Category Archives: Show Review

Music, Show Review, Tennis

MAX & Quinn XCII, Ava Max, Meg Donnelly, Austin Mahone & Top Tennis Stars Rock Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open

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The US Open is officially underway in New York City!  The annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on Saturday kicked things off with a day full of games, music, and of course tennis.  Kids of all ages enjoyed activities around the grounds like face painting, balloon artists, dance offs, juggling, and of lots of chances to test their tennis skills!

The AAKD show inside Arthur Ashe Stadium featured performances by some of the hottest names in music along with appearances by tennis stars like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Sloane Stephens.  The event is in celebration of tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe and promotes the USTA’s flagship program, the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTL), which Ashe co-founded.  Players from local NJTL chapters had the chance to show off their skills on court in a series of agility and tennis drills.

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The show was co-hosted by Radio Disney’s Morgan Tompkins, Meg Donnelly, and JD McCrary.  Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing JAGMAC kicked off the show with a high energy performance that set the tone for the whole show.  They definitely brought the party with them!  We’re sure you’ll be seeing much more of them in the future!  Radio Disney is celebrating 10 years of NBT artists this year, and past honorees include Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, and Kelsey Ballerini.

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Austin Mahone returned to Kids’ Day (he was also a featured performer in 2013!) to perform his new single “Dancing With Nobody” live for the first time.  Austin showcased his signature smooth dance moves on the court, complete with a moonwalk across the service line.  He also shared that he will be dropping a new album next year!

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Co-host Meg Donnelly did double duty and performed “With U,” showing off her dance moves and high kicks across the court in style.  We love her fun pop sound and can’t wait for her album to drop!  Meg is also a Radio Disney Next Big Thing alum!

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The always talented and lovely MAX sang his hit single “Love Me Less,” with a special appearance by Quinn XCII.  Watching these two perform together is so much fun and we loved seeing them rock it on center court!

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Ava Max’s infectious sound and unique style have already won over the hearts of many.  Ava got the stadium rocking with her hit “So Am I.”  We are so excited to see and hear what’s next, and are looking forward to her debut album coming soon!

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The show ended with a big finale that had everyone doing #TheGitUpChallenge! Blanco Brown sang “The Git Up” from up in the crowd, as the court was filled with dancers, the Blazer Fresh squad, Net Generation players, and even a drumline!  Current world #1, Novak Djokovic, never turns down an opportunity to dance at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, so of course he was right in the middle of it all!

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Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is always such a blast and the best way to get the last slam of the year underway!

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Make sure you watch our interviews with MAX and Quinn XCII, JAGMAC, Ava Max, Austin Mahone, and JD MCCrary to learn more about the artists and what’s coming next.

Visit our YouTube channel for more!

Be sure to follow the US Open and Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Album Release, Artist to Watch, Boys We Like, Music, On Tour, Show Review, Uncategorized

Bryce Vine Celebrates “Carnival” Release With Sold Out Webster Hall Show

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Bryce Vine dropped his first major label album, “Carnival,” on July 26th and celebrated with a handful of shows including a stop at the legendary Webster Hall in NYC.  The sold out show doubled as a hometown show for Bryce, who was born in New York just a few blocks from the venue.

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From the opening song, “Love Is A Blessing,” the crowd could tell they were in for an unforgettable night.  Everyone was singing along loudly throughout the show, from Bryce’s older material to brand new tracks from “Carnival.”    The singing was so loud at times Bryce just let the crowd take over and soaked in the moment, remarking that at times it was so loud it  was “almost irresponsible.”

Bryce closed out the set with his current hit, “La La Land,” which had the already energetic crowd in a frenzy.  He hopped off stage to get even closer to the fans but ended up landing badly and spraining his ankle!   You wouldn’t have had any idea what happened, as Bryce kept on performing and ended the song without missing the beat.

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He triumphantly came back out after a short break, telling the crowd he “thought he broke his ankle” but that he couldn’t leave without giving his full set.   Bryce finished the show sitting in a chair on stage, still going just as hard as he had been throughout the night.  The encore included his smash “Drew Barrymore,” “Sour Patch Kids,” and most fittingly “Guilty Pleasure.”    It was a hella fun night and we’re sure Bryce and the entire crowd would do it all again!

