Cincinnati Music Festival is one of the longest-running jazz festivals in the United States. Besides jazz, the Cincinnati Festival lineup features more genres like R&B, soul, and hip-hop. More than 80,000 music lovers across the US are going to the Cincy Music Festival every year.
Being one of the biggest US festivals, the lineup is more than exciting. So, this one can be special if you’re a jazz, soul, and R&B fan. With acts like Maxwell, New Edition, MC Lyte, October London, and many others, the Cincinnati Music Festival lineup uncovers a new dimension of musical experiences.
But let’s take one step at a time and explain everything you have to know before attending such a special event.
When Is the Cincinnati Music Festival 2024?
The end of July is reserved for great music and authentic experiences. Starting on 25 July with a few extraordinary acts and ending on 27 July, the 2024 edition of the Cincinnati Festival promises a great party for everyone.
Where Is the Cincinnati Festival Held?
The first edition was happening on Cincinnati’s riverfront, and it was a complete jazz festival. It changed a few venues until the festival found its forever home in Paycor Stadium. The best thing is that the stadium is also on Cincinnati’s river waterfront, making the whole experience authentic.
What Music Genres Does the Cincinnati Festival Cover?
If you’re tired of EDM performances, the techno experiences, or maybe the alternative and indie acts, you’ll surely like the sound of Cincinnati Music Festival’s new lineup.
The first name of the festival was the Cincinnati Jazz Festival, so it’s evident that the primary genre would be jazz. Knowing that many genres exist in the same family, the Cincinnati Music Festival lineup opened some slots for hip-hop, soul, R&B, and even contemporary pop sounds.
Also, the organizers stayed true to the initial idea of supporting jazz artists all the way around.
In the past, acts like Gladys Knight, R Kelly, Faith Evans, Patti Labelle, and even Chaka Khan were part of the lineups. In the 2020s, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Jodeci, and After 7 performed at the Cincinnati Festival, showing that the event is still one of the most important festivals in the US.
Participation Lineup for the 2024 Cincinnati Festival
The promising 2024 lineup features exceptional acts you should take notice of. You’ll find the exact performer to lift your mood from Ne-Yo to Stokley Williams.
You have three days to enjoy “Cincy Music Fest,” as fans usually want to refer to this festival.
Who Is Headlining Cincinnati Fest 2024?
The first day of the festival will be a celebration of hip-hop, so all the acts get equal time on the stage, including MC-Lyte, EPMD, Black Sheep, and KRS-One.
Maxwell will have the main act on the second day, while New Edition will perform as headliners on the third day.
Who Else Is Playing at Cincinnati 2024?
We talked about the headliners, but now we can say a few words about each act featured in the Cincinnati 2024 lineup:
- MC-Lyte – The first ever female hip-hop artist to perform in the White House
- KRS-One – People often call him the spokesperson of hip-hop
- EPMD – A duo that is also known for their production studios
- Black Sheep – A band that stays behind the 1987 single “You’re a Customer.”
- Maxwell – You probably already know the famous “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” song
- Ne-Yo – A great singer, songwriter, and producer who also knows how to dance
- Fantasia – A great singer who won the third season of American Idol
- October London – Known for his collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Faith Evans
- The Original Lakeside – A band that went through many changes but also successful singles
- New Edition – Their name means a new edition of Jackson 5
- Kem – A famous R&B singer and songwriter
- SWV – A well-known vocal trio whose members are three talented ladies
- Coco Jones – An actress and talented musician known for her powerful storytelling
- Stokley – Producer and singer who is also a part of the band Mint Condition
How Much Do the Tickets for the Cincinnati Festival Cost?
Cincinnati Music Festival has an exclusive partnership with Ticketmaster (affiliate link) as the first seller.
This festival is among the most affordable, from $99 for a standard daily ticket to $125 for VIP tickets. Initially, the early-bird prices were much lower, but as the date gets closer and demand grows, the prices usually go up. The good news is that tickets are still available (June 11) for the recommended price. Tickets are still available for all dates, but some sections are starting to sell out, so don’t wait too long if you still don’t have your tickets.
