The intersection of hip-hop culture, community wellness, and independent artistry is headed to the Windy City this summer.
Groundwaves, the powerhouse hip-hop community movement founded by legendary rapper MURS in 2018, is capping off a massive year of mentorship and open mics by launching the first annual GoodWaves Music Festival & Conference. Presented by MURS 3:16 and Groundwaves in association with Good Chaos, the highly anticipated three-day event will hit Chicago from Friday, August 28th through Sunday, August 30th, 2026.
The entire weekend is a free, all-ages experience designed to unite iconic hip-hop heavyweights, rising independent talent, and Chicago’s vibrant creative ecosystem for uncompromised networking, education, and cultural celebration.
The Conference: Dropping Knowledge at Venue Six10
Kicking off on Friday, August 28th and Saturday, August 29th at Venue Six10, the GoodWaves Music Conference provides an intimate, masterclass-level setting for the next generation of creatives.
Attendees will have access to exclusive, live one-on-one conversations on stage with an elite lineup of industry icons, including Killer Mike, Snow Tha Product, DJ Premier, Vic Mensa, Styles P, Rapsody, Dee-1, April Walker, Estevan Oriol, and The Company Man. Additionally, the weekend features intensive writing and performance workshops led by lyrical maestros Brother Ali and Phenom.
With a strict capacity of only 400 attendees, creators looking to soak up this legendary knowledge must apply for free admission directly at goodwavesfestival.com.
The Festival: Bringing the Noise to The Salt Shed
On Sunday, August 30th, the energy shifts to The Salt Shed Fairgrounds for a massive day of live music. The festival features a star-studded, multigenerational lineup including performances by Killer Mike, Snow Tha Product, DJ Premier, Rapsody, Brother Ali, Dee-1, Navy Blue, Coyote x Statik Selektah, Propaganda, and Lily Fangz.
Staying true to Groundwaves’ ethos of elevating local communities, the stage will also champion an incredible roster of Chicago talent, including Recoechi, Pinqy Ring, Urbanized Music, June, Bella BAHHS, M.E.R.C., STR8 BarZzz, Mastermine, DA’LIGHTBEAM, and TMC Records. Hosting duties will be held down by Slot-A, B4Lasers, Coolout Chris, and Binkey.
While tickets are completely free, registration is strictly required for entry on a first-come, first-served basis at goodwavesfestival.com.
Sovereign Media & True Community Impact
Since its inception, Groundwaves has built its reputation on creating authentic, sovereign spaces for independent artists to perform, collaborate, and gain genuine mentorship. Having successfully executed seasons in hip-hop pockets like Fort Collins, Denver, Tulsa, and Northwest Arkansas, the Chicago expansion marks the movement’s largest and most ambitious footprint to date.
“I’m so happy to partner with Good Chaos to put together this free multi-day event in Chicago, a legendary city for festivals and free public programming,” said MURS 3:16, Founder of Groundwaves. “GoodWaves is what I always dreamed my Paid Dues festival would evolve into. The GoodWaves conference gives our Groundwaves community an opportunity to hear from and build with hip hop legends—the GoodWaves festival platforms some of the best performers in the nation alongside the A-list of Chicago talent.”
The festival’s co-presenter, goodchaos.com, is a premier Chicago-based creative studio committed to deeply investing in artists, creative visionaries, and cultural movements that drive real economic opportunity and lasting community wellness. Together with Groundwaves, they aim to solidify Chicago as the flagship destination for artist discovery and cultural education.
EVENT QUICK FACTS:
GoodWaves Music Conference
- When: Friday, August 28th & Saturday, August 29th, 2026
- Where: Venue Six10, Chicago, IL
- Admission: Free (Limited Capacity / Application Required)
- Apply to Attend: www.goodwavesfestival.com
GoodWaves Music Festival
- When: Sunday, August 30th, 2026
- Where: The Salt Shed Fairgrounds, Chicago, IL
- Admission: Free & All Ages (Advance Registration Required)
- Secure Tickets: www.goodwavesfestival.com
For more background on the movement, head over to groundwaveshiphop.com.
