29 Apr Wednesday Performances: Lenny & Lizzo & Locals
Get ready SunFest-ers, and welcome to Day One!
Before you head out on the road, let’s hone in on what to expect from the Ford Stage today.
The Headliner: Lenny Kravitz
This is your chance to experience a little piece of this year’s Super Bowl in the flesh.
No, we’re not talking about Left Shark — this is bigger than that.
We’re talking about seeing someone who:
- Has won eight Grammy Awards
- Has had seventeen U.S. chart topping singles
- Plays Cinna in the Hunger Games movie series
- Is 50-years-old but still has better abs than you and your significant other
Wednesday night is your moment to catch Lenny Kravitz’s set and let him undoubtedly catch a little bit of your heart.
Lenny Kravitz is a rock star. There’s no other phrase that adequately captures it. The man will be shirtless, wearing his leather jacket and boots at age 70, and girls will still fall at his feet off of one smooth lyric or gritty guitar riff.
With songs in his repertoire like “American Woman,” and “Fly,” along with a new album, “Strut” that released in September 2014, Lenny wants you to ‘fly away’ with him — just don’t look at his abs while you take a bite out of your funnel cake. You’ll hate yourself a little.
Listen To: “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “The Chamber”
Performance Time: Wednesday, April 29 at 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Stage
The Opener: Lizzo
Ever wonder what would happen if Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj had a baby? And maybe M.I.A. helped raise her like a godparent or something?
I don’t have to anymore, because I listened to “Easy Easy” by Minneapolis, Minnesota native Melissa Jefferson, who goes by the stage name Lizzo.
With a fast and hard word flow contrasted by her feminine voice, this 27-year-old artist is one to look out for. And I’m not the only one who thinks so — in November 2013, Time named her one of “14 Musical Acts to Watch.”
Her quick rhymes contrasted by an upbeat melodic sing-song voice in other tunes, along with her ever-changing hairstyles and outfits on Instagram prove that Lizzo is versatile and packs a little bit of something for everyone.
Listen To: “Easy Easy” and “Let Em Say”
Performance Time: Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ford Stage
The Local: Yardij
Kicking off the entire SunFest evening will be Miami-based Deja Elyze and her band, Yardij.
The 19-year-old pop singer and her band open up the festivities at 5:30 p.m. at the Ford Stage. You can read more about Yardij in our story.