Fletcher & Friends 2024
Fletcher & Friends 2024 Fletcher & Friends Kick Off Pride Month with Hometown Jersey Show
Fletcher and Friends in this case referring to the amazing G Flip and Ari Abdul returned to Asbury Park, New Jersey’s legendary Stone Pony Summerstage to kick off Pride month for the 2nd annual Fletcher & Friends show with back to back Sold out shows on Saturday June 1st and Sunday June 2nd.
Fans lined up across the street from the famed Asbury boardwalk nice and early, many standing for hours to get a chance to see the action front and center and of course Fletcher had a ton of family and friends in attendance as Jersey is a hometown show! Inside the pony rainbow flags, glitter, facepaint and a ton of loving positive energy was present.
The evening kicked off around 6:15 with Ari Abdul, Ari who grew up in Brooklyn, New York not far from this Jersey shore venue is first and foremost a music fan, her social media is filled with lip syncs and footage of other musicians. Mostly bands, the songs can be described as Pop with a grunge flair.
Ari’s latest EP titled CCTV was released in October 2023 and the tracks “You Belong To Me” and “Bite Marks” have spiked popularity with listeners. The music is an enhanced experience live, Ari’s energy and showmanship is one that resembles the comfort level of a veteran. She’s most definitely a performer and her talent is only more noticeable in the live setting. The 45 minute set delivered everything you’d want from a newcomer opening act.
Her ability to own the stage and interact with the crowd put a ton of energy into the Jersey shore crowd, Ari isn’t done yet either she will be spending her summer and early fall touring overseas in Germany and the UK. Check out her website HERE for a full list of dates and links to her music!
Next up was the insanely talented G Flip, If i’m being honest here I wasn’t super familiar with G outside of her appearances on Selling Sunset with girlfriend and one of the series stars Chrishell Stause.
But that all changed at the Pony because after seeing G Flip live I’m a fan. G a multi talented artist/instrumentalist who so far this year has released a new EP titled Drumless and also a cover of Taylor Swift cover for the song “Cruel Summer”.
G Flips set starts off with a pleasant surprise from the get-go as G starts off with sunglasses, a cowboy hat and some drumsticks and starts jamming at the kit before switching places with another band member and grabbing the microphone and singing.
The crowd at this point was going nuts, the front row all smiles and heads bobbing.
The 45 minute long set consisted of 9 songs, four from the Drummer EP and a cover of “Cruel Summer” which was phenomenal live! G also broke out the fan favorite “Drink Too Much.” After the set G Flip was met off stage by a big hug from Fletcher herself just showing how these shows are about love and support among the peers and fans.
The grand finale for the night came from the Hometown hero herself Fletcher who is fresh off the release of her latest album In Search Of The Antidote which was released back in March led by the singles “Doing Better” and “Maybe I am” the album is her second full length and the follow up to the wildly successful Girl Of My Dreams.
Fletcher kicks off the set with a full band who really help bring the show to another level, beginning perched on risers with a full screen behind her showing visuals and lyrics like Crazy Bitch, Narcissist and “Maybe I Am”. As with all Fletcher shows the energy is high and the band is cranking for the popular fan loved track “Serial Heartbreaker” Fletcher makes her way to the front of the stage drenched in red lights with the Asbury Park sunset beautifully situated behind the stage.
Sounding as good as ever and with the crowd wildly enthusiastic singing along and holding up signs like rock, paper, scissors for an autograph and “We Got Pu$$y diet tattooed for you” it’s safe to say the fans are committed!
The 24 song, 90 minute setlist was packed with special moments like Fletcher bringing up a young fan to sing with her, and fletcher picking up the video camera and going on to the barricade video with fans which appeared on the large screen on the stage.
Songs like “Sex (With My Ex), “Girls, Girls, Girls”, “Doing Better” and “Becky’s So Hot” stand out and create epic crowd interaction moments during the show. Fletcher and Friends year 2 was a great success and we can’t wait for next year. But luckily theres more Fletcher live opportunities coming as she will hit the road.
August she is back on the road in the U.S through October check out the full list of tour dates HERE!
See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!
If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
Marian Maskell
October 19, 2024 at 11:50 pm
To the shutter16.com admin, Well done!
Winona Hibbard
September 29, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Hi shutter16.com administrator, Thanks for the informative post!