The Roots recently announced the lineup for their 2015 festival. The Eighth Annual Roots Picnic takes place May 30 at the Festival Pier in their hometown of Philadelphia. Along with The Tonight Show band, Erykah Badu, The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky will headline the event.
Other artists scheduled to perform include DJ Mustard, Chronixx and the Zincfence Redemption, Hiatus Kaiyote, King Britt, Bishop Nehru, Moses Sumney, Afrika Bambaataa, Hudson Mohawke, Windows 98, Raury, Brianna Cash, Marc E. Bassy and Donn T.
"I think this is one of our most diverse lineups to date," Questlove told Billboard. "I am looking forward to seeing the discovery process. That is what excites me each year. Seeing someone who bought a ticket for one act, discover the music of an unexpected artist. I'm sure there will be some A$AP Rocky fans that will dig Hiatus Kaiyote or some Weeknd fans that will discover Chronixx and vice versa."
According to the band's manager, Shawn Gee, last year's picnic sold out, so the group responded by making the event bigger. There will be 18 acts spread out among three stages. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13. Visit the event's website for more information.
The Roots released their 11th studio album, ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin last year. It hit number 11 on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It received positive reviews from multiple outlets.
"With zero aspirational tales, the Roots' 11th album explores a hopelessness where the trap is something you're stuck in. The band seems fueled by a moody, circa-1961 record collection, recontextualizing life before funk," Rolling Stone wrote.
#RootsPicnic2015 returns to @festivalpier Sat. 5/30! EarlyBird Tix onsale Fri. @ noon: https://t.co/okAe54UOtA pic.twitter.com/OKkeUxF1Ue
— Roots Picnic (@rootspicnic) March 10, 2015