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Setlist:
Love is a Blessing
On The Ball
Sunflower Seeds
Classic and Perfect
My Holiday
Street Punks on a Freight Train
Glamorama
Bella
The Fall
Love Me Hate Me
Nowhere Man
Bang Bang
Factory Love
Shallow Water
Not Alright
La La Land
Drew Barrymore
Guilty Pleasure
Sour Patch Kids

Pick up a copy of “Carnival” on iTunes or Amazon now and be sure to follow Bryce Vine & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

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Chase Atlantic, Music, On Tour, Show Review

Chase Atlantic Sell Out Webster Hall in NYC

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Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!  OY OY OY!  Chase Atlantic brought their massive headlining “PHASES Tour” to Webster Hall in New York City last week and the boys sold the place out!  Newly independent up-and-coming artist, Lauren Sanderson kicked off the night and comanded the stage like the rockstar she is.  Breezing through new tracks and old favorites like “Electric,” “Differently,” “Hotel Room,” and “Better Anyway,” Lauren got the crowd pumped up and won over lots of new fans.

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Clinton, Christian, Mitchel, Pat, and Jesse took the stage and it was like the stars aligned and the energy in the room went from a solid 8 to infinity and beyond! Chase Atlantic are known for giving their all during every show, but Webster Hall has a history of pulling out THE BEST shows from artists. Maybe it’s the NYC crowds that are superior, or maybe it’s the water, but this was hands down the best Chase Atlantic show we have ever seen!

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They burned through an extensive setlist mixing old favorites like “The Walls” and “Friends” with new tracks like “Angels” and “Heaven And Back” keeping the energy at a solid 10 all night long.  Mitchel covered the stage back and forth without missing a beat and Christian took to an inflatable pool raft to crowd surf towards the end of the set.  Clinton’s saxaphone solos brought down the house every chance he got!

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Next up, Chase Atlantic are heading over to Europe starting in October. Check out the dates below and grab your tickets while you still can!

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Phases Tour – UK, Europe, & Australia Ft. Chase Atlantic 
Oct 3rd – O2 Institute – Birminghamg, UK – Buy Tickets
Oct 4th – Manchester Academy 2 – Manchester, UK – Buy Tickets
Oct 5th – SWX – Bristol, UK – Buy Tickets
Oct 6th – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London, UK – Buy Tickets 
Oct 7th –  BiNuu – Berlin, Germany – Buy Tickets 
Oct 9th – Zoom – Frankfurt am Main, Germany – Buy Tickets 
Oct 10th – Poppodium Q-Factory – amsterdamn, Netherlands – Buy Tickets 
Oct 15th – Sala Caracol – Madrid, Spain – Buy Tickets
Oct 16th – Razzmatazz 2 – Barcelona, Spain – Buy Tickets 
Oct 18th – TBD – Milano, Italy – Buy Tickets
Oct 19th – Hirsch – Nürnberg, Germany – Buy Tickets 
Oct 20th – Club Volta – Cologne, Germany – Buy Tickets
Oct 21st – NUOVEAU CASINO – Paris, France – Buy Tickets 
Nov 6th – JIVE – Adelaide, Aus – Buy Tickets
Nov 7th – The Brightside – Brisbane, Aus – Buy Tickets
Nov 8th – Wrangler Studios – West Footscray, Aus – Buy Tickets 
Nov 9th – Stay Gold – Melbourne, Aus – Buy Tickets 
Nov 10th – The Factory Theatre – Sydney, Aus – Buy Tickets

Grab a copy of  “Phases” on Apple Music and Amazon, or stream it on Spotify so you can sing along on tour!

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Be sure to follow Chase Atlantic & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for the latest on your favorite artists.

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Artist to Watch, Music, Show Review

Show Review: The Faim Electrify NYC

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Australia is on a hot streak with exports and their latest, The Faim, are bringing their brand of pop rock with a side of on stage charisma that could fill an arena.  We caught them at the Gramercy Theatre on their tour opening for Andy Black, which wraps up this week in Virginia Beach.

Armed with an arsenal of new music and enough energy to power Manhattan, The Faim are here and they will not be ignored.  Frontman Josh Raven commanded the stage with swagger and poise, drawing the crowd in from the start, even walking off the stage and connecting directly with the crowd in the middle of the pit.

TF NYC (62 of 115)
@mac_praed

The Faim, singer Josh, guitarist Sam Tye, bassist/keyboardist Stephen Beerkens, and drummer Linden Marissen felt more like the headliner than an opener but we bet they’ll be in that headliner slot sooner rather than later.

