raises south sound bite at that and call me and Grand Park again this spring because Slingers Music festival is soon returning for its 4th year as a liberation of Latino culture feature features musical artists from across Latin America.

This time bringing Checkey dad my this a broom on and more.

Joining us now for what's what's up this year rundown for the a co-founder of swing as Music festival.

>> In all my thought is Courtright executive director of so wounded.

He's better these culture Thank you both for joining us.

What a fun event.

Aaron, I got to start off with who you have as headliners.

We're talking about secure as I just mentioned, we talked about this through We also have it on file Wiese Day, not to get got hit.

And as someone who grew up in the 2, thousands that I get on this is bomb.

But I want to talk about the passion to bring together those legendary artists with music artist of this area where that passion of this era.

Where does that passion come from?

>> think it's a passion of creating we have over 6 festival is in Mexico.

And the U.S. going is being crown jewel of them.

All.

Yeah.

I think it's just a passion to create not only music but everything that goes into a festival.

The culture, the food on the ons, everything.

It's it's that's the passion was at the idea from the beginning to bring back those legendary artists.

>> Like the old-school ones that we grew up with with the upcoming new, like hot artists of the era.

It's always a mix in a challenge.

But yes, we always makes a little bit of.

>> Regional little bit of all schools.

Some of the new young kids.

So >> we try to keep that fire that I like say.

The new young that young say, yeah, we can age or So and this year also changing Breda swing opening a second stage for local artists.

Why was that important to do?

>> We always like to hear our fans.

And last year they felt like it was a little bit too tight.

So we've got 5 year deal done with the city that gave us a bigger festival grounds and an option or 3 days, hopefully in the future.

So bringing a second stage.

Would be jays.

Are Latinos beyond some producers like to Jan?

So I think that's going to bring a whole different dynamic bill.

I do remember, that was one of opinions of can we make a bigger?

So we have more time to go get food.

Yeah.

And come and check out all the artists.

Oh, that's awesome night.

>> going to listening to that feedback.

>> Now festival also works to give back to local organizations.

One of those a partnership with the organization on Can you tell us how that came about and what the partnership has look like?

>> So nobody's been these cultural center has been around for over 50 years now, longest on the Latino cultural center in the city.

And we have been dedicated to a young and coming artists in Africa be an arts and culture and also getting back to our professional artists and investing in them.

So basically story with swine quite unique because they found the not being a mainstream organization.

And and, you know, not being the flashy is still a to me.

It speaks a lot about how they did their homework and really found a connection with us.

So they they they call those.

They came to see what we were doing.

and they've been the most incredible partner that you can think of what was important to make.

Those connections was like local connections lighting.

That was the plan says the beginning and I were coming into Chicago.

>> We know it's one of the biggest Latino CDs in the U.S. so.

>> We wanted to not only give them an experience to celebrate culture but also impact the community a positive way.

And we've been doing it since you want.

>> And people There's a large I mean, Puerto Rican and Mexican culture here in Chicago.

Absolutely.

So would you say that the collab has really impacted the organization?

What has that done for, though, I would say has been transformational because the level of support and and the multi-year support.

>> So not only do we have a opportunities like ones that they provided for some of our artists to even be like part of the roaming performances.

And they did last year, but also the investment in young people like, for example, of the trip to Puerto Rico, which was opportunity for young people, emerging musicians from Chicago to present their work one of biggest gas festivals.

Important Perry go it was so fun.

That bias one.

Yes and not.

And then the investment in our facilities.

So we we have big projects.

One has been the media center.

We're we have recorded with artists where we have had the young people experiment.

And then we also caustic project and lighting project which is asked.

Transform our multi disciplinary facility that we have 4 arts and culture.

>> What does it make you feel like to hear that the impact, you know, that this festival now this I'm sure started as an idea and has grown and to hear someone say this is impact that it's had on some of the kids here Spanish because he's the best rate that you what I saw it fills your heart that like being able to.

>> to it.

And then could use the festival and then.

Going a bit.

Then following year, come and see the results of and then year after year, all mice.

It's such a great human dedicating his time and effort into impact in 2 and younger kids to time.

Hathaway music So it's not only writing a check we always I was at home.

I like what else can we do?

And we get them into the festival playing some Seth, can we do?

We've tried to bring in it is to have get up in the United Center said that.

So super cool.

And like a purpose in there.

And I do want to talk about the 20 days of swing as will be coming back this year.

Can you tell us about that initiative?

>> That when swing is I mean, the food at.

So, he's amazing.

It's like a high seal.

The TikTok sits a rating TikTok.

has a don't play around So going back to that point of how to get him on the community.

We always try to have the community be the one that comes out and has a benefit as well.

>> So all the food vendors come out.

We doing 20 days, kind of tour.

Why we give out tickets if they go to to the food vendors, locations.

>> So what is there for these free tickets or tickets that they could win or have the kids that they can win, okay tickets if they can so they go into these restaurants.

Yeah.

You got to go swing Instagram and check out all the >> information.

But it's Super Easy and it supports here.

>> Your local.

>> Businesses someone or want to go back to the organizations that for Latino culture.

Describe what that means.

Describe that music and how that shows up in mainstream get on and what it's like coming together for celebrations like this.

>> Oh, my God, of the day will come that on So it's of course.

Still on.

Really open open the way for for this after Caribbean music to be represented in day it on.

And now I think that the side of the spectrum is bunny with his newest album, you know, like so the genre itself has paid respect to the people that came before them.

And I think that there's some artists have really pushed that.

And I think dad swing us knows that very well.

And has made that connection.

can't say enough about to like to say I don't like saying old.

>> But do you like to see it?

I was all the aging ourselves.

But you like to see like the old-school died at artist was like new ones because I feel like there's some makes of even yeah, young people with older crowd.

>> I was telling him how I discover young Mikko basically through a swing and she is the you.

She's for the pride and joy in Puerto Rico.

has been like on top for a few years now.

But the first time that she performed, you know, with them, you know what?

She wasn't that big right?

And and you know me being like from like that, that all school generation, you like if you actually go like I learned about it.

And I think that the same way young people are like, oh, wait a minute, you know, like we've seen Dan, and techie dad.

I was like, yeah, we got check that out take that 6 only have time for one last question.

We have a couple seconds.

I know you have filed a 5 year secured with the city through 2029.

You know what goals do you have for the future of the festival?

>> I mean, if they keep.

Going as a festival, but also keep the impact in the community going in that 5 year deal guesses that pathway and that's okay to keep on investing in.

Different friend nations and organizations that support the local community do hope it stays in Chicago.

>> It's got to think it's gonna hit.

That's able.

Thank you guys for joining us.

And I can't wait to see all the