After a rocky start, the Roots Picnic finds redemption

Day two of this year’s Roots Picnic felt like a redemption arc — and the city showed up ready. After a chaotic Saturday where many fans waited in line for 3 to 4 hours without getting inside, Sunday’s smooth entry and perfect weather set the stage for a truly Philly-flavored experience.

The day kicked off with local favorite DJ Kingspy holding it down at the Dutch Master tent, warming up the crowd and weaving hometown vibes into the festival’s atmosphere. It was a reminder that the Roots Picnic isn’t just a star-studded event — it’s a platform for Philly’s own to shine.

Inside the pavilion of The Mann, it took a little patience (an hour wait) before SNACKTIME hit the stage, but once they did, they brought the funk. The highlight for me? Seeing local powerhouse vocalist Nico Bryant join them for their new single “Sunshine.” If you’ve ever caught Nico live at venues like Time, Silk City, or The W, you know what kind of magic he brings — and he didn’t disappoint.

Over at the Fairmount stage, DJ Rich Medina kept the dance energy alive, blending house beats alongside house music icons Cece Peniston and Crystal Waters, both hometown heroes. Backed by dancers, they did a mix of hits, including their signature songs “Finally” and “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless).” Meanwhile, DJ Sibby Liv had West Philly winding their waists at the Parkside Stage during her infectious All Spice World Dance set.

But my personal favorite moment? The Black Thought & DJ J Period Mixtape set. The crowd erupted as Virginia rap king Pusha T took the stage — and things went next-level when No Malice joined him to perform “What Happened to That Boy,” followed by Philly’s own Ab-Liva tearing through “Cot Damn.” After Virginia legends rapped their biggest hit “Grindin,” Black Thought brought out a few of the next generation of Philly MC’s, D West and Lena L, to spit over the timeless song. The second mixtape feature, Atlanta trap legend 2 Chainz, had Philly turnt up with anthems like “No Lie,” “I’m Different,” and “Birthday Song.” One of the coolest surprises? Hearing 2 Chainz and Black Thought rap over Camp Lo’s “Luchini” — a reminder that 2 Chainz can spar lyrically with the best.

I appreciated that both The Clipse and 2 Chainz performed without backing vocal tracks — it made the set feel raw and authentic, even when Black Thought and J Period occasionally stumbled trying to keep pace with their guests. All in all it ended up being a good jawn.

Later, I caught Backyard Band infusing the festival with those signature D.C. go-go vibes, followed by the unmistakable Atlanta energy of CeeLo Green. The highlight of that set to me was hearing a go-go version of the Gnarls Barkely classic “Crazy.” Back on the MainStage, Adam Blackstone delivered a silky R&B jam session featuring Jagged Edge and Total — a throwback moment for the ol heads and youngins with old souls who love 90s R&B tunes.

Right around 7 p.m., the crowd had to make a choice. They could grab a seat in the Mann Center’s pavilion to watch the band who organizes this festival for their hometown every year, The Roots, play their major label debut Do You Want More?!!!??! in its entirety for the album’s 30th anniversary, or head to the Fairmount stage to see alternative rock icon Lenny Kravitz play to a packed lawn. Or, if you timed it right, you could do both.

The Roots’ performance found them taking the album in slightly new and surprising directions; “Proceed” kicked it off, and slid right into “Distortion To Static”; the sweaty summer song “Lazy Afternoon” showed up early, and then re-appeared not once, but twice throughout the set. Philly icon Ursula Rucker did her poem “L.O.V.E.” with the and then showed up later to play the album closer “The Unlocking.” Beatbox legend Razhel acted as hype man and took a solo midway through. The biggest moments, though, were the anthems: “Mellow My Man,” “Datskat,” and the title track. It was an outstanding set, and surprisingly intimate, which makes sense — their “big set” of the weekend was originally supposed to be backing soul legend D’Angelo, but he cancelled his appearance the week before.

On the Fairmount Park stage, Lenny Kravitz had total command of the crowd, even when he fussed over technical issues (which we couldn’t really notice). He showcased his new album Blue Electric Light with a couple cuts (the Star Wars-referencing “TK421” was a rocker) and played songs from across his catalog, all of which sounded spectacular — “Always on The Run,” “It Ain’t Over Till Its Over,” and the heavy run of “American Woman” into “Fly Away” into “Are You Gonna Go My Way” had the crowd on its feet and going off. He closed with a singalong to “Let Love Rule” and made an undeniable impression.

Needing a breather, I ducked into the Pure Tent, where DJ Oboy spun a set that felt straight out of a Thursday night at The Saint Bar — familiar, intimate, and vibe-heavy.

The festival’s closing acts brought the weekend home with power: Kaytranada transported Philly to the future with his dazzling visuals and pulsing beats, running through hits like “Witchy,” “Vex Oh,” “The Worst In Me,” and his beloved remix of Teedra Moses’ “Be Your Girl.” Finally, it was only fitting that Philly’s own Meek Mill closed the night, firing up the crowd with classics from “Like A Boss” all the way to the city’s ultimate anthem, “Dreams and Nightmares.”

Sunday wasn’t just about big names or perfect sets — it was about Philly showing up for Philly, blending local talent, national stars, and a crowd eager to celebrate the music, culture, and energy that make this city shine.