The Martha's Vineyard Summer Madness Festival came to a finale Sunday night with a performance by Lauryn Hill at the Featherstone Center For the Arts in Oak Bluffs. This show capped off a weekend packed with female talent.
The Martha’s Vineyard Summer Madness Festival came to a finale Sunday night with a performance by Lauryn Hill at the Featherstone Center For the Arts in Oak Bluffs. This year’s festival had a “ladies first” theme and Ms. Hill’s show capped off a weekend packed with female talent.
Two time Grammy winner Melanie Fiona got the show going early, dancing across the stage as she sang hits from her two albums. The crowd sat attentively through Ms. Fiona’s set, but when DJ Rampage Global took the stage at 7:45 p.m., everyone collectively jumped to their feet. People crowded the front of the stage, dancing along as the DJ blasted everything from Bob Marley to Pharrell.
Anticipation grew when DJ Rampage Global invited Lauryn Hill’s live band to join him on stage at 8:45 p.m. The band grooved on smooth funk music as the audience beckoned Ms. Hill to the stage. Just before 9 p.m., she obliged the requests.
Lauryn Hill alternated set with quiet acoustic numbers and all out jams.
Lauryn Hill alternated set with quiet acoustic numbers and all out jams.
Ms. Hill joined the band mid-song and she and her three backup singers traded vocal riffs in a musical conversation, while the live band drove the music forward. On Everything is Everything, the microphone soared into fits of feedback, but Ms. Hill’s voice soared higher and built into a wave of sound.
Midway through the set, the stage went dark and the band played soft transition music as Ms. Hill picked up an acoustic guitar. For the next segment of the show, the music slowed down and the audience took their seats again. Ms. Hill remained seated with her guitar through Mr. Intentional, Adam Lives In Theory and Turn Your Lights Down Low, but was up and dancing again for I Only Have Eyes For You.
Just after 10 p.m., after a dramatic performance of Killing Me Softly, the organizers had to end the show to be in compliance with the Oak Bluffs noise ordinance. Ms. Hill seemed reluctant to leave the stage as the audience continued to cheer for one more song.
Comments
Yeah, too bad she was so late
Pam RiYeah, too bad she was so late as usual that she couldn't perform as long as she was supposed to and forced all kinds of her fans to miss the last ferry back to the mainland. The Vineyard was sold out of rooms and her fans (including my daughter and her boyfriend) had to pay jacked up prices for the cancellation they were lucky to find at 10:30. Real professional. Maybe she should get a watch.
She "forced" her fans to miss
Justinthemusicbiz MVShe "forced" her fans to miss a ferry? Or maybe they should learn to make a plan and get a room ahead of time if they want to stay till the end. Ms. Hill is a legend, be thankful she came to the vineyard.
Oak Bluffs noise bylaws don't
Bob OBOak Bluffs noise bylaws don't kick in until 11 pm.
Her fans chose to miss the
Yolanda AustinHer fans chose to miss the ferry for a chance to see her perform. I went knowing about her tardiness so I have no complaints. She shook hands with her fans from the stage and pictures. Thank you for the show, I look forward to seeing you perform again soon.
No headliner has ever gone on
Elvis MemphisNo headliner has ever gone on stage on-time in the history of concerts.
I'm sorry but she is always
Camille MichiganI'm sorry but she is always late and not tardy ...LATE and will scold her audience.
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