At a time when nostalgia tours are dominating the live music scene, the Floetry reunion felt less like a throwback and more like a reminder of the lasting power of R&B and neo-soul.
Fans packed the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, May 7, for the Memphis stop of “Floetry Presents: Say Yes The Tour,” featuring opening performances from Teedra Moses and Raheem DeVaughn before headliner Floetry took the stage for their highly anticipated reunion performance.
Presented by BMN Entertainment, the nearly sold-out show placed soulful vocals, spoken word and emotional storytelling at the center of the evening. With DJ Aktive handling music between sets, the atmosphere inside the historic venue remained energized throughout the night as concertgoers sang along and danced to R&B classics.
Teedra Moses’ opening performance leaned heavily on live vocals rather than backing tracks, showcasing the voice that helped establish her as one of R&B’s most respected songwriters. She performed songs including “Be Your Girl,” “Take Me” and “You Better Tell Her,” drawing strong reactions from the audience. Her smooth delivery and confident stage presence reflected the same style that first earned her recognition in the early 2000s.
Raheem DeVaughn followed with a set that blended romance, humor and social awareness. Early in his performance, the Grammy-nominated artist joked that men should feel comfortable attending his concerts because he is “not Mr. Steal Your Girl” but “Mr. Make You Feel Your Girl.”
The audience responded enthusiastically as he performed fan favorites including “Guess Who Loves You More” and “You.” During “Customer,” DeVaughn moved through the crowd handing out roses, and even grinding on a few women, drawing cheers from the whole theater. DeVaughn knew how to keep the crowd engaged for sure, from squeezing a towel drenched with water to make the crowd have a visual representation of some of the words he was singing in his song, to pouring water in fans mouths, he kept the women screaming and wanting more.
Beyond the music, DeVaughn also used part of his set to address rising HIV and AIDS rates among Black women. He encouraged attendees to get tested and support organizations providing resources and outreach. He said his foundation, in partnership with Gilead Sciences, has helped more than 10,000 Black women gain access to HIV and AIDS testing.
The night’s most anticipated moment came when Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart reunited onstage as Floetry, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd before launching into songs from their platinum-selling debut album, “Floetic.”
As the duo performed songs including “Ms. Stress,” “Hey You,” “Butterflies” and “Say Yes,” the audience appeared fully immersed in the group’s signature blend of poetry and soul. Their chemistry and emotional delivery reminded longtime fans why Floetry became one of the defining acts of the neo-soul era.
Ambrosius and Stewart performed with the warmth and intimacy that originally defined the group’s live performances, creating an atmosphere that felt both reflective and deeply personal for many in attendance.
The “Say Yes Tour” has been promoted as an experience designed to present Floetry’s music in its most intimate and emotionally connected form, and Thursday’s performance delivered on that promise.
The concert also continued a strong run for BMN Entertainment, which has brought a variety of national tours and legacy acts to Memphis in recent years, including major comedy and music events.
By the end of the night, the response inside the Orpheum made one thing evident: neo-soul and contemporary R&B continue to resonate deeply with audiences, and the artists who helped define the genre remain capable of commanding the stage decades later.
