Photos by: Devin Wilson & Will Shaw
Written by: Nuance Editorial Team
This past weekend, Jack Harlow brought the center of current music culture to his hometown of Louisville, KY, with the first annual GAZEBO FESTIVAL–a two-day music festival on the picturesque Waterfront Park. Working with local music institution Production Simple, the Louisville star was able to draw some of the industry’s hottest names down to Derby City and start a new tradition focused on uplifting the local community–with a portion of every ticket sold benefitting local community organizations through the Jack Harlow Foundation.
While Day 2 was canceled due to extreme tornado warnings in the region, Day 1 saw Harlow’s vision come to fruition. An excellent selection of diverse yet complementary talents performed by the Ohio River to a packed crowd. Starting the day with up-coming acts like R&B singer Karri and Louisville DJ Dom Haley, the Festival kicked into high gear when ascending LA alt-rap duo Paris Texas rocked the crowd with their genre-averse, high-energy rhythms.
As the day went on, Concrete Boys signee Karrahbooo showed why she’s one of hip-hop’s fastest-rising acts before turning the stage over to longtime friend of Nuance Jordan Ward, who delivered a dynamic performance as he continues to receive more well-earned recognition for his unique talent and standout record FORWARD. San Francisco MC Larry June brought his patented luxury rap stylings before passing the mic to Atlanta legend Rich Homie Quan, while Ravyn Lenae graced the crowd with impressive live renditions of her alt-R&B sound (as always).
As the evening began, UK producer/singer James Blake brought out the turntables for an eclectic mix while Toronto mood music architect Majid Jordan brought their vibe to the Garden Stage. Minutes after sharing his new album, Dark Times, Longbeach MC Vince Staples showed his performing prowess with an incredibly engaging hour set while donning a Kentucky Varsity Jacket.
Wrapping up the night with a stellar show from SZA, maybe the most coveted R&B act at the moment, the day was a spectacular showcase of talent and a true manifestation of Harlow’s vision. While the tornados may have cut the festival short, it’s clear that Louisville has a different cultural tradition brewing from what Harlow’s got cooking and we at Nuance are eagerly anticipating what next year's event will bring.