Big Freedia's "30 Days In LA" Performance Epitomizes The AFROPUNK Ethos [REVIEW+PHOTOS]

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Big Freedia at The Macarthur 11/20/16. Photo by Emilie Svensson (@emsven13) for www.BlurredCulture.com. This photo was obtained under the express authorization and license by Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.

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Nov. 20^th, and it’s the one and only time it’s massively pouring rain in Downtown Los Angeles. The inclement weather notwithstanding, music lovers came out en masse for the AFROPUNK Fancy Dress Ball hosted by Red Bull, 30 Days in LA featuring musical performance by a variety of recording artists.

From what I understand, AFROPUNK originated as an underground movement celebrating African-American punk music, dance, culture, fashion, and race in response to the punk music scene that was/ is overwhelmingly white. Overtime, it has become more mainstream, evolving into an all-encompassing, non-judgmental safe space where anything negative in regards to who, or how, you are is banned at the door. Wanting to go to an AFROPUNK sponsored event for a long time, and only being able to live vicariously through people who went and posted on the Internet, it was finally my time.

I arrived at The MacArthur, a historic L.A. architectural landmark in Downtown Los Angeles, and entered to find enormous bright white neon lights in the foyer, spelling out “AFROPUNK” on the steps. I’m surrounded by beautiful people of all shapes, sizes and colors wearing brilliant, brights fashions. One woman even wore an immaculate dress completely made from ties!

I head over to the two performance areas. The larger stage includes a dance area, a bar, an entrance to the outdoor patio, and a sign that read “BE FREE BE YOU”. People are being stopped for photographs, and getting liquored up. The lineup for the evening included performances from artists including Cakes Da Killa, MikeQ, Uniiqu3, LSDXOXO, Byrel The Great, and Big Freedia.

H09909 at The Macarthur 11/20/16. Photo by Emilie Svensson (@emsven13) for www.BlurredCulture.com. This photo was obtained under the express authorization and license by Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.

People continued to file in, and as the dance floor flooded full of amazing human beings, the first band, H09909, came on to perform. The band’s music was everything that I was hoping to receive from an AfroPunk concert. I never even realized how much of a thrash metal head I was until I heard them play.

I made my way over to see Cakes Da Killa perform in a smaller and more intimate room. Cakes performed with two dancers on the dance floor, surrounded by a circle of fans. If this weren’t the epitome of inclusivity, I later notice another sign that read, “No Racism No Sexism No Ableism No Ageism No Homophobia No Fatphobia No Transphobia No Hatefulness”. When Cakes’ set had finished, I rushed back over to the larger, main stage for the main event- Big Freedia.

I’d never seen Big Freedia. perform, but I was familiar with some of the queen diva’s music and collaborations. Needless to say, I couldn’t wait. I had prime real estate at the front of stage, and I was not disappointed.

Big Freedia came out with three fabulous back-up dancers. Everyone in the crowd, including myself, are going nuts. Admittedly, Big Freedia’s performance is not only about her music, but instead about performance and performance art. The entire show is Big Freedia and her dancers shaking their ass EVERYWHERE. It’s about dance, self-expression, body positivity, black excellence, LGBTQ pride, and celebrating everything that makes you, you. The grand finale of the show included at least 13 volunteers to twerk EVERYWHERE, and vogue until the point of collapse. There were even two topless, body-painted women putting everyone to shame by shaking what their mammas gave ‘em. At the end of everything, I felt entirely honored and privileged to be a part of this AFROPUNK event. It’s an eclectic and vibrant safe space for creativity, with the only requirement, to come as you are. And I’ll be going every year.

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