St. Louis’s “WerQfest” returned this year with its biggest lineup yet, settling into its new home, the Atomic Pavilion by Jamo in The Grove. The festival has long been a space where Black queer artistry takes center stage without apology. This time, the spotlight belonged to Avery Wilson — vocalist, Grammy-nominated performer, actor, dancer, and YouTube star — who headlined on July 12, 2025.

Avery came into “WerQfest" fresh off his first real Pride Month run, which included a show in D.C. But he told BET St. Louis was something different. “It felt very freeing to be honest,” he said. Despite years in the spotlight, known for his voice and his connections with major artists and labels, standing “wholly as myself, and not being afraid or ashamed” was a new level. The vocal powerhouse talked about the energy exchange with the crowd, how they showed up “no type of barrier in the way,” and how that made the moment “really one of the most amazing things to be a part of.”

That freedom didn’t stop at that stage. He called the whole experience memorable. “It was my first time in St Louis, for real. So I think the entire experience was amazing, just as I said, to see people be free, and to see people be able to express themselves, and nobody worry about gender or worry about being too avant garde or too out, or, you know, too loud the base level was be yourself and come as you are and be that,” he expressed. The crowd brought an endearing sense of unity, and the vibe was so welcoming that even his miniature poodle broke out of its carrier and ended up on stage during his first song, “Kiss The Sky.” Security didn’t bat an eye. The crowd? They stayed locked in from start to finish. “Not one moment in my set that I felt like people were kind of trying to warm up,” he said. “I felt like I walked out. It was just like, we hot.”

WerQfest doesn’t just highlight national talent. It lifts local Black queer artists, and Avery knows why that matters. “I think being queer and black, we’re all emerging talents, even when you’re known,” he explained. The mainstream is starting to catch on, but judgment still hits before words are even spoken. From rumors to dress to social circles, the scrutiny is constant.” He challenged that mindset, saying, “If you didn’t look at me like that, you just looked at me for my talent... I think we would just be able to really be able to open each other’s arms and hold each other more, and like to support each other more.” He pointed to the harm in separation — how it forces people to have ego or self-doubt, stating,“Either look up and not trust themselves, or look down and think that they’re more than what they are.”

The conversation turned somber as the Grammy-nominated singer reflected on artists lost too soon, calling out the“judgmental and vindictive” culture that boxed them in, stripping away their freedom to simply be. He namedLuther Vandross, among others, “If we gave them space to be free and who they are, they’d probably still be here with us,” he said. That’s why he’s been open about being a bisexual man — not because it defines him, but because he doesn’t want people to miss the full story. “I do feel like I have to stand on that and be forward, because I would hate to leave this earth and people... don’t get a chance to experience me and my entirety, or in my, you know, totality, my wholeness.”

Before the festival, Wilson had wrapped a challenging chapter in his career — playing the Scarecrow on Broadway in the Grammy-nominated musical The Wiz. “Honestly, the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he admitted. Eight shows a week, one day off, meant grinding like no other. But it forced him to stretch beyond his singer identity, embodying a character and telling someone else’s story. “It really flipped me inside out,” he said, explaining that stepping away from singing to act and dance gave him a fresh perspective on his artistry and self. He also gave a shoutout to the legends who played the role before him, like Michael Jackson and Elijah Kelley, underscoring the huge shoes he had to fill.

That nomination opened doors but didn’t end the journey. “Now the goal is to win the Grammy, but win it for me,” Avery declared. He described the nomination as finally getting his foot “in the house.” “When you don’t have a Grammy nomination... You're kind of outside the house. But now I’m in, like, the corridor. I’m like, you know, I ain’t really get invited into the kitchen or the living room or get to use the bathroom yet, but I’m in the house, so I’m okay with that.”

His advice to young Black queer artists? “You really have to say yes to yourself a lot of times.” The triple threat admitted he’s learned this the hard way, sometimes saying no to himself and having to take the long route. But that path made him stronger, better prepared, and equipped. “Now I say yes to myself, yes to the fact that I am a black, queer R&B singer.” He’s clear that confidence doesn’t come from others but from belief in yourself. “Say yes to yourself the entire time, even when it feels like no.”

WerQfest’s founders see that same spirit reflected in the festival’s energy. Tre’von Griffith described it as a movement “built from the ground up through community love, sleepless nights, and relentless belief,” aiming for a platform that “extends far beyond one day.” Shelton Boyd-Griffith called the work “soul work” and “community work,” explaining that every year the sea of Black queer expression fills him up.

Avery Wilson showed up and showed out — a Black queer R&B force carving his lane, claiming his space, and demanding to be seen in his totality, and this year WerQfest gave him the stage to do it!