Feb 9, 2025 — The Desire Area of New Orleans’ 9th Ward was buzzing with excitement and heartfelt emotion as He Gets Us and Jon Batiste, the 2025 Super Bowl LIX National Anthem performer, hosted the inaugural Love Riot Festival on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The festival saw thousands of attendees enjoying nearly two hours of electrifying performances by Batiste, who was joined onstage by fellow artists such as Ledisi, Dee-1, TBC Brass Band, and even Flavor Flav. The event was free to the public, offering not only incredible music but also free meals and access to local community support services.
“I am so grateful to He Gets Us for bringing us together to create this moment of selfless love using music to make people’s lives better,” said Batiste. “The resilience of this city is what makes it the best place on Earth. Love Riot Festival was a healing, uplifting day of musicians, artists, and the community all coming together to celebrate humanity and the power of rising above our differences and serving others.”
Ledisi joined Batiste for a moving rendition of “Come Together,” just a day before both artists were set to perform at the big game pregame ceremonies. The festival also featured performances by the Ninth Ward Churches Community Choir, Craig Adams, Gospel Soul Children, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, and many more.
A poignant moment came as Batiste joined the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club in a Love Riot march through the festival grounds, honoring the 9th Ward’s annual second line halted by violence last November.
“Love Riot Festival and Jon Batiste and He Gets Us coming to the 9th Ward to shine a spotlight on our community is a real-life embodiment of what Jesus said greatness is: serving others,” said Oscar Brown, director at Thrive New Orleans and Nine Times club member.
Families and students from George Washington Carver High School and the 9th Ward community received free food and groceries before the festival, thanks to local farmers and community partners like the Giving Hope Foundation and Thrive New Orleans. Community leaders and 9th Ward pastors opened the festival by inviting everyone to ponder, “What does greatness look like?”
The He Gets Us project, now under the nonprofit startup Come Near, will air a commercial titled “What is Greatness?” during the big game. This campaign aims to explore the true meaning of greatness as depicted by Jesus.
“We want to show the contrast between how culture often defines greatness through wealth, achievement, and power and what Jesus said and showed true greatness is,” said Ken Calwell, CEO. “Love Riot Festival with Jon Batiste and the 9th Ward community and the stories people will see in our commercial are ways to celebrate the everyday acts of Jesus-inspired greatness of real people and invite reflection on what his example could mean for each of us.”
For more information about He Gets Us, visit hegetsus.com.
Source: PR Newswire
