dave chappelle and the roots tour 2023

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Dave Chappelle with The Roots

Event details.

This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of phones will not be permitted in the performance space.

Upon arrival at the venue, phones will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event.  Arrive early due to Yondr.  Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times, and can access them throughout the event only in designated Phone Use Areas within the venue. All devices will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the performance space.

All pouches and equipment are routinely sanitized. The Yondr staff is trained and required to follow safety guidelines and hygiene protocols to practice social distancing, minimal contact and wear required personal protective equipment.

Anyone seen using a device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue by security. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free experience.

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The Roots & Live Nation Urban Announce 2023 “Roots Picnic” Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, PA  

June 2, 3 & 4, 2023  , most dynamic lineup yet to feature a special performance with diddy & the roots, ms. lauryn hill celebrating the 25 th  anniversary of the miseducation of lauryn hill album, a friday night stand-up comedy show with dave chappelle, as well as lil uzi vert, ari lennox, lucky daye, city girls, glorilla & more.

GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries  The Roots  and  Live Nation Urban  reveal the details for the 2023 installment of  “Roots Picnic . ”  Renowned for its complete musical and cultural immersion, the two-day festival will be back at  The Mann in Fairmount Park  in  Philadelphia, PA  on Saturday and Sunday,  June 3-4, 2023 . This year, a special stand-up comedy performance from  Dave Chappelle  and  The Roots  at  Wells Fargo Center  on  Friday, June 2  will kick off the weekend. A fan club presale launches tomorrow, February 21 at 12PM ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available  HERE . 

This year marks a very special first as multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning legend  Diddy  will headline the festival with  The Roots  delivering a set highlighted by decades of his definitive hits. Additionally,  Ms. Lauryn Hill  will co-headline and perform the entirety of  The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill  – a rare event– to celebrate the 25 th  anniversary of the seminal album’s release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor  Dave Chappelle  will make his “Roots Picnic” debut performing with  The Roots  on what promises to be a seismic, first-ever comedy set of this magnitude. The impressive line-up also hosts a massive celebration of Philadelphia talent including a headline set from  Lil Uzi Vert,  the return of  Eve  during  Black Thought’s Live Mixtape  set,  DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul,  a  State Property Reunion , and more. Check out the full confirmed lineup below. 

Offering an inimitable experience,  “Roots Picnic”  also invites crowds to enjoy the fan-favorite  Podcast Stage which will be headlined by live podcasts from  Charlamagne Tha God  and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks  in addition to  Don’t Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People’s Party with Talib Kweli,  and of course,  Questlove Supreme.  The concourse also boasts various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice. 

“Roots Picnic”  has continued to be one of the summer’s most highly anticipated festivals and a celebration of Philadelphia’s robust music scene. Over the years, it’s been named one of  UPROXX ’s “Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation” and lauded as “a major staple within the Black community.”  Billboard  included the Roots Picnic in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and perhaps  BET  put it best, “the two-day event proves why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature.” 

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more.  “Roots Picnic”  isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture.  

FULL LINEUP:  

Diddy w/ The Roots  

Ms. Lauryn Hill  

Lil Uzi Vert  

Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots 

Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros 

Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve  

Ari Lennox 

Lucky Daye 

City Girls 

Maverick City 

Glorilla 

DJ Drama 

Uncle Waffles 

Saucy Santana 

Kindred The Family Soul 

Spinall 

State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)  

Little Brother 

Yussef Dayes Experience 

Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary 

Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence 

Symba 

Fridayy 

Mike Phillips 

Rocky 

Dappa 

Akin Inaj & Inutech 

PODCAST STAGE:   

Charlamagne Tha God 

Off The Record with DJ Akademiks 

Don’t Call Me White Girl 

Lip Service with Angela Yee 

Questlove Supreme 

People’s Party with Talib Kweli 

Pour Minds 

Trap Nerds 

The Office XIV 

Love + Grit 

**Lineup subject to change  

About Live Nation Entertainment  

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit  www.livenationentertainment.com . 

Live Nation Urban (LNU) is a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company. Specifically focusing on Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel, LNU builds platforms, events, and festivals globally and develops dynamic content strategies based upon the live properties created. Live Nation Urban considers itself the most powerful source for live urban music. For additional information, visit  www.livenationurban.com .    

About the Mann Center for the Performing Arts  

As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists, now in association with Live Nation Entertainment. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed TD Pavilion; picnics, blankets and music under the stars on its Great Lawn or at the top of the hill at the Skyline Stage; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant. In addition, the Mann’s Education & Community Engagement Program reaches tens of thousands of young people annually through free programming and educational initiatives as well as its virtual Mann Music Room. For more information, visit  www.manncenter.org . 

For more information, contact:  

Live Nation Urban  

Carleen Donovan:  [email protected]    

Nina Lee:  [email protected]  

For sponsorship inquiries, contact:  

Brandon Pankey:  [email protected]  

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The Roots Picnic 2023 Lineup Is Loaded With Legends And Icons

A super-size lineup of hip-hop and r&b stars will take center stage at the mann center in philadelphia’s west fairmount park, alongside live podcast recordings and more..

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PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2023 – The Roots Picnic has become a Philly summertime tradition — something of an annual reunion, really — and features performances from some of the biggest names in music.

Curated by and named after Philadelphia’s own critically acclaimed band The Roots, this is one music fest not to be missed.

