Ravinia Festival, located just outside of Chicago in Highland Park, IL, opened its 2025 season with a bang, tapping Grace Jones and Janelle Monae to provide entertainment on its second day of the season. Highlights this year include The Roots, Chicago, Kygo, Beck, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
The listening experience is unique when enjoying a show at Ravinia. You have the option to purchase a seat in the pavilion, where you’ll get a close spot to the stage and the best viewing experience, or you can purchase a lawn ticket, where you are allowed to bring your own food and drink.
When looking out at the vast lawn area, you see a sea of attendees who have gone all out and brought folding tables where they have set up a buffet for all of their friends to enjoy. Some even complete the buffet with candles and incense to truly set a relaxing vibe. One thing that remains the same no matter where you sit is that you are going to have a great time and, as was the case with Grace Jones and Janelle Monae, you are going to dance.
Taking to the stage to a sea of excited concertgoers, Janelle Monae continues to live up to her hype. It was fitting that she walked on stage to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” because it was the late musician’s birthday, and the two had a close working relationship, which is evident in her set.
While she was technically opening the show, her flawlessly executed vocals and numerous outfit changes certainly didn’t feel like the mechanics of an opener. Monae continuously wowed the crowd with hit after hit, such as “Make Me Feel,” a funky track that sounds like it could have been a B-side to Prince’s “Kiss.”
Especially fitting considering it’s Pride Month, on several occasions throughout her performance, Monae—who is part of the LGBTQ+ community—offered numerous messages showing her support to the queer community and telling everyone to remain strong and resilient. These messages were always met with the loudest cheers. Remaining on that high, Monae closed her set with arguably her most recognized song, “Tightrope,” and fans were left reeling and waiting for the impactful performance set to follow.
After a short break, the curtain dropped and revealed a sprawling setup that the incomparable Grace Jones was sitting atop, outfitted in a striking red mask covering most of her face. Known for being more than a musician, the 77-year-old showed her talents during her opening number, a reimagining of Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing,” by hitting various poses and manipulating her shadow projected on the curtains behind her.
It was impressive when she belted out the lyrics, but it was even more impressive when she absolutely ripped her crash cymbals towards the front of the stage. She hit them with a force that was sure to shake anyone in her path, her raw emotion leaving the end of her drumsticks and spilling out onto the cymbals she eventually pushed to the ground when she became overcome with passion.
Watching Jones move across her stage, truly commanding her crowd, was mesmerizing. Not knowing what would come next, you were left on the edge of your seat, dripping with excitement. That excitement climaxed when Janelle Monae returned to the stage to perform her duet with Grace Jones, “Pull Up to the Bumper.” This was followed by the closer, “Slave to the Rhythm,” leaving the crowd exhilarated and not wanting the night to end.
JANELLE MONAE
