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It’s been seven years since the ever-elusive Frank Ocean stepped onto a stage. But despite his booking as the third and final headliner for Coachella 2023, fans still felt unsure if he would actually show. Signs that read “NO FRANK OCEAN MERCHANDISE” were plastered across the merch tent, and the official Coachella livestream on YouTube excluded his performance. And yet, at 10:55 p.m., almost an hour after he was scheduled to perform, the main stage lights finally dimmed and the show no one expected officially began.
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The fact that it happened wasn’t the only surprise, though, as Frank had the stage transformed into one giant screen. As a result, only a small square of space was hardly visible, but that’s where all of the action took place for the following hour and a half — until Frank abruptly announced from backstage, “Guys, I’m being told it’s curfew, so that’s the end of the show.”
The highly anticipated show came three years after Frank, Travis Scott and Rage Against the Machine were slated to take over the 2020 edition of the festival, which was postponed due to COVID. As the only performer who remained at the top of the bill since (as promised by Goldenvoice CEO and Coachella’s co-founder Paul Tollet in a 2021 interview) Frank delivered an unbelievable (for more reasons than one) if not unorthodox set, that had fans grasping on to every moment. Because after Sunday night, who knew when we might see him again.
The “Met her at Coachella” line from set opener “Novacane” hit different in the desert, which served as Frank’s backdrop whenever the camera showed his POV from the center of it all — until he chose not to be.
Check out the five major takeaways from Frank Ocean’s Coachella 2023 headlining set below.
The Set-Up Was Deceptively Intimate
Despite performing in front of tens of thousands of people, Frank and his team meticulously designed his headlining stage to resemble a recording studio, with Frank hunched around a mic in the center while a live band tinkered around behind him and studio hands respected his every request. Yet despite the intimate setup, he would still occasionally pull up the hood of his blue puffer coat and cover his black durag and the majority of his face, his full beard solely poking out. The reclusive star was giving an incredibly rare glimpse into his creative process, even giving fans a taste of new music. And while fans couldn’t really see what was happening or where Frank even was, the high-definition video feed helped to fill in some gaps, supplemented with gritty and at times incredibly shaky footage that played out like a one-night-only, live documentary that could only be consumed in the moment.
He Reimagined His Most-Beloved Songs
Between Frank’s 2011 debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra and his 2016 magnum opus Blonde, the artist faced every performer’s two-fold issue: 1) What songs should I play? and 2) How do I make them special for this audience? He solved the dilemma by performing his classic hits in ways fans had never heard them before, including a stripped-down, acoustic version of “Pink + White,” a turnt up remix of “Solo,” a drill edit of “Chanel,” a punk rock remix of “Wiseman” and many more. Yet none of those favorites closed out the set; instead, Frank dug deep into his discography to pull out his cover of Aaliyah‘s 1994 track “At Your Best (You Are Love)” that was featured on his 2016 visual album Endless.
There Was a Rave Intermission… And It Worked
Toward the end of his set, Frank shined his spotlight on DJ Crystalmess. “You can’t even see Frank Ocean but you get a little rave mix in the middle of the show,” Frank said, describing her set within a set. She strung together her own reimagining of Frank’s songs, like a Jersey Club remix of “Slide,” which Calvin Harris performed the night before on the same stage, as well as a bounce edit of “Pyramids” that left one scene-stealing security guard twerking like there’s no tomorrow — all of which was captured and shown as part of Frank’s live feed. The rave also brought out the only guest of the night: The lime green robotic baby doll Frank brought as his little date to the 2021 Met Gala.
“Back in 2020, I was just starting to throw parties in little clubs in New York that were just getting started before sh– started shutting down,” Frank recalled. “And I was having such a good time playlisting music and listening to so much new music and encountering DJs who were up and coming and who were really on their sh–. It’s become such a part of my practice now with my new weekly thing, with [Apple Music 1’s] Homer Radio that we’ve been working on…. It’s good that it’s not always about me.”
He Sort of Debuted a New Song
The phrase “Inner Child” started circling around a screen within the stage as a young boy named Josiah — meant to represent Frank’s own inner child — began playing piano and lip-syncing along to Frank singing a new song. Josiah’s little braids were poking out from underneath a black durag similar to the one worn by Frank, who introduced Josiah to the Coachella crowd as swiftly as he was dismissed in the short, but sweet moment.