How Can I Get Tickets to Cincinnati Music Fest 2024?
As mentioned, Ticketmaster (affiliate link) is the official seller. Even if you find other sources, they often redirect you to Ticketmaster’s website.
You will be redirected to order tickets on Ticketmaster even if you visit the official festival webpage.
If you use our affiliate link, you will help support us, and that will not cost you anything additional.
Cincinnati Festival Lineup by Day – Participation Lineup
We mentioned the acts for the 2024 lineup, but now it’s time to provide the exact schedule for this year’s Cincinnati festival. So, let’s see:
Day 1 📅 Thursday, July 25
⭐ MC Lyte
⭐ KRS One
⭐ EPMD
⭐ Black Sheep
Day 2 📅 Friday, July 26
⭐ Maxwell
⭐ Ne-Yo
⭐ Fantasia
⭐ October London
⭐ The Original Lakeside
Day 3 📅 Saturday, July 27
⭐ New Edition
⭐ Kem
⭐ SWV
⭐ Coco Jones
⭐ Stokley
The second and third festival days will occur at the Paycor Stadium, but the opening night will be at The Andrew J Brady Music Center. The Andrew J Brady Music Center will also be a location where you can see Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame inductees on July 27.
Important Info About Cincinnati Festival 2024
Each update you need on this festival is available on their official website.
You can also find clear instructions on how to get to the venue if you like. You can arrive by car or air, depending on where you come from. There are two main airports: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Lunken.
Indeed, Cincinnati is close to Dayton, Lexington, Louisville, Columbus, and Indianapolis – which means you can arrive there and still have less than a 2-hour ride to get to the festival.
I want you to know that many hotels already offer accommodation for every ticket holder, so explore all those options and find where to stay easily.
Cincinnati Festival Videos
You’re planning to attend this festival for the first time but don’t know what to expect. Don’t worry; these videos will get the atmosphere closer to you so you can easily prepare for the upcoming experience.
Cincinnati Festival Gallery
Experience the unique festival spirit through photos from previous editions. We’re sure you want similar ones for your Instagram feed.
Cincinnati Festival Reviews
You may need more reviews for this festival online, but we believe there is a strong reason for that.
People review businesses, venues, and events when they are less than 100% happy with the experience. We couldn’t find specific reviews on our favorite Cincinnati Music Festival and its previous and current lineups, so we believe people have nothing to be bitter about.
One blog post stands out, and it’s about the 2019 edition. The author Ijeoma Kola says that millennials are an age group that should visit this festival because they’ll know all their songs.
Previous Years’ Cincinnati Fest Lineups
We’ll now share the previous lineups to prove that Cincinnati is an exciting experience for festival enthusiasts. You may see some repeating artists who were performing previously.
Cincinnati Music Festival Lineup 2023
According to the official website, in 2023, the audience enjoyed many exciting acts like:
- Snoop Dogg
- Al Green
- Jodeci
- Baby Face
- Jill Scott
- Midnight Star
- Avery Sunshine
- P-Funk Connection
- Doug E. Fresh
- Slick Rick
- Gerald Albright
- Norman Brown
- Rakim
- Big Daddy Kane
Cincinnati Music Festival 2022 Lineup
The 2022 lineup was more than exciting with these performers:
- Janet Jackson
- Keyshia Cole
- Ari Lennox
- The O’Jays
- After 7
- Charlie Wilson
- Tank
- Arin Ray
- BJ the Chicago Kid
- Jonathan Butler
- Tony Toni Tone!
- Kirk Whalum
More Similar Music Festivals
If you like this year’s Cincinnati Music Festival lineup, we’re sure you’ll enjoy many other exciting festivals like:
- Gasparilla Music Festival – Besides jazz, it features country, rock, and indie genres.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – For those who enjoy jazz, gospel, folk, and blues.
- Summerfest – A legendary festival featuring jazz, pop, metal, and hard rock, among other genres.
- Newport Jazz Festival – If you love jazz, rock, and pop.
