Under a perfect sunset on Pier Landing Philadelphia, attendees of the 10th Annual Roots Picnic enjoyed the sweet sound of Solange Knowles.
The singer was a headliner on a talent-filled lineup that included No Name, Jeezy, Thundercat, Pharrell Williams and The Rootsโ with special appearances from Fat Joe and Mobb Deep.
But her set โunlike the othersโ had to be the most ethereal, with groups of girlfriends singing along to her songs and couples hugged up as if it were a date night. Lit up by a large red dot as a backdrop, her entire band and backup singers were wearing red as well.
The 30-year-old performed a medley of old and new songs, starting with “Rise” off A Seat At the Table and jumping from previous albums, True and Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. But a highlight of the performance was when she stopped to speak to the crowd and acknowledge how long they’ve supported her.
“Some of you were with me before Solo Star, when I was singing, ‘You and me..’,” fading into The Proud Family theme song that she sang for the Disney Channel in 2001. When she walked away from the microphone to laugh, the entire crowd kept going, finishing the song that stuck with them from childhood.
Solange knows how to put on a show.
Which is why it’s no surprise that Solange gave a peek into her energy-filled rehearsal with Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul marching band, who she’s performing with Monday night.
For those of you heading to ESSENCE Fest 2017, don’t fret, she’ll be performing on the Superdome stage.