He Honored His Late Brother Ryan
“It’s been so long…. But I have missed you,” Frank admitted to the audience, before vaguely addressing the elephant in the desert. “I want to talk about why I’m here because it’s not because of a new album… Not that there’s not a new album,” he teased. He then hushed over zealous fans so he could explain what did make him return to the festival he first performed at over a decade ago. “You know, these last couple years, my life changed so much…. My brother and I, we came to this festival a lot,” he said, speaking of his late brother Ryan Breaux who died in 2020 from a car accident at only 18 years old.
“I feel like I was dragged out here half the time because I hated the dust out here, I always left with a respiratory infection, or what have you. So I would avoid coming, but I would always end up here. One of my fondest memories was watching Rae Sremmurd on I don’t know what that stage is called with my brother. And Travis [Bennett], I don’t know if Travis/Taco is here, but we was just dancing in that tent to their music, and I know he would’ve been so excited to be here with all of us. I want to say thank you for the support and the ears and the love over all this time.”
Even during two of his beloved tracks, “Nikes” and “Nights,” Frank opted out of performing them live, rather prancing around the stage and playing in front of the camera, flashing a sincere smile that showed off a grill on one of his front teeth.
Maybe he needed this just as much as we did.
The second day of Coachella delivered its own set of surprise guest appearances, like Rauw Alejandro and Billie Eilish — the latter of whom live debuted her “Never Felt So Alone” collaboration with Labrinth during his set. Plus, the day included Jai Paul‘s first-ever live performance as well as BLACKPINK‘s historic headlining set.
Saturday’s stacked lineup also included performances by Charli XCX, Rosalía, boygenius, The Kid LAROI, and Calvin Harris, who officially “returned to the desert,” according to his billing.
For those at home, YouTube streamed live from all stages of the festival — and will continue to do so throughout this weekend and during the fest’s round two April 21-23. On Sunday night, April 16, Frank Ocean will close out the festival with his highly anticipated headlining performance and first live performance in six years.
As for BLACKPINK’s headlining performance, the beloved foursome reflected on the beginning of their Coachella journey in 2019, when they became the first K-pop girl group to perform at the U.S. festival when they were booked over at the Sahara Tent. Fast forward four years later and global superstars Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa were taking over the main stage and making history as the first Korean act to headline the festival. Almost two hours later, Calvin Harris returned to the main stage for the first time in seven years to bang out the hits and, by a “Miracle,” play a new one with an old friend, Ellie Goulding.
Check out Billboard‘s eight best moments from day two of Coachella 2023 below.
Charli XCX’s Sexy Set
Even though the day had gradually cooled off by the time Charli XCX hit the main Coachella Stage, she unabashedly dialed the intensity all the way back up. While donning a studded black leather bodysuit and matching knee-high boots, Charli asked the audience, “Who’s getting sexy this weekend?” before launching into “Baby.” After performing “Beg For You” sans Rina Sawayama, Charli led a “We’re really, really hot! I’m really, really hot!” chant as her way of “begging” Troye Sivan to come out for their “1999” collaboration — which he gladly did.
But it was her performance of “Track 10” that was especially electrifying, as it offered a hyper-pop escape from the heartbreak. To really drive it home, the singer gyrated at the same frenetic pulse of the music before crawling across the stage in a beautifully bizarre manner that captured her vulnerability and passion all in the name of love. Only the chilling whisper of her own name could resurrect her body that by now was sprawled out on stage, as she revved herself back to life in time for “Vroom Vroom.” — Heran Mamo
Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro Are Couples Goals
Rosalía brought out her fiancé Rauw Alejandro to perform “Beso” and “Vampiros” off their recently-released joint EP. “How many of you have already listened to RR,” the Spanish star asked the crowd. “Four years ago, I came to Coachella, and I came alone. Not this time around.” A few seconds later, the Puerto Rican hitmaker joined his lover onstage where they sang, kissed and twerked. “Qué dice Coachella? Where’s my Latin people?” he asked the roaring crowd. Rauw’s surprise appearance was one of the best moments from Rosalía’s emotional and riveting set, during which she performed music from her albums El Mal Querer and Motomami. — Griselda Flores
Jai Paul’s First-Ever Live Performance
Major anticipation culminated during Jai Paul’s set in the Mojave, where the mysterious experimental singer-producer played the first show of his 12-year career. Known for his 2011 debut track “BTSTU,” the artist recently returned from a seven-year hiatus with a pair of singles “Do You Love Her Now” and “He.” And ahead of his historic set, he released his project of unfinished demos, Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones), on vinyl for the first time following its infamous leak 10 years ago.
