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Ally Brooke arrives, Bazzi's on the brink,
epic boy band battle in B96's forward-thinking fest

B96 Pepsi Summer Bash 2019
Allstate Arena
Rosemont, IL
June 22, 2019

Why Don't We

Story by Kathryn Randall
Photos by Andy Argyrakis

School's out and the season for sizzling singles is on with the B96 Pepsi Summer Bash once again landing right on the bullseye of what's currently red hot. The 2019 edition of the annual festival wasn't anchored so much on an established act as it was introducing the potential superstars of tomorrow, who came to the Allstate Arena with a backdrop of screaming fans ready to feast on four hours filled with nine acts.

One of the most memorable was Ally Brooke, who's technically a newcomer on her own accord, but is certainly no stranger to the stage thanks to her time in Fifth Harmony (alongside fellow breakout artist Camila Cabello). In addition to marking her coming of age as a Latin-tinged solo artist fueled by "Lips Don't Lie," the San Antonio native saluted fellow Texan turned international icon Selena with "Baila Esta Cumbia/Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," adding additional zest to her brisk but bountiful set.

B96 regular Bazzi's been grinding since "Cosmic" exploded like a comet, as demonstrated by the ongoing effect of soulful sing-a-longs "Beautiful" and Mine," though he also debuted the chilled out offering "Paradise" that's likely to follow a similar trajectory. Milwaukee's own Ava Max brought back a '90s rush of girl power with "Not Your Barbie Girl," and especially turned up the heat via "Sweet But Psycho," accompanied by an affirmation of self-expression and individuality to anyone who felt like an outsider.

Hip-hop and indie pop scored a shout-out from Bryce Vine, who initially attracted attention on "The Glee Project," but is well on his way to being regarded for a burst of lyrically rich selections from his "Carnival" collection. And considering Chicagoland is a primary stomping grounds for house music, Canada's Loud Luxury fit right in, adding futuristic flavors to the genre's foundations.

And that's not even taking into account an epic battle of the boy bands that figuratively found CNCO taking the title thanks to "Hey DJ" and other spicy rhythms enhanced by suave chorography and the ability to transition towards an a capella tune during a moment of technical difficulties. These Bashes are of course no stranger to 5SOS or Why Don't We, both of whom demonstrated ongoing growth beyond their prior debuts, while a lively slice of Drax Project continued in the leading pop station's quest to showcase what's coming around the corner as it counts down to the B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash (slated for the Allstate Arena on Saturday, December 7) with details coming on air and at B96.com or AllstateArena.com.