They will be back in Australia and Europe over the Summer.  Check out all of their upcoming tour dates here!   We’re hoping to see them back in the States soon!

TF NYC (86 of 115)
@mac_praed

The Faim set list – NYC Gramercy Theatre – May 1st, 2019
Saints of the Sinners
My Heart Needs To Breathe
Beautiful Drama
When It Comes
Infamous
Midland Line
Fire
A Million Stars
I Can Feel You
Make Believe
Summer Is A Curse
Amelie

TF NYC (84 of 115)
@mac_praed

Grab a copy of The Faim’s EP “Summer Is A Curse” on iTunes and Amazon, or stream it on Spotify!

Follow The Faim and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for the latest on your favorite artists.

Photos by @Mac_Praed

Music, Show Review, The Vamps

New Hope Club, HRVY, & The Vamps Wrap Up US Tour in New York City

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It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years since The Vamps’ last headlining show in NYC, back at Webster Hall in 2015.   Since then, The Vamps have released a new two part album, “Night & Day,” and played venues all around the world.  We were thrilled to see them back in NYC, especially since the city was where the band played their first ever headlining show at Gramercy Theatre in 2014!

New Hope Club got the night started with a fun set that included their hit “Fixed” and new tracks like “Crazy.”  They certainly had the crowd going crazy and set the tone for the evening.   Their guitar driven tracks are so much fun to hear live.

HRVY had a super energetic set, and even showed off his dance moves during songs like “Holiday” and “Hasta Luego.”  Could he be the next one man boyband to steal your heart?   He also showed off his softer side on his covers like Bazzi’s “Mine” and Ed Sheeran’s smash single “Perfect.”

The Vamps absolutely rocked their set, and from the excitement in the crowd it was like no time had passed at all.  They knew every word and sang along, even louder than the band sometimes.  Brad, Connor, Tristan, and James were better than ever, showing off their musicianship,  signature pop-rock sound, and fun onstage personas.  We’re hoping it won’t be 3 more years until we see them again!

Be sure to follow New Hope Club, HRVY, The Vamps, & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Music, Show Review, Tennis

In Real Life, CNCO, AJ Mitchell & More Rock Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open

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Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is one of our favorite days of the year as it brings together two of our favorite things: music and tennis!   The event is in celebration of Arthur Ashe, the tennis player and humanitarian who won the first US Open title in 1968.  This year was extra special as it’s also the 50th anniversary of the US Open!

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On Saturday, current tennis players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber, and Serena Williams hit the court along with young players from the NJTL and Net Generation.  The show also featured performances from some of the hottest rising artists.  AAKD has a knack for booking talent before they make it big: past performers include Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, & Demi Lovato just to name a few.

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The show was hosted by Skai Jackson and Alex Aiono, returning to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day for his third time!  Echosmith kicked off the show with their hit singles “Cool Kids” and “Over My Head.”   In Real Life celebrated their one-year anniversary since they came together on ABC’s “Boy Band” by performing in front of one of their biggest crowds to date!   They showed off their moves and harmonies to their new single, “Tonight Belongs To You.”

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Djokovic, Nadal, Kerber, and Keys hit the court for a target challenge alongside young player Nicole, representing the NJTL chapter in Silver Springs, MD.  Each player had to hit forehands and backhands, as a tally was kept of each target that was hit.  Nicole blew the pros off the court and hit more backhands and forehands than any of them!  Each player was hitting for a special charity.

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Serena Williams hopped on court with a group of lucky Net Generation players!  She rallied with some players and even showed off her jump roping skills!  This will be Serena’s first US Open since becoming a mother last year and as always she was thrilled to be a part of AAKD!

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AJ Mitchell was surprised with the news that he’d be performing at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day during an interview with Radio Disney’s Morgan, who also co-hosted the show.  AJ sang his catchy new song “Girls,” from his new EP “Hopeful.”

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Kim Petras’ bubbly pop sound helped keep the party going with her infectious “Heart To Break.”

CNCO performed on the court in perfect boy band formation.  They had the crowd moving to their hits “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” and “Se Vuelve Loca.”  Their performance definitely earned some of the biggest screams of the day! 

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All of the performers joined Shine MSD and drama students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on stage for the finale for a special performance of “Shine.”   The song has become an anthem for people to spread love and awareness, and that you’re never too young to make a change.  It was a fitting end to a day in honor of a man who also worked to share the same message.

