Latest news with #MicheladaFestival
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
German violinist cancels Chicago concert as part of a boycott of the U.S.
German violinist Christian Tetzlaff will no longer perform at Symphony Center next fall, according to an announcement Tuesday by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. Tetzlaff had been slated to lead a recital at 3 p.m. Oct. 5 as part of the Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music series. Ticketholders have been notified of the cancellation; those with questions can call patron services at 312-294-3000. The announcement said, in part, that 'Tetzlaff will not be traveling to the United States during the 2025/26 Season.' Tetzlaff and his Tetzlaff Quartet have canceled U.S. performances in protest of President Trump's policies, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Tetzlaff was one of the first major foreign artists to boycott the U.S. in response to Trump, the New York Times reported. The Michelada Festival in Chicago was recently cancelled for summer 2025 after several Latin American musical headliners cancelled over concerns about visas and travel to the U.S. under Trump's administration, and the current political climate.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Latin Music Festivals Scramble Amid Visa Uncertainty: ‘It's Scary'
When Michelada Festival canceled its 2025 festival last week over the uncertainty around artist visas, the situation rang the alarm for several other Latin music festivals around the country. Michelada, a Chicago-based event, became the first of its kind to cancel over the 'rapidly changing political climate.' The festival wrote on May 6, 'We're no longer able to guarantee the full experience we had dreamed up for you with all your favorite artists. Although we tried to push through, it became clear that we wouldn't be able to deliver the full lineup as planned.' More from Rolling Stone Trump Is Trying to Take Control of Congress Through Its Library Trump Claims Qatar Is Giving Him $400 Million Jet Out of Goodness of Their Heart Trump Gives In, Rolls Back China Tariffs Just a month earlier, organizers had unveiled a lineup that included Grupo Firme, Luis R. Conriquez, Los Alegres Del Barranco, and Netón Vega. They quickly replaced Los Alegres — whose visas were revoked by the State Department over their depiction of a cartel kingpin at a show in Mexico — with Gabito Ballesteros. But with visa statuses for both Ballesteros and Conriquez now uncertain, organizers were forced to act quickly and cancel the event altogether. 'It's not fair to the consumer to go through those changes,' says Miguel Torres, one of Michelada's owners. 'You want to deliver on what you promise, and not create the question of, 'Will the artist be there or not?'' 'It was too big of a gamble and a risk to move forward,' adds Fernando Nieto, Michelada's co-founder. Since taking office, the Trump administration has made securing work visas incredibly difficult for international artists. (FKA Twigs canceled a U.S. run over the issue.) And, on top of that, there's a growing fear of visa revocations among artists who perform narcocorridos, over what happened to Los Alegres del Barranco. At the time of Los Alegres' revocation, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau accused the group of 'glorifying' criminals and terrorists with their performances. Promoter and new Jalo Fest organizer Ricky Calderon has also had to deal with these issues in the last few weeks. Calderon noticed how difficult securing visas has become under the presidential administration for many artists, and moved quickly to address the problems at two of his own events last month. The organizer had booked both Alegres del Barranco and Gabito Ballesteros for a pair of shows in Northern California in late April. Just days before, he was forced to replace them with other artists. 'Everyone wants to go to these shows, but it really affected us,' Calderon says. 'What can I say?' Calderon says the situation also affects promoters' credibility with ticket buyers, who are already struggling to cover the rising costs of shows. With the concern around artists being able to stick on the lineup, fans are choosing to wait until closer to the event to purchase tickets. As he deals with the repercussions at one-off shows, Calderon has also been slowly rolling out Jalo Fest, the first-ever Latin music festival in Sacramento, slated for this summer. He's already confirmed appearances from El Tri, Tucanes de Tijuana, Eslabón Armado, and Santa Fe Klan, among others, but the visa problems have affected three artists he planned to feature: Alegres, Ballesteros, and Edición Especial. The setback forced him to postpone his fest's lineup announcement multiple times, preventing his organization from getting a head start on sales. 'We were supposed to announce and go on sale two months back,' Calderón says of the event, scheduled for Aug. 30 and 31. 'People don't want to buy tickets knowing that things might get canceled down the line. It's really affecting us. It's a big investment for both the people and also for us as business people.' After Michelada's cancellation, it's unclear how Chicago's Sueños Fest will fare later this month, given that the lineup prominently features corridos acts such as Peso Pluma, Tito Double P, and Oscar Maydon. BottleRock's La Onda Fest will also showcase similar artists the following weekend in Napa. (Reps for those festivals did not respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment.) Abel DeLuna, founder and board member of Latino promoter collective Promotores Unidos, has his act Sonora Tropicana performing at the NorCal event. He says the delay in visa issuance (and the narcocorrido conversation) is unprecedented, and will likely have lasting effects on the industry. As demand for the artists in the genre continues to grow, so too does the uncertainty around booking them. 'I think this is going to affect us as long as this president is in office. And now, with Mexico prohibiting corridos… The government hasn't prohibited it here, but we're scared that it could happen,' explains DeLuna. 