The 2023 festival is set to take place from June 2 to 4, 2023. Attendees can look forward to performances from the legendary Ms. Lauryn Hill, the one-and-only Diddy (performing with The Roots!) and Philly’s own Lil Uzi Vert. Did we mention Busta Rhymes, Eve, Roy Ayers and The Isley Brothers? Whew.

For the first time, the event opens with a standup set on Friday night, as Dave Chappelle kicks off the festivities with a night of comedy at the Wells Fargo Center (separate tickets are required for this event).

Back at the Mann Center, the live podcast stage sees heavy hitters like Charlamagne Tha God, Questlove Supreme and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks.

With so much action jammed into just three days, this year’s festival is the perfect time to book a long weekend in Philly.

2023 Highlights — A Star-Studded Lineup:

​​ This year’s Roots Picnic lineup is stacked from top to bottom. The 2023 festival lineup includes:

• Diddy with The Roots
• Ms. Lauryn Hill
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers and The Isley Bros
• Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes and Eve
• Maverick City
• Kindred The Family Soul
• State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)
• … and much more!

Live Podcast Stage:

In addition to the star-studded lineup of musical performances, a live podcast stage hosts live episode recordings of some of today’s most popular podcasts including:

• Charlamagne Tha God
• Off The Record with DJ Akademiks
• Don’t Call Me White Girl
• Lip Service with Angela Yee
• Questlove Supreme
• People’s Party with Talib Kweli
• The Office XIV

Check out The Roots Picnic official site for the complete lineup of musicians and podcasters.

The Experience:

Each year, The Roots are joined by an incredible selection of artists, which in the past have included Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Solang, Meek Mill and many more.

In addition to its famous headliners, The Roots Picnic frequently features talented up-and-comers and hometown acts representing Philly onstage.

Look for music all day on multiple stages, as well as a podcast stage featuring, naturally, Questlove Supreme and a number of other shows.

The festival also features a wide variety of on-site local food and merchandise vendors for eating, drinking, shopping and more.

Tickets are required to attend The Roots Picnic and are available for purchase online .

Note: Each ticket includes a two-day festival pass for all performances and podcast recordings at the Mann Center. Tickets to Friday night’s Dave Chappelle performance at the Wells Fargo Center must be purchased separately.

Click here to view more show information and purchase tickets.

Hotel Packages:

Looking for a comfy place to rest up in between the festival’s three days of stacked sets? We’ve got you covered.

Make your Roots Picnic weekend extra special while getting a great deal that lets you explore more of Philly. Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to Disney100: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.

Or keep things simple with the Visit Philly 3-Day Stay hotel package, which allows you to book two nights and get one free at participating hotels.

About Visit Philadelphia:

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy. On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website, visitphilly.com , visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages.

Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the site an effective trip-planning tool. Visitors can also find loads of inspiration on Visit Philly’s social media channels.

Note to Editors: For high-resolution photos and high-definition B-roll of Greater Philadelphia, visit the Photos & Video section of visitphilly.com/mediacenter .

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Ms. Lauryn Hill, Diddy, Dave Chappelle, Lil Uzi Vert lead 2023 Roots Picnic lineup

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The Roots unveiled a star-studded lineup Monday for this year’s Roots Picnic music festival, headlined by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Diddy and the Roots, Dave Chappelle and Lil Uzi Vert.

A comedy show starring Chappelle will take place June 2 at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center and serve as a precursor to the main event, which will be held at the Mann at Fairmount Park on June 3 and 4 in Philadelphia — the Roots’ hometown.

Other musical acts set to perform during the festival include Ari Lennox, City Girls, Maverick City Music, Lucky Daye, Syd, GloRilla, Black Thought, Eve, Busta Rhymes, DJ Drama, Saucy Santana, Uncle Waffles, the Isley Brothers, Roy Ayers, Dvsn, Kindred the Family Soul, Spinall, Rare Essence and Backyard Band, as well as Adam Blackstone with special guests Mary Mary and Coco Jones.

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Just because you missed out on Coachella, Lollapalooza and the other major festivals doesn’t mean you can’t experience this summer’s live music scene. -- Wesley Case, The Baltimore Sun

April 30, 2014

During her highly anticipated performance, Hill will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her seminal debut album , “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” In 1999, the renowned singer and rapper made history at 23 years old as the first hip-hop artist to win the Grammy Award for album of the year.

Additionally, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino and Sparks have been tapped for a State Property reunion set more than two decades after the Philadelphia rap collective released its eponymous debut album and film of the same name.

Rounding out the musicians on the 2023 Roots Picnic lineup are Little Brother, the Yussef Dayes Experience, Symba, Fridayy, Mike Phillips, Rocky, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Aktive, Dappa, Akin Inaj and Inutech.

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Jan. 6, 2023

But wait, there’s more: The festival will also feature numerous podcast personalities, including Charlamagne Tha God (“Comedy Central’s Hell of a Week”), DJ Akademiks (“Off the Record”), Angela Yee (“Lip Service”), Questlove (“Questlove Supreme”), Don’t Call Me White Girl (“Don’t Call Me White Girl”), Talib Kweli (“People’s Party”), as well as the hosts of “Pour Minds,” “Trap Nerds,” “The Office XIV” and “Love + Grit.”

After announcing the 2023 headliners, the Roots received some criticism for booking Chappelle, who has come under fire in recent years for making transphobic remarks during his comedy routines. Some Twitter users called the inclusion of Chappelle “disappointing,” “embarrassing” and “clownish,” while others were excited to see him perform.

