https://www.ajc.com/arts-entertainment/2025/08/the-weeknd-makes-the-darkness-look-sexy-at-atlanta-show-with-playboi-carti/

Written By: Gabriella Wilkinson

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Atlanta does not just throw events, it curates full-body experiences that blur the line between performance and cultural memory. This past weekend was a living playlist that flipped between intensity and tranquility. The Weeknd and Playboi Carti lit up the night with a visual and sonic storm inside Mercedes Benz Stadium. Two days later the R and B Mimosa Festival soaked Atlantic Station in sunshine soul and free-flowing drinks. If you were in the city this weekend you were part of a rare double feature that flexed Atlanta’s unmatched ability to go from cinematic to cozy without skipping a beat

Thursday night felt like stepping into a post-apocalyptic movie where the set had been built by the gods of sound and chaos. The Weeknd did not just perform. He orchestrated a dark symphony with skyscraper-high visuals pyrotechnics and a dystopian skyline that loomed behind him like a warning and a celebration all at once. As the rain began to fall on Mercedes Benz Stadium it only added texture to the experience. It did not ruin the night. It baptized it

Then Playboi Carti took the stage with nothing but raw energy and a mic. He did not need flashing lights or heavy props. His presence alone filled the venue. Tracks like “Evil Jordan” and “Like Weezy” hit different when it is your hometown and the crowd is chanting every lyric like gospel. He was not just opening for The Weeknd. He was anchoring the experience in Atlanta culture. He made it feel like we were not just watching stars. We were homegrown ones.

And then Future came out. The crowd lost it. “Low Life” with The Weeknd in the middle of a thunderstorm felt spiritual. It was not just about the music. It was about timing atmosphere and Atlanta showing out with every second. No one sat down. Every phone was in the air and every heart was beating like the subwoofer. It was a masterclass in emotion and artistry delivered without apology.

Now fast forward to Saturday and the city shifted gears in true Atlanta fashion. From night to daylight from dark chrome aesthetics to golden mimosa hues the R and B Mimosa Festival offered a vibe check in the best way. Held at Atlantic Station the festival blended community joy and soulful nostalgia. It was about feel-good energy. From 4 to 6 PM bottomless mimosas turned the venue into a soft golden haze where everyone was laughing vibing and letting the music flow through them.

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Vendors lined up with eats that ranged from brunch classics to creative twists. DJs served sets that felt like conversations. They moved through Usher SZA Jazmine Sullivan and some of the best underground R and B that never makes it to the charts but always finds its way to the heart. It was not about hype. It was about harmony. About that feeling when your shoulders relax and your foot taps without you realizing.

Couples danced. Friends clinked glasses. Content creators set up their ring lights and made memories that would hit TikTok and Reels by Monday morning. The aesthetics were real. Picture sunglasses trench coats crop tops and layered necklaces. One table had a disposable camera. Another had a deck of affirmation cards. One group even coordinated outfits in burnt orange and deep burgundy. The vibe was curated but never forced. Authentic with sprinkles of extra.

This weekend was not about choosing between worlds. It was about embracing both. High-octane performances and soft-lit brunches. Screaming lyrics under lasers and whispering affirmations over shared avocado toast. Atlanta does not force you to pick a lane. It widens the road so you can cruise in every one of them.

For local businesses and emerging creatives weekends like this matter. Content creators used the Mimosa Fest to launch fall aesthetics. Photographers captured unplanned fashion moments under open skies. Brands passed out samples hoping to land in the next viral skincare routine. Meanwhile at Mercedes Benz the ripple of The Weeknd’s show continued on social feeds in slow-motion replays of rain falling on metallic jackets and closeups of the jaw-dropping stage design.

Atlanta is no longer just the location. It is the theme. It is the character in every story told from these stages streets and rooftops. Events like these make it clear that ATL is not just hosting entertainment. It is producing a new blueprint. One where high art and everyday joy collide.

And for Gen Z and millennials especially this weekend hit home. It reflected who we are now. Multifaceted expressive emotional and intentional. We want the bass to shake our bones but we also want playlists that heal. We will scream in a stadium on Thursday and sip in silence on Saturday. We are the remix generation and Atlanta is the beat.

So whether you were in the storm at Mercedes Benz or soaking in sunshine at Atlantic Station or lucky enough to do both just know that you were part of a weekend that will be replayed in stories posts and flashbacks for weeks to come. And if you missed it do not worry. In this city another unforgettable moment is always just one RSVP away.

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