First-ever Rock the Block music fest bringing ‘American Idol’ star David Archuleta to South Florida

Wilton Manors is about to get rocked.

An inaugural music festival called Rock the Block will take over a stretch of Wilton Drive on Saturday, Feb. 17, headlined by Miami-born “American Idol” season 7 runner-up David Archuleta. The event is being produced by HarmonyWaves, a new-to-the-scene nonprofit that uses “the power of music to bring people together,” according to its president, Gary A. Van Horn Jr.

“So the idea literally came from a conversation with some city commissioners in Wilton Manors who said, ‘Hey, we want to do something else other than (LGBTQ+ Pride) twice a year. Something in high season.’ February being obviously a great time to visit South Florida,” recalls Van Horn. “And the city has been nothing but great to work with. Here’s this beautiful street in the middle of Wilton Drive in downtown Wilton Manors and they’ve opened it up to us and allowed us to create this event.”

Archuleta — who had a highly-touted performance on Fox’s “The Masked Singer” and made Out magazine’s Out100 list in 2023 — is returning to South Florida after many years. During a recent interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Archuleta said he has never performed live in Wilton Manors.

“This will be my first time! I’m really looking forward to it,” said Archuleta, 33.

Also performing will be British singer/songwriter Benedict Cork (making his U.S. debut) and electronic music’s Reina Gee. There may be a few additions to the bill, Van Horn said.

“Reina has been a longtime friend of mine. She’s a dance diva and a truly underappreciated talent, I think,” Van Horn said. “Benedict Cork is a very interesting story.”

Van Horn said he first became aware of Cork after learning he was behind the arrangement of Cher’s “Believe” that singer Adam Lambert performed during The Kennedy Center Honors in 2019.

“I’ve worked with Adam in the past and his road manager was a friend of mine, and he said, ‘Hey, a kid from the U.K. did that cover and arrangement and Adam asked permission to use it and sing it,'” Van Horn explained. “Then all of a sudden, I’m listening to Sirius XM Radio and Elton John has a show and … says (something like), ‘Here’s an upcoming artist that you need to be on the lookout for, he’s going to go far. His name is Benedict Cork.’ ”

Van Horn said there may be a debut of a new composition at Rock the Block.

“There’s some collaboration going on between him and David that I may have helped put together, and we’re excited to have him make his premiere in the United States in South Florida.”

Q&A WITH DAVID ARCHULETA

These days, Archuleta splits his time between Nashville and Los Angeles. He recently released three new singles, “Up,” “Afraid To Love” and “I’m Yours,” which won for Best Music Video at the Paris Play Film Festival 2023. The interview with Archuleta has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: Your family moved away from SoFlo when you were 6 years old, so have you spent any time here since then?

A: I haven’t! We used to visit in the summers, to visit family when I was younger, but the only remaining family I have in Florida lives in Central Florida now. I have been really wanting to go back, though.

Q: How important is it for you to perform in an LGBTQ+-friendly city like Wilton Manors (and Greater Fort Lauderdale) since being named to Out magazine’s Out100 2023 list?

A: I would say there’s nothing better than knowing you are welcomed as you are, especially when there are stigmas and misunderstandings about the queer identity still. It’s a great relief and makes me all the more excited to give an all-out performance and bust a move, and also with heartfelt moments combined in there.

Q: Is there anything you are particularly looking forward to doing while in SoFlo for Rock the Block, assuming you have some free time?

A: I don’t often have much time, but it would be fun to get some sun, especially since most parts of the country don’t have the beach weather in February like Florida probably does!

Q: Is there something in your upcoming performance at Rock the Block that you just can’t wait for the audience here to experience?

A: Something that I’ve been excited about doing recently is having dancers and choreography. It’s been a (tricky) time … learning how to go out of my comfort zone and the choreography has definitely been one of those things, especially while singing LIVE. It’s added a whole new element to the show, though, and I love it!

Q: What’s it like appealing to diehard loyal fans from the “American Idol” days, and now the experience of gaining new fans through a major TV show like “The Masked Singer?”

A: Seeing fans old and new following my career from being on the shows is fun. “American Idol” was such a launch and the beginning to my whole career. It was hard. But it’s paid off, I think. “Masked Singer” was a whole new experience and, while it was crazy wearing a costume as the Macaw, I had so much fun. I’m so glad other people enjoyed watching and hearing the new versions of songs I performed.

Q: What inspired you — in other words, what spoke to you — about some of your more recent releases such as “Up,” “Afraid to Love” and “I’m Yours?”

A: It came from a place of hitting rock bottom with “Up,” and driving to pick myself up from the ground and keep moving. “I’m Yours” and “Afraid to Love” are about the joy I finally felt accepting my queer identity, not being afraid of that part of me, and the excitement that comes with it. “Ok, All Right” is kind of a sarcastic approach to when you feel you’re in the middle of the doom and gloom of life. Sometimes you’ve just got to laugh it off and then you see a way through it.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Rock the Block 2024 featuring David Archuleta

WHEN: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

WHERE: Along Wilton Drive, between northeast Sixth Avenue and 21st Court, in Wilton Manors

COST: General admission tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate; VIP tickets are $250 (include open bar, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers from Apt 9F drinking den, priority access, prime viewing area and a meet-and-greet with the performers)

EXTRA TIDBIT: A Rock the Block kickoff with Benedict Cork will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at Hunters Nightclub, 2232-38 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Cost is $10 for general admission and $60 for VIP tickets (include open bar and gift).

INFORMATION: harmonywaves.org, Facebook.com/4HarmonyWaves, Instagram.com/4HarmonyWaves