Smokin’ Grooves festival will make its long-awaited return to Los Angeles in 2022. The party kicks off Saturday, March 19th at L.A. State Historic Park. The California festival boasts a star-studded lineup including iconic artists such as Erykah Badu, Nas, Jhené Aiko, The Roots, Miguel, The Internet, Flying Lotus, and more.
The event has been dubbed “neo-soul” due to its blend of old and new R&B and soul music. Organized by Live Nation, the festival will host an all-day live music celebration starting at 11AM and wrapping up at 11PM. Acts will include legendary hip-hop and R&B artists such as Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, Smino, Hiatus Kaiyote, Toro y Moi, SiR, Angie Stone, Leela James, Little Dragon, Musiq Soulchild, India.Arie, and Macy Gray.
Image via smokingroovesfestival.com
Additionally, the festival will include performances by Talib Kweli, Roy Ayers, Dead Prez, Slum Village, Dwele Joe Kay, Phony Ppl, Goapele, Ravyn Lenae, Bilal, Fousheé, and Free Nationals. Moreover, Yussef Dayes, Charlotte Day Wilson, Domi & JD Beck, Daydream Masi, Jelani Aryeh, Unusual Demont, and Blu & Exile will also be performing.
About Smokin’ Grooves
Originally conceived in 1996, Smokin’ Grooves was a coast-to-coast all-in traveling festival meant to bring hip-hop music to the masses. That is to say, the fest tour hit 30 cities and featured headliners such as Cypress Hill, Busta Rhymes, Ziggy Marley, Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
The festival visited Park City, Utah, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Columbus, Ohio, featuring a “kinder, gentler” side to hip-hop. At that time, Smokin’ Grooves established itself as the first major hip-hop event, however, it only lasted three years.
Soon after, in 2002, a reboot was organized, this time with 15 venues and a revised, more soul-oriented lineup. So, performers included Lauryn Hill, OutKast, DJ Shadow, Jurassic 5, and CeeLo Green, amongst others. The festival again arose in 2018, this time in Long Beach, California with appearances from Yasiin Bey, Badu, Phony Ppl, The Roots, Anderson .Paak, Thundercat, and others.
For the 2022 edition, the organizers have streamlined the concept to a single-day event placed in the heart of Los Angeles. Certainly, the event promises something for everyone, presenting old-style soul “with a modern twist.”
Tickets for Smokin’ Grooves
Tickets for Smokin’ Grooves festival are already on sale. Although GA+ and VIP tickets were sold out instantly, GA tickets are still available and there is also a wait list. So, don’t wait on purchasing GA tickets. Head to the festival’s official website at smokingroovesfestival.com.
