Future & Friends stop in Philadelphia with their One Big Party Tour
Future & Friends - March 24th, 2023 - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Future & Friends recently brought the One Big Party Tour to the East Coast on March 24th, bringing along a wave of heat and energy to an otherwise cold and cloudy Philadelphia night. Turnout was high on Friday, with fans coming from in and out of city bounds under the promise of a packed performer list and Future’s extensive music catalog. The Wells Fargo Center filled up quickly and fans congregated around the stage where they could fit.
The enthusiastic crowd was first met with the likes of LIL JAIRMY, Doe Boy, and Dess Dior, who set the tone for the evening with a mix of trap, hip-hop, and rap. Fans sang along as Doe Boy performed his 2018 breakthrough hit “Mini Vans” and Dess Dior commanded the stage soon after, strutting and dancing to her hit “Nann Hoe.”
Near the end of her set, Dior seamlessly weaved Mariah the Scientist onto the stage to perform their shared single, “Stone Cold.” The two interacted closely with the audience; at one point, both vocalists recorded videos and took selfies with fans’ phones.
Future performing on stage in Philly. Photo Credit: Alan Daher
The party continued with G Herbo, who ushered in an abrupt roar from the audience as he performed hits like “Everything,” “2 Chains,” and “Swervo.” Fans could feel the stadium vibrate with booming bass and pounding feet as he closed out the set with his signature verse in Nardo Wick’s “Who Want Smoke??” The memorable chorus echoed throughout and left an upbeat energy across the crowd that Don Toliver easily matched. The Houston native immediately domineered the stage with an effortless charisma, all while dancing and smiling throughout chart-toppers from Heaven or Hell, Life of a Don, and his most recent album Love Sick.
After Don, the DJ mixed together top hits with Philly classics to keep the crowd hype. Fans looked on in anticipation as the stage transitioned for the headliner. Curtains finally dropped, unveiling Future on the freshly-redesigned set. Concertgoers clamored and cheered as pyrotechnics ignited across the stage and painted the audience in a crimson glow. Hendrix ramped up the crowd with “712PM” and flowed through his catalog, paying close homage to his most recent studio album I NEVER LIKED YOU.
Future then threw a curveball soon after his first set and announced a guest appearance from legendary Philly native Freeway, most known for his 2003 collaborative hit “What We Do” with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. The energy kept climbing as Pluto weaved in and out of solo performances by EST Gee and Fivio Foreign. Both artists put their top hits on display and Fivio, in particular, was met with surprise and awe across the stadium for his local banger “Big Drip.”
As the night came to a close, Future unexpectedly brought out Philly heavy hitter Meek Mill to end the night with a huge bang. The Dream Chasers mogul lit up his hometown venue with chart-topping tracks that Philly natives knew by heart. To no surprise, Meek ended his performance with the beloved Philly anthem “Dreams and Nightmares” that had the stadium exploding with life as fans belted his lyrics word-for-word. Shortly after, Future came back out one final time to greet Meek and close out with his perfectly timed and relevant track “March Madness.” The artists met in the center of the stage to pay respects as everyone’s phones lit up the venue to record the monumental moment.
Overall, the show over-delivered and succeeded audience expectations. There was palpable Philly pride in the stadium Friday night, especially with numerous guest appearances from big-name locals. As fans filed out of the venue, they could be seen smiling, singing, and showing off images and videos they’d just captured. The One Big Party Tour truly lived up to its name with a dense performer list and jubilant atmosphere to boot. Future and Friends will surely continue to spread the energy across the rest of their tour stops – but for now, Philly will bask in its afterglow.
Photos and Words by Alan Daher | Website | Instagram
future
Meek Mill
don toliver
Dess Dior
doe boy
g herbo
lil jairmy
mariah the scientist
