Common and the Roots (pictured above, of course) will host this year’s edition of the “Hennessy Artistry Series.” It takes place in four urban markets — Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and New York — and will give attendees an opportunity to stock up on samples of free liquor. Lifestyle marketing gimmicks aside, the Roots are a dependable live act, and they’ll play house band for a lineup headed by Common and, in select cities, Colin Munroe, Elizabeth the Band and Elevator Fight.
Tickets to the events will be distributed via a contest. You can register for it at hennessyartistry.com.
Here’s an excerpt from the press release for those interested in such things:
Hennessy, the bestselling Cognac in the world and one of the most celebrated and storied brands in history, furthers its commitment to delivering unexpected blends of music, artistry, culture and flavor with this year’s fourth annual Hennessy Artistry Series. Hosted exclusively by Hennessy, the four events will be co-curated and headlined by hip-hop impresario Common and one of the “greatest live acts in the world” (Rolling Stone) The Roots, who will also appear as the house band.
Marked by the core principles of discovery, creativity, and self-expression, Hennessy Artistry has been lauded worldwide as a showcase for a broad range of talent, from local performers, to iconic artists such as Kanye West and LL Cool J, and rapidly rising superstars such as Ne-Yo, the curator of the 2008 series. …
“Curating for Artistry has been amazing. We’ve had so much fun hashing out line-ups that will flow well with each other,” said co-curator Questlove of The Roots. “We worked hard to blend talent with us and Common that will surprise and excite the Artistry audience. When all is said and done, Hennessy Artistry will be an experience that folks will talk about for years to come. I, for one, can’t wait to see it all come to play this fall.”
Additional surprise performers will be announced, and several iconic artists may make unannounced appearances.
“The Hennessy Artistry series is historically known to showcase the best new and indie talent,” notes Hennessy SVP Andy Glaser. “Previous Artistry events have included artists such as Pharrell, Robin Thicke, The Strokes and Leona Lewis, and Artistry 2009 promises to carry on this tradition.”
Here’s the schedule:
- 9/12: The Shrine, Chicago, IL (1) (2)
- 9/19: The Velvet Room, Atlanta, GA (1) (3)
- 10/03: The Corinthian, Houston, TX
- 10/07: Halo, New York, NY (1) (2)
(1) w/Elevator Fight
(2) w/Colin Munroe
(3) w/Elizabeth the Band
