[Review] Best of Mamby 2018

Mamby on the Beach felt like three different festivals going on at once this weekend. The rap/R&B beach stage, EDM tent, and jam band park side stage had three distinct types of festival goers at each. Below we listed our favorites from Chicago and memorable artists we heard for the first time.

The best from the hometown:

Joseph Chilliams performing his new project, The Plastics, and bringing out all of Pivot.

Towkio bringing out fellow Save Money artist Joey Purp.

The entire Common performance was the story of his life. He went from playing "Retrospect for Life" to telling the crowd if he wants to change the world, he will do it through his daughter, who was also present.

Jamila Woods sharing the stage with her sisters for her whole performance.

The silent tent with Stitch Gawd on Saturday, and Evan Brown on Sunday.

Best set from an artist I haven't heard of:

Jack Harlow killed it.

I only caught the end of Bugus, but he was defiantly going in.

Mamby on the Beach has the potential to be the best summer music festival in Chicago. It has everything going for it: A good location that is easy to get to on the train or even by bike, three stages that aren't too far apart, picturesque views every direction, good vendors, and oh yeah the beach.

by Collin Covert

Mamby On The Beach Preview

Summer in Chicago means one thing, it's festival season. Mamby On The Beach is arguably the festival that embraces the season the most, with attendees partying all day on the beach with their favorite artists. There's a good mix of local and national talent on the bill this year and here's who we're excited for.

Saturday

Common

Sunday

Mamby On The Beach, happening June 23 and 24, 2018 at Oakwood Beach.

by Stephen Kaplan

React Presents announces Mamby Plunge

Chicago based promotion company React Presents is taking an extra step in helping to reduce Chicago crime.

React Presents this week announced their “React To Violence” campaign. React is the company behind mega-festivals Spring Awakening, North Coast, Summer Set and also Mamby on the Beach.

The “React To Violence” is the company’s campaign to improve Chicago. In a statement along with the campaign React stated, “After a record setting year of violence in Chicago, it has been nearly impossible to ignore the struggle within our beloved Windy City. That’s why React Presents is launching a “React to Violence” campaign in an effort to improve our city and ultimately, the world around us.”

React Resents and Mamby On The Beach have teamed up for a winter campaign fundraiser, the “Mamby Plunge”.

The campaign has pledged to give all proceeds from Mamby Plunge to the nonprofit origination Bright Star Community Outreach. Staff members have also pleaded to take a plunge into Lake Michigan, if $10,000 or more is donated. The deadline for the $10,000 goal is by Saturday, March 11.

Mamby staff members Martin Godinez (Marketing Manager/Talent Buyer), Alan Brant (Social Media Manager), Zach Partin (Talent Buyer), Pat Grumley (Marketing Director), Dom Brown (Festival Marketing/Experiential), Ashley Egly (Festival Director) and Yolie Carrera (Yoga Instructor) have all agreed to take the Mamby Plunge.

The Mamby Plunge will also be held at the same location of Mamby on the Beach, at Oakwood Beach. The plunge into the lake will be on Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. The Mamby Plunge is open to the public.

The plunge will be able to watch on Mamby On The Beach’s Facebook page here.

Those who donate will also be entered into a raffle for VIP passes to this year's Mamby On The Beach.

You can donate to the Mamby Plunge here!

Mamby Plunge

by Jesus J. Montero

Freaky Deaky 2016 returns bigger than before

Freaky Deaky took over Toyota Park for an impressive return with a weekend filled with unforgettable moments.

Festival goers in their best homemade or store-bought costumes made Freaky Deaky their ultimate Halloween playground. The three stages: The Shrine, The Big Top, and The Crypt stage were perfectly crafted to capture the eerie Halloween feeling. That feeling was matched with incredible performances from a stacked lineup during the three-day weekend.

Day 1 - Photos - Jeremy Franklin

The first day saw early support from local electronic duo The Trap House and San Holo. Naming a few the first day saw a strong start to an even more powerful finish.

The comedian turned rapper Lil Dicky used his humor to bring a quick laugh along with his lyrically impressive rap routine. Lil Dicky a true showman, brought his colorful personality to life.

Rapper Travis Scott made his return back to Chicago following his Lollapalooza performance in 2015. Running into no similar issue Scott didn’t disappoint fans who were eagerly awaiting his return. Scott ended his set with his hit record “Antidote”. Going a bit longer then his promoted set time Scott’s mic was cut off making him storm off the stage.

Disclosure’s set was one for remember for years to come. They knew they were in Chicago and they played for Chicago. A Chicago house heavy set made for a surprise treat for those who just wanted to jam to some house classics.

Day 2 - Photos - Jeremy Franklin

The second day of Freaky Deaky is an ultimate blend of bold modern hip-hop entering with in your face electronic music.

Harlem rapper and self-proclaimed trap master A$AP Ferg brought the show. A hip-hop heavyweight in the making A$AP Ferg played to the crowd performing his hit records like Shabba and New Level.

One of the most talked about artist in the past year DJ Khaled closed off the second night on The Big Top stage. A properly named stage for DJ Khaled through the roof persona he satisfied the highly anticipated curiously behind his set. Serving as both the hype man and DJ, DJ Khaled was pulling double in making sure the crowd was living up every second of his set.

Showing love to the Chicago Cubs and their playoffs efforts, Freaky Deaky screened two of the playoff games that were played during that weekend. Festival goers had the chance to chow down on their grilled cheese from Cheesies and hot wings from Harold’s Chicken while watching the cubbies. Nothing can top that.

Day 3 - Photos - Jeremy Franklin

The final night saw early support from local talent Light Em Up and Porn And Chicken. These local artists had the crowd going right from the start of the gates officially opening. A true sign on how incredibly talented our local scene is.

Electronic heavy hitters each brought their unique spin to the final night of Freaky Deaky. Duke Dumont was certainly not one to miss because of his signature tech house set. As well as BBC personality Danny Howard, and his perfectly crafted set list of electric bangers.

In just it’s second year Freaky Deaky created and filled a void that the Chicago music scene was missing. Along with young festivals like Mamby on the Beach and Reaction NYE, React Presents continues to add to Chicago’s rich music history.

Freaky Deaky is the perfect escape and the best way to celebrate a Halloween weekend with music. With clear skies and an unusual warmer weekend in late October, Freaky Deaky couldn’t have been any better.

It was a perfect mixture of the visual horrors of Halloween alongside the electric sky of that beamed from the crowds. Freaky Deaky like many Halloween attractions are worth the year long wait.

by Jesus J. Montero