Y2K-themed photo booths, and spots for local vendors to sell their merchandise. Food will come from Chicago vendors, and there will be multiple bars set up around Union Park along with water stations and shaded areas where people can take a break from the sun. VIP ticket holders get access to a premium bar area, can skip some of the entry lines, and have better viewing spots for the stages

Both days run from noon to 10 p.m. at Union Park. The festival is all ages, and kids five and under get in free. Tickets are on sale now at ForeverMineFest.com. You can also follow @ForeverMineFest on TikTok and Instagram to keep up with announcements and lineup additions.