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PHOTOS: 106.1 BLI Summer Jam – Wantagh, NY – 6/14/19

Photos & Review by Audrey Lew

One of the best parts about spending summer on Long Island is getting to hit up some of the island’s best festivals. BLI Summer Jam at Northwell Health Jones Beach happens to be one of them. Every year they bring out some of music’s hottest artists as well as some show stopping newcomers.

The sun started peeking out from behind the clouds just as Bryce Vine came running out on stage to kick off the show. His carefree but enthusiastic energy was exactly what this audienced needed to get them hyped up. Bryce even took the time during his set to have some fun with a show goer by snatching their hat for a song to wear on stage (don’t worry he gave it back). Although his set was short he and the crowd shared nothing but smiles the whole time. Next up was a familiar face that has graced a BTS cover before. Jake Miller walked out to a slew of screaming fans as he took the stage. He may be a fresh face to some but to his devoted fans in attendance they couldn’t stop singing the lyrics to hits like “Wait For You” and “Dazed and Confused”.

Sunset approached quickly once Fletcher hit the stage. She was grinning from ear to ear as flickers of golden hour washed over the stage and she approached the front of the crowd. If there is one thing to know about Fletcher before you head to one of her shows is that you are going to be wowed by the power of her voice. Girl can hold notes like a pro. Fletcher is an artist you need to be on the lookout for because she is going to be at the top of the charts one day. Following her performance was somebody who is no stranger to commanding a stage. Ally Brooke was introduced by her crew of dancers paving the way down the stage to the catwalk. The choreography coupled with her debut single “Low Key” had the crowd bopping along to every step she took.

Without fail, high tide was close to rising above the walls of the venue once Bazzi rolled out to takeover BLI Summer Jam. He delivered an explosive yet soulful set that could melt the hearts of anyone. After Bazzi closed out his performance it was time for one of the more anticipated artists for the evening. Why Don’t We returned for a second year but this time, thousands of fans were cheering as they took their places on top of podiums across the stage. It was so clear based on the reception from the crowd how much this group has grown in just a year. Not only has their fanbase grown but so has their repertoire of songs. They sang fan favorite “Trust Fund Baby” but also included new hits like “I Don’t Belong In This Club” and “Big Plans” into their set.

The night continued with Bebe Rexha who was another act to return this year. When you see her perform, you can just tell how much talent she possesses. Her voice is so powerful, it can give you goosebumps. She sings with such conviction that you can feel it. Throughout her performance it was evident that she has become an artist that everyone knows and loves. Fans sang along to every song, even “Meant To Be” which Bebe collaborated with Florida Georgia Line on. It was a well deserved reception for Bebe who comes from humble beginnings. She started from parking lots across the country on Vans Warped Tour and now slayed BLI Summer Jam twice. It’s only going to be up from here for Ms. Rexha.

Despite an already stacked show filled with heavy hitters, there was still more to come. Mark Ronson got everyone on their feet and dancing around. He couldn’t play his DJ set without spinning his hit with Bruno Mars. The amphitheater erupted once “Uptown Funk” started. The excitement from Mark Ronson’s set got the crowd prepared for the last two acts of the night. Ellie Goulding took the stage next and gave the performance everyone was hoping for. The energy she brought out emitted warm vibes that could be felt across the beach even if the sun had already set. She played all of her hits including “Lights” and “Burn”.

Last but certainly not least, it was finally time for the long awaited return of the Jonas Brothers to Jones Beach. It’s no secret that these three brothers took the world by storm when they first hit the scene and now they back to do the very same all over again. They opened their set with “Burnin Up” and followed with crowd favorites including “That’s Just The Way We Roll”, “Year 3000”,“Sucker”, “Cool”, and their latest single “Only Human.” Fans were also treated to a few songs from Joe & Nick’s own projects. Even though they weren’t Jonas Brother songs, everyone still knew the words to “Jealous” and “Cake By The Ocean”. This band of brothers has proven that no matter how long they have been apart they can still rock the house. As I left the venue absolutely speechless, I overheard a dad raving to his daughter about how much he enjoyed their performance. That’s the type of impact the Jonas Brothers have; it transcends beyond long time fans and young adults. What they do next is sure to go down in history.