Billboard’s Hot 100 Festival has returned for it’s third consecutive year with a solid, very diverse blend of artists performing on this year’s lineup with everything from rap, hip-hop, pop, rock, and even EDM. Hot 100 Fest has a lot to offer and is a festival that celebrates artists achievements on the Billboard charts even if it means a chart placement on the Heat seekers chart, artists may get the opportunity to perform the festival to showcase their talents to new fans. The festival showcases current chart-topping artists, rising stars, local acts, and the next “big” artist to takeover the top 200 charts. The festival has taken place yearly at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York right on the waterfront.
Festivals are a great place for discovering new artists, who you have not seen live before or who you have just never heard of previously. Hot 100 Festival is the perfect place for this with it’s very diverse lineup of artists and their featured Heat seekers Stage which gives the opportunity for local acts and smaller acts to be seen by the thousands of fans in attendance, not to mention the stage’s perfect placement near the front entrance gates forcing the fans to see them first on their way into the Northwell Health at Jones Beach.
With four stages including the Beach Stage, Sun Stage, Heat Seekers Stage, and the Hot 100 Stage (main stage), there is plenty of room for fans to enjoy artists that are performing throughout the weekend. We are going to highlight some of our favorite highlights from each stage by starting out with the Heat Seekers Stage which we caught Ben Alessi’s very unique sound grasped the attention of hundreds singing along with him, Then catching PROM’s also unique sound with lots of synth included into their set with both Ella Zoller and Gabriel Stanley’s vocals pleasantly complimenting each others vocal ranges. Also, catching Carter Reeves’ set which did not have many people watching at first but that did not stop Reeves from putting on a stellar performance for all the fans who were there to enjoy, all while bringing in new fans by his energy filled set making people stop and check out his set. Phoebe Ryan then launching the Sun Stage at 3pm with an explosive set even bringing out Blackbear to perform her latest single “Forgetting All About You.” Continuing the already amazing day with pop rock band, We The Kings who put on one of the greatest live shows I have honestly ever seen from them, filled with energy and their hits like “Check Yes Juliet” (which was played twice during their set). Rick Ro$$’s set was filled with Maybach Music hits as he was very interactive with his fans in the front row on the Sun Stage. Over on the Hot 100 Stage was Bea Miller who put on a stellar performance with songs from both of her EP’s, Chapter One: Blue and Chapter Two: Red. Miller was at one point a contestant on The X-Factor which created lots of success for her. Gucci Mane then taking the Hot 100 Stage opening with his explosive hits where he collaborated with Drake, “Both” and “Back on Road,” fans loved every minute of it. Rick Ross’ DJ blasted Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones, Pt. II,” as a tribute for the recently-deceased Prodigy, then shouted out Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington as “Numb” blasted from the speakers. Demi Lovato‘s surprise appearance proved her incredible amounts of confidence, performing her latest hit “Sorry Not Sorry” which allowed her vocals to shine very vibrantly. Ty Dolla $ign’s set was very darkly lit, but that was stopping his raps to shine brightly. Zedd’s very vivid energy filled set included an extraordinary production including pyro, confetti showering the crowd, C02, and much more surprising/exciting fans each time leaving the stage filled with confetti and the crowd with energy levels skyrocketing for Big Sean. Zedd even surprising the fans with a special performance from Echosmith’s Sydney Sierota. Big Sean demanding the crowd attention next to show the crowd how he moves with a very unique production with low lying fog which filled the stage throughout his entire performance, making for a very cool look to the stage. Sean’s set filled with fan favorite hits that had the entire crowd singing along throughout his entire hour long set.
Check out our exclusive photo gallery from the Hot 100 Festival Day 1 Below!
The post Billboard Hot 100 Fest Day 1: Big Sean Makes Moves, Zedd Lights up Jones Beach, Rick Ross Remembers Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington appeared first on Music Mayhem Magazine.