Rain hits Global Citizen Festival in Central Park — but 60,000 braved the storm to party
For the second year in a row, rain muddied the festivities at the Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn of Central Park on Saturday.
But the crowd shook off the showers for the 12th edition of the annual post-summer affair. Despite the gray day, spirits were more sunny than soggy as 60,000 people gathered for a party with a purpose: to fight extreme poverty. And the campaign resulted in $1 billion in commitments for the cause.
As always, this year’s event — hosted by Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman — was as much about the music as the message.
“Central Park is electric tonight,” Jackman said, determined to defy the weather gods that made this another challenge of the elements as he introduced the festival.
“You are driving change—and that change can happen one action at a time.”
Indeed, amid the sea of rain ponchos, the show — and the movement — went on.
“Beautiful Things” breakout Benson Boone opened the show, soaking up the moment in the rain with his ’70s porn stache and shaggy hair giving Freddie Mercury meets Shawn Mendes vibes.
When the 22-year-old singer-songwriter took the piano to sing “Slow It Down”—from his 2024 debut album “Fireworks & Rollerblades”—followed by “Beautiful Things,” it was clear just why he was sure to be a Best New Artist nominee at next year’s Grammys.
Rocking a New York Knicks jersey—no. 32 for Patrick Ewing!—bedazzled belt and blue jeans, his powerful pipes pierced the sky above Central Park.
But the acrobatic troubadour smartly avoided any of his trademark flips on the slippery stage.
Meanwhile, Jelly Roll brought some country to the big city, squeezing in his set in between headlining Madison Square Garden on Friday night and serving as the musical guest on 50th season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”
But if you thought the rapper-turned-country crooner was gonna be in a hurry to make it back down to Rockefeller Center for “SNL,” he was wasn’t.
“I will not let y’all stand alone in the rain,” he said as he walked out to meet the masses.
After opening with “Highway to Hell” and “Son of a Sinner,” he welcomed singer Jessie Murph for “Wild Ones” before giving the crowd all the feels with “Save Me.”
And the performer lineup reflected the global nature of the festival, from British phenom Raye to Lisa from the South Korean girl group Blackpink.
Raye had all the BDE (big diva energy) that saw her win a record-setting five BRIT Awards this year.
Glammed up in a silver sequined gown, she made a big announcement on the US stage with her version of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” that rocked everyone’s world.
It was the kind of moment that made you look for much more from the 26-year-old singer, who had yet to fully conquer US shores.
Meanwhile, the Latin music world was represented by Puerto Rican sensation Rauw Alejandro, who brought his sexy swagger and hip-swerving moves wearing a sleeveless dress shirt — the better to show off his tatted arms.
Then there was Doja Cat, who painted the town red — instead of gray — with hits such as “Say So,” “Need to Know” and “Agora Hills.”
Post Malone — who recently went country with his chart-topping “F-1 Trillion” album — headlined the festivities, performing No. 1 singles “Circles,” “Rockstar,” “I Had Some Help” and the closer “Sunflower.”
But he was arguably upstaged by the surprise of the night: the powerhouse pairing of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who has been instrumental in the festival as its curator since 2015.
In their stripped-down set with just acoustic guitar and piano, the two superstars duetted on Codlplay’s “Yellow” and “Viva La Vida” and Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and “Thinking Out Loud.”
“I’d like to say how impressed I’ve been all day watching you be an incredible audience in the most challenging of circumstances,” Martin told the crowd. “Thank you for being here in the rain and giving it your all.”
