Numbers don't lie. The Cincinnati Music Festival returned in full force this past weekend after postponing events since 2020 due to the pandemic.
The festival says more than 78,000 people attended Friday's and Saturday's concerts at Paul Brown Stadium, headlined by Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson and The O'Jay's, "making it one of the largest urban music festivals in the United States," per a release.
“Saturday night’s performance with headliner Janet Jackson was the largest crowd on a Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium that we have seen in the history of Cincinnati Music Festival,” said Joe Santangelo, producer of the fest, in the release.
See u 2nite @CincyMusicFest 😘 pic.twitter.com/SQZ71OoWSK
— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) July 23, 2022
There were 42,000 tickets sold for Saturday's performance, according to fest numbers, and 36,000 tickets sold for Friday's event, which was headlined by Wilson.
Lennox and BJ the Chicago Kid played the opening night on July 21 at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. Ticket sale info wasn't released for that show, but Lennox had nothing but positive things to say about Cincinnati, calling it "wholesome" and "pure" on Twitter.
Founded in 1962 as the all-Jazz Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, the Cincinnati Music Festival has been around for six decades, bringing some of the nation's top R&B, jazz and soul acts to the city. A study by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center also shows that along with hordes of music fans, the festival "provides a $107.4 million economic impact to the region."Cincinnati you were so wholesome and pure. I love you all so much 😘❤️
— Ari Lennox (@AriLennox) July 22, 2022
📷: @EliSnapped pic.twitter.com/2N1F2qY2Be
The Cincinnati Music Festival is hoping to repeat the success next year and has already released the dates for 2023's event. While performers have not yet been announced, the opening night show will take place July 20 at the Andrew J Brady Music Center with concerts following July 21-22 at Paul Brown Stadium.
For more info about the Cincinnati Music Festival, visit cincymusicfestival.com.
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