Those songs filled his Coachella set, of which he said in a pre-show statement, “I always wanted to do something like this, but yeah, I’m not gonna lie, I am absolutely sh-tting it.” The U.K. artist came onstage 15 minute late, wearing a wig and sunglasses — perhaps part of a plan to put him at ease. He didn’t look entirely comfortable in the spotlight (and his mic could’ve been turned up louder), but he powered through a show that opened with “Higher Res” and later included “BTSTU” — a must for any fan, casual or otherwise. And though the show didn’t entirely dissolve his mystique, the crowd — which included Justin Bieber, Channel Tres and Kaytranada — finally got a sense of what Jai Paul can do. — Katie Bain
Boygenius Supporting Trans Rights
Earlier in the week, supergroup boygenius — Phobe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus — warmed up for Coachella with a performance in Pomona, treating fans to a celebratory set of new music off its debut album, the record. While their stellar songbook was the focus of the band’s festival set, Baker took the opportunity to also voice support for trans rights. “I want to say before we keep going, I don’t know if you’ve been checking the news and seeing the tomfoolery that’s going on in Florida, Missouri, and so many other places. But trans lives matter, trans kids matter,” she said. “We’re going to fight it, and we’re going to win.” — Lyndsey Havens
BLACKPINK’s Historic Headlining Set
“So… let me start off with, four years ago, we were invited to perform here for you at Coachella at the Sahara Tent and that made a mark in all of our hearts,” BLACKPINK’s Rosé affectionately told the crowd. ”I must say, this is a dream come true … the reason all four of us are here is because of you.”
In 2019, BLACKPINK — composed of Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa — became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella — a set that also marked the foursome’s first full U.S. concert. And tonight, in 2023, the global superstars became the first Korean act to headline the festival.
“We are so so happy to be back here,” adds Jennie. “It’s crazy within the four years we made it from Sahara to main stage …. We love you Coachella.” Throughout the set, which featured hits old and new like “Pink Venom,” “Kill This Love,” “Whistle,” “BOOMBAYAH” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” each song felt like a grand finale in its own right. The act used the additional set time and main stage prominence to make their distinct personalities and voices known, dedicating time for each artist to perform their solo work. Jennie went first with “You & Me” featuring a new rap verse, followed by Jisoo, who performed her debut single “Flower,” followed by Rosé, who delivered “Gone / On the Ground,” and ending with Lisa’s set (which was introduced using her birth name Lalisa) of an explicit version of “Money.”
The historic and celebratory set tapped into what Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa do best together as BLACKPINK: making Blinks feel seen. And by allowing each member a moment of their own to shine, they allowed their individuality to be seen, too. — L.H.
The Kid LAROI’s Tribute to Late Friends and Special Message For Justin Bieber
“I’m very, very blessed to be on this stage,” echoed The Kid LAROI’s voice throughout the Sahara Tent in the middle of his performance. It was a sincere moment of gratitude considering some of his dearest friends are no longer here, like fellow rappers Juice WRLD and Saiko, whom he honored while performing a new song “about loss and about losing people,” he somberly told the crowd. “It’s very personal to me and very vulnerable.”
The 19-year-old artist’s mature rebranding wasn’t just about cutting off his golden, boyish locks or dropping “The Kid” from his moniker when he introduced himself to the audience. It involved diving deeper into what pains him — in this case, lost loved ones — with piercing lyricism. While crouched atop a beaten up pickup truck, he sang about reflecting on the words he wish he had said to his friends.
And he stuck to his word when he praised his “Stay” collaborator Justin Bieber, who LAROI said was watching from the crowd (immediately shutting down any hope of a surprise onstage appearance; he did, however, later bring out Fivio Foreign, who performed their Far East Movement-sampling pop-drill collaboration “Paris to Tokyo”). “You’re such a special f—king human being…. Everybody here’s gotchu, bro,” he said speaking directly to Bieber. “Thank you for being not only an incredible musician and a collaborator, but thank you for being my f—king friend.” — H.M.
