Prince Taps Badu, Common
Weeklong celebration to feature live music, new album preview

Prince will celebrate his birthday, and the one-year anniversary of his reclaiming that name, with his annual weeklong "Prince: A Celebration," in his hometown of Minneapolis. The festivities are scheduled to kick off on June 11th, four days after the funk-soul legend turns forty-three, with the Purple Masquerade Ball at Paisley Park.

June 12th will feature performances by the Time (presumably with Morris Day) and Fonky BaldHeads. On June 13th Erykah Badu will take the stage, while Common and Alicia Keys are on tap for shows the following day. The proceedings will then move from Paisley Park to the Xcel Center, where Prince will play shows on June 15th and 16th, both of which will be followed by an afterparty at Paisley Park. The celebration concludes with a performance on June 17th; the lineup has yet to be announced. As usual, a parade of special guests are expected; last year featured appearances by Lenny Kravitz, George Clinton and Angie Stone.

In addition to the birthday celebration, Prince will showcase his next album, The Rainbow Children, with listening sessions and discussions for those who attend the celebration.

Tickets for the event are $70 for the entire week and available through Ticketmaster. The pass is the only way to catch the performances, as tickets for specific shows will not be available.

ANDREW DANSBY
(May 31, 2001)

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