Temperatures were blazing in Nashville over the weekend but that didn’t interfere with the party.
Just days before Juneteenth, The Blavity House Party debuted its first-ever festival in the heart of Music City at The Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Hosted by Zack Fox and Bridget Kelly, the event was more than just a festival, though, shining a spotlight on the city’s vibrant community.
The historical venue is known for hosting some of the most legendary performances since 1962 and is pivotal in preserving the city’s rich musical heritage. Musicians from Elvis Presley and James Brown to Mary J. Blige and The Wiggles have made history at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Now, It’s Blavity House Party’s turn to make their mark on the music festival scene.
The Iconic marquee outside the venue with ‘Blavity House Party Music Festival’ written in big, red letters welcomed attendees as they entered the building and set the stage for the eventful two-day event. Inside, immersive art installations including a photo booth sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, a custom cowboy hat station and a vintage, and a velvet couch that looked like it came straight out of the 70’s set against a backdrop of stacked retro tv’s provided the perfect photo-ops for guests.
The festival’s commitment to creating an experience to celebrate the Nashville community was evident throughout the weekend. While guests sang and danced along to performances by acts like Uncle Waffles, K. Michelle, and Ryan Leslie, outside the venue was a bustling hub of activity featuring a marketplace where more than a dozen black-owned brands and vendors were provided a platform to thrive and connect with a bigger audience.
From fashion and beauty to food and health & wellness, the event showcased the best of Nashville’s black community. Local brands like Cashville, God Made Merch, and Live Above Clothing offered unique pieces including tees, hats, hoodies, and more. Slutty Vegan, Slim & Husky’s, and Big Bern’s Brisket were among the many food vendors lined up to offer a variety of southern BBQ cuisine.
Attendees paid homage to the city’s deep-rooted country culture and were decked out in their best traditional cowboy and cowgirl fits with a modern flair.
Despite this being their first festival, and during a busy Bonnaroo weekend no-less, Blavity House Party had an impressive turnout. But with big acts like Big Freedia, Blxst, Dru Hill, and more on the lineup, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The two-day event had a stacked lineup of local DJs and musicians from different eras and genres, including headlining performances from Monica and Lil Wayne. Although Lil Wayne was unable to perform on the first night, the second night more than made up for the disappointment of those in attendance.
One of the highlights of day one was the lively performance by The Sainted Trap Choir. Known for blending traditional gospel choir elements with Rap, R&B, and Trap music to pay tribute to Black Church music while innovating a new sound that I like to call ‘Anointed Trap.’ The group was formed in North Carolina in 2020 and has since been featured on Season 18 of America’s Got Talent. With the help of a live band and DJ Fannie Mae on the turntables, Co-founder Dennis Reed Jr. serves as the choir director and leads the group as they sing and perform original choreography to special renditions of hit songs including Migos “Bad and Boujee,” and Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now.”
Big Freedia’s set was also a standout moment. Lighting up the stage with her infectious energy and her dancers, Big Freedia’s kept the crowd live as she performed her signature style of New Orleans Bounce and had the crowd chanting and shaking ass to every word.
Day two brought stellar performances from Uncle Waffles, Travis Porter, Lil Scrappy, Ryan Leslie, K. Michelle, and Lil Mo.
The incomparable Monica left the audience in awe with her powerful vocals as she performed hits like “Love All Over Me” and “So Gone.” Rick Ross closed out the final night of the festival with a concert-turned-party and reminded us why he’ll always be The Biggest Boss.
It’s clear that the Blavity House Party has achieved something special with this event. Despite some minor hiccups, it was a triumphant debut and a testament to the power of community. We hope this sets the stage for future highly anticipated events to celebrate black music and culture.
