27th Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival, New Location and Lower Ticket Price

The 27th Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival will be here before we all know it and will be happening on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18 and 19. The festival has also moved, being held at Parcel 5 Downtown this year.

“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” Mayor Malik D. 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.”

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.

“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.”

Leading up to the event, the producers of the Summer Soul Music Festival will host additional community concerts around the city of Rochester to promote the show and give away tickets. The concert dates and locations include:

• 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.

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. 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.