A recent article from Newsweek has named the long-running Cincinnati Music Festival as one of the “13 Best Music Festivals of Summer 2019.” The local R&B fest was included alongside heavyweight events like Coachella, Hangout Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Boston Calling, Outside Lands and Woodstock 50.
Here’s what Newsweek had to say about this year’s CMF, which returns to Paul Brown Stadium July 25-27:
Originally dubbed the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, this annual weekend series has transformed into an immense gathering on Cincinnati’s riverfront. Queen of R&B Mary J. Blige headlines, along with Earth, Wind & Fire, Slick Rick and Maxwell. Things kick off July 25 with a fashion show featuring the African-inspired styles of local design house Shingo.
For CMF 2019’s opening-night kick-off event on July 25, Hip Hop legends Slick Rick, EPMD and Kid Capri are scheduled to perform. The lineup for the weekend concerts showcases the event’s familiar mix of contemporary R&B/Soul favorites (like Mary J. Blige and Maxwell) and old-school heroes (like Earth Wind & Fire and Frankie Beverly & Maze).
On July 26, the classic lineup of New Edition (“Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike”) is booked to appear, but under the name RBRM, due to early member Ralph Tresvant owning the trademark on the NE name (Tresvant has been touring with another former member, Johnny Gill, but not under the New Edition name).
Here is the complete weekend lineup for the 2019 Cincinnati Music Festival:
Friday, July 26: Maxwell, Earth, Wind & Fire, RBRM (Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike of New Edition), Tamia and Raheem DeVaughn
Saturday, July 27: Mary J, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Blackstreet featuring Teddy Riley & Dave Hollister, The Ohio Players and Major
Tickets for Cincinnati Music Festival are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
This article appears in Apr 10-17, 2019.
