Chilean singer-songwriter, accordionist, and pianist Pascuala Ilabaca offers endlessly unpredictable sonic pleasures. On six albums and one EP, she builds upon a foundation of Andean folkloric music while incorporating sounds inspired by her time and studies in Spain, India, Guatemala, and Mexico. At this Martyrs’ show, she’ll be accompanied by her longtime band, the saxophone- and clarinet-driven four-piece Fauna, which also features her drummer husband, Jaime Frez. Fauna flawlessly follow Ilabaca’s lead as the tunes move among hand-drum pulses, raga-tinted melodies, and accordion riffs in the lilting rhythms of cueca, Chile’s national dance. In “Te Traigo Flores,” clarinet replaces Andean flutes in a structure reminiscent of a traditional tune, which gives it a jazz manouche swing. The recent single “Pa Mi” adds the percussiveness of Barcelona’s rumba nueva into the mix, then segues into light rap paired with cumbia. Ilabaca ties these disparate elements together and smoothly propels them with her bright, crystalline vocals. True to the nueva canción of her homeland, many of her lyrics also have an activist bent: “El Baile del Kkoyaruna” tells the story of a First Nations worker who has to leave his land to work as a miner (“kkoyaruna”in Quechua, the indigenous language of the chorus). “Por Qué Se Fue la Paloma” lays out a huayno, a traditional festive Andean rhythm, while Ilabaca sings of a dove’s choice to fly away from confinement to freedom. The strength of Ilabaca’s musicianship and the inventiveness of her compositions enable her to pull off her unusual melange of musical elements—but in concert, what will ultimately stick with you is her hopeful, uplifting tone and vibrant spirit.

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna Sat 6/25, 9:30 PM, Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, $25, 21+

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Chilean singer-songwriter, accordionist, and pianist Pascuala Ilabaca offers endlessly unpredictable sonic pleasures. On six albums and one EP, she builds upon a foundation of Andean folkloric music while incorporating sounds inspired by her time and studies in Spain, India, Guatemala, and Mexico. At this Martyrs’ show, she’ll be accompanied by her longtime band, the saxophone- and clarinet-driven four-piece Fauna, which also features her drummer husband, Jaime Frez. Fauna flawlessly follow Ilabaca’s lead as the tunes move among hand-drum pulses, raga-tinted melodies, and accordion riffs in the lilting rhythms of cueca, Chile’s national dance. In “Te Traigo Flores,” clarinet replaces Andean flutes in a structure reminiscent of a traditional tune, which gives it a jazz manouche swing. The recent single “Pa Mi” adds the percussiveness of Barcelona’s rumba nueva into the mix, then segues into light rap paired with cumbia. Ilabaca ties these disparate elements together and smoothly propels them with her bright, crystalline vocals. True to the nueva canción of her homeland, many of her lyrics also have an activist bent: “El Baile del Kkoyaruna” tells the story of a First Nations worker who has to leave his land to work as a miner (“kkoyaruna”in Quechua, the indigenous language of the chorus). “Por Qué Se Fue la Paloma” lays out a huayno, a traditional festive Andean rhythm, while Ilabaca sings of a dove’s choice to fly away from confinement to freedom. The strength of Ilabaca’s musicianship and the inventiveness of her compositions enable her to pull off her unusual melange of musical elements—but in concert, what will ultimately stick with you is her hopeful, uplifting tone and vibrant spirit.

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna Sat 6/25, 9:30 PM, Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, $25, 21+

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PITTSBURGH — Newly promoted Oneil Cruz drove in four runs and Bligh Madris got three hits in his major league debut, sparking the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 12-1 romp over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

Both rookies were called up from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day, and they delivered right away.

Cruz, considered Pittsburgh’s top prospect, hit a three-run double to deep center field that capped a four-run third inning to push the Pirates’ lead to 7-0. He was playing in the third big league game of his career.

The 6-foot-7 Cruz also hit an RBI single in a five-run seventh as the Pirates set a season high for runs. He started the final two games of last season when he became the tallest shortstop in major league history.

Cruz’s double had an exit velocity of 112.9 mph, his throw to first base on a groundout was clocked at 96.7 mph and his sprint speed registered as high as 31.5 feet/second while running the bases. All are among the highest marks by a Pirates player since the MLB Statcast era began in 2015.

“He can affect the game in a lot of ways, and we saw it tonight,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said.

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Madris hit a two-run single in the second inning in his first at-bat in the majors. The outfielder keyed a three-run inning that included the first of Hoy Park’s two sacrifice flies.

Madris became the first Pirates player to have a three-hit game in his debut since Jason Kendall in 1996.

