Saturday night’s wind didn’t stop Long Islanders from coming out and celebrating 103.5 KTU “The Beat of New York”‘s 25th anniversary at iHeartMedia’s annual KTUphoria at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.
During the preshow, previous jockeys for the station came out to celebrate the anniversary. And current morning host Carolina Bermudez was excited about this two-year-pandemic paused show. “People have no idea what they’re in for and it’s going to be awesome,” said Bermudez. And she was right.
Reina, Lucas Prata, and Kim Sozzi took the stage first, warming the crowd up and getting them on their feet. Then came the freestyle set with ’90s throwback names such as Judy Torres, Coro, George Lamond, TKA, and Freedom Williams. “I wouldn’t have any career if it wasn’t for KTU,” Torres said backstage.
After the flashback with freestyle, Lodato, Laidback Luke, and Regard each brought their EDM DJ sets to the stage. Lodato played a sunset-lit stage and at one point, brought a couple on stage; the man proposed to his girlfriend, and the crowd of thousands erupted in cheers after she said “yes.”
Ava Max performed a short set that included her newest song, “Maybe You’re the Problem,” off her album that’s out this October. Pitbull finished the night performing nonstop hits and expressing his gratitude to the radio station celebrating its 25th year.
“KTU is a station that has showed me love for over a decade,” the Cuban-American performer said on stage.
KTUphoria is among the earliest events in the Jones Beach summer concert series, which will include Backstreet Boys, Rod Stewart and The Black Keys.
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