After welcoming around 40,000 attendees to Discovery Park in Sacramento last year, R&B, new soul and hip-hop music festival Sol Blume will return to Sacramento for a fourth year on April 29 and 30.
Last year’s headliners were all Black women — Jazmine Sullivan, Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker and Jorja Smith — and this year’s line-up echoes that focus on non-male artists. Performers Mariah the Scientist, Ella Mai, Jessie Reyez, Alex Isley and PinkPantheress are among those making the trek to Sacramento. Brent Faiyaz headlines Saturday, April 29, and Bay Area artist Kehlani headlines Sunday, April 30.
Kehlani isn’t the only Bay Area artist in this year’s line-up — thuy, Marc E. Bassy, Samaria, Christian Kuria and Noodles, who’s also Kehlani’s DJ — are all from the region, along with rising Vallejo artist LaRussell, who released two new collaborative projects (DRAGONFLY and OMAHA) in January.
An outlier in a Sacramento music landscape that has historically played host to more rock and Americana acts, Sol Blume festival producer and long-time Sacramento resident Chaez Boswell told CapRadio via email that the team looks forward to playing host to travelers and out-of-town performers “for many years to come.”
“Sacramento’s kind of got this weird, I guess, label of being a super active rock city,” co-founder Justin Nordan said during an interview with CapRadio in 2019. “But Sacramento’s more than that.”
This year, the festival’s team expects to receive some grant funding from Visit Sacramento, which also provided financial support to Sol Blume last year.
Boswell added that he’s hoping the festival grows to become one of the most popular annual Northern California events and one of the biggest independent music festivals in the country.
“As the essence of Sol Blume is rooted in diversity, we hope our event is helping to usher in a new era in Sacramento,” Boswell said, “One that helps grow the identity of the city to that of a multicultural travel destination.”
Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Sacramento housed the festival in 2018 and 2019 before it moved to the larger venue in 2022, after a two-year hiatus. The move brought new logistical challenges, namely managing the lines at the box office, entry gates and food stations, which Boswell said the team hopes will be able to improve this year alongside lighting, transportation and signage.
“We look to bring in more support staff and local vendors to ensure a smoother experience for everyone involved,” he said.
There’s no proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test required to attend the festival, though the team says it encourages attendees to “stay vigilant” and will provide updates on health and safety protocol in the days and weeks leading up to Sol Blume.
For first-time “Blumers” — Sol Blume attendees — Boswell recommends bringing comfortable shoes, layers given the festival takes place outdoors and arriving early.
“One of the best parts of last year actually took place in the early afternoons when we hosted an immersive animal exhibit where fans could literally play with rare butterflies,” he said. “We have even more surprises in store this year that you do not want to miss out on by only showing up for the headliner.”
The festival says it will have ADA accessible parking, shuttles, entry, viewing, restrooms and experience services, along with accommodating service animals. Guests are asked to request an ADA pass from [email protected] at least 72 hours before Sol Blume starts.
Tickets to the festival are now on sale, with a four-ticket limit per customer. Each ticket covers admission to both days. General Admission tickets are $200 plus fees, while VIP tickets, which include “dedicated and expedited entry” and “premium views of the stages” are $400 plus fees. VIP tickets are also only available for attendees who are 21 and over.
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