Tour news: Mary J Blige, Jill Scott to headline Soulfest

Mary J Blige will headline Soulfest 2015 with her first New Zealand appearance.

Soulfest is returning for a second year in Auckland, with the one-day R&B and hip-hop festival to be headlined by Mary J Blige and Jill Scott.

Other artists performing at the Western Springs Stadium event on October 26 include Jhene Aiko, Charlie Wilson, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Dwele and Floetry.

Eric Benet, Kamasi Washington and BJ The Chicago Kid round out today's first line-up announcement, with more acts expected to be added.

The line-up ends criticisms that last year's festival was dominated by male acts, with Angie Stone the only female performer from overseas in 2014.

Blige and Scott are two of the biggest names in R&B: Blige has released 12 albums over a career spanning 26 years, while the big voiced Scott has released four albums since 2000.

Blige has performed in New Zealand before, at the 2011 Raggamuffin festival, but it will be the first time here for Scott, Aiko, Wilson, Benet, Floetry, Washington and BJ the Chicago Kid.

Last year's Soulfest saw up to 10,000 people enjoy Common, Mos Def, Maxwell and D-Angelo perform.

Tickets are available from May 27 at 10am through Ticketmaster, with a pre-sale beginning on May 18. VIP passes are also available.

Soulfest
Where: Western Springs Stadium
When: Labour Day, Monday, October 26

- nzherald.co.nz