Tickets to the Chappelle pre-show are being sold separately from tickets to the Roots Picnic. More information about the festival and tickets is available on the Roots Picnic website .

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February 20, 2023

Star-studded Roots Picnic to feature Dave Chappelle, Diddy and Lauryn Hill

The summer hip-hop festival, now in its 15th year, will run from june 2-4.

The Roots Picnic will return to Philadelphia this summer with a stacked lineup, including a stand-up comedy act from Dave Chappelle and headlining sets from Diddy, Lauryn Hill and Lil Uzi Vert.

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The weekend music festival opens at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2 with performances from Chappelle and The Roots. It then heads to the Mann Center in Fairmount Park on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4. 

Diddy's set will be backed by The Roots and Hill will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her breakout debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." 

Lil Uzi Vert, DJ Drama and Kindred the Family Soul are among the homegrown artists slated to perform over the weekend. Eve also will perform during Black Thought's live mixtape set.

Here's the full lineup.

𝙅𝙐𝙎𝙏 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝘿 🔥🙌 @rootspicnic is coming back on June 3-4! Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10AM. https://t.co/wz50zrWi90 pic.twitter.com/2iFF50UXDo — the Mann. (@MannCenter) February 20, 2023

A podcast stage will include shows from Charlamagne Tha God and "Off The Record with DJ Akademiks," "Questlove Supreme," "Don't Call Me White Girl," "Lip Service with Angela Yee" and "People's Party with Talib Kweli."

Since its debut in 2007, the Roots Picnic has grown into one of the nation's premiere hip-hop festivals. Over the years, it has featured performances from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky and Will Smith, among others.

Chappelle's performance at the Wells Fargo Center — a cell-phone free event — will mark the first time the festival brings in a stand-up comic as part of its lineup. Chappelle previously was scheduled to perform at the Roots Picnic in 2018, but his set was scratched because of severe weather. In recent years, Chappelle's material has sparked controversy and backlash over his jokes about transgender people , fueling a larger battle over the intersections of comedy, social justice and cancel culture. 

A Roots fan club presale for the Chappelle show and the festival at the Mann Center will open at noon Tuesday. General admission tickets for the Chappelle stand-up set and the two-day festival  go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Michael Tanenbaum PhillyVoice Staff

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Roots Picnic Reveals 2023 Lineup: Diddy, Dave Chappelle, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Soulquarians, More

Roots Picnic will return to Philadelphia, PA on June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2023 in an updated format featuring host band  The Roots alongside an array of collaborators ranging from  Dave Chappelle to Diddy .

Roots Picnic 2023, presented by The Roots and Live Nation Urban , will get started on Friday, June 2nd with an arena-sized stand-up comedy performance by Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center . Following the separately ticketed arena event, The Roots will set up shop at  The Mann Center in Fairmount Park for two full days of music on Saturday and Sunday, June 3rd and 4th. In addition to the first-ever live performance by Diddy & The Roots ,  Ms. Lauryn Hill will offer up a full performance of her iconic LP  The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in honor of its 25th birthday. Among the other highlights on the 2023 lineup is a  Soulquarians “Icons Set” featuring  Roy Ayers and  The Isley Brothers .

The lineup for the weekend event also includes plenty of Philadelphia-bred talent including a headlining set from Lil Uzi Vert , the return of Eve during Black Thought ’s Live Mixtape set, DJ Drama , Kindred the Family Soul , and a reunion of State Property featuring Beanie Sigel , Freeway , Young Gunz , Peedi Crakk , Oschino , and Sparks .

Related: Roots Picnic Returns To Philly For 2022 Event With The Roots, Mary J. Blige, Kamasi Washington, More [Photos/Videos]

Beyond the live music programming, Roots Picnic 2023 will feature the return of the event’s fan-favorite Podcast Stage headlined by live podcasts from Charlamagne Tha God and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks in addition to Don’t Call Me White Girl , Lip Service with Angela Yee , People’s Party with Talib Kweli , and Questlove Supreme .

Tickets for Roots Picnic 2023 go on sale via fan club pre-sales beginning Tuesday, February 21st at noon ET, with a general public on-sale set to follow on Wednesday, February 22nd at noon ET. Tickets for the June 2nd Wells Fargo Center date featuring Dave Chappelle and The Roots are sold separately. For ticketing details, including information on weekend passes and VIP packages, head here . Click below to view the full artist lineup.

Roots Picnic 2023 Lineup

Diddy w/ The Roots Ms. Lauryn Hill Lil Uzi Vert Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve Ari Lennox Lucky Daye City Girls Maverick City Syd Glorilla DJ Drama Uncle Waffles Saucy Santana DVSN Kindred The Family Soul Spinall State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks) Little Brother Yussef Dayes Experience Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence Symba Fridayy Mike Phillips Rocky Dappa Akin Inaj & Inutech

PODCAST STAGE: Charlamagne Tha God Off The Record with DJ Akademiks Don’t Call Me White Girl Lip Service with Angela Yee Questlove Supreme People’s Party with Talib Kweli Pour Minds Trap Nerds The Office XIV Love + Grit

**Lineup subject to change

Dave Chappelle and the Roots, and Jon Stewart and Michael Che, kick off the Roots Picnic at Wells Fargo Center

The comedy and music showcase kicked off the three-day Roots Picnic, with a South Philly surprise appearance by Stewart. The fest continues at the Mann Center all weekend.

