JA RULE AND ASHANTI TO HEADLINE MUSIKFEST 2022
Chart-topping Ja Rule and Grammy Award winner Ashanti will headline Musikfest on Fri., Aug. 12, 2022
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest with media partner B104 are thrilled to announce Ja Rule and Ashanti as co-headliners for the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza on Fri., August 12. Tickets for this chart-topping duo will go on sale to ArtsQuest members beginning 10 a.m., Tues., May 17 and to the general public at 10 a.m., on Fri., May 20 on musikfest.org. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today.
Ja Rule, born Jeffrey Atkins, made his debut in 1999 with his single “Holla Holla,” on the platinum-selling album Venni Vetti Vecci. He quickly topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart with hits “Between Me and You” featuring Christina Milian, “I’m Real” and “Ain’t It Funny” both featuring Jennifer Lopez. Ja Rule joined forces with R&B singer Ashanti for songs “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize” and “Wonderful,” gaining four Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations. In 2000 he released Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love in 2001, gaining him triple platinum status. Keeping the momentum of his success going Ja released platinum album The Last Temptation in 2002, Blood in My Eye in 2003 and R.U.L.E in 2004. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti debuted with her self-titled album Ashanti featuring hit song “Foolish,” in 2002. Her album landed her at the top of the Billboard charts by selling 504,593 in the first week of its release. She was named to Guinness Book of World Records for the most albums sold by any debut female artist and still holds the record today. Over the course of two-decades Ashanti has recorded six studio albums, receiving an array of awards including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy Award, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards and six ASCAP Awards. In 2005 Ashanti starred as Dorothy in “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” followed by roles on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Army Wives,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and films such as John Tucker Must Die and Resident Evil Extinction. Dipping into the entrepreneurial pool she partnered with AMC Beauty and was the first African American to land a national campaign with Herbal Essence. She recently penned a book of poetry “Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love” set to be released this year.
Musikfest will take place Aug. 5 – 14, 2022. This year’s lineup includes Kip Moore, Ziggy Marley – A Live Tribute to His Father, Olga Tañón, Counting Crows, Willie Nelson & Family, Kelsea Ballerini, ALABAMA and Poison. This year’s ‘Fest includes a preview night on Aug. 4 with headliner Boyz II Men.
Additional announcements will be shared throughout the year. The new Musikfest poster, by renowned fine artist Bart Cooper, was unveiled in Nov. Visit musikfest.org for more information. Overall, an estimated 1,127,000 people attended Musikfest in 2021 and the 11-day festival had an estimated $67 million impact on the Lehigh Valley Region of Pennsylvania.
