Overview
- The inaugural festival ran over the weekend of May 23–24 and opened with early-2000s R&B names such as Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland and Juvenile on the main stage.
- Kaytranada and Monica closed Sunday night with contrasting sets that drew cross-generational crowds, and Monica told the audience that her doctor had said there was nothing more to be done for her father.
- Reporters described Kaytranada’s high-energy DJ set as a bridge between R&B and Chicago house, and the weekend included surprise local moments such as Twista appearing onstage.
- Forever Mine used a two-stage layout, a three-channel silent disco and a curated marketplace to highlight Chicago DJs, food vendors and small Black- and brown-owned businesses.
- Organizers said more than 10,000 tickets were sold across both days, the festival concluded without major incident, and one advertised act, Shaggy, was removed from the published lineup without explanation.