Labrinth and Billie Eilish’s Live Debut of “Never Felt So Alone”
Ahead of Labrinth‘s upcoming album, ENDS & BEGINS, the experimental artist treated fans to songs old and new — including his latest single “Never Felt So Alone,” which features Billie Eilish. His best treat of all? Bringing her out to live debut the song together. “She’s so f–king talented,” Lab said of the star as she exited the stage. “Billie, forever I f–king love you.” Elsewhere in the set he played Euphoria hits like “I’m Tired” (which features Zendaya, who did not come out during the set) and “Still Don’t Know My Name,” among other fan favorites — all of which showcased his stellar vocals, proving just how much of a powerhouse he is both in the studio and on the stage. — L.H.
Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding’s Live Debut of ‘Miracle’
While other sonic trends blow in and out on the desert winds, dance music is a foundational element of Coachella, with nearly every style of the genre spread across every single stage. This year sets by U.K. icons The Chemical Brothers and Underworld — who both played the first Coachella in 1999 — felt as thrilling and relevant as ever. James Murphy did the lord’s work while DJing Despacio, low key Coachella’s best dance space, and Eric Prydz dazzled on the Outdoor Stage with his technical/sonic masterpiece of a show, HOLO.
But while dance music was everywhere, it’s marquee look was Calvin Harris’ set on the main stage. BLACKPINK was the night’s headliner, but Harris in fact came on after them and played to a crowd as massive and sprawling as nearly any we’ve seen assembled there over the years.
But what does an EDM titan do on this stage a decade after the EDM heyday (and seven years since his last Coachella main stage appearance)? He bangs out the hits, baby — but gets kind of weird, too. Indeed,, Harris throttled through his insane catalog, hitting all the highs — “One Kiss,” “This Is What You Came For,” “Slide,” “Feel So Close,” “Sweet Nothing,” “Summer” — with the audience heard chanting along en masse whenever the Scottish producer turned his volume dial down.
But, unsurprisingly given Harris’ recent forays into acid house and adjacent styles, he also veered off into harder and way ravier territory, with some of these moments not sounding all that different than what Underworld had done hours earlier — demonstrating a throughline across eras of dance music and Coachella lineups.
Interestingly, Harris’ set entirely avoided anything from his most recent album, last summer’s Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, thus bypassing appearances by any of the massive stars on it. Instead, a resplendent Ellie Goulding helped Harris close the show with the first-ever live performance of their recent hit, “Miracle,” itself a trance throwback anthem. — K.B.
In 2016 BLACKPINK debuted. By 2019 the act — composed of Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa — became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella — a set that also marked the foursome’s first full U.S. concert. And tonight, in 2023, the global superstars became the first Korean act to headline the festival.
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“So… let me start off with, four years ago we were invited to perform here for you at Coachella at the Sahara tent and that made a mark in all of our hearts,” Rosé affectionately tells the crowd. ”I must say, this is a dream come true … the reason all four of us are here is because of you.”
“We are so so happy to be back here,” adds Jennie. “It’s crazy within the four years we made it from Sahara to main stage … we love you, Coachella.”
Despite an early technical issue that pushed the start time back, by 9:24 fans’ light-up bracelets started to glow pink, alerting them the show would in fact soon begin. By 9:28, a single “BLACKPINK” echoed throughout the speakers. And by 9:30, the stage went dark. It was finally time.
“Taste that pink venom, get ‘em get ‘em get ‘em,” the girls demand as they opened with the biting “Pink Venom” as their loyal Blinks eat up every word. “Kill This Love” comes next, featuring heavy pyro and sparks followed by “How You Like That.” Each song feels like a grand finale in its own right — and that same energy carries throughout the entire historic set that snakes through BLACKPINK’s tight discography of an EP (Square Two – EP) and three full-lengths, BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA, THE ALBUM and last year’s BORN PINK.
After a high-energy string of hits like “Pretty Savage” (for which the famous “prrr” was met with thunderous cheers) and “Kick It” during which the girls strutted down the runway, Rosé couldn’t help but make an observation: “It is getting… absolutely… hot. I think it’s because of the Blinks, it’s so hot because of you guys.”
