The Grammy award-winning hip-hop group ‘The Roots’ celebrates its 18th year of The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. The festival is a Philadelphia staple that, unofficially, yet officially, kicks off summer every year at The Mann in Fairmount Park. The two-day event offers the city an impressive lineup of musical artists and vendors for attendees to enjoy.
Day one may have started with a delay due to bad weather, but that didn’t stop the festivities from getting underway. Concert goers were dressed to impress and danced the day away as various artists and DJs took the stage.
Upon arrival, fans were greeted by artwork that provided a memorable photo opportunity as well as directions for the festival grounds. The structure featured a picture of the Grammy Award-winning drummer Questlove and a drum set covered in what appeared to be moss.
Regarding food, the Roots Picnic did not disappoint, offering an endless array of sweet and savory food trucks. The business owners were local Philadelphia residents, such as the owners of the Mexican food truck Burrito Feliz. They were a one-stop shop providing Birria beef tacos, churros, and refreshing agua frescas.
Some incredible performances took place on day one, like Philadelphia’s very own Musiq Soulchild. The singer delivered a great set, performing songs from his debut album, ‘Aijuswanaseing,’ in celebration of 25 years since the album’s release. Fans sang along to hit songs like ‘Just Friends(Sunny)’, ‘You and Me’, and ‘Girl Next Door.’
As the day came to night, Tems took the stage performing some of her hit songs, ‘Free Mind’, ‘Love Me JeJe’, and ‘Found’. Right after Tems left the stage, New York native Funk Flex kept the crowd on their feet playing classic throwbacks before one of the many headliners came out, who was Miguel.
The talented singer-songwriter opened with a live mix of his vocals for his song ‘Girl With The Tattoo (Enter.Lewd)’. In anticipation of his upcoming album, he performed an unreleased song, with the word “CHAOS” projected behind him on a screen. The artist sang many hits from his discography, despite it raining throughout the night. Fans danced and sang along in the rain, with the singer creating a moment that felt straight out of a movie. Despite the weather, those who attended were treated to an unforgettable weekend in Philadelphia.