The Roots Picnic grew into a two-day event at the Mann Center in 2022, and on Friday the Philadelphia hip-hop band’s festival debuted a more expansive full-weekend look with a sold-out show at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.

The draw? A double bill hosted by the Roots, the group led by rapper Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who played their first full set in the city of their birth since before the pandemic.

They were joined by Dave Chappelle, the comedian who has been criticized of late for remarks perceived to be transphobic, with whom the Roots have a long shared history. And as an added bonus, the show included a pair of big-name surprise guests.

The Roots-Chappelle relationship dates to the turn of the century, when, as Chappelle recalled during his headlining set, he watched Questlove selflessly support such artists as D’Angelo and Common. Questlove was a guest on Chappelle Show skits and the Roots were the house band in the 2005 movie Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.

Chappelle was scheduled to headline the Picnic in 2018, but his set was cut short due to severe weather. Last year, he dropped in at a pre-festival show at Punch Line Philly.

But Friday’s Wells Fargo show was by far the festival’s biggest comedic foray, complete with special guests that made it even bigger than advertised.

And it arrived with an air of mystery, in part because, as is common with comedians, no cell phones were allowed, and thus no social media sharing of valuable jokes or controversial remarks.

Access was not provided to the media. The Inquirer paid its own way in. Fans who brought phones had them placed in a pouch they kept with them but were unable to open until after the show.

If your ticket was on your phone, staffers scribbled seating info on a Post-it note sized piece of paper, which functioned as a ticket. I left my phone at home for fear of delays and printed out my ticket.

But the process seemed to work seamlessly, with added benefits. Being freed from an addictive device, and not being annoyed by other patrons snapping photos. (Mea culpa, in many cases.)

The 3½-hour show — presented in the round, though the stage was square like a boxing ring — began with a surprise set by Saturday Night Live writer and “Weekend Update” co-host Michael Che.

DJ Trauma spun hip-hop hits between acts; comic Marshall Brandon did a short, amusing set. His best observational joke was about how houses in Philadelphia are so close together you can open your window and reach into your neighbor’s refrigerator.

And then there was a major surprise. Between the Roots and Chappelle’s sets — each an hour in duration with no shared time on stage — Jon Stewart was announced.

The Central Jersey resident said Chappelle and the Roots were among the few things that could get him to “drive my old a— down the turnpike.”

The 60-year-old comic riffed on how decrepit he is, including needing reading glasses to look at porn on his phone. (Ewww.) He closed with an excellent routine about how it’s easier to buy an AR-15 rifle than adopt a cat.

The Roots were spectacularly good. Their taut, propulsive set, anchored by Questlove and bassist Mark Kelley and demonstrating Black Thought’s how-does-he-do-it? breath control, did not let up. That went for “The Next Movement” from 1999′s Things Fall Apart on through their biggest hit, “You Got Me.”

The latter was a showcase for Kirk Douglas, both vocally and on lead guitar, while other stars were sousaphone player Tuba Gooding Jr. and Stro Elliot, who performed a mind-blowing electronic percussion solo.

It felt like a privilege to see the band together as a cohesive unit. Members are to appear in various configurations over two days at the Mann, but they don’t have a performance scheduled as “the Roots.”

And what about Chappelle? Was he funny? Offensive?

Both. Chappelle has come under intense criticism for his anti-cancel culture comedy, with his 2021 Netflix special The Closer earning particular condemnation from the trans community.

Friday’s show presented Chappelle with ample opportunity to make new enemies. He certainly didn’t back away from his reputation as an equal opportunity offender, and his button-pushing jokes got big laughs. He even mocked his Filipino American wife’s appearance — while also depicting her as cutting him down to size.

Chappelle remains a master of conversational comedy. He’s well prepared, but gives the impression of seriously thinking through his issues — such as how he feels about the Will Smith-Chris Rock slap, or when he was attacked at the Hollywood Bowl — in real time. It feels genuine. Stewart seemed off-kilter in comparison.

(That might have had to do with sound problems. During the sets by Che, Stewart and Chappelle, pockets of people in the lower bowl shouted that they couldn’t hear. It sounded fine upstairs.)

Anyone expecting Chappelle to double down was disappointed. “It’s Pride Month,” he said. “I’m not going to talk about those people.”

He didn’t quite keep his promise, but added that everyone he’s met with from the LBGTQ+ community “has been kind and respectful,” and blamed the characterization of the conflict as combative on a familiar target: the media.

Instead of talking about “those people,” he said he would make jokes about the disabled. A flurry about former North Carolina U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn followed.

Neither Chappelle nor Che could resist bringing up former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas , a favorite subject of anti-trans activists. But both comics came to the same conclusion, expressed by Chappelle: “Let the b— swim!”

Has Chappelle learned anything from his public and private conflicts with his critics? Mainly that it’s best to choose your battles wisely when you face a well-organized opponent.

Chappelle thanked the Roots profusely, expressed love for Philadelphia and said there’s little difference between the plight of Black people today and in 1863: “We just want to be free.”

He then finished by characterizing American life as a battle between red state “MAGA-land” and a blue state world whose name played on a homophobic slur. Given his druthers, he said, he’d choose to live in the latter.

The Roots Picnic continues at the Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., on Saturday and Sunday. More information is at RootsPicnic.com.

