Some of R&B’s newest and brightest stars will be flocking to the nation’s capital next month. Spotify‘s RNB X has announced its inaugural After Hours showcase, which takes place Nov. 12 at Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.
The free event, powered by Spotify’s flagship R&B playlist (RNB X, formerly Are&Be), is headlined by Bryson Tiller and Normani, who both released albums earlier this year.
Tiller dropped his self-titled album in April, which included bangers like “Ciao!” and “Whatever She Wants,” while Normani’s long-awaited debut LP, Dopamine, arrived in June. Her album included bops like “Candy Paint” and the Cardi B-assisted hit “Wild Side.”
Leon Thomas, Destin Conrad, Ambré, and Joe Kay of Soulection are also on the lineup.
According to Spotify, the showcase’s “late night” theme was inspired by Gen-Z’s R&B consumption on the streaming service, which peaks from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“This event reflects Spotify’s ongoing commitment and support of the R&B community,” Alaysia Sierra, Spotify’s head of R&B editorial, tells Rated R&B.
They continue, “I’m so excited to have DC host this event because it’s really important for us to show up for R&B fans outside of major cities, and DC is unique with its strong R&B fanbase on Spotify. As a fan myself, I can’t wait to see all these artists together—especially since Normani is doing her first performance on the Spotify stage since her album drop! We’ve got some fun surprises in store for everyone – stay tuned for what’s next.”
In addition to live performances, attendees can also enjoy artist easter eggs, merch, and midnight snacks. Free tickets for RNB X After Hours are available on a first-come, first-served basis at dice.fm. The event begins at 9 p.m. and is for ages 16 and over.
Last year, Spotify launched its R&B First Nights concert series, in which the global company partnered with emerging R&B acts to support their first live shows in select U.S. cities.
Victoria Monét was the first artist to participate in the program, supported by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, in which she performed her headlining show in Los Angeles. She later embarked on her sold-out headlining Jaguar Tour.
Stream Spotify’s RNB X playlist below. Get tickets to After Hours here.
