The Rhyme Suite

The mud could only stop so much.

My friends and I touched down in Philadelphia an hour or two before we hit Fairmount Park for the first time. 

It was summer 2022, and we were most excited to watch Mary J. Blige headline night one of the famed Roots Picnic music festival, which has been running for nearly 20 years. But we were also enamored by performances from Musiq Soulchild, SWV, and Keyshia Cole over the two-day period.

It wasn’t just the music, though. It was the energy on those grounds, the energy of other attendees as they danced and sang as if their lives depended on it.

I knew then that Roots Picnic would have to be an annual occurrence, and I have yet to break the tradition. Seeing legends like Usher, Lauryn Hill, and Jill Scott over the past few years feels like an extended fever dream. 

Since that sweltering summer, the festival has changed slightly, with crowds getting younger and younger. But that same infectious energy persists. Each year, there are at least one to two acts where the mere idea of seeing them live makes my heart burst.  And in this year’s case, it was D’Angelo who had my heart bursting at the seams. So when he dropped out of the festival due to a medical procedure, it was hard to feel excited.

That is…until I hit the grounds on night one.

Dramatics aside, I can’t help but feel euphoric when I hit Fairmount Park in late May and early June – even after major delays and crazy weather (I, too, was made victim of excessive mud, as were my favorite pair of Doc Martens).

After waiting for nearly an hour to make it in, my friends and I settled by the main stage. We made it just in time for Tems, who claimed that she doesn’t whine her waist for just anyone.

I saw night one’s headliner, Maxwell, a few years back amongst a different lineup, so I had no doubt that he’d bring the house down. He did that and more, expressing major thanks for an engaged crowd and for the love he’s received over the years. He felt like more than a last minute addition – he was the moment, with croons so smooth that they could take you right to heaven’s gates. There is no exaggeration when it comes to the neo-soul legend.

But it was Miguel’s set that really made the inconveniences of the night worth it for me, priming my ears for Maxwell’s excellence.

I went through a deep Miguel phase in my teenage years, and to this day, I can still recite all the words to “Sure Thing.” Watching him sing his heart out and have fun with it prepared me for his new album – he claimed it was coming soon. But it also reminded me why live music always revives my soul.

From festivals to stadium tours and intimate shows, experiencing music in community reminds me why music exists in the first place. It was never meant to be heard in silos. 

Being able to sing, scream, and even cry amongst the masses makes me feel less alone in a world that is increasingly embracing individualism.

I’m notorious for having taste that’s always just a little different, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with sharing love for the same songs and melodies.

We’re all just trying to survive, and great music makes that survival just a little bit more bearable. 

On day two, I caught bits and pieces of multiple sets, including The Live Mixtape with Black Thought, Clipse, and 2 Chainz. I also watched the crowd go wild for Total and Jagged Edge. More than that, though, I was once again trapped by enchantment. 

The Roots Picnic was far from perfect this year, and I truly hope that they make up for it in 2026.

But that’s the thing – I don’t foresee a 2026 where I’m not seated at The Roots Picnic.  

My biggest critiques for the festival certainly includes a need for better planning around unruly weather, but I’m really hoping that they continue curating lineups that feel unique. With each year, I’m finding that some of their choices in artists feel just a little similar to other festivals. I love that they’re getting artists that are in demand – I almost came out of my body seeing Leon Thomas last year. But part of the festival’s magic touch lies with its ties to soul, and I pray they never lose sight of that.

All in all, I have major love for The Roots Picnic, and I can’t wait to come back next year.