D’Angelo will play just his second full concert since 2016 as part of the annual Roots Picnic, which will be held May 31-June 1 at the Mann in Philadelphia. The reclusive artist has a long association with the Roots and their drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who was instrumental in coaxing to D’Angelo to release the 2014 album Black Messiah after a nearly 15-year hiatus.
D’Angelo’s only on-stage appearances since concluding promo work behind Black Messiah have been at a 2021 Verzuz show at New York’s Apollo Theater and at that year’s Tribeca Film Festival, plus an April 2022 cameo with Questlove and Raphael Saadiq while covering Sly & the Family Stone’s “Babies Makin’ Babies” during the Netflix Is a Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
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Saadiq told Rolling Stone last September that D’Angelo was actively working on new music, but nothing has come to light beyond “I Want You Forever,” his Jay-Z-assisted contribution to last year’s The Book of Clarence soundtrack.
Beyond D’Angelo, the Roots Picnic will also feature Lenny Kravitz, Meek Mill, GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Kaytranada, Jeezy, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Musiq Soulchild, Backyard Band featuring CeeLoo Green and dance music icon Crystal Waters.
New for this year is a day party activation with Trap Karaoke, Chill Vibes featuring DJ Active, Doo-Wop … That R&B Party and Dear Summer Festival. Tickets are available for pre-sale tomorrow (Feb. 18), with the general onsale set for Friday.
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.