Y’all better WerQ!

Y’all better WerQ! When I tell you I got my whole life at the 7^th Annual WerQfest Saturday at Atomic by Jamo! It goes without saying that I have a way with words, but I really feel like WerQfest is better experienced as opposed to explained. I will still try my best to describe the explosion of Black queer joy put together by two of my faves. Hey Tre and Shelton! Let me start with the lewks (yes, lewks). As an ally, I’m sure I appeared very demure with my clothing choices. But my nieces and nephews did the absolute most in the best way imaginable and were turning heads all up and through Jamo’s inside and patio. My favorites were the ones that looked regular at first sight but had a surprise. Did anyone see the young man sitting down in the unassuming black shirt and pants who stood up to reveal a cut out that had a turquoise thong covered in lace on full display? Then there was the talent! Kris Lay was serving so heavy I was almost ready to grow this menopausal mustache and beard out and rock it with a Catholic school girl uniform! And do not even get me started on the Veronica Frost revue! I got every bit of my life! You cannot tell me that drag performance is not a talent after seeing the Frost crew stomp and twerk the stage down! Especially with how she came in clutch and kept us occupied until JT hit the stage. I promise if she were on the mic at Yankee Stadium for the folks waiting on Jay-Z, that three hours would have flown by. Girl, If you are still doing shows in 2071, I would love it if you would host the afterparty for my repast. 

WerQfest round two: Late in more ways than one. I know that JT usually stands for Jatavia, but Saturday night it meant “just tardy.” This is absolutely no shade to Shelton and Tre for what they pulled off overall, but was I the only one who felt like JT could have kept that little bite-sized set? Every single body else on the bill brought it, only for her to end the epic night with a fizzle. It felt even more underwhelming after how Veronica Frost, PBNJeffy and Tre Hitz held it down as we waited an extra hour and some change for those two (and a possible) little songs. The best part of her show was that superfan dynamic duo who rapped every word like the rent was due in lieu of her finale. If I’m keeping it a buck, JT was a blip on the radar that was the epicness that was WerQfest 2026. I can’t wait to be in the mix for 2027! 

Turning up with the grownups. I should have known that Gen X wasn’t gonna plop on their moo moos and shorts with closed-toe sandals and retreat to the couch to watch the stories or listen to the game on the radio in a lawn chair in the garage! These folks are out here at a certain age turning up! I didn’t have to bother changing out of my church clothes when I went to go kick at the Moonrise for the Aunties & Uncs Grown Up Rooftop party Sunday afternoon. Full disclosure, I was still in recovery from my full day (and night) of WerQfest shenanigans, but that roof was a whole vibe! Was I the only one who had to resist the urge to recreate that “Bon Jour” TikTok video because of how the sun was hitting my face?

You know the party is grown when there is a saxophone player in the DJ booth! I wasn’t mad at it, I’m just sayin.’ I also wasn’t mad at Mocha Latte’s little crochet hat. I really feel like I would look like I need to be perched on the shelf of somebody’s granny’s rag doll display shelf or guest room bed if I tried to pull it off. It was super cute on her though. What was also cute was Mocha and BJ the DJ tag teaming on the microphone to hype us up! 

It’s MATI time! I know I’m not the only one super excited to take in the revamped vibe for Music at the Intersection 2026 this weekend! I’m gonna be wore out, but it’s gonna be worth it! I can’t imagine it will be hotter than it was last year, but I used a wheelbarrow and a window unit to create my own portable a/c machine just to be safe. I’ll park it outside for the indoor shows. Stay tuned for the recap.

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