'You never know what to expect with Donald Trump.' DeLuna says that as an organization, the association of promoters has discussed how to help each other out, but ultimately, 'we don't have a solution to this,' he says. 'What we are going through now is something I have never seen before.' Ramiro Bojorquez, organizer of Belico Fest in Phoenix, which debuted last year with several artists known for their narcocorridos, is proceeding with caution, but remains committed to delivering a top-tier show. After hosting Gerardo Ortiz, Junior H, and Luis R. Conriquez in 2024, he feels a responsibility to keep the Mexican music event alive and ensure it lives up to the 'Belico' name. 'I'm investing a lot of money in this and I'm a bit scared, but it's a passion project for me,' says Bojorquez. Slowly, he's been announcing acts confirmed for the fall event: Xavi and Clave Especial, who are all U.S. citizens, and Netón Vega, who had his work visa confirmed last month, he says. Bojorquez 'had to pull back' on announcing other acts for the festival, and ultimately decided not to re-book Conriquez, the leader of the belico subgenre. 'We're very, very cautious about who we book, and not taking away from the whole experience, because our name is based on that genre and culture of Mexican music,' says Bojorquez. 'It's a movement that we started, and now we have to continue. We can't let government restrictions stop us. We gotta work with what we have and give the audiences what they want.' As Belico Fest continues filling out their lineup, Bojorquez explains that he's going to focus on booking artists who are either from the United States or already have their visas confirmed, contending that it's not worth the risk of having to pull out an artist. 'It's scary because you're investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a festival and you're dependent on the outcome of the festival,' he says. Bojorquez also pointed to a troubling double standard that seems to specifically target Mexican musicians, while other media portraying narcoculture, like Netflix's Narcos, which explores the drug trade and depicts figures like El Chapo Guzmán, face no scrutiny. 'I can't stay quiet. I can't keep my arms closed,' says Bojorquez. 'It's happening on Netflix and in other parts of the media. You can't blindfold people because you don't like the way they talk.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Chicago native named the first American pope
Good afternoon, Chicago. Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. Today, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first American pontiff. Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere. Catholics across the region are celebrating the historic announcement that the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church was born and raised in the Chicago area. Prevost's Catholic roots were planted in Chicago's south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the far South Side, attending school there with his siblings. Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. Only one pope has ever visited Chicago, though. Take a look back at Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History This summer was set to be Michelada Festival's biggest year yet. With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday, just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach. Read more here. More top news stories: Fire reported overnight at school in Dunning neighborhood Man shot by off-duty cop during domestic disturbance faces felony weapons charge, police say The plan calls for six new air traffic control centers, along with technology and communications upgrades at all of the nation's air traffic facilities over the next three years, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Read more here. More top business stories: South Shore riders complain of late, packed trains; railroad considering 10% fare increase Steelmaker Cleveland Cliffs to idle 3 steel plants in Pennsylvania and Illinois The Cubs get an off day today to regroup before taking on the New York Mets for three games at Citi Field. A quirky part of the schedule continues for the White Sox. Read more here. More top sports stories: Chicago White Sox match 2nd-worst start in franchise history through 37 games with 2-1 loss Anaheim Ducks hire Joel Quenneville, his 1st coaching job since Chicago Blackhawks scandal broke British rock band The Who has announced a farewell tour that will bring them to the United Center in Chicago for a concert on Sept. 7. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Review: 'Gorgeous' by Raven and Rivendell Theatres begins with the love between pets and people The Met Gala is over, but dandyism isn't. Here's how to dress like a dandy in everyday life. As GOP leaders draft President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by Memorial Day, dozens of Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: India and Pakistan trade fire and accusations as fears of a wider military confrontation rise He was killed in a road rage shooting. AI allowed him to deliver his own victim impact statement
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: Chicago native named the first American pope
