The Miracle in Mundelein 2024 (A Gallery + Recap)
Photo Credit: Josh Skolnik
On Sept. 7 and 8, the Miracle in Mundelein returned for its second annual staging. Set in the pitch across from RISE Dispensary in Mundelein, Ill., Green Thumb Industries’ premiere music and cannabis culture festival welcomed a new fleet of fans with another thrilling presentation, led by a top-tier lineup of hip-hop, ska, reggae, soul and electronic acts. Offstage, attendees enjoyed access to an exciting roster of other activities, including Dab Bars, joint-rolling contests and high-profile activations from scene-friendly partners including OCB, Mario Badesco, Ozone, Simply Herb, Rove and G Pen.
Saturday’s festivities got started with a set from the iconic English roots reggae outfit Steel Pulse, best known for its excellent string of ‘80s albums including 1982’s True Democracy, 1984’s Earth Crisis and the Grammy-winning 1986 project Babylon the Bandit. Next up came the thrilling mash-up of Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon and GZA with the eight-piece NOLA brass ensemble The Soul Rebels. While the fusion boldly situated the rappers legacy in an exciting new context, it wasn’t without precedents; Raekwon and GZA have both staged orchestral concerts in recent years, and The Soul Rebels just wrapped a tour alongside Ghostface Killah. Finally, Saturday’s headliner arrived with a show-closer from acclaimed rapper and noted toker Wiz Khalifa.
On Sunday, following a warm-up DJ set from DJ Papa G took the stage with his easy-going Cali hip-hop, including the easy-going rap-rock hits “Buzzin’” and “Corona and Lime.” Golden State reggae-rockers Rebelution followed, bringing their fusion-forward sound to warm the stage for a headline set from genre-bending scene contemporaries and Sublime co-signs Slightly Stoopid. The show closer worked through 17 originals and found a big reaction to its time-tested cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower.” Beyond the music, the joints being fired off into the crowd with t-shirt cannons certainly helped elevate the lofty vibe.
Get an inside look at the second annual Miracle in Mundelein in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Josh Skolnik. For more information on the festival, visit themiracleconcert.com.
