About 60,000 people from across the country came together June 1st and 2nd at Fairmont Park in Philadelphia, for a melodic celebration. At first glance of the 2024 lineup, you can tell that the vibes are curated for a diverse crowd, but when it came to the headliners, clearly, this event was for the 40 and older age group (and that’s okay!). While most music festivals attempt to bring in the younger crowds with trending acts, the selection of artists brought back a sense of sentimentality. Legends from the ’90s like Babyface and early 2000’s hit makers like The Dream took center stage. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as fans of all ages, but particularly those who grew up with these timeless hits, gathered to relive the memories.
Food trucks lined the festival grounds, offering a mix of gourmet and local comfort foods, catering to vegans and cheesesteak eaters alike. Art installations and sponsored activations added to the experience. It was clear that this festival was not just about the music; it was about celebrating a shared history, connecting generations, and creating new memories together.
Nostalgia was the tone of the entire 2 day event.
In a new documentary by Andy McCarthy on the moniker Brat Pack and from the New York Magazine article by Dave Blum, author and culture critic Malcolm Gladwell had a very interesting concept on why the term lived in perpetuity.
“Nowadays you cant have a cultural touchstone that everyone in their 20’s can refer to… we’ve gone from a relatively unified youth culture, to a fragmented one… and there’s no common denominator”
The Roots Picnic picked up on this equation. While they were sure to include newcomers like Sexyy Red, Shaboozy and Smino, majority of the lineup (especially for the main stage) were considerably older. 50 year old Nas was the second to last performance on day one, and Lil Wayne at 41 closed with The Roots the following night. Some of the other stages were just as live with performances of new music by Camron and Andre 3000.
Within the VIP section, the layout was open with a lounge type of, but allowed for more seating than for standing or dancing. In the pit by the stage they had ample seating and gave away quilts for those who wanted to enjoy the sounds off their feet. A dedicated Jack Daniel’s bar in the corner ensured that everyone’s top shelf tastes were catered to. Again, nostalgia was in the air as you could hear so many either sing along, or converse with their friends on fond memories the songs gave them.
The common denominator was maturity. Even if you weren’t 40+, if you were an attendee of the Roots Picnic, you certainly had an appreciation for those genres of music the past. And that admiration was well received by the artists as well, transferring the energy to the stage. One of the most dynamic hip-hop performances during day one was with Redman & Method Man, who brought out hip-hop icons like Black Thought and Common to perform with them. The crowd went nuts when the first few chords of “How High” and “All I Need” came on.
Only a few days later, Method Man & Redman performed at at Hot 97’s Summer Jam in New York City and Method Man made headlines for allegedly stating on an Instagram post that he’ll never do another Summer Jam again.
“Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event), plus Pete and Ebro. I got love for you guys, but never again…at this point, the generation gap is just too wide for me.”
Naturally many were quick to denounce his opinion on social, but many spoke to the importance of showing love to the OGs in the industry. Not just out of respect, but to curb the reality of momentary talent in today’s music industry.
That awareness is what makes the annual Roots Picnic so special. The organizers are unapologetic and have no issues with the middle aged crowd, because they’re the same age. The Roots Picnic has found success with providing an atmosphere for people who only want to relax, have a good time and hear good music. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
