Lauv Lights Up Northerly Island Before Khalid Takes the Stage

Crafted By Pam G Visualized by Summer Coleman

Chicago’s lakefront has seen its share of unforgettable nights, but when Lauv opened for Khalid at Huntington Bank Amphitheatre on Northerly Island, the evening felt like a

cinematic prelude — soft, emotional, and charged with the kind of energy that only a city like this can hold.

The air was brisk, the wind unapologetic, but Lauv’s set cut through the chill like neon against fog. He walked out with that quiet confidence — no theatrics, no overstatement — just pure connection. From the first notes of “I Like Me Better”, the crowd leaned in, swaying under hoodies and blankets, letting the music do what it does best: warm from the inside out.

His voice carried across the water, smooth and aching, layered with that signature melancholy. that makes you feel seen even in a crowd of thousands. Between songs, Lauv spoke softly, almost conversationally, like he was letting the audience in on something personal. It was intimate, vulnerable — the kind of performance that reminds you pop doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

By the time he closed with “Modern Loneliness”, the amphitheatre had shifted. The wind was still biting, but the mood was tender, reflective. Lauv didn’t just open for Khalid — he set the emotional tone. He built the bridge between introspection and joy, between solitude and togetherness, preparing the crowd for the warmth Khalid would bring next.

It was a night where two artists — different in sound but aligned in spirit — turned a cold

Chicago evening into something unforgettable. The lake was restless, the city was alive, and Lauv proved once again that vulnerability, when performed with honesty, can feel like fire.

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The Secret Garden Art Series Returns — And We’re Growing Louder, Softer, and Wiser

Chicago, it’s time!

The Secret Garden Art Series is back — powered by South Side Radio Live,

Southside Sanctuary, and our creative kin at The Silverroom. And this year?

We’re not just curating art. We’re curating healing.

We’re talking activations that move you, music that finds you, poetry that names you, and wellness that holds you.

This isn’t just a lineup. It’s a season of intention.

Art That Breathes

From live murals to interactive installations, we’re giving artists space to speak — not just to the crowd, but to the culture. Every brushstroke, every sculpture, every pop-up is rooted in South Side truth.

Wellness That’s Actually for Us

Yoga in the garden. Sound baths under the stars. Mental health check-ins that don’t feel like paperwork. We’re building a space where rest is revolutionary and joy is non-negotiable.

Live Music & Poets

We’re bringing the soul back to the mic. Expect DJs, vocalists, instrumentalists, and poets who know how to move a crowd without losing the message. This is grown, intentional, and unapologetically South Side.

Why It Matters

Because our community deserves more than just events.

We deserve spaces that nurture, challenge, and celebrate us.

We deserve partners who understand that art isn’t just decoration — it’s declaration.

This season, Secret Garden is a sanctuary.

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Keeping His Light : THANK YOU KYMON KINDRED

Behind the Lens : Kymon Kindred

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of one of our beloved tribe members, Kymon Kindred, a gifted photographer and a bright light within the South Side Radio Live family.

Kymon wasn’t just a creative eye behind the lens he was a spirit who moved with kindness, humility and a smile that could shift the whole energy of a room. His presence touched everyone he worked with and his artistry captured the soul of our community in ways words never could.

Aṣẹ.

South Side Radio Live Honoring our tribe. Keeping his light alive.