AFROPUNK Brooklyn, the music festival that acts as “a bastion of multicultural diversity,” has been a staple in the festival scene for New Yorkers and has been host to a number of artists who have gone on to leave profound marks on the culture.

And just like the sun rises every morning, so does another festival announce its lineup. For AFROPUNK, the lineup skews on the younger side with a number of innovative acts who are just now starting to hit their stride.

Gary Clark, Jr., Soul II Soul, and Michael Kiwanuka will act as the festival headliners, but the lineup only gets better as you go down the list. SZA, Kevin Abstract, Kaytranada, Sampha and Thundercat are some of the younger acts who are only in the beginnings of their career. Dizzee Rascal, Marcy Gray, Seprentwithfeet, Sango, and the Cool Kids are also slated to make an appearance. The festival promises even more artists to be announced from all over the world.

Along with the lineup announcement, AFROPUNK will be taking their show on the road to Johannesburg, South Africa with the theme “WE THE PEOPLE,” and will represent AFROPUNK’s founding goals and principals.

“Since its founding, the AFROPUNK Festival’s meaning has stemmed from a desire to connect people who shared a mindset, first in the neighborhoods of New York, then throughout the U.S. and finally around the globe. That mindset is less concerned with the contrariness of genre than the strength of unity of otherness,” a statement from AFROPUNK said.

“Modern South Africa is proof of the victory of otherness over historical precedent, and of the country’s desire to mold a society based on virtues that are at the core of AFROPUNK.”

While fans can still purchase tickets the old-fashioned way (the band still wants to keep their tickets affordable), they are also bringing back their “earned ticket program” with AFROPUNK ARMY, which will give fans a chance to do volunteer work to earn their ticket into the festival (a minimum 8 hours of volunteer work will get you one general admission pass).

Stay tuned for more announcements and peep the current lineup below. You can catch headliner Soul II Soul at this year’s Bestival, meanwhile Michael Kiwanuka (who just dropped some new music) will embark on his own spring tour this year. Purchase or earn your tickets here.

[UPDATE 6/8]: Festival organizers announced the addition of several new artists. Raphael Saadiq, Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals, as well as Ho99o9 will join the fray. This will Saadiq’s first performance in the U.S. in over five years, and his first ever in Brooklyn. “Looking forward to playing at Afropunk. I’ve never played in Brooklyn, It’s the most diverse crowd with the biggest spirit. I can’t wait to take the stage, Hands up, Voices Loud,” Saadiq said of his upcoming headliner. Shelter DJ’s, Black Motion, Lou Phelps and Kitty Cash will also have DJ sets. Check out the updated lineup and a teaser for Saadiq’s headlining below.

[UPDATE 8/2]: As if you needed any more reason to attend, Solange has just been added to the lineup as a headliner, along with Jorja Smith.

Full Lineup:

PINK STAGE LINEUP

ST HERON STAGE

KAYTRANADA & FRIENDS STAGE

SOLANGE
RAPHAEL SAADIQ
ANDERSON .PAAK & THE FREE NATIONALS
GARY CLARK JR
MACY GRAY
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
SOUL II SOUL
SZA
WILLOW SMITH
DIZZEE RASCAL
LITTLE SIMZ
BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
PRINCESS NOKIA
PROTOJE
LEIKELI47
THE SKINS
KEVIN ABSTRACT
SERPENTWITHFEET
SAM DEW
SON LITTLE
PURE DISGUST
QUIÑ
LOUDER THAN QUIET
& more

Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna