Beau Fleuve’s 10th Anniversary Proved the Show Must Go On
Buffalo, when I tell you the 10th Anniversary of the Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration was one for the books, I mean it. The rain tried to have other plans for us, but somehow what could have ruined the day ended up creating one of the best moments of the entire weekend.
Beau Fleuve returned to Silo City on Sunday, August 23, celebrating ten years of music, art, culture, entrepreneurship and the creatives who continue to make Buffalo what it is.
The day had a little bit of everything.
Before the event even officially got started, local entrepreneurs had an opportunity to Pull Up & Pitch, presented by The Exchange at Beverly Gray. Business owners literally pulled up, pitched their businesses, and walked away with money to help keep building. Checks for $2,000, $750, and $500 were awarded.
I loved that part of the day because it showed exactly what Beau Fleuve has grown into. Yes, it's music and entertainment, but it's also about giving people a platform, putting people in a space, and creating real opportunities.
Throughout Silo City, there were vendors selling food, clothing, and all kinds of dope products. There was art, there was community and there were people everywhere just enjoying Buffalo.
I also got the chance to catch up with Benny The Butcher and 7xvethegenius for interviews. Anytime I can sit down with artists from Buffalo who are continuing to take our city's sound and story around the world, I'm here for it.
And the music? The music was MUSICING!
Rich Medina, DJ Yes and Darand Land + The Volvo Boys had the house music flowing. Even when we had to watch the sky and figure out what the weather was going to do next, the DJs kept the energy exactly where it needed to be.
And seeing Lindsay Niccs and Billie Essco perform truly made my night. There is just something different about watching hometown favorites hit the stage at a festival that was built right here in Buffalo. Both of them have continued to represent our city's culture and creativity in their own way, so seeing them be part of Beau Fleuve's 10-year celebration felt right.
.One of the moments that really meant something was seeing OJ and DJ Toney Boy take the stage for a full DJ set in remembrance of Weeze. August 23 was actually his birthday, so being able to celebrate him through music on that day made the moment even more special.
Then came the celebration of the man behind Beau Fleuve.
Before Jermaine Dupri took the stage, people who have played a part in building Beau Fleuve over the last ten years came together onstage. A video played with people sharing stories and giving founder Lindsey Taylor his flowers for what he has created and what Beau Fleuve has meant to Buffalo's creative community.
Lindsey was also presented with a proclamation from New York State Senator April Baskin.
It was a full-circle moment.
Ten years of an idea. Ten years of figuring it out. Ten years of bringing artists, DJs, vendors, entrepreneurs and the community together. Ten years of building something that belongs to Buffalo.
Lindsey came to the stage, shared a few words and then it was time.
For Jermaine Dupri.
Listen...
When JD came out, the crowd went CRAZY.
He started going through his music, and you quickly remember just how many records this man has been responsible for. He was killing the stage and everybody was locked in.
Then here comes the rain. AGAIN.
And this time, it came DOWN.
Now this is where the story gets good.
What looked like it could have been the end of the night turned into the moment everybody is still talking about.
The party moved inside Duende at Silo City, and somehow that rain created an experience nobody could have planned.
Jermaine Dupri came inside and turned that room into a straight R&B party.
For about an hour and a half, JD played nothing but records from his catalog. Hit after hit. Songs we grew up on. Songs we forgot he had something to do with. Songs where the first few seconds dropped and the entire room immediately knew every word.
And when I say EVERYBODY was singing, everybody was singing.
There was no big production. No need for all the extras. It was a packed room, great music and people having a TIME.
It felt like one of those old-school parties where the DJ knows exactly what record to play next and nobody wants to leave because you don't know what you're going to miss.
That's what made it special.
The rain was supposed to be the problem.
Instead, the rain became the blessing.
Had it never rained, we may have never gotten that moment inside Duende.
That's why sometimes you just have to let things happen the way they're going to happen. Everything isn't going to go according to the rundown. Everything isn't going to look like what you planned. Sometimes you have to pivot, keep moving and see what comes out of it.
And look what came out of this one.
The videos started making their way around social media, people couldn't stop talking about the R&B party, and the moment took on a life of its own. Now there's even talk from JD about taking that R&B party concept on tour.
All because it rained in Buffalo.
You can't make this stuff up.
That's what I'll remember most about Beau Fleuve's 10th Anniversary. Not that everything went perfectly, because it didn't.
I'll remember that everybody kept going anyway.
I'll remember the businesses getting checks. The vendors. The interviews. The music. Celebrating Weeze on his birthday. Watching Lindsey Taylor receive his flowers. Jermaine Dupri hitting the stage. Running from the rain and then packing inside Duende like we were all invited to the same house party.
What could have been a complete washout became something even bigger than what was planned.
Beau Fleuve turned ten, Buffalo showed up, the rain came down and somehow we still made history.
And if you weren't inside Duende when that R&B party happened?
I hate to be the one to tell you...
You just had to be there.
Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration: 10 Year Anniversary
Gallery Credit: Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration
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