Crowds, performances electrified 2015 CityFest in Birmingham

The Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest at Railroad Park on Saturday, Aug. 1, drew large crowds to enjoy music from an American Idol and one of the best-known house bands on television.
Birmingham’s own American Idol, Taylor Hicks, got the crowds going into the night. Common, who won an Academy Award this year for his performance of “Glory” with John Legend for the movie “Selma,” opened up for The Roots, the Grammy Award-winning, hip-hop band also known for being the house band on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
The Roots closed out the night with their own electrifying performance.
- Taylor Hicks performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Common performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Common performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Common performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- The Roots perform at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Taylor Hicks performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Common performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Common performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Taylor Hicks performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Jack Schaeffer of Schaeffer Eye Center and Birmingham Mayor William Bell on the stage of the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Taylor Hicks performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman / Alabama NewsCenter)
- The Roots perform at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- The Roots perform at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- The Roots perform at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Crowds were large throughout the afternoon and night at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
- Taylor Hicks performs at the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
The headliners seemed to be having fun at Railroad Park based on their Twitter feeds.
Acting a fool while halftime act @Common rocks out in #Birmingham we had a ball! @TheRoots https://t.co/PzPiEdnc87
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 2, 2015
My view last night. Watching The Legendary @theroots crew. This will never get old! https://t.co/gylLeXgYRq
— COMMON (@common) August 2, 2015
And The Roots drummer, Questlove, even took time to take in some Birmingham music history.
Statue of the legendary silky voiced #EddieKendricks of #TheTemptations in the Eddie Kendricks Park… https://t.co/7qHpH4RjYc
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 2, 2015