The foursome then dives into “Whistle” — its debut song and a No. 2 hit — while making their way back to the stage. They each subtly disappear during the dance break that follows, signaling both the end of the set’s intro and beginning of its next phase: highlighting each member’s burgeoning solo careers.
Jennie performs first, rocking sky-high pigtails with a top draped in diamonds and pearls as she sings a remixed version of her single “You & Me” with a new rap verse. Next up: Jisoo, who’s wearing a red asymmetrical dress made of plastic flowers and matching elbow length red gloves — a fitting look to perform her debut single “Flower” in. As confetti finishes falling from the sky, the next performer’s name flashes across the screen: ROSÉ. Wearing a chain metal dress, she switches things up by performing from the middle stage, seated with her legs dangling down, swaying as she sings “Gone / On the Ground.” Her performance ends with an explosion of streamers, which touched ground as the fourth and final member gets ready to take the stage. For Lisa’s set (which is introduced using her birth name Lalisa) she sports a structured mirrored metal bodysuit with matching gloves to deliver an explicit version of “Money,” closing out this chapter of BLACKPINK’s set on an energetic high.
Another quick dance break allows the girls time to change back into relatively matching fits before stepping back out for “BOOMBAYAH,” their first No. 1, for which they request a sing-along — as if the crowd hadn’t already been doing just that all night long. And for “Lovesick Girls,” rainbow streamers color the night sky.
What follows is a rapid fire session of hits including “Playing With Fire,” a Burlesque-inspired “Type Girl,” “Shut Down” and “Tally.” The second to last song of the night is one of BLACKPINK’s earliest sensations, “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” while the true finale is the sentimental and uplifting “Forever Young,” which the girls perform first from the middle stage on a platform, engaging with as many Blinks as they can one last time, before ultimately ending at their rightful place front and center on the main stage as fireworks explode behind them.
Throughout the historic and celebratory set, Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa tapped into what they do best together as BLACKPINK: making Blinks feel seen. And by allowing each member a moment of their own to shine, they allowed their individuality to be seen, too — and on one of music’s biggest stages, no less.
Something in the Water festival is returning to Virginia Beach at the end of this month, and on Wednesday (April 12), Pharrell Williams unveiled a wave of special guests and performers added to the lineup.
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A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and M.I.A. have all been added to Pharrell’s Phriends set at the festival, which will take place in Virginia Beach, Va., between April 28 and April 30.
The festival has also announced additional performers including Third Eye Blind, Jonas Brothers and Arcade Fire, which comes less than a year after sexual misconduct allegations against Arcade Fire’s frontman Win Butler.
Last year, the festival took place in Washington, D.C., after the Grammy-winning artist and producer voiced his disappointment in his hometown’s handling of his cousin’s death the year before. Sponsored by AirBnB and Walmart, this year’s star-studded lineup features Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, The Clipse, Summer Walker, Grace Jones, Lil Uzi Vert and Kehlani, among others.
Pharrell’s team-up with Walmart also aims to impact communities in Virginia. “Strengthening local communities is core to Walmart’s DNA,” said Cedric Clark, executive vice president of store operations for Walmart U.S., in a press release. “By investing in our associates and in the communities we serve, we help build a foundation where people can live their full potential every day. We’re excited to team up with Something in the Water, returning to a special place to Walmart, Virginia’s Hampton Roads, to help celebrate and empower this community we’re so proud to be a part of.”
Three day passes to Something in the Water are still available for purchase here. Can’t make it to the festival? YouTube will be livestreaming the event all weekend on Pharrell’s YouTube channel.
Live Nation is facing a lawsuit from three people who say they were injured at last year’s Lovers & Friends Music Festival in Las Vegas, during a stampede triggered by false reports of gunfire.
In a complaint filed last week in Los Angeles, plaintiffs Carla Thomas, James Thomas and Aaliyah Aguilar claimed that Live Nation had “failed to take basic, reasonable steps” to protect them from such an incident.
“Plaintiffs screamed for help from the event organizers and security, but none came,” lawyers for the trio wrote. “Plaintiffs screamed for emergency medical care for their injuries, but none came.”
The two-day Lovers & Friends festival, held over a weekend last May, featured several R&B and rap artists, including Usher, Ludacris and Ne-Yo. But performances were briefly halted that Saturday when a large group of panicked attendees fled the venue over rumors of gun shots. Police later said that there was no evidence that a shooting took place.
