After last year’s European tour and commercial success, Kehlani’s return to the Bay Area on Friday arrives at a moment of particular symmetry. The Oakland-born singer will headline the sold-out Big Game Block Party outside San Jose City Hall, an outdoor event timed to Super Bowl LX weekend.
Amid the surrounding spectacle of national sports programming, this highly anticipated show stands out for its scale and its grounding in regional geography: an artist shaped in Oakland neighborhoods performing at the South Bay’s civic center, drawing a crowd that bridges the area’s cultural map.
Anthony Gomez, creator behind the event’s co-promoter, SJ Foos, said Kehlani’s performance comes at a particularly opportune time: “She’s one of the most legendary and talented artists in the world right now, and she’s from the Bay Area. There’s literally no one better to have while all eyes are on us for Super Bowl weekend.” He continues: “She’s genuine. Nothing about her says ‘industry.’ She’s as real as it comes.”…