Eclectic crowds and performers came together at the Black-owned event to celebrate a genre that's very much alive.

As April closed and May opened, thousands of R&B lovers flocked to Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif. for two days of groovy performances in which all the mics were on. After a three-year hiatus, Sol Blume festival returned for the first time since the start of the pandemic and evolved into a weekend celebration of musicians and fans seeking the soothing sounds of their contemporary favorites.

Since its launch in 2017, the Black-owned festival has aimed to continuously “create a fun, safe, and inclusive space where like-minded individuals can gather to celebrate art, culture, love, social diversity, and good vibes,” according to a press release.

In previous years, the festival occurred at a small park downtown called Cesar Chavez Plaza, growing from a 5,800-person crowd in 2018 to 6,500 attendees in 2019. In its comeback this year, Sol Blume boasted an audience of over 20,000 festivalgoers as diverse as its esteemed lineup of talent, with people traveling from almost all 50 states and overseas. Groups of friends, families, and even expecting couples entered Discovery Park prepared for the full Sol Blume experience.

Looks varied from the standard festival uniform of fishnets, cut-off denim, and crop tops. Instead, half the patrons wore everyday t-shirts, jeans, and Crocs. It was clear while many opted to partake in the festival tradition of consuming overpriced food and substances of their choice, others hoped for an enjoyable time banking on the integrity and inventiveness of the performers. Both experiences were in full supply.

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