“Carla, I love you!” screamed Jeanne Mustafa, who saw two-time Latin Grammy-winner Carla Morrison perform at Ruido Fest July 8. Visiting Chicago from San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first time and a big Morrison fan, she was thrilled to see the Mexican singer in the flesh.

“I [was] trying to move closer [to Morrison]. If I could, I would be onstage with her,” Mustafa said. “A friend of mine back home said, ‘Wait, you are seeing Carla Morrison? I envy you!’”

Mustafa made much “ruido”—”noise” in English—at the second annual Ruido Fest that brought more than 50 international and national musicians to the Addams/Medill Park July 8–10.

Ruido Fest brought Latin music for everyone, only boosting Chicago’s strength as a top music city. This year proved the festival is not just the “Lollapalooza for Latin music” as it has been nicknamed, but its own identity, carving out a permanent home in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

The festival featured big names in the Latin music world like Panteon Rococó, Natalia Lafourcade and Carla Morrison, who received crazed cheers from Mustafa and the rest of the mesmerized crowd during her hour-long performance the first night of the festival.

Sponsored by AT&T and Toyota and created in 2015 by Metronome Chicago—the production company that sponsors Riot Fest—Ruido Fest is the only outdoor three-day Latin music festival in the country and features various genres including punk-rock, reggae, folk and indie-pop.

The humid weather, with temperatures reaching 85 throughout the weekend, did not stop fans from enjoying the festival. In true Latin style, there was plenty of beer, tacos and dancing, especially when Morrison hit the Coors Light stage as the sunset illuminated the park.

Morrison, who is most recently known for collaborating with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on “The Train” from their newest album This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, performed her melodious and emotional tunes, even sharing a sentimental speech with the audience about living in the moment.

“There’s been times when the world goes through sh–, and now we have cameras to record that, but don’t let the cameras fool you and let you think the world is a horrible place,” Morrison said, referring to the recentpolice shootings that occurred in Minnesota and Louisiana.

“The world is a wonderful place and we have just one life,” she continued. “Don’t let people decide for your life because it’s just one, and this could be our last concert together.”

Hector Paredes, a Pilsen resident who attended the festival both years, was hoping for a quick photo with Morrison at her scheduled meet and greet but she got sick and cancelled. Although he was disappointed, Paredes was still excited to hear her play and said this year’s lineup is better than last year’s.

“This festival is for the Latino people,” Paredes said. “There isn’t another festival like it.”

Another favorite band of Paredes—and one that also entranced the audience during its50-minute set—was indie folk group Jenny and the Mexicats, a multicultural band originally from Spain but now based in Mexico. Lead singer and trumpeter Jenny Ball is from Britain, the band’s guitaristPantera and Icho, the double bassist, are from Mexico, while David Gonzales makes up the Spanish side as the percussionist.

Ruido Fest was the band’s second time in Chicago, having performed at Pilsen Fest in 2015. Ball said it was good to be back in in the community and performing was exciting.

Pantera said playing onstage was so amazing that he lost his voice after the show because he was shouting so much.

“We didn’t expect that much of a crowd cheering and shouting with us,” he said.

The band members said they were happy to be a part of the lineup and listen to other established Latin musicians. Pantera said he was looking forward to hearing Cuca perform, a well-known rock and roll band from Guadalajara, Mexico, who Pantera grew up listening to.

Fellow Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade won the crowd’s hearts when she performed July 9. Lafourcade, who produced Morrison’s 2010 album Mientras Tu Dormías, also has a Latin Grammy win under her belt.

She performed her famous singles “Nunca Es Suficiente” (Nothing is Enough) and “Hasta la Raíz” (To the Root), which the crowd sang back to her almost better than she did.