The Roots & Live Nation Urban Announce 2023 'Roots Picnic Weekend'

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET.

GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots and Live Nation Urban reveal the details for the 2023 installment of "Roots Picnic." Renowned for its complete musical and cultural immersion, the two-day festival will be back at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, 2023.

This year, a special stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2 will kick off the weekend. A fan club presale launches tomorrow, February 21 at 12PM ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available HERE .

This year marks a very special first as multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning legend Diddy will headline the festival with The Roots delivering a set highlighted by decades of his definitive hits.

Additionally, Ms. Lauryn Hill will co-headline and perform the entirety of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - a rare event­- to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the seminal album's release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor Dave Chappelle will make his "Roots Picnic" debut performing with The Roots on what promises to be a seismic, first-ever comedy set of this magnitude.

The impressive line-up also hosts a massive celebration of Philadelphia talent including a headline set from Lil Uzi Vert, the return of Eve during Black Thought's Live Mixtape set, DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul, a State Property Reunion, and more. Check out the full confirmed lineup below.

Offering an inimitable experience, "Roots Picnic" also invites crowds to enjoy the fan-favorite Podcast Stage which will be headlined by live podcasts from Charlamagne Tha God and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks in addition to Don't Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People's Party with Talib Kweli, and of course, Questlove Supreme. The concourse also boasts various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice.

"Roots Picnic" has continued to be one of the summer's most highly anticipated festivals and a celebration of Philadelphia's robust music scene. Over the years, it's been named one of UPROXX's "Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation" and lauded as "a major staple within the Black community." Billboard included the Roots Picnic in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and perhaps BET put it best, "the two-day event proves why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature."

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more. "Roots Picnic" isn't just a cornerstone of the group's career, but a cornerstone of the culture.

FULL LINEUP:

Diddy w/ The Roots

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Lil Uzi Vert

Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots

Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros

Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve

Maverick City

Uncle Waffles

Saucy Santana

Kindred The Family Soul

State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)

Little Brother

Yussef Dayes Experience

Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary

Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence

Mike Phillips

Akin Inaj & Inutech

PODCAST STAGE:

Charlamagne Tha God

Off The Record with DJ Akademiks

Don't Call Me White Girl

Lip Service with Angela Yee

Questlove Supreme

People's Party with Talib Kweli

The Office XIV

Love + Grit

**Lineup subject to change

TICKET CENTRAL

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THE ROOTS Announce Lineup For 2023  “Roots Picnic” Weekend

GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries  The Roots  and  Live Nation Urban  reveal the details for the 2023 installment of  “Roots Picnic . ”   Renowned for its complete musical and cultural immersion, the two-day festival will be back at  The Mann in Fairmount Park  in  Philadelphia, PA  on Saturday and Sunday,  June 3-4, 2023 . This year, a special stand-up comedy performance from  Dave Chappelle  and  The Roots  at  Wells Fargo Center  on  Friday, June 2  will kick off the weekend. A fan club presale launches tomorrow, February 21 at 12PM ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET.

Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available  HERE .

This year marks a very special first as multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning legend  Diddy  will headline the festival with  The Roots  delivering a set highlighted by decades of his definitive hits. Additionally,  Ms. Lauryn Hill  will co-headline and perform the entirety of  The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill  – a rare event­– to celebrate the 25 th  anniversary of the seminal album’s release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor  Dave Chappelle  will make his “Roots Picnic” debut performing with  The Roots  on what promises to be a seismic, first-ever comedy set of this magnitude. The impressive line-up also hosts a massive celebration of Philadelphia talent including a headline set from  Lil Uzi Vert,  the return of  Eve  during  Black Thought’s Live Mixtape  set,  DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul,  a  State Property Reunion , and more. Check out the full confirmed lineup below.

Offering an inimitable experience,  “Roots Picnic”  also invites crowds to enjoy the fan-favorite  Podcast Stage which will be headlined by live podcasts from  Charlamagne Tha God  and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks  in addition to  Don’t Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People’s Party with Talib Kweli,  and of course,  Questlove Supreme.  The concourse also boasts various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice.

“Roots Picnic”  has continued to be one of the summer’s most highly anticipated festivals and a celebration of Philadelphia’s robust music scene. Over the years, it’s been named one of  UPROXX ’s “Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation” and lauded as “a major staple within the Black community.”  Billboard  included the Roots Picnic in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and perhaps  BET  put it best, “the two-day event proves why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature.”  

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more.  “Roots Picnic”  isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture.

FULL LINEUP:

Diddy w/ The Roots

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Lil Uzi Vert

Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots

Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros

Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve

Maverick City

Uncle Waffles

Saucy Santana

Kindred The Family Soul

State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)

Little Brother

Yussef Dayes Experience

Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary

Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence

Mike Phillips

Akin Inaj & Inutech

PODCAST STAGE: 

Charlamagne Tha God

Off The Record with DJ Akademiks

Don’t Call Me White Girl

Lip Service with Angela Yee

Questlove Supreme

People’s Party with Talib Kweli

The Office XIV

Love + Grit

**Lineup subject to change

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The Roots Picnic 2023 Lineup Is the Fest’s Most Ambitious Yet

From Ms. Lauryn Hill and Diddy to Dave Chappelle and Lil Uzi Vert.

Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on Philly's arts and entertainment scene.

