The organizers of the Stern Grove Festival announced Wednesday that Grammy-nominated, futuristic soul singer Janelle Monáe will be kicking off its 2016 series of free concerts at the San Francisco park.
Monáe will be the headlining performer on June 19, at the Big Picnic, a fundraiser for the festival, which is in its 79th season, and its outreach programs. Local funk band Midtown Social will be opening the show.
The concert will be free and seats will be first come, first-served, unless you buy $250 tickets for the Big Picnic party that proceeds the performance.
Nominated for six Grammy Awards over her 13-year career, Monáe’s music blends modern R&B and pop with old school soul, funk and many other genres. Her two albums — The ArchAndroid and The Electric Lady — are both concept albums focusing a dystopian future world. Her most recent release, 2015’s The Eephus EP saw Monáe moving away from her long-running “Metropolis” concept and towards present-day topics.
Watch the video for Monáe’s most recent single, 2015’s “Yoga.”