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Be sure to follow the US Open & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Big Time Rush, Music, On Tour, Show Review

Logan Henderson Debuts New Music at Gramercy Theatre in NYC

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Logan Henderson played a high energy set to a packed crowd at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre over the weekend.  It was his first solo tour and he performed his entire debut album, Echoes of Departure and the Endless Street of Dreams – Part 1.  The concert, presented by Z100, also featured  openers Skela and Thutmose.  Logan showed off his songwriting skills with new unreleased tracks like “Zodiac,” “End Of The World,” and an upbeat high energy encore of “Body Language.”

With the addition of a live band backing the show, Logan made sure the crowd had the best night whether they knew the words or not.  After taking a lengthy break from the spotlight, he debuted new solo music with a darker grunge pop sound and we love it!  He honed his songwriting skills while still in Big Time Rush, and even played a song he wrote while on their last tour called “Change In The Weather.”

Logan is no stranger to performing for massive audiences and his on stage energy was infectious.  He had the whole crowd singing and dancing along to every song all night long! Crowd favorites included “Sleepwalker,” Logan’s first solo track, and “Bite My Tongue.”

Watch our clip of “Body Language” below.

Make sure you grab a copy of his debut album “Echoes of Departure and the Endless Street of Dreams – Part 1” on iTunes or Amazon now.  Catch Logan Henderson performing at Billboard’s Hot 100 Fest at Jones Beach this August!

Follow Logan Henderson and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more on your favorite artists.

Artist to Watch, Music, On Tour, Show Review

LOOTE Play Hometown Show on Eric Nam’s North American Tour

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NYC based pop duo LOOTE (Jackson Foote and Emma Lov) played to a hometown crowd at Irving Plaza on night one of two NYC stopes for Eric Nam’s North American tour!  Jackson and Emma are on their way to big big things with pure pop tunes that get stuck in your head for days and on stage energy that will bring down any house they play in.

Kicking off their set with “Longer Than I Thought” sans Joe Jonas and punching it into overdrive with every song after that, LOOTE are proving to be more than just an opening act.  They know how to get a crowd pumped up and singing along whether the fans are there for them or not.

Before singing “No Promises”, a smash hit co-written by LOOTE and LAUV, made famous by Demi Lovato and Cheat Codes, Emma quipped about wishing Demi were present to help sing.  Emma is a powerhouse vocalist in her own right and she proves it with grace and raw emotion.  Not only can Emma sing like an angel and write insanely catchy tunes, she knows how to shred!

Jackson and  Emma’s songwriting chemistry is the most pure we’ve seen in a long time.  They aren’t afraid to jab at each other’s personal lives for some of the best songs the radio hasn’t heard yet! “IDK Single” is a new track from their debut EP about getting out of a long term relationship and totally forgetting how to be single.

Closing the set with “Your Side Of The Bed,” LOOTE truly showed their artistry and left everything on the Irving Plaza stage.  Their incredibly fun live show made us even more excited for Summer and what’s next for LOOTE!

If you can’t wait for more LOOTE, catch them at Billboard’s Hot 100 Festival at Jones Beach this August!  Get to know Jackson and Emma better in our interview.

Pick up a copy of their debut EP, Single, on iTunes or Amazon or stream it on Spotify now.

Be sure to follow LOOTE and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more on your favorite artists!

Music, Show Review

Alex Aiono Brings “Feels Like Tour” to NYC

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Alex Aiono slayed his sold out “Feel Like Tour” stop at Highline Ballroom in NYC!   With his good friend and collaborator Trinidad Cardona kicking the show off, the duo brought the house down and made sure the crowd had the night of their lives.


Alex sang and danced his way through his high energy set with a huge smile on his face the entire time!   The energetic crowd was singing along to every word.  The show was one nonstop dance party from start to finish, and Alex did an awesome job keeping the crowd involved.   He even brought up a special fan and serenaded her on his acoustic guitar halfway through the set.


Alex got his start by posting his now iconic mashups of songs on YouTube.  He included his Drake/Nicky Jam “One Dance/Hasta el Ananecer” mashup as part of the set, and it was 🔥🔥🔥.   We love that Alex has the moves, the vocals, and producing skills.  He is the total package.


