on the
SCENE
DAYS
Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival
WANTAGH, N.Y., AUG. 19-20
“THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PERFORMING THIS LIVE. IT HAS SO MUCH WEIGHT TO ME,” CAMILA CABELLO
revealed before breaking out her ballad, “I Have Questions,” for the sold-out Northwell Health at Jones Beach
Theater on Aug. 20, the second and final day of the third annual Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival. Cabello’s
performance on the main stage marked her debut solo festival gig, and she used the opportunity to prove her pop
prowess by delivering powerful vocals and even shredding on an electric guitar. Later, she returned to the same
stage during Major Lazer’s headlining set for their collaborative hit, “Know No Better” — the dance-music trio
also welcomed surprise guest J Balvin for “Buscando Huellas.” The weekend hosted several other guest stars,
from 9-month-old Asahd Tuck Khaled, who was praised during dad DJ Khaled’s hit-heavy set, to A$AP Ferg,
who dropped by for “New Level” and “Work” during Lil Yachty’s mosh pit-friendly performance. Offstage
friendships were just as abundant: Rising pop artists Phoebe Ryan and Bea Miller danced together during
Gucci Mane’s Saturday set, while on Sunday, Tinashe caught Demi Lovato’s performance from the side of the
stage. As Billboard president John Amato said, with festival attendance reaching nearly 30,000, the 2017 edition
“proved to be the party of the summer.” —LYNDSEY HAVENS
26 BILLBOARD | SEPTEMBER 2, 2017