Stampedes amid false reports of gunfire have cropped up several times in recent years. Fans suffered injuries during gunfire panics at a Future concert in Brooklyn in 2017, at Lil Wayne and Cardi B concerts in 2018, and at the 2019 Rolling Loud festival in Miami. Just last month, three fans were killed during a stampede at a GloRilla concert in western New York reportedly sparked by fears of a shooter.
In their lawsuit, Thomas, Thomas and Aguilar claimed that the rush at Lovers & Friends was triggered by a “loud noise,” causing a “sea of people” to surge toward them. They said they were “pushed, smashed, dragged, kicked, stepped on, trampled and crushed to the ground” during the incident, causing them “serious injuries” and emotional distress.
And their lawyers say that Live Nation is to blame – specifically, that the company was negligent in how it planned and operated the festival.
“Defendants failed to employ adequate, properly trained, monitored, and supervised reasonable security, safety and medical provision measures,” they wrote. “Defendants failed to provide a safe venue, one that provided adequate signs and warnings that would have guided the crowd into a particular emergency exit route in the event of an alarm or emergency.”
Such lawsuits are common after incidents in which fans are injured at concerts, but they’re not easy to win. Lawyers for the accusers will need to show that the incident was something Live Nation could have seen coming, and that it failed to take specific steps that would have prevented the injuries suffered by their clients.
A rep for Live Nation did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.
The first Sauce Boyz Fest will arrive with a bang. Conceived by Puerto Rican trap star Eladio Carrión, the event, which promises to be historic, will host some of the most exhilarating acts in the música urbana and rap game.
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Headliners include Argentine giants Bizarrap and Duki, rap superstar Wiz Khalifa, Dominican dembow artist Tokischa, and rising stars like Young Miko, Dei V, Yovngchimi and more, with an expected attendance of 45,000 total. The event sold out weeks before the lineup was even announced.
“We really want [fest-goers] to have the best experience of their life. Musically it’s going to be crazy. I’ve been dying to just announce this lineup,” Carrión tells Billboard Español. Taking place May 18 and 20 in Mayagüez and San Juan, the Puerto Rican festival is the first of its kind, being held at a beer factory on day one and by the beach on day two. At the same time, Carrión will launch his own beer line, La H.
Billboard Español traveled to Puerto Rico to speak with the tremendo cabrón (reference to his newest album 3MEN2 KBRN) to discuss everything about his latest festival endeavor.
This is your first annual Sauce Boyz Fest. What’s the origin story?
My team and I were trying to figure out how to give fans a better show than our past one, which was at El Choliseo (Coliseo de Puerto Rico) [which took place last year]. It was a really good three days, so we had to do something extra special. It started off as something smaller and we just kept building and molding until this big gigantic monster formed. So it’s amazing that it’s going to be something crazy.
The festival was sold out before the lineup was announced! Were you surprised?
I kind of wasn’t because I know my fans, they know me, and they know that I’m never going to give them something mediocre. What they don’t know is how hard it’s going to be. They know it’s going to be special, but I don’t think they know it’s going to be this special. We went all out.
Talk to me about the logistics, where it takes place, etc.
We divided it into two events. We have the 18th, which is going to be in Mayagüez. Artists usually never do stuff on the West Side because there are no big venues. But we’re going to use the Cervecera where they make the beers in Puerto Rico. They make Medalla, they make our beer La H that we just came out with. We’re going to put [my] beer out [then]. On the 20th , we have the bigger event with a bigger stage. It’s at [Estadio] Sixto Escobar, an open [air] place. There’s a beach, and it’s humongous.
Let’s talk about the lineup.
As for the lineup, we have a bunch of local talent. We’re getting all the kids that are hot right now. We got Dei V, Yovngchimi, Young Miko… people that are stepping the game up from the younger cast of Puerto Rico. Just to name a few of them. As for headliners, we got Bizarrap, Tokischa, Duki and we got Wiz Khalifa. It’ll be Biza’s first time in Puerto Rico, and if I’m not mistaken, for Duki too.
Wiz, that’s the OG. That’s personally a win for me because I’m dying to see his show. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to try and see his show before I do mine. I’m excited for that one. I know they’re going to love it here, too. I think it’s Wiz’s first time live in Puerto Rico. We wanted to bring that cultural experience, not only for it to be Puerto Rican talent, but let [non-Puerto Rican artists] see [the island] for the first time with people who want to see them.
