Summer 2009 R&B/Soul Festivals & Concert Tours

When: July 3 to 5.
Where: New Orleans (at the Louisiana Superdome).

The Essence Music Festival, which is put on every year around Independence Day, is one of the biggest and best R&B music festivals year after year, and usually has a very strong lineup of contemporary and classic R&B and Soul artists. Among the performers:
July 3
Beyonce
John Legend
Ne-Yo
Eric Benet
Solange
July 4
Maxwell
Robin Thicke
Jazmine Sullivan
Ledisi
Janelle Monae
July 5
Al Green
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
Teena Marie
Raphael Saadiq
Ryan Leslie

Neo-Soul superstar Maxwell, who's long-awaited fourth studio album, BLACKsummers'night drops July 7, 2009, will be touring this summer to support the album. The tour dates mark his first extended concert run since breaking a six-year hiatus from live performances with a US tour in October 2008. The tour kicks off June 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and finishes July 31 in Miami. Along way, he'll headline the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, appear at the BET Music Awards in Los Angeles on June 28 and perform on the CBS "Late Show with David Letterman" on July 10.

When: June 5 to Aug. 15.
Where: NYC's Central Park.

SummerStage is a series of free - yes, free - concerts taking place in New York City's Central Park every year. Admission to all performances is on a first-come, first-served basis, no tickets required. Gates for all shows open an hour before performances. Not all shows feature R&B and/or Soul artists, but among the performers on various dates are:
June 13
Ruben Studdard
June 28
Ledisi
July 26
Joe
Ginuwine
Chico DeBarge
Aug. 9
Jazmine Sullivan
Chrisette Michele
Jon B.

JUNE
21: New York City, Madison Square Garden
24: Washington DC Verizon Center
26: Philadelphia, Wachovia Center
27: Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex
29: Ft Lauderdale, FL Bank Atlantic Center
JULY
1: Atlanta, Philips Arena
3: New Orleans, Superdome
4: Houston, Toyota Center
5: Dallas, American Airlines Center
7: Phoenix, US Airways Center
9: Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
10: Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
11: Anaheim, Honda Center
13: Los Angeles, Staples Center
16: Minneapolis, Target Center
17: Chicago, United Center
18: Detroit, Palace of Auburn Hills
23: Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
30: Las Vegas, Encore Theater
31: Las Vegas, Encore Theater

AUGUST
1: Las Vegas, Encore Theater
2: Las Vegas, Encore Theater

JUNE
27: Muskegon, MI - Heritage Landing
JULY
3: New Orleans - The Superdome
5: Atlanta - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
11: North Charleston, SC - N. Charleston Performing Arts Center
14: Portsmouth, VA - Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
17: Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
18: Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
20: Toledo, OH - Zoo Amphitheatre
24: Elizabeth, IN - Horseshoe Southern Indiana
25: Windsor, Ontario - Caesars Windsor The Colosseum
31: Cincinnati - Brown Stadium

AUGUST
3: West Homestead, PA - Riverplex Amphitheatre
5: Philadelphia - Mann Performing Arts Center
7: Boston - B of A Pavilion
28: Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
29: Goldendale, WA - Winery Amphitheater
SEPTEMBER
1: Los Angeles - Greek Theatre

These two R&B/Soul stars will co-headline a summer tour that criss-crosses the U.S.
MAY
28: Houston, TX - Reliant Arena
29: Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live
30: Southaven, MS - DeSoto Center
31: St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
JUNE
4: Los Angeles - Nokia Theatre
6: Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
11: Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre
12: Detroit - Opera House
13: Chicago - Arie Crown Theater
16: Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center
18: New York City - WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden
19: Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
21: Baltimore - Pier Six Pavilion
25: Atlanta - Fox Theatre
26: Augusta, GA - Bell Auditorium
27: Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall
28: Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium

Ryan Leslie and Jazmine Sullivan, two artists who released their debut albums in the past few months, will both perform at the Essence Music Festival on 4th of July weekend. And leading up to that, the two have decided to go out on a short tour together. As of right now, the "Road to Essence Music Festival" tour is scheduled to hit just seven cities before the Essence Festival starts July 3 in New Orleans.

Jazmine Sullivan/Ryan Leslie Tour Dates:
6.22.09 - Baltimore, MD Main Stage at Sonar
6.24.09 - Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
6.25.09 - Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
6.29.09 - Cleveland, OH House of Blues
6.30.09 - Chicago, IL House of Blues
7.02.09 - Dallas, TX House of Blues
7.03.09 - Houston, TX House of Blues

The Soul Summer Series launches Sat., July 4th in Orlando, FL at the Bob Carr Performing Center. The kickoff concert stars Grammy Award winning soul artist India.Arie. The event will also feature Tamia, Bradd Marquis and Hal Linton.

July 4 - Orlando, FL: Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Headliners: India.Arie, Tamia.
July 10 - Waterbury, CT: Palace Theater. Headliner: MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly.
July 11 - NYC: Beacon Theater. Headliner: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
July 12 - Newark, NJ: Newark Symphony Hall. Headliner: Frankie Beverly & Maze.
Other shows to be announced:
• New Orleans, LA
• Nashville, TN
• Atlanta, GA
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Chicago, IL
• Washington DC
• Baltimore, MD
• Miami, FL

When: May 20-25.
Where: Aruba (it's an island in the southern Caribbean Sea).

The 2009 Soul Beach Music Festival will fly into Aruba on Memorial Day weekend and features five days of events. This year's lineup includes Jamie Foxx, Robin Thicke, Estelle, Wayne Brady and more.

When: June 25-27.
Where: St. Kitts, West Indies.

The St. Kitts Music Festival originally began as a marketing tool to attract visitors to the Carribean island. This year's show will feature mostly Carribean artists, but also among the performers will be Regina Belle, T-Pain, Stephen Marley and KC & the Sunshine Band.