One of the longest-running Black music festivals is returning this summer with this year’s edition of the Cincinnati Music Festival. After successfully bouncing back in 2022 with headliners Janet Jackson and Charlie Wilson, the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival is looking to build on that momentum this July with a new lineup of legends across soul, R&B, hip-hop, funk and jazz.
The 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival will kick things off on Thursday, July 20th with a night dedicated to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. On hand to celebrate this milestone will be veteran MCs Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. These masters of the mic will cold rock the party at the Brady Music Center.
After that hip-hop extravaganza, the event will move to Paycor Stadium for day two on Friday, July 21st. Al Green is set as the headliner in his very first appearance at the Cincinnati Music Festival. Returning to grace the CMF stage for the sixth time will be Jill Scott who’ll be fresh from the road after performing on The Who Is Jill Scott? Word & Sounds Vol. 1 23rd Anniversary Tour all spring. Rounding out the lineup will be ’90s R&B dudes Jodeci, ’80s soul and funk freak-a-zoids Midnight Star and jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright.
The final day of the festival on Saturday, July 22nd will end the annual event just as hype as it began. Also performing at the Cincinnati Music Festival for the first time will be superstar rapper and businessman Snoop Dogg who’ll headline that night and rock the mic right. Before Snoop lights the stage up, Babyface will croon his way into soul and R&B lovers’ hearts. Leading up to their performances will be funkateers P-Funk Connection, soultress Avery*Sunshine and jazz guitarist Norman Brown.
Once again presented by P&G, the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival is definitely an event to add to your summer to-do list. Whether you’re local to Cincy or need to travel to Ohio, make plans now to attend and cop tickets from Ticketmaster before all the good seats are gone.