We’ve been hearing “Does It Feels Like Falling” absolutely everywhere lately, and judging by the reaction that Alex got during his sold out show, you’ll be seeing and hearing much more from him soon!  We can’t wait to see him on his next tour, and we can see him selling out even bigger venues around the country.


Pick up a copy of “Does It Feel Like Falling” featuring Trinidad Cardona on iTunes now!


Be sure to follow Alex Aiono & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Music, Show Review, Tennis

Jack & Jack, Why Don’t We, & Alex Aiono & More Headline Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open

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The 2017 US Open started with a bang on Saturday at the annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Celebration.  AAKD is a celebration of music and tennis, in honor of the late tennis legend Arthur Ashe.  Proceeds from the event benefit the USTA Foundation and the National Junior Tennis & Learning Network (NJTL).  We love coming to this event every year because they have a knack for booking the hottest up and coming artists in music before they hit it big!  (Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Backstreet Boys, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears are just a few of AAKD’s past performers!)


This year’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day also served as the official launch of Net Generation, the USTA’s new program to help inspire the next generation of tennis players.  Net Generation provides a fun, kid-friendly format to help younger players get into the game.  The next generation of American players including Frances Tiafoe, Claire Liu, Cici Bellis, & Jarden Donaldson, helped show off just how easy it can be!


Saving Forever, made up of 3 brothers from Chicago, got the stadium show started by rocking the house with their new single “Million Ways.”  Their high-energy performance featured dozens of dancers on court on Arthur Ashe Stadium getting down to their blend of perfect pop-rock sounds that just make you wanna dance!  Watch our interview with Saving Forever here!


New Hope Club, fresh off their Summer tour with Sabrina Carpenter, played their new single “Start Over” along with their hit “Fixed.”   The guys were thrilled to be playing their first ever stadium show!


What makes AAKD so fun is that it’s all about music AND tennis!   This year featured tennis icons Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Venus Williams & 2016 US Open Champion Angelique Kerber.  The players competed in a skills competition to see how many targets they could hit on the forehand and backhand side, with each target hit raising money for their individual charity.  One lucky participant from the NJTL also got to join the players on court and he had SKILLS – he hit almost as many targets as Roger Federer!


Sofia Carson, who co-hosted the event with Alex Aiono, took to the stage to perform her brand new single “Ins and Outs” for the first time.  Sofia’s powerful voice carried throughout the stadium and brought down the house!


One fun fact we learned this week is that pop duo Jack & Jack used to play doubles together in high school!  We’re sure they had a major fangirl moment when they realized they would get to perform on court on the legendary Arthur Ashe Stadium!  We love that their performance took place on opposite sides of the net, as if they were playing a match.  We wish we could have seen them put their tennis skills to the test!  Watch our interview with Jack & Jack here!


The screaming and excitement in the stadium for boyband Why Don’t We started the moment the boys hit the red carpet before the show even started.  It hit an all-time high during their performance of “Something Different” and “Taking You.”  Fans throughout the 23,000 capacity stadium were loudly singing along to every word and cheering as loud as possible.   We imagine this was what it was like at AAKD in 1998 when the Backstreet Boys performed!


As we said, AAKD always have a knack for booking future stars.  Judging by the crowd’s reaction, look out for much more from Why Don’t We soon!  We wouldn’t be surprised to see them headlining their own stadium tour one day.  The boys took the time to answer fan questions and assured that they are hard at work on their upcoming album!  Watch our interview with Why Don’t We here!


Co-host Alex Aiono brought down the house to wrap up the show.  He gave everyone a sneak peak at his brand new single, “Falling,” which is coming out on September 15th!   The multi-talented Alex played the guitar during “Falling” before launching  into his hit single “Hot 2 Touch,”  getting everyone in the stadium to dance along.  As his co-host Sofia pointed out, Alex had actually performed on the grounds on the festival stage back in 2012!  We loved seeing Alex graduate to the main stage!   Watch our interview with Alex Aiono here!

This year’s AAKD was a blast from start to finish, with one of the strongest lineups we’ve ever seen.  We’re already counting down to AAKD 2018!   But for now, we’ll enjoy being at the US Open for the next two weeks.


Make sure to check out our interviews from Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day with Alex Aiono, Jack & Jack, Why Don’t We, Saving Forever & Spencer Sutherland!  Head over to Secret Fangirls on YouTube to watch them all!


Be sure to follow AAKD & Secret Fangirls for more updates!