Since 2017, PRAA has hosted the Noche Caribeña concert at Navy Pier’s Polk Bros Park Lake Stage Lawn. In partnership with Navy Pier, this summertime event is FREE and open to the public. Featured are Cuatristas along with international and local artists with their groups, as well as, up and coming musicians. This concert offers audience members multiple music genres including Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean folk, popular Latin American, big band, salsa, ballads, bomba and plena interpretations. Set with a backdrop of Navy Pier, spectacular views of Chicago and the resonances of music draw Chicago residents and visitors for an enjoyable evening concert.

This year on August 23, 2025 from 6:00 PM -9:00 PM, PRAA is honored to present to you some of the most prominent local music artists from Chicago.

600 East Grand Ave, Chicago
Polk Bros Lawn at Navy Pier

2025 Featured Artist

Manolito Rodriguez

Join us for the debut of Manolito y La Zonika!

Manolito Rodríguez is an outstanding professional percussionist originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico. A graduate of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, his musical career began at an early age, when he joined the group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son. At the age of 12, he was recognized at the 1998 National Salsa Day with the Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound Orchestra. His first significant achievement came at the age of 14, when he participated in the recording of the song “Paz para Vieques” with flutist Néstor Torres, which was nominated for a Latin Grammy.

Throughout his career, Manolito has worked and recorded with a variety of renowned artists in the salsa genre, including Víctor Manuelle, Ismael Miranda, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Sonora Ponceña, Oscar de León, La India, José Alberto “El Canario”, Ng2, Tito Nieves, Andy Montañez, Bobby Valentín, and Roberto Roena, among others. In 2015, he joined the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra Arturo Somohano, participating in popular music concerts.
In 2017, Manolito released his first solo production titled “El Comienzo”, followed by his second album “Pasado y Presente” in 2021. Currently, he is the director of his own orchestra, where he performs as a singer and timbalero. His group has participated in various international events, such as Palo en Vivo, the Texas World Congress, the Chimpum Callao Festival in Peru, and the San Sebastian Street Festival in Puerto Rico

In addition to his musical career, Manolito has been a music educator for six years, impacting young people with the knowledge of percussion and the rich Puerto Rican musical history.
In 2025, the renowned percussion company Meinl made him their Signature Timbales Series, making him the second Puerto Rican to have a musical instrument named after him, a significant accomplishment at 38 years of age that highlights his influence in the musical arena for both professional and amateur musicians.
Throughout his career, Manolito Rodriguez continues to reap success and important achievements, consolidating himself as an emblematic figure in salsa music and percussion.

2024’s Featured Artist

D’ Compadres

Formed in 2009 in Puerto Rico, D’Compadres is known for its unique style that mixes tropical rhythms with popular music influences. The group emerged with the intention of taking Puerto Rican music to new horizons, integrating elements of salsa, merengue, plena, bolero and other tropical genres.

D’ Compadres launched their first musical production in 2023 titled “Initium”. Their ability to fuse different musical styles has allowed their music to transcend borders and reach diverse audiences. The group is known for their energetic live performances, where they display their charisma and musical talent.

Today the D' Compadres Group is made up of: Manny Collazo (Founder, Vocalist and Percussionist) Alfredo Torres (Trombonist and Chorusist) Javier Quintero (Bassist and Chorusist) Enrique Diaz (Vocalist and Quatrist) Jorge “Fimero” Colón (Drummer) the experience of each of the members is the key to the success of Grupo D' Compadres.

Septeto Charambo

2024 Opener

This unique septet is a modern version of a popular Milwaukee-based salsa band called Conjunto Charambó that was making music in the 1980s. "Charambo" is a word that came to life by combining two different names of rhythms from the Caribbean, one called Charanga and the other Bomba. Reinvented in 2022 by the leader of the 80s band, percussionist Alberto Rivera, this scaled-down septet aims to strengthen the legacy of Salsa music in Milwaukee.