Good afternoon, Chicago. Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. Today, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first American pontiff. Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere. Catholics across the region are celebrating the historic announcement that the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church was born and raised in the Chicago area. Prevost's Catholic roots were planted in Chicago's south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the far South Side, attending school there with his siblings. Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. Only one pope has ever visited Chicago, though. Take a look back at Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History This summer was set to be Michelada Festival's biggest year yet. With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday, just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach. Read more here. More top news stories: The plan calls for six new air traffic control centers, along with technology and communications upgrades at all of the nation's air traffic facilities over the next three years, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Read more here. More top business stories: The Cubs get an off day today to regroup before taking on the New York Mets for three games at Citi Field. A quirky part of the schedule continues for the White Sox. Read more here. More top sports stories: British rock band The Who has announced a farewell tour that will bring them to the United Center in Chicago for a concert on Sept. 7. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: As GOP leaders draft President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by Memorial Day, dozens of Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table. Read more here. More top stories from around the world:
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miche Fest's cancellation comes amid ‘political climate' and issues with artist visas
This summer was set to be Michelada Festival's biggest year yet. With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach. The two-day festival, which had its roots in Pilsen's streets, moved first to Harrison Park and then last summer to Oakwood Beach, becoming one of Chicago's largest Latino music festivals, bringing together thousands of people and featuring world-renowned artists who speak to different generations of Latinos. It had some 10,000 attendees daily in 2024. While some have criticized the organizers for the sudden 2025 cancellation, co-founder Fernando Nieto said, many of their fans have been loyal to the festival for the last seven years. He said the cancellation felt like the right thing to do. 'Outside of the effect that it (the cancellation) might have on our business, we felt like it was a responsible thing to do for our fanbase,' said Nieto on Wednesday. 'We've built up an extremely loyal fan base since day one, and we felt, due to the uncertainty with what's going on, it would be irresponsible to move forward without a clear path.' The announcement on Tuesday said the reason was current concerns over visas and travel: 'Because of the uncertainty around artist visas and the shifting political climate, we've made the difficult decision to cancel Michelada Fest 2025.' Their Sunday lineup was more than 60% international artists who would need a visa to come to the United States and perform. If they were unable to do so, there was no way, organizers said, they could replace their lineup with the level artists as the ones they had promised. While Nieto said they cannot comment specifically on visa issues for specific artists, there were 'enough to believe the issues over visas could escalate.' 'It's too big of a risk for our business and for our fanbase,' Nieto said. 'Although it's a tough one on a business side, we never want to put our fanbase in the position where they're not going to get the best possible experience.' The first group to drop out of this year's lineup was Los Alegres Del Barranco, a popular regional Mexican music group mostly singing corridos. In early April, the U.S. State Department revoked the band members' visas for allegedly displaying a visual of a cartel kingpin during a recent show. While Michelada Fest organizers quickly replaced the group with Gabito Ballesteros, a Mexican singer-songwriter considered one of the rising acts in the corridos tumbados, he, too, is now uncertain about having a visa to come to Chicago to perform for the festival, said Miguel Torres, Nieto's business partner. Corridos typically have lyrics that narrate a historical event, and have most recently focused on telling stories of drug lords or cartel activity in the current music scene. A first-time Michelada Fest in El Paso, Texas, was held May 3, selling out a downtown venue with 8,000 attendees. Regional Mexican artists performed there for a single-day event. Nieto said that 'it only all worked out because of luck and timing,' after all of the artists were able to get visas and perform. El Paso headliner Neton Vega, a rising young Mexican singer known for his corridos and reggaeton, was also supposed to headline Sunday night in Chicago. But a week after the El Paso music festival, organizers gathered to weigh the pros and the cons of hosting in Chicago, said Nieto Hundreds have commented on the news. 'Thank you for thinking of your people and thinking ahead. It would be the most hurtful thing to see a beautiful festival like this targeted,' a user wrote. 'It's sad to see this but it's safe for our community. We have to fight for what's right,' another one wrote. Amid fears of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, other events catering to and celebrating Mexican culture and Latinos have also been postponed and canceled in Chicago. The annual Cinco de Mayo parade in Pilsen was called off this year after nearly half of the parade sponsors dropped out, organizers said. Earlier this year, a celebration of the Purepecha community, an indigenous group that immigrated to the Chicago area, was postponed due to the fear the community expressed over immigration enforcement agents in the area. 'The safety and peace of our community are our priority. We will remain vigilant about the situation and seek the best time to hold this celebration, so important to our identity and our roots,' the group posted on their social media. For Nieto, beyond issues with artists' visas performing at his Music Festival, the 'writing was written on the wall.' 'The current administration is not only targeting our people, but our culture as well. In the meantime, we'll continue to push on and regroup for Miche 2026,' wrote Nieto when he announced that for the first since its inception, Miche Fest would not take place. For now, 'stay tuned,' he said. Many of their fans have asked for the return of Miche Fest back to the streets, with local talent and on a smaller scale. Like the old days. 'There's a lot of nostalgia there,' Nieto added. larodriguez@
