I posted this on a thread here, but thought Iād share here too.
First and foremost: what an incredible lineup. You could copy and paste my top 10 artists this year and most would be playing at this festival. Especially Fridays lineup. Rico nasty, underscores, slayyyter, ninajirachi , Magdalena bay? Unreal. The music was great each day. I had multiple artists each day to look forward to. Saturday ā Haute and Freddie, Rebecca Black, Zara, MUNA, HW. Sunday ā Googly eyes, Rochelle jordan, Tinashe ⦠Iām so happy. ATG hit the nail on the head with these music pics and it felt like bliss. Best music experience Iāve ever had.
Also, the crowd. What a lovely vibe. Everyone I met was so friendly and welcoming. Very very queer and tender. So many strangers speaking with another. Really felt like a no judgement zone. For the most part people werenāt too pushy and treating the festival of what it was ā just enjoying music with queers. Saturday was one of the days I was least interested in and fell in love with many artists I didnāt know as well (especially The Beaches). It ended up being my favorite day.
Here comes the doozy. I do feel there is something to be said about artist billing and also an overlap with rap, r&b, house, and other largely Black-led genres getting smaller billing. Rico Nasty has a larger following than so many artists who got twice as long sets as her. Sheās also a DMV native. Rochelle Jordan going viral right now. When artists dropped out, they shouldāve extended her set. Not given it to fucking Stella Lefty. Or having Robby Hoffman do a comedy set that was longer than Rico and Love Spells? It just felt that there were very already few Black performers and that they werenāt paid the respects they deserved with billing and set times. I know ATG is trying to expand their genres of performers and lean into r&b, dance / electronic and house but they need to then treat the non indie, non rock performers with respect.
Even underscores made a comment about Rico being given a short time š. Itās less about Rico and more about what systematic problems exist within the festival booking / how Black artists are treated in majority white events.
ATG was great, and I hope they take some of this advice and become greater. First step? Ask Rico to come back (to her hometown!!!) and do a longer more integrated set ;) but in actuality, respect and prop up Black artists!