Bizarrap is in the best moment of his career right now. It’s going to be the first time we’re performing that [session] live together, too. It hasn’t been done yet.
You mentioned you’re launching a beer too at the same time?
We semi-launched it low key on the island. They just distribute it to all the places [in Puerto Rico]. This week, people just started buying it. But the official launch, the first announcement of my beer is going to be towards the festival.
What will make Sauce Boyz Fest a unique experience compared to other festivals in the Latin music circuit?
The experience. We got a crazy lineup, 25 artists confirmed, plus my show at the end. Besides the music, we’re really focusing on the experience, like when [fest-goers] are waiting for their favorite artist or when they arrive to the merch seccion — we really want them to have the best experience of their life. Musically it’s going to be crazy. I’ve been dying to just announce this lineup.
The second-annual FORMAT Festival will return to Bentonville, Arkansas on Sept. 22-24 with headliners Alanis Morissette, LCD Soundsystem and Leon Bridges. The event — whose name stands for “music art and technology” — will also feature sets from Modest Mouse, Jamie XX, Tash Sultana, Big Wild, Little Simz, Bob Moses, Poolside, Channel Tres, Paul Cauthen and more.
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Situated on the private Sugar Creek Airstrip, the fest in the heart of the Ozarks will once again incorporate unique performances, installations and art experiences from artists including Guerrilla Girls, JR’s Inside Out Project, Jeremy Deller, Ragnar Kjartansson, and Kameelah Janan Rasheed.
Ticket presale will begin Thursday (April 6) at 11 a.m. ET; fans can sign up for a presale code to get first access to three-day and one-day tickets and find out more about the art installations here.
Among the other acts on this year’s lineup are: Digable Planets, Madeline Edwards, Kari Faux, Theon Cross, Green Velvet, The Pharcyde, Nikki Lane, Sudan Archives, Franc Moody, Serpentwithfeet, Digitalism, Clasixx, Pedrito Martinez and Francois K, among others.
FORMAT takes place on a 250-acre of green space just minutes from downtown Bentonville, with two conventional music stages, as well as a number of unusual settings for performances with names including The Cube, Drag Me to the Disco, Next Door/Nova Heat and Smokey’s. There will also be underground discos and stages in the surrounding forest amid the art installations, as well as a Bizarre Bazaar with curated food, vendors, retail and experience booths, experimental light shows and therapeutic workshops according to a release.
Check out the full lineup below.
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Dreamville Festival 2023 wrapped up epically on Sunday (April 2), surpassing the wildest dreams of most of the fans in attendance on the first day of the weekend-long celebration alone. On the final night, Dreamville honcho J. Cole took alongside a certain Canadian superstar, who then brought out a bevy of unannounced surprise guests much to the delight of fans.
Hip-Hop Wired attended Dreamville Fest 2023, adding to the event’s well-established legacy and one of the premier annual music events on the east coast and beyond.
Since the big reveal of the star-studded lineup, most fans in attendance that we overheard were most excited about the prospect of seeing Drake rock the Dreamville stages alongside Fayettville’s native son, and they were not left disappointed.
Cole came out to raucous applause and ran through several fan favorites before pausing his set to give praise to Drake. The two were in top performance mode with Drake truly delighting the masses by bringing out GloRilla, Lil Uzi Vert, and Lil Wayne to perform some of their biggest hits.
Forgive us for the lack of a set list because we were too busy screaming our lungs out taking in the show to take notes. Put it this way. Each of the aforementioned stars has huge songs in their catalog and in that short amount of time, we heard most of the best.
We also have to add that while it is still VERY EARLY in festival season, it will be hard to top what we had the privilege of witnessing in Raleigh, N.C. Kudos to the whole Dreamville staff, label, and crew.
On Twitter, the reaction to J. Cole and Drake closing out the Dreamville Festival with a few of their famous pals is still going strong. Check out those tweets below.
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Photo: @ITCHYEYEPHOTOS/Dreamville Festival/The Parallel Agency
The Coachella Valley in Indio, CA will be the epicenter of metal this fall when some of the greatest hard rock bands of all time converge for the first-ever PowerTrip Festival. The three-night Goldenvoice-promoted event will kick off on Oct. 6 with a double-bill featuring Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden, according to a release announcing the event on Thursday morning (March 30).