Roots Picnic 2023 lineup artists, clockwise from top left: Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Dave Chappelle, Black Thought, Questlove, and Lil Uzi Vert (photos via Getty)

Fresh off his big 50 Years of Hip Hop tribute at the Grammys, Roots Picnic curator Questlove has positively outdone himself with the 2023 Roots Picnic lineup, which was announced on Monday.

The Roots Picnic 2023 lineup features two headliners: Diddy (aka Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka P. Diddy) and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Diddy will perform with the Roots. And Lauryn Hill’s appearance will commemorate the 25th (!!!) anniversary of her iconic debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill .

Some other big names in the Roots Picnic 2023 lineup (full list below) include Philly native Lil Uzi Vert, Busta Rhymes, Eve (also a Philly native), and Ari Lennox and a wild retro pairing of Roy Ayers and the Isley Brothers, which should be a real moment to remember. As in recent years, the Roots Picnic will also feature a separate Podcast Stage featuring, yes, live podcast recordings.

But that’s not all. The Roots Picnic happens at the Mann Center on June 3rd and 4th. But Dave Chappelle and the Roots will kick the weekend off on June 2nd at the Wells Fargo Center.

Tickets go on sale to the public this Wednesday at 10 a.m. If you’re a member of the Roots Picnic fan club, you can get early access to tickets beginning on Tuesday at noon.

Below, the full Roots Picnic 2023 lineup.

On the Main Stage

Diddy w/ The Roots  Ms. Lauryn Hill  Lil Uzi Vert  Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve  Ari Lennox Lucky Daye City Girls Maverick City Syd Glorilla DJ Drama Uncle Waffles Saucy Santana DVSN Kindred The Family Soul Spinall State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)  Little Brother Yussef Dayes Experience Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence Symba Fridayy Mike Phillips Rocky Dappa Akin Inaj & Inutech  

On the Podcast Stage

Charlamagne Tha God Off The Record with DJ Akademiks Don’t Call Me White Girl Lip Service with Angela Yee Questlove Supreme People’s Party with Talib Kweli Pour Minds Trap Nerds The Office XIV

• Roots Picnic

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Lauryn hill, diddy, dave chappelle, and more to headline the roots picnic 2023.

Hill will perform her debut solo album in its entirety for its 25th anniversary.

By Mya Abraham

Mya Abraham

R&B Reporter

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The Roots and Live Nation Urban have announced the details surrounding this year’s Roots Picnic .

The “ celebration of Philadelphia ’s robust music scene” returns June 2-4. This year’s three-day experience kicks off with a special comedy performance from Dave Chappelle —in his Roots Picnic debut—alongside the esteemed band, helmed by Questlove and Black Thought , at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2. The festivities will continue at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.

Diddy , also making his debut at this festival , will be accompanied by The Roots for his set dedicated to his decades of hits. The ultimate treat is Ms. Lauryn Hill , who will take the stage to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill —performing the GRAMMY-winning LP in its entirety.

From The Streets To The Sheets: Lucky Daye, Jaz Karis, Amirah And More Drop New R&B Music

Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Akademiks will headline the podcast stage with live recordings of their respective shows, in addition to live tapings of Don’t Call Me White Girl , Lip Service with Angela Yee , People’s Party with Talib Kweli, and of course, Questlove Supreme.

A fan club presale goes live on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 12 p.m. ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available on the official Roots Picnic website .

See full lineup below.

Diddy with The Roots Ms. Lauryn Hill Lil Uzi Vert Dave Chappelle with The Roots Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Brothers Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve Ari Lennox Lucky Daye City Girls Maverick City Syd Glorilla DJ Drama Uncle Waffles Saucy Santana DVSN Kindred The Family Soul Spinall State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks) Little Brother Yussef Dayes Experience Adam Blackstone with Coco Jones & Mary Mary Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs. Rare Essence Symba Fridayy Mike Phillips Rocky Dappa Akin Inaj & Inutech

Charlamagne Tha God Off The Record with DJ Akademiks Don’t Call Me White Girl Lip Service with Angela Yee Questlove Supreme People’s Party with Talib Kweli Pour Minds Trap Nerds The Office XIV Love + Grit

**Lineup subject to change

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Dave Chappelle announces fall dates for his stand-up comedy tour

Dave Chappelle will hit the road this fall in a stand-up comedy tour called Dave Chappelle Live, announced exclusively July 25 on TODAY.

The tour opens with a pair of dates at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and wraps up at Chicago's United Center.

Here’s a look at all the dates.

• Aug. 22: New York City — Madison Square Garden
• Aug. 23: New York City — Madison Square Garden
• Sept. 8: Cleveland, Ohio — Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• Sept. 9: Detroit, Michigan — Little Caesars Arena
• Sept. 12: Lexington, Kentucky — Rupp Arena
• Sept. 13: Indianapolis, Indiana — Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• Sept. 15: New Orleans, Louisiana — Smoothie King Arena
• Sept. 17: Kansas City, Missouri — T-Mobile Center
• Sept. 18: Omaha, Nebraska — CHI Health Center
• Sept. 21: Nashville, Tennessee — Bridgestone Arena
• Sept. 23: Saint Paul, Minnesota — Xcel Energy Center
• Oct. 4: Chicago — United Center

Tickets will be available beginning with local presales on July 26, while the general sale kicks off July 27 at 10 a.m. local time at Ticketmaster.com.

A five-time Emmy Award winner with a provocative approach to a wide range of subjects, Chappelle was honored with the 2019 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He also won the Grammy Award for best comedy three consecutive years, from 2018 through 2020.

