Rain, rain, go away, The Ghetto Flower takeover is here to play!

written by kookiee (thestoryofthechosen)

When unexpected rain ends up on the forecast, one might say that’s good luck. Fortunately, there was no rain delay when it came to The Ghetto Flower’s Skyline Session takeover at the historic Navy Pier on July 17th.

TGF and their TGF inflatable took over the Ferrara Candy Wave Wall stage once again with four new Chicago-based artists featuring diverse sounds - from DJ Zuni’s unexpected song selections, Lasalle Grandeur’s avant-garde performance, BKA's versatile storytelling, to MIRIAH. holding a safe space with her R&B/alternative repertoire; it was a night of talent!

The Wave Wall is an outdoor stage with a backdrop of the beautiful Chicago skyline, allowing all artists to be exposed to new audiences and introducing people to local artists through these free sessions. Crowds gather on the stairs or standing by the stage, immersing themselves in each performance. Attendees were able to take a bit of this experience home with The Ghetto Flower merch booth right next to the stage, selling unreleased merchandise and the return of their famous coin vending machine.

As the clouds start to clear up, DJ Zuni drops the beat on time with her DJ Set. Zuni‘s set featured effortless transitions while getting many compliments from women in the crowd. Selected by TGF to set the tone, Zuni was initially shocked by the notice but was excited to spin for this takeover- “Being myself got me to where I am right now”. It was also a coincidence that Zuni’s favorite flower is the sunflower, which she even has tattooed on her shoulder! DJ Zuni held the takeover down throughout the night, ensuring each song was delivered and never repeated.

Rocking the stage with his retro vintage microphone, Lasalle Granduer shows immediately that he is no stranger to performing. Influenced after seeing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody documentary, particularly the crowd control during ‘We Will Rock You’, Lasa incorporates call-and-responses to his performances: “it’s much more fun when everybody feels a part of it; instead of me just performing, it’s everybody performing”. Being that his favorite color is purple, Lasa’s favorite flowers are violets, with sunflowers being a second favorite.

Better Known As, or BKA (Be-Kay-Ayy) for short, this seasoned performer was the 3rd artist of the night, sharing his life experience in his lyrics, creating universal anthems that had the audience tuned in to what he had to say. BKA brought out some special local guests with him, lemonxde 80s and Corleone, to bring their introspective collaborations to the stage. Even with a long list of inspiration, BKA’s commitment to originality is pretty clear, as nowadays he’s listening to “so much different music, so many different artists” and he tries “to take a little inspiration from everybody and make it my own”. Additionally, following the theme, BKA’s favorite flower is the ghetto flower

As the night drew to a close, the audience found themselves even more engaged as MIRIAH. took the stage. She introduced her set as a “safe space”, a platform to share her past love experiences, hoping for others to connect with her. MIRIAH. held a space for an audience member who shared about their toxic past and in return received a gift from MIRIAH. herself. Showcasing her diverse talent, she also previewed alternative song covers. This takeover performance marks MIRIAH.’s first full set, a fact she resonated with: “honestly it was nerve-wrecking,” she admitted before adding “but at this point, I’m extremely grateful”. Matching her vibe, MIRIAH.’s favorite flower is a rose, as she is the rose that grew from the concrete.

This event marks the 3rd collaboration between The Ghetto Flower and Skyline Session at Navy Pier, solidifying their commitment to highlighting local talent and showcasing Chicago’s music scene for Chicago and the rest of the world to see. Be sure to follow and stay in the tune with all future takeovers and other events with The Ghetto Flower.

written by kookiee (thestoryofthechosen)
photo by: veo (nm.veo2k)

The Ghetto Flower Takes Over Navy Pier: Skyline Session Highlights Chicago's Rising Artists

Rain, rain, go away, The Ghetto Flower takeover is here to play!

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