When it was announced that R&B star and multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. (aka Gabriella Wilson) would be headlining a free show at Damrosch Park as part of the summer’s Lincoln Center Out of Doors series, I knew it was going to be a madhouse…and rightfully so. Fans started lining up as early as nine in the morning to see this amazing performer. It has been quite a year for H.E.R. as she has racked up five Grammy nominations including two wins for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance as well as three VMA nominations.
British artist Samm Henshaw (aka Iniabasi Samuel Henshaw) kicked off the evening with a lively set including support from students from VH1 Save the Music.
The venue was at capacity by the time H.E.R. was set to hit the stage. There were crowds on people on the sidewalk and outside the barricades waiting to see or at least hear H.E.R. perform. There were fans of all ages, from a 5 yr old sitting on her mom’s shoulders to older fans that would be more typical of a Lincoln Center outing. Either way, they were singing and dancing to both original and covers by this talented artist. H.E.R. will be playing Global Citizens Festival in Central Park on September 28th so, if you didn’t catch her amazing live show yet, make so you do so next month!
NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography