Common, Angie Stone to headline 2016 African American Festival in Baltimore
Wednesday Mar 16th, 2016
The Baltimore Sun
March 15, 2016
Hip-hop artist Common and R&B singers Angie Stone and Goapele will headline this year's African American Festival in Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie-Rawlings Blake announced Tuesday.
Last year, it was rapper Doug E. Fresh and gospel singer Stephanie Mills who “brought the house down” at the festival, Rawlings-Blake said, describing the performance as "one of the hottest shows ever."
This year's lineup will look to top that for the festival's 40th anniversary. In addition to Common, Stone and Goapele, performers will include Joe, Estelle and Baltimore’s own Ruff Endz. Actress Vivica A. Fox and actor Jonathan Slocumb will serve as hosts.
Rawlings-Blake announced the latest details of the free summer festival during a news conference at City Hall on Tuesday, featuring a surprise performance from Ruff Endz. The event, which annually draws over 200,000 attendees, will take place at Camden Yards Sports Complex on July 2-3.
The festival will also feature a tribute to the life and career of Baltimore radio personality DJ Reggie Reg, who died in February.
“We live in one most of the exciting cities in the country, and we’re going to have the chance to showcase that this summer," Rawlings-Blake said. "I love the opportunity to show off all that is Baltimore.”