The Mala Luna Music Festival closed out with popular performances from headliners amidst clouds of dust and smoke, and DJ remixes.
Headliners for the second day of the 2nd annual Mala Luna Music Festival included a mix of DJs and fan favorites like Future, Migos and Khalid.
Khalid was a headliner with a strong and loyal crowd that gathered earlier, packed in tight and stayed late. Khalid is 19-year-old rhythm and blues artist from El Paso, Texas. This year’s fest was Khalid’s first time visiting San Antonio, but he was not new to the fans. While the sun was setting, Khalid performed for a rowdy and tightly packed crowd of fans chanting his name and singing along to hits like “American Teen.”
Khalid was on stage for almost 45 minutes with flashing lights and cheerleaders backing him up with their dancing.
Later in the evening the biggest crowds of the festival weekend gathered for rappers Migos and Future who both had long sets and hyper crowds of people throwing water bottles in the crowd and towards the stage amongst screaming, chanting and indiscernible singing.
Although most festival goers came out to Mala Luna for the big names in rap music, the festival still managed to appreciate and attribute its local artists. Overall, for the weekend, locals said they came to support San Antonio, but stayed for the big names.
Alexis Garcia, a lifelong resident of San Antonio came to Mala Luna for the first time this year.
“Mala Luna is cool, it could be at a better venue and more organized, but it’s new,” Garcia said. “Last year I didn’t come, but this year was good. I came to see Lil Wayne and Future, but I was happy to see people’s costumes, face paint and other artists. I think this is important for San Antonio to have big names like these come here instead of just Austin.”
Mala Luna is dedicating a portion of ticket and merchandising sales to the Network for Young Artists. In addition to raising money for NYA, a school whose mission is to promote art among youth groups, the festival also hosted Rayne, an NYA performer for just after 1 p.m. where she was able to perform live to a festival audience.
Rayne, from NYA performed soulfully for about 30 minutes in ripped jeans and fishnets in the San Antonio sun before the night got darker, and much colder.
Festival Producer & Head of Sponsorships Zach Paul said the festival set out to bring a greater music scene to San Antonio, while doing what it can to benefit the city in some way.
“For every festival we do, and every event we do, we always want to tie it back to the city and be involved with a non-profit,” Paul said. “It’s really important to us that we’re having an effect on the youth.”
Katie Conder, marketing agent at ScoreMore Shows said Mala Luna planners were introduced to the NYA project during the first year, and knew they wanted to get involved for this year.
“NYA is an amazing non-profit that provides affordable classes in voice, guitar, percussion, keyboard, and dance for San Antonio youth.” Conder said in a statement. “We love how NYA empowers the next generation of San Antonio performers and wanted to support that however we could.”