All for You
Cincinnati Music Festival
Thursday, July 21 – Andrew J. Brady Music Center
BJ the Chicago Kid, Arin Ray, Ari Lennox
Friday, July 22 – Paul Brown Stadium
Charlie Wilson, Anthony Hamilton, Fantasia, Toni! Tony! Tone! Jonathan Butler
Saturday, July 23
Janet Jackson, The O’Jays, Tank, After 7, Kirk Whalum
Tickets are still available at CincyMusicFestival.com or by calling 513-924-0900.
“We’ve been off for two years and are so glad to be back, so glad that people are feeling comfortable to travel in from out of town. The hotel rooms are booked out past the airport,” says Fran Santangelo-DiBattista, the director of marketing and PR with Cincinnati Music Festival. “We have so many fans coming in to enjoy this concert. We’re so excited.”
After a lengthy absence, Cincinnati Music Festival, presented by P&G, returns to Paul Brown Stadium July 22 and 23, with an incredible line-up of R&B artists including Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, The O’Jays and more.
For the first time, performances on Thursday, July 21 will be held at The Andrew J. Brady Music Center.
Music History
“My uncle and my dad, who worked together were lovers of Jazz, lovers of live concerts,” says Santangelo-DiBattista.“My dad is a musician himself, (he) plays the piano. Music has always been in our family. It (CMF) started off as a smaller jazz concert, one Though the first of the first festivals in the United States.”
Though shows in the 1950s were held in French Lick, Indiana, since the 1960s the festival has called Cincinnati home, with early shows at Crosley Field. Among the greats who have played the festival over the years are Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simon, Miles Davis, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Kool & The Gang, Midnight Star, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, Barry White, Earth Wind and Fire, Erykah Badu, John Legend, and Aretha Franklin.
“I think the transformation that’s taken place, starting with jazz, morphing into R&B…We’ve got hip-hop, soul,” says Santangelo-DiBattista. “I think the best part is always watching it come together.”
“Thursday, our show kicks off the at Andrew J. Brady Center,” says Santangelo-DiBattista. “We have Ari Lennox headlining that show. She is a huge name in R&B right now, a fan favorite. We’re excited to welcome her.”
The weekend is huge for the region. A recent study by the UC Economics Center indicates that CMF weekend is the largest tourism weekend of the year in Cincinnati, with an economic impact of $107.4 million.
“We hear stories from businesses…The TJ Maxx in Kenwood every year has their biggest year during our weekend. Skyline Chilis say they wait for this weekend,” says Santangelo-DiBattista. “It’s a really great waterfall effect to see the small businesses and the impact this weekend does.”
– Lauren Artino