Tour—Starfruit at the Broadberry

Photo credit: Christian Carter-Ross/Candid Compositions

In early April, Moonchild kicked off leg numero tres of the Starfruit tour. This tour was a chance to reach cities that weren’t chosen for the first North American leg last year. And of course, they knocked the walls down at the Broadberry.

Austin The Antoine has been their trusted opener for the last two years of the tour and his sweat equity doesn’t go unnoticed. His entire set is full of originality, delivering unique (yet relatable) bars, tethered to soulful melodies. The inspiration from his music is often drawn from life experiences happening as a teenager and the early years of adulthood. Not only is the setlist fire but there’s a segment of the performance where he freestyles about topics suggested by audience members and that’s where the magic happens in his act. This started as a solo moment but during the third round of this tour, he’s supported Westbank Mal.

I believe what separates Moonchild’s tours from others can be found in the purpose: You show up for the music and leave equipped with resources to care for your neighbor. Between acts there’s a segment where the crowd is introduced to a dope grass roots organization, shedding light on various issues in the community and supplying creative solutions to bridge gaps in inequities. Here in Richmond, we were introduced to an organization called the Uhuru Foundation. Their mission is to interrupt the poverty to prison pipeline by providing tools to high-risk youth such as financial literacy, business development and mentorship. They’ve been operating since early 2020 and their impact in the community continues to grow. Please continue to support this mission and other grass roots organizations in your neighborhood.

Photo credit: Christian Carter-Ross/Candid Compositions

It should go without saying that Moonchild handled business. You can rest assured that with every tour, they’ve leveled up the craftsmanship of their performance. All the anticipated Starfruit notes were struck, mixed in with fan favorites from previous albums and the legendary crowd-and-band-acapella-duet of Anita Baker’s “Caught Up in the Rapture”, led by lead vocalist Amber Navran. We were also treated to a taste of the acoustic project dropping later in the year. There was a small but significant off-stage moment of Andris sneaking in the crowd to blow his horn and dance with audience members, that really put a cherry on top to a spectacular show. That amplified just how connected the band is with their fanbase experience and that comradery will continue to reward them as they grow in their career.

What this soul trio is bringing to R&B space can’t be overlooked and I hope they continue to set the bar high. Moonchild, thank you for adding a little love to the atmosphere.