Sunday dawned and was equally as warm and humid as yesterday’s ‘Pride In The Park’. Today’s ‘LOVEBN1FEST’ is a far more family-centred and community style event in the spacious Preston Park. There were far more picnic blankets and kids trollies were in evidence than on Saturday.
The main stage was awash with music artists today. We had performances by Jessie J, Grace Jones, House Gospel Choir, Rak Su, Nina Nesbitt and Grace Carter.
21-year old Grace Carter set the ball rolling at 2:30pm. She grew up in Brighton and six years ago she converted her bedroom into a makeshift recording studio and taught herself the piano by watching YouTube videos and is now armed with emotionally exposing songs and 2019 looks set to be Grace’s breakout year.
Grace Carter’s setlist was: ‘Silhouette’, ‘It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To’, ‘Heal Me’, ‘Fight For You’, ‘Silence’, ‘Why Her Not Me’.
The time was half past three and was time for 25-year old Scot Nina Nesbitt to do her thing. I suspect that a number of people would have been unaware that Nina was in a relationship with Ed Sheeran a few years back and Ed penned a few songs about her, including ‘Nina’. Don’t believe me, then watch a video about them talking about each other HERE. She also appeared in the music video for Sheeran’s single ‘Drunk’.
Nina’s setlist was: ‘Somebody Special’, ‘Sacred’, ‘The Moments I’m Missing’, ‘Colder’, ‘Chewing Gum’, ‘Empire’, ‘Things I Say When You Sleep’, ‘The Best You Had’, ‘The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change’, ‘Toxic’ (Britney Spears cover), ‘Loyal To Me’.
It’s half past four and time for Watford quartet Rak Su take to the stage. Rak-Su which stands for ‘tracks vs. suits’, triumphed in The X Factor, in December 2017. They were first ever X Factor act to have had three of their singles top the UK iTunes chart while being on the show, including original tracks ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘I’m Feeling You’.
Rak Su’s setlist was: ‘I Want You to Freak’, ‘I’m Feeling You’, ‘Thunder’, ‘Yours or Mine’, ‘Into It’, ‘Rotate Clockwise’, ‘Dimelo’.
The House Gospel Choir were up next, where spirituality and the euphoria of the dancefloor come together. Founded by creative producer and vocalist Natalie Maddix, the choir brings together outstanding singers, all passionate about music and performance and dedicated to giving a great show. They have previously performed at Glastonbury, Latitude Festival and amazingly at Buckingham Palace.
The younger audience were perhaps a little perplexed by the antics of Miss Grace Jones, but having said that, the parents most graciously lapped up her singular style and command of the stage, which took the day to a whole new level. Her cover of The Normal’s ‘Warm Leatherette’ got everyone singing and her pride-coloured head-dress was a spectacle in itself. Grace was certainly working her way through the costume changes today and was continually looking just as glamorous in her next theatrical costume.
It seemed however that at least one person in the crowd must have been up too late the night before as he was caught yawning by Grace Jones – who had the good grace to invite him out back where she had a couch he could take a nap on.
The Grace Jones setlist reads: ‘Nightclubbing’ (Iggy Pop cover), ‘Private Life’ (The Pretenders cover), ‘Warm Leatherette’ (The Normal cover), ‘My Jamaican Guy’, ‘Williams’ Blood’, ‘Amazing Grace’ (John Newton cover), ‘Love Is The Drug’ (Roxy Music cover), ‘Pull Up To The Bumper’ ‘Slave To The Rhythm’.
This was a hard act to follow, but Jessie J‘s pop stylings proved just what the teenagers has been waiting for, and she rounded off the weekend in fine style with her deep, soulful vocals. Jessie is known for show-stopping performances in front of a global audience of billions at the London Olympics, Glastonbury festival and the Diamond Jubilee Concert as well as a full-blown Saturday night prime-time TV career as a judge on The Voice.
The Jessie J setlist reads: ‘Masterpiece’, ‘Do It Like A Dude’, ‘Real Deal’ / ‘Not My Ex’, ‘Nobody’s Perfect’, ‘Burning Up / Play’, ‘It’s My Party’ / ‘Sexy Lady’ / ‘Wild’, ‘Queen’, ‘Flashlight’, ‘Brave’, ‘Bang Bang’, ‘Who You Are’, ‘Domino’, ‘Price Tag’.
Check out our LOVEBN1FEST crowd shots photo album on our Music Facebook page HERE.
Check out our colourful photo album of the Pride Parade & Pride In The Park in Brighton on Saturday 3rd August 2019 on our Music Facebook page HERE and read our report on the Pride Parade & ‘Party In The Park’ HERE.
