Freedia twerking her way to stardom – Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg acts canceled by rain

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NEW ORLEANS, May 1, (AP): Talk about your ups and downs. It’s been a tumultuous year for New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia: She was caught up in a housing scandal and faces prison, performed on Beyonce’s epic song “Formation” and in the accompanying video, made headlines for being banned for bringing twerking — her signature style of overtly sexual dance — to a Mississippi club and continues to have one of the highest rated reality shows on digital cable network Fuse.

And on Saturday, she returned to the Congo Square Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where her audiences have grown since her first appearance five years ago.

Dressed in a white shirt and purple, sparkly sequence pants, Freedia opened her set — backed by a live band — singing the lyrics “I’m that queen that’ll make you bounce!” to the delight of many in the audience stretched far and wide.

Drops began to fall early in her set, but hardly anybody left as the infectious music unfolded. Umbrellas opened and fans donned ponchos as Freedia moved into another hit that included the lyrics “release your wiggle.”

She also entertained with the popular “Azz Everywhere”, “Explode,” and “Gin in My System.”

Thrived

From back-up dancer for Katey Red, the first gay bounce rap artist, to now running her own stage, Big Freedia said in an interview prior to Saturday’s performance she still can’t believe her career has thrived as much as it has.

“I’ve been steadily working my ass off,” Freedia said of her accomplishments. “It’s taken me 15 years to get here. When I decided this was gonna be my full time career, I went all in.”

Raised in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood, Big Freedia — who was born Freddie Ross Jr — was struck by the bounce bug in the early 1990s after hearing “Where Dey At” by MC T Tucker. After working with Katey Red, Freedia said she knew the bounce style of music was her calling.

That music style caught the attention of Beyonce, who asked her to participate on “Formation.”

“Oh my God! The experience was so amazing. She is so sweet and genuine and real. I love her for thinking of me,” Freedia said. “I was a fan of hers way before this and always dreamed of and wished for something like this.”

Her call-and-response style showcased during her sets, along with the Big Freedia Shakers, her group of dancers known for gyrating their backsides to a fast-paced, rhythmic beat — known as twerking — have become a must-see act at Jazz Fest.

Relate

“We do fun music,” Freedia said. “Everyone can relate to it. I look to engage my fans. My voice is a voice of command. They love it and I love them.”

And they love her.

Caroline Heffernan, originally from Chicago but now living in New Orleans, said she wasn’t missing Freedia’s performance even if the skies opened up.

“She is such a performer,” Heffernan said. “She’s got soul and such a spirit that’s so indicative of what New Orleans is all about.”

“She’s a boss,” said Mallory Lowe, Heffernan’s friend. “She represents the world and shows what a New Orleans artist is about. And, she’s fun!”

The rhythmic, infectious beat during Freedia’s performance had many in the crowd trying to mimic her dancers’ moves — some better than others. One woman, who asked not to be identified, religiously worked her hips, back and forth, and said her “dream was to be a back-up dancer for Big Freedia.”

Freedia also remembered Prince, singing “I Would Die 4 U” and “Purple Rain” as the drops began to fall more steadily. Her set ended just before a drenching thunderstorm, sending fans with no protection to any enclosed building they could find. Others braved the deluge under umbrellas.

Meanwhile, as she basks in all the positive things going on in her life, Freedia acknowledges a shadow on the horizon.

In March, the entertainer pleaded guilty to theft of government funds linked to housing assistance she received from 2009 through 2014. The theft amounted to more than $34,000.

Thunderstorms forced the cancellation of Saturday’s late acts at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, including scheduled appearances by Stevie Wonder, rapper Snoop Dogg, Beck and others.

Overcast skies turned to rain around 3 pm but that didn’t stop the music as fans reveled in such acts as New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia, Dr John and the Nite Trippers and Hurray for the Riff Raff. But all that changed an hour later as heavier rain barred performances by Wonder and others.

“We’re very bummed,” said Laura Monsted, of New Orleans. “We were waiting for Stevie. Still, we’re thankful for the acts we were able to see.”

Monsted and her friends said they saw crews closing down the Fais Do Do stage and expressed disappointment.

“You know, $75 is a lot for a rainy day and, to only get a few acts, that’s a hard pill to swallow,” she said.

Claire Mangano and her friend, Emilee Margiotta, appeared glum that the big acts were cancelled.

“But we understand,” Mangano said. “It’s for safety reasons, for the fans and the artists. We live here and know playing in this kind of weather can get dangerous really fast.”

Mud puddles formed throughout the infield of the Fair Grounds Race Course, where the festival is held annually. Fans, ready for the worst, donned rain coats, ponchos and rubber boots. Many held up umbrellas, while others braved the elements without any cover and sometimes without shoes, dancing even as rain pelted them.

Jarrod Broussard and his wife, Tammy, come to the festival every year — rain or shine.

Tammy Broussard, who is fighting cancer, said they decided to attend because “I’m going through chemo and today is a good day.”

Broussard, who’s also celebrating his birthday, said they were prepared for the forecast, bringing along rain gear and a change of clothes.

Artist Dwayne D. Conrad and art dealer Bernadette Gilds Pinel have a booth at the festival and had hoped to hear Wonder’s performance.

“We were robbed,” Gilds Pinel said, laughing after learning that his show wouldn’t go on. “God willing, he will pop up somewhere in the city tonight to make up for this.”

Todd Thompson and his wife, Rabiya, of Leavenworth, Kansas, said this was their first Jazz Fest experience. Despite the bad weather, they were having a good time.

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