Despite Weather Cancellations, Gazebo Festival Shines as Jack Harlow’s Magnum Opus
It’s official: Gazebo Festival is Louisville, KY’s next big thing.
Photos by Jackilyn Cooper
Curated and headlined by Louisville’s hottest flame Jack Harlow, Gazebo Fest promised a lot and delivered even more. Stakes were high, especially for the festival’s first year: Gazebo was co-headlined by SZA and included performances by Vince Staples, Omar Apollo, PinkPantheress, and more. While day two of Gazebo succumbed to a series of unfortunate weather, the success and excitement of day one cemented Gazebo as Kentucky’s hottest festival (and we’re not just talking about the temperature).
When I imagined my first festival experience, I imagined chaos and disarray. However, Gazebo Fest was shocking, in the best way possible; with accessible bathrooms, a plethora of food and drink options, and an organized layout, it is indisputably clear that Gazebo was carefully and thoughtfully orchestrated. It appeared to be a passion project for Harlow, wholly dedicated to the fans who put him on the map and the residents of his beloved city.
Forming mosh pits at 3 p.m.? No problem if you’re Paris Texas. The duo absolutely rocked the stage, setting the tone for the rest of the festival; Gazebo is not the type of festival to stand around or lay and watch, but rather an experience where the music will move you and compel you to dance. Paris Texas’ set made this easy, with a setlist full of exuberant songs, such as “FORCE OF HABIT” and “girls like drugs.” (Pleaser Photo Editor Jackilyn Cooper had the amazing opportunity to take portraits for the group: view them here on her Instagram!)
Day one’s stand-out performer was undoubtedly Jordan Ward, with soulful and fun R&B tracks that energized the entire crowd. Not only did Ward stun the audience with his lively performance of his new single “Player Two,” but also mixed in comedic elements during his set, such as dancing to “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men and using a hilarious soundboard. With almost two million monthly listeners on Spotify, Ward is definitely an artist to watch out for, and we can’t wait to hear more from him soon.
Vince Staples’ late arrival did not make his performance any less invigorating. Let’s be honest, Staples is more than an artist — he’s a cultural icon, contributing to many elements of pop culture that we see today, from movies to TV shows to music. With so much talent and passion, it was evident that Staples’ set would be unforgettable even before he took the stage. Despite a lack of visual effects, his energy and music were more than enough to please the Gazebo crowd.
By 9:15 p.m., the Gazebo Stage lawn held thousands of fans anxiously waiting for SZA to take the stage. The R&B superstar closed out the first day of the festival in the best way possible, opening with “Seek & Destroy” and revealing an elaborate set pulled straight from the SOS Tour. While I attended the SOS Tour in Nashville last September, Gazebo felt more personal and special, despite having a shorter setlist. Not only did SZA add her newest and much anticipated single “Saturn” to her performance, with the crowd echoing every lyric, but also performed “Rich Baby Daddy,” a collaboration with Drake and Sexyy Red. From swinging on a wrecking ball to performing intense choreography to keeping the crowd moving constantly, SZA’s Gazebo performance set the bar extremely high for future headliners.
Although Jackilyn and I were incredibly disappointed following the cancellation of day 2, safety comes first and foremost; Harlow’s decision to cancel the festival amidst a series of tornado and flood watches prioritized the safety and comfortability of both artists and fans. Trust me, no one on Earth was as disappointed about not seeing PinkPantheress as I was, but as festival and concert safety becomes increasingly concerning across the country, Harlow undoubtedly made the correct decision.
Nevertheless, the Pleaser team always knows how to have fun. A girl’s night at the famous Play Louisville was needed, and Play’s incredibly talented drag queens healed the holes in our hearts from the loss of Gazebo day two. Although, the bruises on my legs from that night probably won’t be healed for a long time.
