KTUphoria helped launch the 2015 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater summer concert series this weekend with a stage full of stars including Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin, Shaggy and many more hit singers.
Despite the threat of rain, fans packed the seaside amphitheater for the annual pop fest thrown by 103.5 WKTU—but sadly one of the headliners, Pitbull, could not make it due to flight delays in Florida–and that disappointing news wasn’t revealed until almost the end of the concert.
But his absence did not detract from the evening’s excitement.
“New York energy is addictive,” Ricky Martin, flanked by black-clad backup dancers, told the crowd—making all the fangirls go wild—between singing his hit songs “La Copa de la Vida,” “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “She Bangs.”
The lineup also included DJ ProStyle, whose hit “Danza Kuduro” got the crowd on their feet; Prince Royce, who played his danceable singles “Stand by Me” and “Carazón Sin Cara,” as well as Adam Lambert, to name just a few.
Lady Antebellum got the party officially started with her concert at the beach on Friday.
Many of the artists at KTUphoria stopped to pose for pictures and talk to reporters as well as fans on the red carpet as they made their way into the concert. Among them was up-and-coming singer Laura Marano of Disney Channel series “Austin & Ally” fame.
“I’ve never been here, it’s like the coolest venue, I’m so excited!” Marano exclaimed. Later, upon taking the stage, she decided to capture that enthusiasm with a crowd selfie, urging the audience to “make the stupidest face you can.”
Opening the show was American Idol season one winner Kelly Clarkson singing her hits “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Miss Independent” before her microphone suddenly flew off the stand and landed in the audience.
“I’m sorry I threw my mic at ya’ll,” Clarkson jokingly sang.
Adam Lambert, a fellow American Idol star and season eight runner up, showed the crowd he can hit the high notes with his new song, “Ghost Town,” off his latest album, The Original High, which is slated to be released June 16.
When Shaggy got to the stage, it seemed as though the whole concert came just to see him. Everyone was on their feet, dancing, waving their hands and screaming. Fifteen years after reaching stardom with his hit, “It Wasn’t Me,” the Jamaican-American proved he’s still got it with his latest single, “I Need Your Love.”
Closing the show was Jason DeRulo, who started his set with his hit “Wiggle” and “Want To Want Me” off of his new album Everything Is 4, slated to be released Tuesday. He went a little old school with “Whatcha Say,” “Riding Solo” and the hit of the night, “Marry Me.” He also brought out special guest singer Alyxx Dione to perform her new song that just hit the radio, “Chingalinga,” which also features DeRulo.
That’s when DeRulo dropped the news that Pitbull was unable to make it, which visibly and audibly upset many fans in the crowd. On the bright side, at least the rain held out until the very end when the audience started heading home. ‘Til next year!
