Shaggfest has lots of top acts -- and a secret special guest
Mike Holtzclaw
May 19, 2016, 6:53 PM
It's Shaggfest weekend in Virginia Beach, and once again the master of ceremonies has a trick up his sleeve.
Shaggy, the Z104 radio personality, has put together a top-notch lineup for his sixth annual music festival at the Veterans United Home Loan Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. He's got Diplo and Travis Scott and Pusha T on board, as well as more than two dozen other local, regional and national acts.
And he's got a secret guest.
He said that last year and it turned out to be Timbaland.
He says this year's is even bigger, but he doesn't plan to reveal the name until that secret guest star steps out on stage Saturday. (Hint: It's a Grammy winner with record sales measured in the tens of millions.)
Diplo and Travis Scott will headline Shaggfest this year"If you had called me a month ago and told me who would be showing up for Shaggfest, it would have made no sense," said Shaggy, whose name is Brandon Stokes. "When the secret guest came together, they wanted me to kick a couple of local acts off the main stage to make time, but instead I shaved some off some time between acts and I made it work. I didn't want to disappoint anybody."
Shaggfest features a lineup of performers that covers a lot of different genres, with something for everyone.
Rebel J. Rose, a Hampton High School graduate whose style ranges from hip-hop to hard-rockin' soul, has been gaining local attention in the past year and will be performing for the first time at Shaggy's show.
"Shaggfest opens people up to all different styles of music," Rose said. "There's a lot of creativity, and he doesn't just stick to one thing. A lot of big concerts, they're rock or pop or R&B. Shaggfest is a music festival — period. It's entertaining all the way through."
Rose will have at most 15 minutes on stage, but he plans to make the most of it. He has been releasing a series of videos that capture some of the energy of Lenny Kravitz, and his live performances have been well received.
"The No. 1 goal is broadening my fan base," he said. "I'm trying to grab one fan at a time. In this case, it's multiple fans at a time. Playing Shaggfest will really open up new opportunities."
Nay Nay, a rapper from Virginia Beach, played on a Shaggfest side stage last year and will move to the main stage this weekend. He will be playing with guitarist Bryan Mahon, with whom he has formed an interesting musical partnership.
"I do the hip-hop stuff, and he is an acoustic singer," Nay Nay said. "We both do our individual music, and together we form a duo that blends genres. I guess it's acoustic hip-hop. It comes together really nicely."
He said they plan to release a CD sometime soon.
But first, Nay Nay (real name: Nathan Swihart) is looking forward to his return gig at Shaggfest.
"Last year was definitely an amazing experience, because I grew up watching my favorite artists at that venue," he said. "Once I started doing music of my own, the goal was to perform at a sold-out show there — but last year it was almost unfathomable to be up on that stage.
"I was extremely excited, but also very nervous. This year, the nerves haven't struck me. Just pure excitement. It's a welcoming back feeling. I'm comfortable. It's my hometown. I've just got this feeling that I'm connected with this place."
Mike Holtzclaw
May 19, 2016, 6:53 PM
It's Shaggfest weekend in Virginia Beach, and once again the master of ceremonies has a trick up his sleeve.
Shaggy, the Z104 radio personality, has put together a top-notch lineup for his sixth annual music festival at the Veterans United Home Loan Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. He's got Diplo and Travis Scott and Pusha T on board, as well as more than two dozen other local, regional and national acts.
And he's got a secret guest.
He said that last year and it turned out to be Timbaland.
He says this year's is even bigger, but he doesn't plan to reveal the name until that secret guest star steps out on stage Saturday. (Hint: It's a Grammy winner with record sales measured in the tens of millions.)
Diplo and Travis Scott will headline Shaggfest this year"If you had called me a month ago and told me who would be showing up for Shaggfest, it would have made no sense," said Shaggy, whose name is Brandon Stokes. "When the secret guest came together, they wanted me to kick a couple of local acts off the main stage to make time, but instead I shaved some off some time between acts and I made it work. I didn't want to disappoint anybody."
Shaggfest features a lineup of performers that covers a lot of different genres, with something for everyone.
Rebel J. Rose, a Hampton High School graduate whose style ranges from hip-hop to hard-rockin' soul, has been gaining local attention in the past year and will be performing for the first time at Shaggy's show.
"Shaggfest opens people up to all different styles of music," Rose said. "There's a lot of creativity, and he doesn't just stick to one thing. A lot of big concerts, they're rock or pop or R&B. Shaggfest is a music festival — period. It's entertaining all the way through."
Rose will have at most 15 minutes on stage, but he plans to make the most of it. He has been releasing a series of videos that capture some of the energy of Lenny Kravitz, and his live performances have been well received.
"The No. 1 goal is broadening my fan base," he said. "I'm trying to grab one fan at a time. In this case, it's multiple fans at a time. Playing Shaggfest will really open up new opportunities."
Nay Nay, a rapper from Virginia Beach, played on a Shaggfest side stage last year and will move to the main stage this weekend. He will be playing with guitarist Bryan Mahon, with whom he has formed an interesting musical partnership.
"I do the hip-hop stuff, and he is an acoustic singer," Nay Nay said. "We both do our individual music, and together we form a duo that blends genres. I guess it's acoustic hip-hop. It comes together really nicely."
He said they plan to release a CD sometime soon.
But first, Nay Nay (real name: Nathan Swihart) is looking forward to his return gig at Shaggfest.
"Last year was definitely an amazing experience, because I grew up watching my favorite artists at that venue," he said. "Once I started doing music of my own, the goal was to perform at a sold-out show there — but last year it was almost unfathomable to be up on that stage.
"I was extremely excited, but also very nervous. This year, the nerves haven't struck me. Just pure excitement. It's a welcoming back feeling. I'm comfortable. It's my hometown. I've just got this feeling that I'm connected with this place."
Holtzclaw can be reached by phone at 757-928-6479.
Info: 757-368-3000 or virginiabeachamphitheater.com.
Want to go?
What: Shaggfest.
Where: Veterans Home Loans United Amphitheater in Virginia Beach.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Headliners: Diplo, Travis Scott and a secret special guest.
Other acts: Pusha T, Lil Dicky and more than two dozen additional performers.
Tickets: $38.
Copyright © 2016, Daily Press
Source: http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-shaggfest-0520-20160519-story.html
Info: 757-368-3000 or virginiabeachamphitheater.com.
Want to go?
What: Shaggfest.
Where: Veterans Home Loans United Amphitheater in Virginia Beach.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Headliners: Diplo, Travis Scott and a secret special guest.
Other acts: Pusha T, Lil Dicky and more than two dozen additional performers.
Tickets: $38.
Copyright © 2016, Daily Press
Source: http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-shaggfest-0520-20160519-story.html