The lineup of the March Madness Music Festival’s announcement elicited excitement in San Antonio. The streets swarmed with traffic as the public buzzed over the free performances headlined by Pitbull, with support from Doechii and Ravyn Lanae.
Doors opened at 4:30 p.m., and the event welcomed the guests with a ferris wheel, photo booths, overpriced food and drinks and merchandise tables. The massive amount of people waited impatiently for the first performance by Ravyn Lenae. Meanwhile, DJ sets warmed up the audience.
Lenae came on stage and the crowd enjoyed the set, singing along to her most recent hit “Love Me Not” among other tracks. Her performance was an awesome way to kickstart the performances while people enjoyed $5 water bottles and interminable lines to get food and drinks.
By 7 p.m., when Doechii was scheduled to perform, the heaving sun suddenly turned into clouds and heavy droplets of rain. Festival officials advised the multitude to seek shelter, and due to umbrellas being prohibited, people improvised with goodie bags, trash bags, sweaters, going to the nearest porta potty or simply leaving.
Doechii came out on stage after a 45-minute delay. DJ Miss Milan introduced the set and they played hits from Doechii’s Grammy-Award winning album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” The crowd went crazy as Doechii performed “Persuasive,” “Alter Ego (feat. JT)” and “NISSAN ALTIMA,” but because the weather cut her set short, she asked the audience if they wanted to hear the most popular songs. “BOILED PEANUTS” invigorated the atmosphere, spectators put their hands up for “CATFISH,” and Doechii ended the set with “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” with everyone singing along to her memorable performance.
After she sprinted off stage, the multitude impatiently waited for Pitbull — the night’s headlining act. Crowds grew bigger as a DJ set entertained the show. The Tower of Americas illuminated the night in front of the stage, and the moon started to show above.
The spectators cheered as Pitbull’s band played a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” while the singer arrived onstage. The rock song suddenly turned into “Don’t Stop The Party,” electrifying the festival.
Pitbull knew his audience and played every single of his greatest hits back to back, such as “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)”” and “Hotel Room Service.” He also performed covers of “On The Floor” by Jennifer Lopez and Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina.” The people went berserk.
The nostalgic hits immediately pull one into the excitement, with the fans jumping and screaming the lyrics. Pitbull had four outfit changes throughout the show, probably due to the heat that came after the rain. The audience had the time of their lives when Mr. Worldwide played “Timber,” “Feel This Moment” and “Fireball.
The adrenaline of the show made one dance more and more every song. Some people started to leave by 10 p.m. with fear of traffic jams, but others stayed the whole set. Pitbull ended the show with “Time of Our Lives” and “Give Me Everything,” thanking the audience and shouting out “March Madness” every chance he had.
Despite the rain and the performance delays, the first three headlining shows of the festival were a success. It became an unforgettable memory for anyone attending and an exciting start for the three-day March Madness music festival.
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