When a nor’easter rolled over the Washington‑Baltimore area the weekend of Sept. 26‑27, many assumed the outdoor concert at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf would be a wash‑out. Not the founders of Camp Souled Out Dates (Camp SOD). Co‑founders Keith Haynie and Fahn Darkor kept the show on schedule, and the rain‑slicked crowd turned the setback into a showcase of local resilience and family‑friendly entertainment.
Festival roots and rapid growth
Haynie and Darkor launched the original Souled Out Dates in 2022 as a modest, Drake‑themed party for D.C. nightlife. In just four years the brand has expanded into an international live‑experience company. Company figures show more than $5.6 million in ticket sales and nearly 250,000 attendees to date – numbers the founders cite as evidence of rapid scaling and strong demand for adult‑focused nostalgia events.
Rain can’t dampen the vibe
Day 1 opened under a steady pour, with headliner PARTYNEXTDOOR delivering his moody R&B catalog to fans who grew up on his tracks. Supporting acts Cash Cobain, G Herbo and West Coast newcomer Allyn kept the energy high despite mud‑slicked walkways. Attendees, many of whom are Black women in their mid‑20s – a demographic the organizers estimate makes up roughly 65 % of the crowd – turned the soggy conditions into a “fit check” opportunity, showcasing streetwear and designer sneakers while staying true to the festival’s adult‑nostalgia theme.
Local talent shines alongside national stars
Day 2 featured DaBaby and Yung Miami, plus local DMV talent such as Prince George’s County rapper Premo Rice and Maryland‑born singer Sarina. Yung Miami’s performance of her viral hit “Spend Dat” resonated strongly with the women in the audience, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to uplifting emerging voices. In a brief interview with 7News, she reflected on overcoming public doubt, saying, “To have a hit song coming off of a hate train, people doubting you, it just feels so good… it lets me know what’s for me is for me.”
Closing with a Toronto connection
Don Toliver capped the weekend with the first live performance of his new collaboration with Drake, an R&B interpolation of Ella Langley’s country hit “Choosin’ Texas.” The track had been teased during Drake’s Sept. 15 FOMO livestream and would be released on Oct. 2 as part of the expanded edition of Drake’s album HABIBTI (FOMO). The live debut underscored Camp SOD’s original inspiration – a love of Drake’s music – and brought the festival full circle.
Looking ahead
Haynie told The Informer that his ultimate goal is to build the largest hip‑hop festival in the world. He believes the rain‑soaked weekend in Waldorf serves as an early marker of the company’s upward trajectory. “It’s like what Davido said to Michael, we have to keep going because there will always be tomorrow,” he said, referencing the perseverance shown at Afro Plus Fest in Landover earlier this summer.
Festival‑goer Niles Murphy summed up the experience: “It was a movie – action‑packed, killer soundtrack. For the sequel, I just need the sun to make a cameo.” With strong attendance, high‑profile performers and a community that refused to be sidelined by weather, Camp SOD has demonstrated that Waldorf’s cultural pulse is anything but dampened.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
