A free concert is a hub for young music fans.
A free music festival attracts a universe of personalities, fashions, and young music addicts. This year, the Afropunk Festival in Commodore Barry Park brought this observation to life.
New York is the epitome of eclectic existence. I am obsessed with the energy that comes with this kind of diversity, especially when people from all skips of life come together to enjoy the same festival. Many people enjoyed the entire two-day affair, stopping for nourishment from the various food vendors: grilled cheese, wings, dairy-free ice cream, and more. The fashion lovers got their fix from the worldly jewelry and clothing tents sprinkled around the perimeters of the festival. At the heart of the event, however, were the performances.
Some of this year’s highlighted performers included Das Racist, Gym Class Heroes, Erykah Badu, and Janelle Monae. The first day my friends and I went, they stopped letting people in due to capacity issues (get there early!). The second day, we headed back earlier and spent hours basking in the summer vibes, grabbed some grilled cheese and made friends. We anxiously awaited the last performance, Janelle Monae’s. The moment she sauntered in front of the crowd, she embraced the crowd’s liveliness and proceeded to give an incredible performance. She sang her hair out, literally– her signature hairstyle was nowhere near in place as she did a little “tip on the tightrope” and sang across every corner of the stage. As she performed “Electric Lady,” she smoothly fulfilled the definition of “electric.” Her stage presence fused with the crowds’ fervor when she dove into the masses to crowd surf. Monae’s performance was a fitting and amazing way to end the festival, a celebration of music, connecting, and entertaining uniqueness.
Article written by Bana Hatzey.
