Live On Logan 2025: August 31st Recap

Funkeria

August 2025’s final Live On Logan performance brought Marcel Bonfim’s Funkeria to Logan Square’s Palmer Square Park for an afternoon of funk jazz music straight from 1970s Brazil. The group, an eight-man ensemble, had performed the prior day at Pritzker Pavilion as part of the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival and brought on all the funk the gathered crowd could handle. 

The group is the largest band to play the Live On Logan series this August. Three of the musicians had to stand on the grass in front of the stage! In a nice showing, Marcel’s parents sat in the front row, alongside Live On Logan organizer Sergio Castro. 

Two different reactions demonstrate just how good Funkeria’s offerings were that afternoon. First, a man who was walking north at the east end of the park completely stopped in his tracks to loiter for the show, apparently surprised at the free funk concert before him. Second, a group of folks wandered over from Miko’s Italian Ice, spoons hanging out of their mouths as they watched Funkeria light up the park. 

While cicadas cut through the air like a buzzsaw–louder than the traffic on Humboldt Boulevard–a woman at stage right played fetch with a particularly chatty dachshund. I later found out that the dog’s name was, appropriately, Palmer. The dog felt right at home in Palmer Square Park. 

During the intermission, Park Advisory Council members walked around the crowd, taking donations in exchange for raffle tickets. The prize? A $200 gift certificate to local restaurant and Live On Logan sponsor Giant. 

After a few numbers, Marcel invited his wife, Cassidy, to the stage to sing a few tunes for the gathered crowd. In a touching example of how things come full circle, Marcel detailed how he and Funkeria got their start by playing Live On Logan shows the first year Sergio hosted the series. From humble beginnings in Palmer Square Park, to being one of the Chicago Jazz Fest’s headliners…it’s remarkable what comes from platforming talented local musicians. 

The Live On Logan series has two performances left in 2025. 

Next Sunday, on September 7, Palmer Square Park plays host to a double-header, featuring the J. Davis Trio at 1pm and Maracatu Atomico at 3pm. 

Then, the 2025 series finale on September 14 will see Pat Mallinger performing the music of Sonny Rollins. 

Written by Alex Garoffolo