R&B Music Festivals to Attend in 2022

Festival season continues to shift in full throttle as the weather heats up. Even though events such as the Lovers and Friends Festival, Smokin’ Grooves, and R&B Only Fest have already passed, there are still plenty of options for R&B lovers.

Here’s a roundup of R&B festivals happening around the U.S. in 2022 (in order by date).

Florida Funk Fest

When: June 3-4, 2022
Where: Orlando, Florida
Lineup: Mary J. Blige, Jazmine Sullivan, Jodeci, Tweet, Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, Carl Thomas and more
Tickets: funkfesttour.com

Kentucky R&B Fest

When: June 3, 2022
Where: Louisville, Kentucky
Lineup: Keith Sweat, Tevin Campbell, Raheem DeVaughn, 112 and more.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

Nashville R&B Fest

When: June 4, 2022
Where: Nashville, Tennessee
Lineup: Keith Sweat, Tevin Campbell, Tamar Braxton, 112, Silk, H-Town and more.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

Capital Jazz Fest

When: June 4-5, 2022
Where: Columbia, Maryland
Lineup: Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Musiq Soulchild, Keyshia Cole, Deborah Cox, Ledisi, Jeffrey Osborne, Damien Escobar, Tower of Power and more.
Tickets: capitaljazz.com/

Roots Picnic

When: June 4-5, 2022
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lineup: Mary J. Blige w/ The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, Keyshia Cole, SWV, Musiq Soulchild, Kasami Washington, Robert Glasper & Bilal, Muni Long, Alex Isley, Masego and more.
Tickets: rootspicnic.com

R&B Music Experience

When: June 11, 2022
Where: Greensboro, North Carolina
Lineup: Keith Sweat, Monica, Tamar Braxton, Silk, 112, Tevin Campbell and more
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

Something in the Water Festival

When: June 17-19, 2022
Where: Washington, D.C.
Lineup: Usher, Ashanti & Ja Rule, Lucky Daye, Jon Batiste, 6LACK, Chloe x Halle, Pharrell & Phriends, Snoh Aalegra, Teyana Taylor, Syd and more
Tickets: somethinginthewater.com

Louisville Funk Fest

When: June 18, 2022
Where: Louisville, Kentucky
Lineup: Jodeci, Stokley, Carl Thomas, Tweet and more
Tickets: funkfesttour.com

AFRAM Festival 

When: June 18-19, 2022
Where: Baltimore, Maryland
Lineup: The O’Jays, El DeBarge, Ne-Yo, Yung Bleu, Rotimi, Inayah and more.
Tickets: This event is FREE. Get more info here.

Essence Festival of Culture

When: June 30-July 3, 2022
Where: New Orleans, Louisianna
Lineup: Janet Jackson, New Edition, The Isley Brothers, Jazmine Sullivan, Lucky Daye, Summer Walker, D-Nice & Friends: Carl Thomas and Stephanie Mills, Tems and more
Tickets: essence.com

Cincinnati Music Festival

When: July 21-23, 2022
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
Lineup: Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, The O’Jays, After7, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Ari Lennox, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, Tank, BJ The Chicago Kid, Arin Ray and more
Tickets: cincymusicfestival.com

Summer Spirit Festival

When: Aug. 7, 2022
Where: Columbia, Maryland
Lineup: Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, Marsha Ambrosius, Junkyard Band, J. Brown and more.
Tickets: cdepresents.com/

LetsGetFr.ee Festival

When: Aug. 20-21, 2022 
Where: New York City, New York
Lineup: Missy Elliott, Anderson. Paak, Jhené Aiko, Jorja Smith, UMI, Fousheé and more
Tickets: letsgetfr.ee

Made in America Festival

When: Sept. 3-4, 2022
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Lineup: TBA
Tickets: madeinamericafest.com