There was no better location for the 8th Annual Afropunk Festival than Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. Over thirty bands and artists took the stage for two full days of music, art, and skate. I have to admit I’m a bit sad I was only able to attend Sunday’s festivities. Although I was extremely pleased with all of the acts I saw on Sunday, something about seeing Erykah Badu on Saturday would have been the icing on the cake.
Sunday’s lineup was stacked with some of the industry’s most talented acts, including Bad Rabbits, Toro Y Moi, Reggie Watts, and one of the day’s headliners, Janelle Monae. I found myself walking from one stage to the other after each set due to the festival’s perfectly timed schedule.
The first band I was able to check out happened to be one of my favorite bands of all time, Bad Rabbits. Having seen them for the first time two years ago (and proceeding to never miss them again when they were in NYC), I was automatically hooked by their dance moves, insane energy and passion for what they do. Body Language, a band I had seen merely 2 weeks prior, managed to match Bad Rabbits energy with their more electronic-based set.
Besides music, the festival brought along some incredible BMX riders and graffiti artists. All Sunday’s music acts were stellar, but the standout performance went to the lovely Janelle Monae. Playing tracks from her album, The ArchAndroid, Monae took the stage to a heartfelt (and surprise) introduction by none other than Pharrell Williams.
There was barely any room to move near the stage as all of Monae’s diehard fans (including those who traveled from out of state) had made way to the front to see the singer perform. Her unbelievable vocals, interesting costumes, and energetic stage presence made the day’s heat absolutely worth it.
