The Cincinnati Music Festival is returning to Paul Brown Stadium for its 55th annual festival this weekend. The festival began Thursday with a "Throwback Thursday" party on the East Club Lounge in Paul Brown Stadium.
Doug E. Fresh will be hosting the festival as well as performing. The music festival includes performances Friday from local singer Ed Thomas, Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue, SWV and KEM leading up to the headliner of the night, Mary J. Blige.
Manager of Vendor Relations Thomas Knott says there are many reasons people are excited for the Cincinnati Music Festival. "(It's exciting) having Mary J. back when she has new music out and she is on top of her game again, so people are excited to hear her."
On Saturday, festival attendees will be back on the field to watch performances by Ro James, Confunkshun, Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia which all lead up to the headliner, Usher.
Cincinnati Music Festival began in 1962 as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival. As it has grown, the festival evolved to include R&B, soul, hip-hop and up and coming artists as well as jazz acts.
More than 75,000 people are expected to attend the festival this weekend. Knott says there are people from 30 to 35 states coming from as far away as Washington and California.
Knott suggests all festival attendees download an app that can be found on the website cincymusicfestival.com. The app will give up to date information about the acts throughout the festival, as well as other things to do and places to eat in Cincinnati. The app will also provide alternate routes to get to Paul Brown Stadium to avoid construction throughout the city and will provide parking information for the festival.
Knott says there are still tickets available which can be bought at the box office at Paul Brown Stadium or on Ticketmaster. He says he wants people to come down and just have a good time.