Chappelle made headlines when a man attempted to attack him onstage during a 2022 show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. That man was later sentenced to 270 days in jail .

“He refuses to allow last night’s incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment,” his rep said of Chappelle in a statement after the incident, while noting the show tied him with comedy troupe Monty Python as the comedians who have headlined the most performances at the Hollywood Bowl.

Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.

• Consequence

Lauryn Hill, Dave Chappelle, and Diddy to Headline 2023 Roots Picnic

Lil Uzi Vert, Busta Rhymes, The Isley Brothers, and Eve also highlight lineup

The Roots have revealed the 2023 lineup for their annual Roots Picnic , taking place over three days (June 2nd-4th) in the group’s hometown of Philadelphia.

This year’s festival will begin on Friday, June 2nd, with special stand-up performance from Dave Chappelle at the Wells Fargo Center. The festivities will then move to The Mann in Fairmount Park, with a weekend lineup headlined by Ms. Lauryn Hill (performing The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ) and Diddy with the backing of The Roots.

The lineup also promises performances Lil Uzi Vert, Black Thought’s Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes and Eve, a Soulquarians set featuring Roy Ayers and The Isley Bros, City Girls, Syd, GloRilla, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, DJ Drama, Little Brother, Maverick City, and more. See the 2023 lineup poster below.

A fan club pre-sale launches February 21 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22nd at 10:00 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster .

Editor’s Note: Visit Consequence’s  new Live portal  for the latest music festival news and tour announcements. Also,  subscribe to our newsletter  to get live music news delivered straight to your inbox.

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Usher, Lauryn Hill, Dave Chappelle Make 2023 Roots Picnic Even Bigger

The roots picnic, a philadelphia outdoor festival tradition, is returning with a bigger lineup and more than one location in june 2023, by kaamil jones • published february 20, 2023 • updated on may 24, 2023 at 9:43 am.

Editor's Note (May 24, 2023, at 9:43 a.m.) : This story has been updated to reflect Usher being added to the lineup and Diddy being removed from the The Roots Picnic.

We just wanna rock!  The Roots Picnic  presented by Live Nation Urban and The Roots is coming back for another weekend of live music, comedy and podcasting.

The multi-day festival announced the lineup for the 2023 event taking place June 2 through June 4 at The Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park and, for the first time ever, at the Wells Fargo Center .

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Which Acts Are Taking Part in The 2023 Roots Picnic?

The festival is slated to kick off in the sports complex with a stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and live music from the legendary band and organizers The Roots at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2.

Songstress Ms. Lauryn Hill, R&B legend Usher and rapper Lil Uzi Vert wrap up the top of the bill as headliners for the weekend with Hill celebrating the 25th anniversary of her Grammy Award-winning album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".

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Ari Lennox and the City Girls are also on the bill along with Philly's own Eve and rap icon Busta Ryhmes. Organizers also gave room for some oldies with the Isley Brothers and Roy Ayers playing.

Charlemagne the God, DJ Akademiks, Angela Yee and Don't Call Me White Girl are bringing the tea to a live audience as they are included in the lineup of podcasters.

How to Get Tickets?

The general public ticket sales begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster through The Roots Picnic site . VIP packages are also available.

Tickets to the Chappelle show at the Wells Fargo Center must be purchased separately and went on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22 on the venue's website .

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Everything to know about the 2023 Roots Picnic

T he Roots Picnic is back! For the first time, the festival will be a three-day event . A comedy show and concert with Dave Chappelle and the Roots kicks things off Friday June 2, at Wells Fargo Center, followed by two days of concerts at Fairmount Park.

Close to 50,000 people are expected throughout the weekend. Whether you are going or simply want to avoid road closures, here is everything you need to know about Roots Picnic:

This year, Roots Picnic runs from June 2 to 4. On Friday, comedian Dave Chappelle opens the weekend with a cell phone-free show, at 7:30 p.m., in Wells Fargo Center.

Saturday and Sunday will fill Fairmount Park’s Mann Center with music. Multiple concerts will take place throughout the weekend, rain or shine, from one to 11 p.m.

The lineup was announced in February, including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lil Uzi Vert, and Diddy. But, according to the festival’s terms, artists are subject to change. Just this week, we learned Diddy is out , and Usher is replacing him.

This might be a three-day event, but tickets are sold separately. According to Roots Picnic, the Dave Chappelle event is sold out. But, Wells Fargo ’s website still displays available tickets ranging between $94.50 to $344.50.

For the music festival, Ticketmaster is your go-to. Unlike last year, the 2023 edition brings five ticketing categories , and they don’t all include both-day entry:

• General admission for one day is $99
• Two-day general admission is $189
• General admission Plus $309
• VIP Silver $799
• VIP gold $1,099

If your ticket is not General Admission Plus or VIP, there is no assigned seating. You might want to arrive early to get a good spot. But, once you enter, don’t leave because there is no re-entry.

Food and drink

When you get hungry, check out the local food trucks sprinkled across the festival. Lil Trent’s Grille, Everything Legendary’s burgers, Juiced by B, Chiwaffles, Down North Pizza, and more options will be available.

If you are over 21, check out this year’s cocktails curated by Ciroc, DeLeon, and Jim Beam.

Stages and Events

On Thursday, June 1, with the first “Roots Picnic Con.” The event will take place at the Logan Hotel, between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And, folk can assist to learn about entrepreneurship, finances, and education.

