The inaugural BLASTFEST took us to the moon! A beautiful summer day, the sun was shining down on the Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center while the smells of Jollof and the rhythms of Africa filled the air. It was a historic moment to see an entire festival produced by and featuring a lineup of artists specifically celebrating the Afrobeat genre that has developed out of West Africa. The atmosphere overall was full of pride, felt inviting, and was extremely vibrant in every aspect.
DJ Blast on stage at BLASTFEST 2023, the first ever Afrobeats festival in Seattle | Photo by Kyla Mae
The First Ever BLASTFEST Afrobeats Festival
Everything was off to a slow start in the afternoon, but as the evening came so did the majority of the people. No matter where you went within the grounds there was a jubilant, uplifting and positive vibe. I met folks from all over the globe who came to Seattle that day specifically for BLASTFEST. DJ Nayiram was taking roll calls all day to see how many people were in the crowd from various countries and was met with enthusiastic cheering everytime.
Unfortunately, Ayra Starr had to cancel her set at the last minute, which led BNXN (formerly known as BUJU) to join the lineup. Many fans were upset that Ayra wouldn’t be performing but were elated that BNXN would be there instead, and he did not disappoint. The entire lineup was one banger after another. I’m still thinking about the way Seyi Sax played his saxophone, and the way that Asake had the entire festival singing along with him during a picturesque sunset. I’ll never forget the way that Tiwa Savage commanded the stage or the way that Mannywellz serenaded the crowd. And I certainly will never forget the way that the entire lineup flowed seamlessly from one act to the next with only a few minor technical difficulties earlier in the day.
The Flow of the Festival
What was really nice about the way that they set up the festival grounds was that both the all ages and the 21+ sections had front row access to the stage. There was a bar closer to the stage as well as a bar towards the back by the food and BLASTMART, the vendor marketplace. The VIPs were up top on the mezzanine overlooking the grounds with their own private bar, lawn games, and lounge seating.
Uber Eats was a sponsor, allowing festival goers to order food for pickup from the various places on site through their app. It was great because you could be in the middle of the crowd while watching your favorite artist perform and order your food from the app. Once it was ready, you got a notification and could make your way over and pick up your order. I had a Suya Rice Bowl and some Sobolo, a spiced hibiscus drink, from Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen that was absolutely delicious.
DJ Nayiram on stage at BLASTFEST with a thick crowd spread across the lawn | Photo by Kyla Mae
There’s something so special about hearing live music while outside, and especially while in a park surrounded by nature. But also knowing the historical importance of what was happening with BLASTFEST made that Saturday in the park a truly memorable experience. Even Bruce Harrell, the mayor of Seattle, popped by to show that the community supports DJ Blast and BLASTFEST and wants to make sure that the first ever Afrobeats festival in Seattle is here to stay.
