On Saturday, June 16, Smokin’ Grooves Fest was revived at the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
This one-day event boasted an impressive lineup consisting of both rising hip-hop/rap and R&B artists and legendary ones, such as Erykah Badu and The Roots. With its 3-stage set-up, Smokin’ Grooves methodically considered crowd control to their sold-out festival.
At the Smokin’ Stage, acts Smino, THEY., and dvsn captivated the audience. Adjacent to the Smokin’ Stage was the Groovin’ Stage, which welcomed artists Snoh Aalegra, Thundercat, and Alina Baraz—who brought out surprise guest Khalid for their collaboration track “Electric.” With its unique layout, the proximity of the Smokin’ and Groovin’ stages allowed constant entertainment as the performers alternated between sets.
Over at the main Free Your Mind Stage, festival attendees were able to enjoy Pit and VIP Passes. The line up for this stage included performances by H.E.R., NxWorries, The Roots, Miguel, and more.
Despite it being in its first year back, Smokin’ Grooves Fest was nothing short of successful. With a sold-out crowd, The Observatory and Goldenvoice brought what some have called the “line up of [their] dreams” to the beautiful oceanfront of Long Beach.