Beyonce brings Texas to the DMV with Fourth of July live performance

LANDOVER, Md. — A sea of followers packed into Northwest Stadium Friday evening for the primary of Beyoncé’s two-night cease within the DMV as a part of her “Cowboy Carter Tour.”

The extremely anticipated tour celebrates the chart-topping “Cowboy Carter” album, launched in March 2024. The country-inspired challenge earned the 43-year-old icon widespread acclaim — together with a historic Grammy win for Greatest Nation Album, making Beyoncé the primary Black girl to obtain the consideration. In line with Billboard, the tour has already grossed over $325 million.

Friday’s present supplied followers greater than music — it was a celebration of American independence and a cultural icon multi functional. Many concertgoers praised the efficiency for its dynamic vitality and wide-ranging setlist, which included tracks from Beyoncé’s 2022 predecessor, “Renaissance.”

“It was so, so, so enjoyable. The vitality was electrical and everybody was singing their hearts out,” mentioned WUSA9 reporter Alexis Wainwright, who attended the live performance.

Nonetheless, some followers expressed frustration over the live performance’s late begin.

“Final evening was a miss for me,” mentioned Katherine, a longtime Beyoncé fan. “She didn’t come out till practically 9 p.m., and there was no music or DJ to get the group going. The setlist felt out of sync with the transitions. I anticipated fireworks. I believed she may carry out a hometown favourite like Shaboozey. Everybody seemed unimaginable, but it surely simply left me wanting extra.”

Others had a unique take.

“The Queen didn’t come to play,” mentioned LaShonda Wilson. “The outfits, the colours, the choreography — it was a second.”

Followers shared a number of standout highlights from the evening, together with Beyoncé hovering over the stadium on an enormous horseshoe, nods to her Future’s Baby roots with snippets of “Payments, Payments, Payments,” and appearances by her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi. Beyoncé’s mom and costume designer, Tina Knowles, was additionally noticed within the crowd.

And Beyonce will do all of it once more on Monday, with doorways scheduled to open at 5 p.m. 

Exterior the music, some followers bumped into logistical complications. Attendees reported confusion round parking — some who paid for particular spots had been instructed to park wherever. WUSA9 additionally confirmed that a number of patrons with tickets for Monday’s present by accident gained entry Friday. Occasion organizers instructed WUSA9 these points have since been resolved.

Beyoncé fan Suzanne Struglinski posted a video on social media exhibiting the overwhelming variety of individuals making an attempt to get into the live performance on the identical time on Friday. Saying it was as if  “they’d no concept there can be a couple of thousand individuals right here tonight.” 

“I wish to make very clear that Beyonce was superb and the followers had been great to one another, however the stadium itself had no clue what they had been doing,” Struglinski instructed WUSA9. 

One other one who attended the live performance described the live performance to WUSA9 as “crowded however not insufferable.” 

WUSA9 has reached out to occasion organizers on Saturday relating to crowd dimension complaints and is ready on response. 

1. Arrive early — to keep away from site visitors and seating confusion.

2. Put on snug sneakers — particularly if you happen to’re taking Metro or rideshare.

3. Purchase merchandise through the present — strains are shorter than earlier than or after.