Queen City Beats
If you're anywhere near the Queen City in late July and you don't hear the music, check your pulse. The Cincinnati Music Festival is rolling back into town July 24 to 26, transforming Paycor Stadium and The Andrew J. Brady Music Center into a living archive of rhythm, soul and cultural celebration. It’s not just a music festival. It’s Cincinnati’s biggest reunion, loudest block party and most electric history lesson all wrapped in one.
Presented by P&G, the Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF) is more than a show. It’s an institution. With a lineup that fuses legends, pioneers and future icons, this year’s edition promises three nights of pure magic. Whether you love the smooth croon of classic R&B or the thump of old-school funk, whether you slow dance to Toni Braxton or two-step to The Zapp Band, there's something in the setlist with your name on it.
Let’s break it down.
Thursday, July 24: The Beat That Started It All
Hip hop gets its flowers on opening night at The Andrew J. Brady Center with a Tribute to Hip Hop Music featuring Scarface, Goodie Mob, Sugarhill Gang and Young MC. This is not a warm-up act. This is a reverent nod to the genre that started in Bronx block parties and now headlines Super Bowls. Scarface delivers the gritty Southern truth. Goodie Mob brings Atlanta soul with sharp social commentary. Sugarhill Gang paved the way with Rapper’s Delight. Young MC reminds us that clever bars and infectious hooks can still bring the house down.
This night is a living mixtape. A celebration of the art form that changed how generations express themselves.
Friday, July 25: Soul School Is in Session
Friday moves the party to Paycor Stadium, where Earth, Wind & Fire lead a bill that would make any R&B lover cancel plans. They’re joined by Anthony Hamilton, Jazmine Sullivan, PJ Morton and The Zapp Band. Let that sink in.
Earth, Wind & Fire are more than a band. They are a sonic celebration of joy. Their music makes wedding dance floors erupt and strangers sing together in elevators. Anthony Hamilton’s gravel-and-honey voice cuts through the noise with gospel grit. Jazmine Sullivan is a modern-day vocal titan, with lyrics that punch and comfort at the same time. PJ Morton? He’s what happens when you stir church, Stevie Wonder and New Orleans into one pot.
And then there's The Zapp Band. They aren’t just returning to Cincinnati. They’re coming home. Their talkbox funk helped shape the sound of the 80s and laid the groundwork for today’s hip hop beats. It’s only fitting that the night also includes a Tribute to King Records — the Cincinnati label that launched James Brown and helped desegregate the American music business. Local artist Dreion leads the charge on this one, reminding us that Cincinnati's musical legacy didn’t start with CMF. It helped start the industry.
Saturday, July 26: A Lineup to End All Lineups
Saturday closes CMF with a mix of slow jams, love anthems and genre giants. LL Cool J headlines with the same charisma that made him the first rapper to win a Kennedy Center Honor. Toni Braxton steps on stage and time stops. Her smoky voice hasn’t aged. Her heartbreak hits still hit. She’s an icon in heels and velvet.
But this night isn’t just about hits. It’s about heritage. A Special Tribute to Frankie Beverly featuring Jubu will honor one of the most enduring voices in soul. The tribute includes special appearances from Ronald Isley, Joe, After 7, Dave Hollister and Raheem DeVaughn. These artists are not just paying tribute. They’re carrying the torch.
Lucky Daye represents the future of R&B, with a sound that respects the past and pulls it into the now. 112 delivers 90s nostalgia with Bad Boy swagger. The Bar-Kays round it out with Memphis funk that’s still as fresh as ever.
More Than Music
According to a recent study by the UC Economics Center, CMF pumps more than $107 million into the local economy each year. Hotels book out. Restaurants boom. Uber drivers stay busy. But the real value is less measurable. It’s in the way strangers high five between sets. It’s in the laughter echoing across the riverfront. It’s in the stories passed down from generation to generation, tied together by a beat.
So when the lights go up and the bass drops this July, don’t be surprised if you see grandparents dancing next to grandkids. Don’t be surprised if you sing along to a song you didn’t know you knew. And don’t be surprised if you walk away with your soul a little fuller.