“That was a lot of fun and everything I could ask for,” Madris said with a big smile. “With (batting practice) getting canceled today, when I stepped in the box, it was really my first at-bat in the big leagues. The game threw a little bit of everything at me today. Thankful for the opportunity. It was awesome.”

JT Brubaker (1-7) pitched six scoreless innings for his first win since last Aug. 24, a span of 14 starts.

Brubaker scattered five hits while striking out five and walking three. He has a 2.65 ERA in his past six starts.

“I go out there to compete and to put the team in the best (position) to win the game,” Brubaker said. “Whether I get one under the W column or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I just want team Ws.”

The Pirates took advantage of five walks by rookie Caleb Kilian (0-2), who was tagged for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Kilian was making his third career start.

“He didn’t repeat throwing balls in the zone consistently,” Chicago manager David Ross said. “Just a lot of noncompetitive pitches and he got behind in the count. It was just a hard 2 2/3 innings for him.”

Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-run double in the Pirates’ big seventh inning and Tyler Heineman’s RBI double made it 12-1.

The Cubs scored their run in the seventh on Ian Happ’s single. Happ, Rafael Ortega and Nico Hoerner had two hits apiece.

Both teams came into Monday having lost 11 of their last 13 games.

HERE COME THE KIDS

Cruz was hitting .232 with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases in 55 games at Indianapolis. Madris became the 12th Pirates player to make his major league debut this year.

Cruz is the third shortstop in big league history to have seven RBI in his first three career games along with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor and Trevor Story.

Madris became the first Pirates player to have a hit, RBI and stolen base in his first big league game since Andrew McCutchen in 2009.

The Cubs recalled outfielder Nelson Velazquez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-hander Adrian Sampson to the same club.

Velazquez, the Arizona Fall League MVP last year, is one of 15 rookies to see action for the Cubs this season. He debuted May 30.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to throw a bullpen in the next few days, his first since going on the injured list June 7.

Pirates: RHP Zach Thompson (right forearm nerve inflammation) was placed on the 15-day IL and said he believes the injury isn’t serious. The Pirates have not decided who will take Thompson’s spot in the rotation. … 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo (lumbar muscle strain), SS Kevin Newman (left groin/left hamstring strains) and INF/OF Josh VanMeter (fractured right ring finger) are scheduled to begin rehab assignments with Indianapolis on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Rookie RHP Matt Swarmer (1-2, 5.23 ERA) will make his fifth career start Tuesday night.

Pirates: Rookie RHP Roansy Contreras (1-1, 3.06) has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts.

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The Phoenix Suns are hiring the NBA’s Morgan Cato as assistant general manager and vice president of basketball operations, making her one of the league’s highest-ranking women in a front office, sources told ESPN.

Cato — who’ll also become the first woman of color to hold the title of assistant GM — will report to GM James Jones and work with coach Monty Williams on several fronts, including the leadership and strategy related to coaching development, player engagement and front-office personnel operations, sources said.

Cato spent the past decade working for the NBA in New York under president of league operations Byron Spruell. Her roles there included several strategic initiatives that targeted the growth of the game throughout the NBA and around the world, including officiating development, the launch of the Basketball Africa League and the sport’s global talent pipeline.

The Suns were a league-best 64-18 this past season before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.

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CHICAGO — Shortstop Tim Anderson was reinstated him from the 10-day injured list Monday prior to the Chicago White Sox opening a home series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

To make room on the roster for Anderson, Chicago placed third baseman Yoan Moncada on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 18, with a strained right hamstring.

Anderson, who had been on a rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA Charlotte while working his way back from a groin injury, was inserted into his customary leadoff spot for the opener against the Blue Jays.

The 2019 AL batting champ left a win over the Chicago Cubs late last month, going down in the outfield after fielding P.J. Higgins‘ fifth-inning grounder and throwing to first for the out.

A first-time All-Star in 2021 who manager Tony La Russa has called “our ignitor,” Anderson, at the time of the injury, ranked among the league leaders with a .356 batting average. He has five home runs and 19 RBIs in 40 games.

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Moncada left Friday night’s loss to the Houston Astros in the third inning with tightness in his left hamstring.

Moncada pulled up after running to first base on a groundout in the second inning and was limping slightly as he returned to the dugout. He remained in the game at third base in the bottom of the inning before being replaced by Josh Harrison in the third.

Moncada missed the start of the season with a strained oblique and didn’t play until May 9.

At 31-33 through Sunday, the White Sox are trying to climb back into contention in the National League Central. Chicago opened the Toronto series five games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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PITTSBURGH — Call it a squirrely move.

