Sunday, October 20, 2024 | Robin Williams Meadow
by Dave Golden
With over 30,000 RSVPs, it’s easy to imagine that the entirety of San Francisco turned out to celebrate the Summer of Music finale concert on Sunday. Golden Gate Park’s Robin Williams Meadow was packed with enthusiastic fans for the free concert, organized by Noise Pop, Civic Joy Fund, KEXP and SF Recreation and Parks.
Combo Tezeta, a East Bay Cumbia inlfuenced band, kicked off the main stage with an energetic set of 60s and 70s-inspired psychedelic cumbia rhythms. Their fusion of traditional Latin rhythms with retro psychedelic vibes was a fitting nod to the past while keeping the audience firmly in the present. Next up, soul legend Lee Fields took the stage and brought a different energy entirely. His set was a masterclass in classic soul, with heart-wrenching ballads and upbeat funk tunes, his timeless voice filled the meadow Headliner Thundercat, known for his genre-blending sound and unparalleled bass skills, closed the show in style. His virtuosic bass playing, mixed with his quirky sense of humor and futuristic jazz-funk, transported the audience on a musical journey that was both hypnotic and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the Busker Stage added another layer to the event with pop-up performances throughout the afternoon. Several popular local bands, who had participated in the Summer of Music program—which brought music to the streets every weekend for the past two summers—performed intimate sets, adding a grassroots feel to the larger festival. Three Flower Jam, Prophet Martian, and Magic School Busk drew clusters of people, creating smaller, more personal concerts within the larger festival atmosphere.
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