Review: Sol Blume 2023
SOL BLUME IS AN R&B FESTIVAL held in Sacramento, California, drawing super fans of the genre to the capital of the Golden State. This year’s festival is being headlined by Brent Faiyaz (August 19th, Saturday) and Kehlani (August 20th, Sunday). It was originally planned for April, but due to severe flooding in the area, was postponed to the tail end of summer.
The festival’s Blume stage opened up with bLAck pARty. The musician and rapper based in Los Angeles, but from Little Rock, Arkansas, brought positive energy to the crowd. In an interview with The Luna Collective, he revealed that he chooses his setlist based on the vibe of the event he is performing at. Knowing it would be midday, he wanted a song that would reflect tranquility and happiness, playing many songs from his latest album and then closing Sol Blume’s first performance with “Bloom.”
Phony Ppl charmed the crowd almost immediately, playing fan favorites from all of their albums. “why iii love the moon” garnered special attention from the crowd and the band itself, with each musician getting a solo of their own. Keys, the bassist, and the guitarist both had the opportunity to show off. The band is uniquely balanced, with each member completely cognizant of the skills and talent that they provide to the performance.
The Melbourne-grown, Los Angeles based musician and singer, RINI, sounds even better in person than he does on his tracks. His voice is sweet and soulful, capturing the essence of music about love and vulnerability. Every serenade concludes with a long sound of applause and adoration from the audience, which is packed against the barricade. While he says this is the first US festival he has done, his ability to allure listeners makes him seem far more experienced.
P-lo’s performance on the Bless stage is easily immediately recognizable. Being that the festival is held in Northern California, there is a sense of comradery and community support among P-lo’s fans; the rapper reigns from the Bay Area. All hands raised in the air and people packed from the back to the front, P-lo brings out his kid to the stage. Sol Blume cultivates a warm space for all those who enjoy RnB music.
As the sun began its descent across Sacramento, Amber Mark appeared golden on stage. Glowing as she sang numerous tracks from her newest release, such as “What It Is,” “Competition,” and both the original and remixed version of “Lose My Cool.” Not only did she have a set list that pleased fans– who grooved with each song–but her dance showed how she is not just a singer, but an entertainer.
Mariah the Scientist stunned the crowd with both old and new tracks, playing songs like “Aura,” “Note to Self,” and “Beetlejuice,” as well as more recent songs from Buckles Laboratories: The Intermission. The singer once came under deep scrutiny due to a lacking sense of self on the stage, with performances that failed to command the prolonged attention of watchers. However, her work at Sol Blume was remarkable – she had complete control over her own voice, as well as the fans.
An overwhelming amount of the crowd knew every word to her music, to the point where she said she was feeling emotional. The audience was captivated by Mariah’s biting lyrics, wrapped in a voice that makes every syllable in a word count, she has improved greatly. Her attentiveness to the crowd throughout – notifying security of an audience-member that had fainted and pausing her set to ensure they would be taken care of – shows how in tune the artist is with their fans and surroundings.
Day 1 of Sol Blume 2023 was remarkably chill and organized well, with artists who respected everyone else’s time. Schedules ran smoothly. The crew, staff, and musicians brought their best to the stage, ensuring that attendees would leave with a smile.
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