Festival date for Janelle
ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter Janelle Monae has been confirmed as a headliner for the opening night of Manchester International Festival 2019.
The Grammy-nominated artist will perform a huge open-air event at Castlefield Bowl on Thursday July 4, 2019, kick-starting the 18-day festival.
The biennial arts festival brings leading artists from across the globe to venues and spaces across Manchester, and has already confirmed Idris Elba, Yoko Ono and Skepta as headline artists.
Monae – a producer, actress and activist as well as an eight-time Grammy awards nominee – will play only two UK concerts in 2019.
She sold out the Manchester Academy back in September as part of her tour supporting this year’s album Dirty Computer – a show that earned her an easy five stars with the M.E.N.
Dirty Computer is up for the Album of the Year at next year’s Grammy awards, as confirmed when the full list of nominations was released last week.
She also collected the Trailblazer Award at the Billboard Women in Music ceremony last week.
John McGrath, artistic director and CEO at MIF, said: “We’re thrilled that Janelle Monae is performing on the opening night of MIF19. Justifiably, she’s getting widespread acclaim for her work and we’re delighted that Manchester is hosting one of only two shows she is planning for the UK in 2019. It will be a sensational event and adds to an exciting start to the festival.”
Janelle Monae will play at Castlefield Bowl on Thursday July 4, 2019. Tickets will be priced at £35 and will go on sale at 9am on Friday, December 14, though MIF19 Members will have priority access.