After three successful years in West Hollywood, Outloud Festival brought the party to the East Coast. On June 21, the inaugural Outloud Boston played The Stage at Suffolk Downs, the home of the former horse racing track, with a stacked lineup and electric energy.
Kicking off the summer afternoon was Dorchester native Big Body Kweeng, who lit up the stage in a gold, white, and pink bandleader ensemble. Backed by dancers from The Theater Offensive, a nonprofit queer and trans arts organization, she delivered a high-energy set that had the crowd cheering for more.
Outloud kept the Boston pride going with local rapper, Oompa. The independent artist has garnered a dedicated following across platforms that showed up and out for her Outloud performance. She had the crowd throwing it back to “Girls Like Girls” and an unreleased track, and based off the audience reaction, it’s sure to be a favorite.
Frankie Grande turned up the heat, on an already 80-degree day, with a theatrical, high energy set. Dressed in his signature Frankini briefs and pleather chaps, the Broadway alum performed tracks from his upcoming debut studio album Hotel Rock Bottom, out June 27. His choreography was tight, his energy infectious, and the crowd matched his vibe every step of the way.
The performance held extra significance for Frankie, who had recently lost his grandmother, Marjorie “Nonna” Grande. “She taught my mom, and she taught me how to be unapologetically myself. So I’m gay as f*ck and I can love whoever the f*ck I want,” he shared emotionally, as his mother, Joan “Mama” Grande, filmed proudly from the crowd.
That unapologetic pride carried into G Flip’s set, which opened with a fiery performance of “Gay 4 Me” as they waved a Pride flag. The Aussie multi-instrumentalist seamlessly switched between drums, guitar, and vocals, showing off their full range of talent. Earlier this month, they dropped a bold new single, “Big Ol’ Hammer,” a cheeky euphemism for a strap-on, with an accompanying video they dubbed as the “masc lesbian version of “Grease Lightning.”” Their high-octane set kept the energy pumping for another one of those summer nights.
Rebecca Black had everybody looking forward to the weekend, with her highly anticipated set, an extension of “The Salvation Tour,” which previously stopped in Boston this April. Framed by parody repent signs, she delivered fan favorites from her album Salvation, including “Sugar Water Cyanide” and “TRUST!,” as the whole crowd jumped from the barricade to the back.
Black was clearly moved by the crowd’s energy, especially because the show coincided with her birthday. In true Pride fashion, a group of drag queens helped close out her set with a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” making the moment even more unforgettable.
As the sun was setting over Suffolk Downs, Flo Milli dropped in the party flexing on the crowd with a flurry of hits. Dressed in a pastel preppy ensemble, she had the entire audience rapping along to favorites like “Never Lose Me” and “Conceited.” The energy hit another level when she climbed down into the crowd, sending fans into a frenzy.
It wouldn’t be a true Pride celebration without drag queens, and Outloud delivered with the queen of all queens: DJ Trixie Mattel. Draped in a fabulous leopard-print silk robe, Trixie took her place at the turntables as local drag queens joined her on stage to dance. The party’s energy soared as beach balls were tossed into the crowd, prompting Trixie to quip, “Oh my god, balls to the face this early?”
A natural entertainer, Trixie had the crowd hooked from the moment she stepped on stage. When the audience wasn’t dancing to her “Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice [Trixie Mix],” a playful nod to The Powerpuff Girls, they were watching her touch up her makeup, spray her hair, or twirl dramatically as her silk robe billowed in the wind.
Before leaving the stage, Trixie offered one final piece of advice: “And don’t let anybody tell you you’re too pretty!”
As the clock struck 9:30 pm, the most anticipated moment of the festival had arrived. A wooden crate labeled “Mail Order Bride” was wheeled to the center of the stage. When the music kicked in, the front of the crate dropped, revealing Kim Petras in a preppy, monogrammed polo and a bedazzled orthopedic boot. Climbing out of the box, she launched into a set that spanned from her early hits like “I Don’t Want It At All” to her unapologetically bold Slut Pop era.
Her preppy ensemble served as a playful nod to her upcoming release, “Polo,” which she performed live for the crowd. She also previewed another high-energy track, “Radio” featuring Frost Children, who joined her on stage for a live performance.
Kim Petras delivered a performance that highlighted her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence, leaving the crowd begging for more.
Outloud Boston’s inaugural year proved to be a resounding success. While no official announcements have been made about the festival’s future, judging by the fans who lined up early and lingered long after the final note, Boston would gladly welcome its return.
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