Alfredo Flores, award-winning D.C.-based freelance event photographer

PHOTO STORY

Mary J. Blige at The Fillmore Silver Spring Grand Opening

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

It’s not too often that the Queen of hip-hop soul gets upstaged at her own show, but it’s also not every day that a sparkly new 2,000-seat ode to great concert venues of past, present and future make their debut. This was the impression that the brand new Fillmore in downtown Silver Spring left the gasping audience waiting for Mary J. Blige to take the stage for the venue’s first ever concert. Many in attendance were in sheer awe of the venue’s lighting, visuals, amenities, arts on display, and state-of-the-art sound system that is among the best in the D.C. area. It was ten years in the making, and after overcoming a slew of red tape, project delays, and funding issues, the venue made a great first impression. Throughout the halls were odes to the rich history of the Fillmore’s past in San Francisco, New York and other cities with concert flyers of epic performances from those legendary venues. Perhaps one day Mary J. herself will be among those to grace the venue’s walls! And with her stirring performance Thursday night, she made a great case for herself to be inducted to music wall of fame.

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