City of Rochester
News Release
(Thursday, May 4, 2023) – Mayor Malik D. Evans was joined today by Varick Baiyina, President and CEO of Xperience Live Events, and Deborah Brundage from MVP Health Care to announce the two-day lineup of entertainers for the 27th Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival, which will take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18 and 19. Mayor Evans also announced that the festival will be held at Parcel 5 Downtown this year.
The Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival is a City of Rochester event produced by Xperience Live Events and made possible by the sponsorship of Wegmans, Constellation Brands, and MVP Health Care.
“The Rochester Summer Soul Music Fest is one of the premier Soul and R&B music festivals in the Northeast and the perfect conclusion to the events season here in Rochester” said Mayor Evans. “Varick Baiyina and his team at Xperience Live Events have curated another fantastic weekend with elements the whole family can enjoy. With a new location in the heart of Downtown and a new, lower general admission ticket price at just $25, this year’s Summer Soul Music Fest is going to be an event you won’t want to miss.”
“Community events like the Rochester Summer Soul Fest create a powerful space for the Rochester region to gather and enjoy great music and each other’s company,” said MVP Health Care’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Deborah Brundage. “This concert series celebrates the vibrancy and culture of the community that we all live, work, and play in and we are so proud to support this exciting event. We look forward to seeing you at the Festival and the pop up concerts throughout the region.”
The festival will kick off at 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18 with performances by the Eastman School of Music, Anthony Dounte, NA$A Family, Jimmie Highsmith Jr. featuring Prince O and Chi the Realist, Adina Howard, Troop, and Big Daddy Kane. The festival will continue at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 with performances by the Eastman School of Music, Rod Bonner, Top 5, Mambo Kings, Yo-Yo, Kid ‘n Play, and SILK. Both days will have local food, drinks, and merchandise for sale.
Ticket prices for the 27th Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival are as follows:
General Admission:• One day - $25
• Two-day bundle - $39
Premium:
• One day - $99
• Two-day bundle - $179
VIP suites:
• One day - $2,500
• Two-day bundle - $4,500
Tickets can be purchased on the Rochester Summer Soul Festival website or in person, without the online fees, at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League Box Office, 885 E. Main Street.
Leading up to the event, the producers of the Summer Soul Music Festival will host four community concerts around the city of Rochester to promote the show and give away tickets. The concert dates and locations include:
• June 3 - 19th Ward Square Fair at Aberdeen Square, 373 Aberdeen St.
• July 22 - The International Plaza, 828 N. Clinton Ave.
• Aug. 5 - Pan Afrikan Festival, Highland Bowl, 1137 South Ave.
• Aug. 12 - David F. Gantt R-Center, 700 North St.
Xperience Live Events, LLC is a Maryland-based event planning company founded by Rochester native Varick Baiyina.
“As a native son of Rochester, I’m honored to continue such a proud tradition in my hometown,” said Baiyina. “Since 1995, the City of Rochester has produced its heritage Rochester Music Festival as a family-friendly concert experience designed to offer authentic grassroots community engagement. Building on that legacy, the 27th Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival will be more momentous and garner even more regional excitement this year.”
For more information and updates on the Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival, visit www.rocsummersoulfest.com.
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