The Chicago Cubs–Pittsburgh Pirates game was delayed for a few minutes in the bottom of the second inning Monday night when a squirrel ran on to the field at PNC Park.

The squirrel appeared to enter from along the stands on the third base side. He then scampered into the left field corner.

Three members of the grounds crew were able to coax the critter into exiting the field through the bullpen gate.

The squirrel brought the home team good luck as the Pirates went on to score three runs in the inning to break a scoreless tie.

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Photos by Dylan Barnedo

Since its launch as a one-day festival in 2018, Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash has grown into a three-day extravaganza that can go toe-to-toe with nationally recognized institutions. Pop-rap poster boy Post Malone, whose 2021 headlining set at Lollapalooza put him just below the Foo Fighters on the lineup poster, closed out the second night of 2022’s Summer Smash. Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti, who headlined Friday and Sunday, respectively, have both reconfigured hip-hop on a global scale. Hitmakers, veterans, and underground stars filled out the schedule; Chicago phenom Polo G, whose Hall of Fame debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 last year (and who contributes to PGF Nuk’s simmering breakout single, 2021’s “Waddup”), hit the stage just before Post Malone. 

I wasn’t in town for this year’s Summer Smash, and I’m not sure I would’ve gone anyway. I’ve had mixed feelings about all sorts of large-scale events since their mid-pandemic return, and I’m increasingly uncomfortable with how many for-profit fests are taking over public parks—whether the neighborhood folks who use them year-round want it or not. Summer Smash is the first of three major festivals to occupy Douglass Park this year: the EDM-inflected Heatwave debuts next month, and Riot Fest returns in September. The final day of Summer Smash fell on Juneteenth, an obvious problem for North Lawndale residents who wanted to celebrate in Douglass Park. 

Summer Smash has also had a spotty track record when it comes to taking care of people inside the festival grounds. I waited two hours for food during the first Summer Smash, for instance—though to be fair, in year two, organizers did a decent job handling the safety and logistical nightmare wrought by the storms that put Sunday’s music on hold for a few hours. Last year, a chaotic stampede led to festival bar staff walking out in the middle of the event.

Photographer Dylan Barnedo was on the grounds for the Reader on Friday and Saturday, and he caught some of the biggest, most magnetic acts at Summer Smash. Some of my favorite artists are decidedly less famous, and they hit the stage within the first few hours—including DCG Brothers and Dreamer Isioma. But it’s pretty much impossible to see everything, and Barnedo’s photos capture the electricity that drove tens of thousands of fans to Douglass Park. —Leor Galil

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Photos by Dylan Barnedo

Since its launch as a one-day festival in 2018, Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash has grown into a three-day extravaganza that can go toe-to-toe with nationally recognized institutions. Pop-rap poster boy Post Malone, whose 2021 headlining set at Lollapalooza put him just below the Foo Fighters on the lineup poster, closed out the second night of 2022’s Summer Smash. Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti, who headlined Friday and Sunday, respectively, have both reconfigured hip-hop on a global scale. Hitmakers, veterans, and underground stars filled out the schedule; Chicago phenom Polo G, whose Hall of Fame debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 last year (and who contributes to PGF Nuk’s simmering breakout single, 2021’s “Waddup”), hit the stage just before Post Malone. 

I wasn’t in town for this year’s Summer Smash, and I’m not sure I would’ve gone anyway. I’ve had mixed feelings about all sorts of large-scale events since their mid-pandemic return, and I’m increasingly uncomfortable with how many for-profit fests are taking over public parks—whether the neighborhood folks who use them year-round want it or not. Summer Smash is the first of three major festivals to occupy Douglass Park this year: the EDM-inflected Heatwave debuts next month, and Riot Fest returns in September. The final day of Summer Smash fell on Juneteenth, an obvious problem for North Lawndale residents who wanted to celebrate in Douglass Park. 

Summer Smash has also had a spotty track record when it comes to taking care of people inside the festival grounds. I waited two hours for food during the first Summer Smash, for instance—though to be fair, in year two, organizers did a decent job handling the safety and logistical nightmare wrought by the storms that put Sunday’s music on hold for a few hours. Last year, a chaotic stampede led to festival bar staff walking out in the middle of the event.

Photographer Dylan Barnedo was on the grounds for the Reader on Friday and Saturday, and he caught some of the biggest, most magnetic acts at Summer Smash. Some of my favorite artists are decidedly less famous, and they hit the stage within the first few hours—including DCG Brothers and Dreamer Isioma. But it’s pretty much impossible to see everything, and Barnedo’s photos capture the electricity that drove tens of thousands of fans to Douglass Park. —Leor Galil

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