advertisement
Concerts

André 3000 Will Play His First Toronto Show in a Decade at Toronto Jazz Fest This Summer

The influential hip-hop artist will bring his flute-forward experimental solo album, New Blue Sun, to Toronto Jazz Fest. He'll perform at Massey Hall in June, marking his first Toronto show in a decade.

André 3000

André 3000

Dexter Navy

The wind is blowing André 3000 to Toronto this summer. The seven-time Grammy winner, known for his work in hip-hop duo OutKast, will perform his flute-forward solo debut New Blue Sun at Massey Hall during Toronto Jazz Fest in June, marking his first Toronto performance in a decade.

Last fall, New Blue Sun became the first instrumental album to chart on the Billboard 200, where it hit No. 34. The album's twelve-minute opener, "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time," also charted at No. 90 on the Hot 100, breaking the record for longest Hot 100 debut.


advertisement

The influential and adventurous artist just wrapped up a tour of New Blue Sun live, taking it from New York to Los Angeles, and he'll get the band back together for his Toronto Jazz Fest performance this summer.

His concert is the latest big announcement for Jazz Fest's 2024 season, which is set to feature a host of other high-profile performers including Australian jazz-funk group Hiatus Kaiyote, American band Lake Street Dive, Canadian saxophonist Colin Stetson, New Orleans' famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band and UK drummer and composer Yussef Dayes. Toronto's popular African diaspora party Kuruza will also get a major showcase. Find the full lineup at torontojazz.com.

Toronto Jazz Fest runs from June 21 to 30 this year. André 3000 performs at Massey Hall on June 28. Pre-sale for his show starts on the Massey Hall website tomorrow (Mar. 21), with the code TOJAZZ.

advertisement
Ludacris performs onstage at Shaq’s Fun House held at Mardi Gras World on February 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Christopher Polk/Variety

Ludacris performs onstage at Shaq’s Fun House held at Mardi Gras World on February 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Country

Ludacris Exits Rock the Country Lineup Following Fan Backlash

The rapper was originally announced as part of the lineup earlier this month.

Ludacris has spent years “Pimpin’ All Over The World,” but he won’t be doing so on the Rock the Country tour this summer.

On Friday (Jan. 16), Rolling Stone reported that the Grammy-winning rapper’s name had been removed from the lineup announcement poster. According to the magazine, the “My Chick Bad” MC “wasn’t supposed to be on” the lineup in the first place. Representatives for the traveling festival confirmed the news, directing Billboard to Ludacris’ team “for any additional comments.”

keep readingShow less
advertisement