Night two will find AC/DC sharing the stage with Ozzy Osbourne, in the metal legend’s first announced show since Ozzy revealed that he will no longer tour due to health concerns. The final night (Oct. 8) pairs Metallica with Tool. In the release, Goldenvoice promised that the nighttime double-headliner shows will have “unmatched concert production [that] will amplify the experience beyond the traditional stadium or parking lot concert norm.”
Goldenvoice, which is also behind the iconic Indio-based Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach country fest, teased the announcement on Wednesday with a cryptic post featuring the show’s metal fingers logo.
Three-day general admission tickets start at $599 (plus fees), with upgrades available to The Pit, reserved floor and grandstand seating options, as well as a number of VIP packages; click here to learn more and register for first access to tickets beginning today at 1 p.m. ET.
In February, Osbourne, 74, posted a note to fans on social media, saying, “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans…” In it, he announced that his touring days have come to an end and that his scheduled 2023 European/UK tour dates have been canceled. “Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really f—s me up, more than you will ever know.”
“My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city or country to country,” he continued in the note. “My goal is to get back onstage as soon as possible.” Ozzy previously revealed that though his voice is “fine,” after three operations, stem cell surgeries and other procedures to deal with a spinal injury he suffered four years ago he can no longer deal with the rigors of touring.
Check out the event poster below.
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The annual National Cannabis Festival makes its return to the Nation’s Capital next month, bringing together fans to enjoy stellar music and connect with advocates fighting for access to cannabis. Headling this year’s NCF will be 2 Chainz, Juicy J, and the Free Nationals along with other musical guests and speakers taking to the stage.
The National Cannabis Festival, co-founded by Caroline Phillips in 2015, is about much more than the consumption of cannabis and the music festival. For the seventh NCF, the entire week leading up to the festival will bring together business leaders in the cannabis space, patients, advocates, elected officials, and many more. The NCF will host a number of workshops and related activities all week long, and the festival will feature a collection of national and homegrown acts.
Local favorites and Go-Go legends Backyard Band, funk and soul band Everyday Everybody, cumbia band Cumbia Heights, DC-based production duo Foots and Cole, reggae band Nkula, and DJ Farrah Flosscett will join the aforementioned headliners onstage.
New this year, the NCF is launching 420 Food Week, patterning with area restaurants with specialized items to celebrate the event. More information on 420 Food Week and the entire National Cannabis Festival offerings will be featured below.
420 WEEK
● 420 Week begins the week leading up to the festival from April 15 – April 21. The week will include workshops, demonstrations, unique experiences, music, performing arts, comedy, and more, at venues across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The week also debuts 420 Food Week, a new addition to festival festivities, where visitors and Washingtonians alike can enjoy special menus and special offers from participating restaurants including Jerk At Nite, Little Miner Taco, H Street Country Club, and El Sol serving the best salty and sweet munchies across the DMV. On the day of the festival, the Munchies Zone is where guests will find some of these food vendors and more during the day’s happenings.
● The National Cannabis Policy Summit’s Congressional Forum on Thursday, April 20, assembles cannabis advocates, patients, business leaders, and policy experts for an afternoon of keynote addresses and discussions featuring Members of Congress in the Capitol Visitors Center’s Auditorium. Topics of discussion include expungement, banking, social equity, and paths to federal legalization. Join us for an afternoon of conversation and questions with elected officials addressing the most pressing questions around cannabis policy reform.
EDUCATION
In addition to the concert, the festival features six education pavilions covering topics, including: Wellness, Policy, Culture, Culinary, Grower’s World, and new this year, the Psychedelics education track. The pavilions invite attendees to participate in discussions on the medicinal benefits of cannabis, learn about legislative updates from state and federal advocates, hear from farming, tech, and culture influencers, re-focus their minds with yoga sessions, and more.
LOUNGES
● LGBTQIA+ Lounge, hosted by The Washington Blade, is a place for advocates and community members to gather, network, and share experiences.
● Seniors Lounge (for NCF’s “golden buds”) and the Veterans Pavilion hosted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and Balanced Veterans, return to serve as retreats for our special guests from the hustle and bustle of festivities.
Learn more about the National Cannabis Festival and additional programming by clicking here.
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Photo: NCF