On Friday, the Roots is holding two ticketed parties. People can spend the night at U+Me+RNB party, at Franklin Hall, beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $50. Or, check out Jerk x Jollof party at NONO, between 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets range from $11.90 to $47.78.

This year’s picnic is divided into two music stages, with music happening simultaneously, and one podcast stage.

To end the weekend experience, Roots is organizing a brunch. On Sunday, go to Punchline Philly for a “chill vibes brunch” curated by Foodchasers Kitchen .

❌ What you can’t bring

Weapons, selfie sticks, iPads, tablets, laptops, drones, food, alcohol, kegs or mini kegs, glass (of any kind), professional camera equipment, GoPros, tents, canopies, lawn chairs, signs (over 8.5 x 11 inches), camping equipment, beach or golf umbrellas, laser pointers, pets (except service animals), and backpacks.

Risking bringing any of these items can result in you losing them. They will be confiscated, and you can’t get them back.

✅ What you can bring

👍 Blankets and portable phone charges are allowed.

💧 You can bring your own water, but there are some restrictions. It must either be a factory-sealed plastic bottle of up to 20 ounces. Or, an empty non-glass water container, up to 2 liters. If you have a one-pocket Camelbak water bladder system, bring it. But, don’t forget to empty it beforehand.

💊 Over-the-counter medication is allowed, as long as it is in the original sealed container. Every day, you can only enter with enough medication for one day. They will check your photo ID and the bottle content.

👜 Clear plastic, vinyl, or synthetic plastic tote bag are allowed. But, it must be up to 12 inches tall or wide, and 6 inches deep, with a single compartment. Small clutch bags are also an option, as long as they aren’t bigger than 4.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide. They will also be selling $10 plastic totes at the gates, in case you need them.

☂️ Small, collapsible-shaft, tote, and purse umbrellas are welcome.

☀️ Non-aerosol liquid sunscreen and bug spray are allowed (less than 3 ounces).

Picnic attendees have free parking at the Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave. The main entrance is at Belmont and Montgomery Streets. But, there are additional doors on 52nd Street.

Road Closures

Although the Roots Picnic isn’t taking place until early June, road closures and restrictions begin as early as May 22 for the setup.

Closed May 22 to June 8, beginning at 6 a.m

• States Drive, between Belmont Ave. and Avenue of the Republic. It will reopen around 6 a.m. on June 8.

Closed May 25 to June 8, beginning at 6 a.m

• Avenue of the Republic, between Belmont Ave. and 52nd St. Reopening, it’s scheduled for June 8 at 6 a.m.

Closed May 30 to June 8, beginning at 6 a.m

• South Concourse Drive, between Belmont Ave. and 52nd St. will reopen at 6 a.m. on June 8.

Closed June 2 to June 8, beginning at noon

• North Georges Hill Drive, between Belmont Ave. to 52nd St. It’s expected to be back to normal by June 8 at 8 a.m.

©2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The Roots & Live Nation Urban Announce 2023 “Roots Picnic” Weekend

GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots and Live Nation Urban reveal the details for the 2023 installment of “Roots Picnic.” Renowned for its complete musical and cultural immersion, the two-day festival will be back at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, 2023. This year, a special stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2 will kick off the weekend. A fan club presale launches tomorrow, February 21 at 12PM ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available  HERE .

This year marks a very special first as multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning legend Diddy will headline the festival with The Roots delivering a set highlighted by decades of his definitive hits. Additionally, Ms. Lauryn Hill will co-headline and perform the entirety of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – a rare event– to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the seminal album’s release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor Dave Chappelle will make his “Roots Picnic” debut performing with The Roots on what promises to be a seismic, first-ever comedy set of this magnitude. The impressive line-up also hosts a massive celebration of Philadelphia talent including a headline set from Lil Uzi Vert, the return of Eve during Black Thought’s Live Mixtape set, DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul, a State Property Reunion, and more. Check out the full confirmed lineup below.

Offering an inimitable experience, “Roots Picnic” also invites crowds to enjoy the fan-favorite Podcast Stage which will be headlined by live podcasts from Charlamagne Tha God and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks in addition to Don’t Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People’s Party with Talib Kweli, and of course, Questlove Supreme. The concourse also boasts various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice.

“Roots Picnic” has continued to be one of the summer’s most highly anticipated festivals and a celebration of Philadelphia’s robust music scene. Over the years, it’s been named one of UPROXX’s “Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation” and lauded as “a major staple within the Black community.” Billboard included the Roots Picnic in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and perhaps BET put it best, “the two-day event proves why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature.”

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more. “Roots Picnic” isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture. 

FULL LINEUP: Diddy w/ The Roots  Ms. Lauryn Hill  Lil Uzi Vert  Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve  Ari Lennox Lucky Daye City Girls Maverick City Syd Glorilla DJ Drama Uncle Waffles Saucy Santana DVSN Kindred The Family Soul Spinall State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks)  Little Brother Yussef Dayes Experience Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence Symba Fridayy Mike Phillips Rocky Dappa Akin Inaj & Inutech

PODCAST STAGE:  Charlamagne Tha God Off The Record with DJ Akademiks Don’t Call Me White Girl Lip Service with Angela Yee Questlove Supreme People’s Party with Talib Kweli Pour Minds Trap Nerds The Office XIV Love + Grit

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