By @catagreloni
New York became the perfect host for artists more tan 50 bands and artists; Solange, Frank Ocean, Justice, MGMT, Tame Impala and Nine Inch Nails performed last weekend at Randall’s Island Park
Ferries set sail early Friday morning from Harlem´s east coast to Randalls Island with a huge crew of people disguised as animals, unicorns, extravagant clothing and looks worthy to be photographed. They were not models but festivalgoers: this weekend Panorama Music Festival was held in New York, from Friday 28 to Sunday 30.
The first day of the niche festival, which kicked off last year, lived up to last year expectations, with performances such as Arcade Fire, Kendrick Lamar and LCD Soundsystem. This year, Americans band MGMT warmed up Friday afternoon prior to the arrival of soul diva, Solange Knowles, which began just after the sunset. With her albums True (2012) and A Seat at the Table (2016), Solange proved not only to be no less an artist than her elder sister, Beyonce, but to own a musical style and a show as intimate as performative and effective centered around her latest album.
To continue with the R&B mood, no one else tan the fascinating Frank Ocean. The musician was one of the most conveners to the festival as with this performance he would put an end to a hiatus in his career. The show started with one oh his latest Blonde track, “Solo”, among many others. Without needing more magic than the one expressed through his lyrics and songs, Frank held the audience in his hands and they enjoyed a solid, sensitive and essential performance that predict a great beginning for Panorama.
Next days turned into a more electronic and psychedelic style. The Chilean-American musician and DJ, Nicolas Jaar made everybody dance with classics like “Mi Mujer” and some of his latest release, No, to give way to the Australians of Tame Impala, who offered a trippy show: laser lights and screens with lysergic images and colors appeared on stage, as the band led by Kevin Parker played all their discography.
Lots of females on stage
Unlike other festivals, Panorama surprised with a line up loaded with estrogen. The Asians Powder and Mitski performed early in the afternoon, as did the African-American Honey Dijon, Heather, both djs. There were also Jamila Woods, Jayfa G and Noname rapper, which is gaining popularity thanks to the collab with s Chance The Rapper, on the track “Finish Line / Drown”, from their latest album, Coloring Book. Pop quota was led by Danish MØ, L.A trio Bleached, Bishop Briggs and Kiiara, who paid tribute to Linkin Park leader Chester Bennington, ten days after his death.
