March Madness reached its peak this weekend in Indianapolis, a city with history deeply entangled with basketball, as it hosted the Final Four games. Even as a deeply non-sports affiliated Indianapolis transplant, I couldn’t help but feel extreme pride that this city I have grown to love was the backdrop for one of the most important weekends in college basketball.
This was especially true since it came with a free 3-day music festival in the heart of Indianapolis, hosted by the NCAA. With prestigious sponsors including AT&T, Coca-Cola, and Capital One, and backed by juggernaut headliners Twenty One Pilots, Zac Brown Band, and Post Malone, it seemed everyone wanted a piece of the madness.
Day 1: Friday, April 3rd, 2026
The AT&T Block Party, boasting an impressive lineup featuring Joey Valence & Brae, Keshi, and Twenty One Pilots, kicked off the weekend with some of the most palpable energy ever witnessed from a crowd. But the weekend began before doors even opened, with thousands lining up in the early hours of the morning, if not the night prior. By the time doors opened, seas of people were snaked far beyond our field of vision; a promise for a good night ahead.
Joey Valence & Brae, a hip-hop duo hailing from Pennsylvania, started the night off with a stage presence akin to your favorite 90s acts, with an electrifying performance from which one simply could not pull their eyes away. Youthful yet nostalgic, JVB set the bar high as openers for the entire weekend of festivities, for fans of every age.
Keshi also delivered an incredible set Friday night, with an intimate sense of inspiring warmth, a message not unheard by the enormous crowd. Keshi’s unique blend of lo-fi R&B, hip-hop, and pop was simply hypnotizing, and it produced a sense of solidarity with the swaths of fans.
Closing out the night, alternative rock duo from Columbus, Ohio, Twenty One Pilots, delivered a performance you’d be remiss to have missed. Complete with their unique use of crowd engagement, the emotionally electric night was packed with hits from their latest #1 album, Breach, and characterized by the dedicated community of fans screaming the lyrics, from those at the barricade to those sitting outside the festival grounds.
Day 2: Saturday, April 4th, 2026
The Coca-Cola Live! fest on day two was unfortunately dampered by severe thunderstorm warnings from the National Weather Service, with severe rain delays resulting in abbreviated sets. However, Saturday’s lineup was nothing short of a dream for attendees, though, with performances from genre benders Breland and Ravyn Lenae and country stars Russell Dickerson and Zac Brown Band.
Despite the rain delay, Breland delivered an unshakeable performance keeping the crowd dancing even through the torrential downpour. The young artist combines aspects of R&B, country, hip-hop, and soul, delivering a unique sound and impeccable showmanship.
Keeping the energy going, Ravyn Lenae’s charming blend of storytelling and vocal ability left audience members hungry for more. Her ability to connect with a crowd is nothing short of inspiring, creating intimate moments unique to each and every person in attendance. Her performance can only be described as warm and revitalizing, particularly after the nearly 30-degree temperature drop.
Tennessee-based country singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson delivered a stunning performance that blurs lines between modern genres, yet remains reminiscent of country idols like Garth Brooks. Dickerson serves as a reminder of a constantly changing landscape, one that no longer fits into strict boxes.
Rounding out the night, country powerhouse Zac Brown Band returned to the March Madness Music Festival, having played the festival back in 2015. The highly anticipated headliner enthralled a packed crowd with their signature high-energy blend of Southern rock and nostalgic country, reinforcing why they are some of the most highly regarded performers of the modern age.
Day 3: Sunday, April 5th, 2026
Capital One JamFest hosted the final day of festivities with an iconic lineup that included Dominic Fike, Megan Moroney, and Post Malone. Fans came dressed to impress with lines rivaling that of day one outside the venue. With improving weather conditions, the closing day was set up to be one for the books.
Dominic Fike started off on Sunday with dynamically raw energy that perfectly encapsulated the events of the weekend and clearly connected with the fans. It was clear throughout his performance that he was meant to be there, with his wide range in both instrumental abilities and vocals. This isn’t even to mention the way he takes command of the stage in a way that intimacy doesn’t entirely cover.
Megan Moroney’s contemporary country set mesmerized crowds as the second act of the day, with swarms of people singing crowd favorites along in perfect time. Her seat at the intersection of pop and country has lent her comparisons to Hannah Montana, and in delivering such a spectacular cover of “The Best of Both Worlds” it is a claim that’s hard to refute. It’s clear Megan Moroney is someone to keep an eye on.
Closing out the entire festival, Post Malone finally hit the stage. Despite his successful crossing from hip-hop into country, he played a mixed catalogue including his classic hip-hop hits while dotting in a country spread, making sure to close the night with crowd favorite “Congratulations,” leaving fans with an endearing promise of betterment for what lies ahead.
Despite incredible performances from all the acts, it seemed the venue fell short, though, and has fallen short in the past at other events. Of most notable mention is what happened with the Indiana Black Expo in 2024, where a free multiple-day festival celebrating Black art, culture, concerts, and community was forced to move the event to Carroll Stadium, according to WTHR, citing issues with security, safety, and crowd control. In the case of this free three-day festival with A-list headliners and top-tier sponsors taking place on the largest weekend in college basketball, though, it seems that none of these issues were considered.
In speaking with fans who have been asked to be kept anonymous, before gates even opened on day one, they could feel the disorganization and were planning ahead to use this to their advantage. This resulted in fans being herded in front of security with no room for orderly lines.
Despite these issues, with security presences seeming to improve over the course of the weekend, Indianapolis was able to deliver an incredible set of A-list performances to a city that oftentimes feels like it is searching for hope. The free event for sports and music fans alike attempted to strengthen a community that yearns for unity. This weekend was overall a smashing success for concertgoers, sports enthusiasts, and those in search of community, and an overall win for the city of Indianapolis. But we mustn’t forget that success cannot not overshadow the dangerous pitfalls and clear double standards when it comes to event safety and equal use of community space.
