Chicago gave house music to the world, and while the city’s festival calendar has become increasingly dominated by corporate giants, a few independents are keeping the community spirit alive. Summer’s Last Dance is one of the last of them, and it just announced its return. The fully independent, philanthropic festival is back September 19 in Bridgeview, IL for its third year, and the lineup sets the tone for what has quickly become the city’s defining end-of-summer sendoff.
Leading the bill is Grammy-lauded live electronic duo Big Gigantic, bringing their signature blend of saxophone, drums, and bass-heavy production to the festival in full live form. They’re joined by viral saxophone sensation Saxsquatch, bass house heavyweight Henry Fong, whose remix credits include J Balvin and Rihanna, and funk-infused house duo The Sponges, with more names still to come. The full event spans three stages, over 20 artists, and 12 hours of music, blending electronic, hip-hop, funk, house, and live performance into a single day. Past editions have welcomed everyone from Cheat Codes and KSHMR to Chicago house pioneer Marshall Jefferson, along with Destructo, The Knocks, Slushii, and Waka Flocka Flame.
Behind it all is longtime Chicago promoter Bobby De Maria, who founded the festival as a more intimate, community-driven alternative to the large scale events that dominate the season.
“Summer’s Last Dance is about connection as much as it is music,” De Maria says. “From the beginning, we wanted to create an experience that brings people together across different scenes and backgrounds while also supporting something bigger than ourselves.”
That mission runs deeper than most festival charity partnerships. Summer’s Last Dance continues its work with the Miracle Michael Fund, established in honor of Michael John Shultz to support families affected by Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a rare connective tissue disorder commonly known as brittle bone disease. A portion of every ticket and sponsorship goes directly toward family assistance and ongoing research.
For De Maria, the philanthropy is personal. His company, Afterlife Entertainment, has helped raise more than $100,000 for organizations including Ronald McDonald House Charities, Hope For The Day, and the Miracle Michael Fund. Those efforts are now led alongside his father, Jim De Maria, a longtime Chicago sports and nonprofit executive who spent decades with the White Sox, Blackhawks, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“I grew up watching my dad use sports and entertainment as a way to bring people together and support people who needed it most,” says De Maria. “That mindset became a huge part of what we built with Afterlife. The music matters, but so does what you do with the platform.”
Praised as one of the Chicago Tribune’s top summer events, Summer’s Last Dance has carved out a lane that few festivals occupy anymore: independent, intentional, and built around the people showing up. It’s one final celebration before summer fades, and if the first phase of the lineup is any indication, Chicago is going to send the season off right.
Summer’s Last Dance returns September 19 in Bridgeview, IL. Tickets and more information are available at SummersLastDance.com.
