The Roots are coming back home this spring, with their annual Roots Picnic now stretching over a full three days the first weekend of June.
Headlining the affair is Lauryn Hill, who is touring behind the 25th anniversary of her landmark 1998 album The Mis-Education Of Lauryn Hill; she’ll perform the record in full at the festival, and will share the headlining spotlight with production legend (and recent Super Bowl commercial star) Diddy playing a set backed by The Roots. While those concerts take place at The Mann Center on June 3rd and 4th, the festival kicks off Friday, June 2nd with provocative comedian Dave Chappelle performing a set at Wells Fargo Center.
The undercard of the picnic is, as ever, robust. Philly rap star Lil Uzi Vert is also billed high with their third Roots Picnic appearance, while Black Thought‘s annual mixtape this year features Eve and Busta Rhymes, along with whatever other surprise guests Thought can get together. The “Soulquarian Icons Set,” a recent fixture of the show since it relocated to the Mann in 2019, this year features The Isley Brothers and Roy Ayers; in the category hip-hop legends, Philly’s State Property is reuniting for the Picnic. And also keep an eye out for appearances by Little Brother, Philly-made behind-the-scenes star music director Adam Blackstone, R&B singer-songwriter Ari Lennox, Memphis rapper Glorilla and more.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 22nd via The Roots Picnic website; details at the WXPN Concerts and Events page.
