Festival

PHOTOS: 106.1 BLI Summer Jam – Wantagh, NY – 6/15/18

Photos + Review by Audrey Lew

There are few things better than breezy summer days on Long Island and one of them is attending BLI’s Summer Jam on the beach at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. With a lineup of heavy hitters that top the charts, this was guaranteed to a fun Friday night.

The sun was just setting as Why Don’t We hit the stage to open the show. Their choreographed dance moves and catchy choruses warmed up the audience for a spectacular evening. Next up was none other than Dua Lipa. When she took the stage, she commanded it with sass and poise. There is no arguing that Dua is a powerhouse in the industry. After opening with “One Kiss”, she followed with her hits “IDGAF” and “New Rules”. It was a shame that her set was short because the crowd could not get enough of Dua Lipa.

Once the stage was set up, 5 Seconds Of Summer walked out. The sound of screaming fans was ear piercing and louder than the music over the speakers. It is always an experience watching 5 Seconds of Summer because it reminds you just how dedicated and excited their fans are to be there watching them. They played a few new tracks followed by fan favorite “Amnesia” which everyone inevitably knew the words to even if you weren’t an avid listener. This only further proved the impact that this band holds.

That breezy ocean air started to settle into the venue as Bebe Rexha took the stage. If there is one thing to know about Bebe, it’s that she has a voice that sends chills down your spine when she hits those notes. Coupled with a stage presence that fills the room, Bebe Rexha is a force to be reckoned with. Following her performance was Liam Payne who delivered a soulful set that included “Bedroom Floor.”

The night continued with yet another powerhouse that also happens to be a Grammy winner. Alessia Cara stepped out to thousands of fans cheering for her. Despite some technical difficulties, she handled it like the pro that she is. The thing about Alessia when she performs is that you can feel how genuine she is. You can see the emotion and passion she carries with every line even when she’s running across the stage. It is a trait that few young artist possess yet Alessia Cara has mastered it.

You could smell high tide and feel a bit of humidity once Zedd stepped onto his DJ booth but that didn’t damper his explosive opening filled with fireworks and special guest Liam Payne. His set helped hype the crowd for Shawn Mendes who is undoubtedly one of the brightest young talents in music right now. He performed one of his latest singles “In My Blood” along with several other hits including “Treat You Better.” There was a moment during his set where he stopped singing and let the voices of 15,000 fans help him out. It was surreal to hear so many people screaming the lyrics. It was a true testament to what Shawn’s legacy will be in the future.

While Shawn Mendes is a hard act to follow, the next group of performers are ones that need no introduction. The Backstreet Boys are THE boy band of all boy bands. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t excited to see them perform. Without fail, they delivered an incredible performance. While they played classics like “I Want It That Way” they also performed their most recent single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” There really is no words to fully describe a Backstreet Boys concert except that you have to go see it yourself. They are a group that has broken boundaries and have garnered fans of all ages across the last two decades. There were moms, dads, and teens at the show who knew all the words to both the classics and the new song. Having the power to withstand the ever changing world of music says a lot about an artist and the Backstreet Boys have proven that backstreet isn’t back but that they never left.

With the last two acts of the night about to perform, high tide took over. There was a little bit of flooding but it was sure worth it to see Marshmello light up the stage with some pyrotechnics and have Meghan Trainor absolutely slay it on stage. Every year BLI Summer Jam brings it and showcases some of the best talent in music. Next year is only going to be bigger and better.