The Magnetic World Music Festival is filling out its fifth-anniversary lineup, and Saturday night just got a lot bigger.
The festival announced today that Akon and Ne-Yo will co-headline September 26, trading off in a two-hour back-to-back set. It’s the first time the pair have performed together this way, and it pairs two of the 2000s’ most recognizable voices on one Halifax stage.
Akon built his name on hits blending pop, R&B, and dancehall, and has spent the years since branching into production and business ventures across Africa and beyond. Ne-Yo made his mark as both a performer and a songwriter, penning hits for other artists before becoming a chart-topper in his own right, with a catalogue of radio staples that’s kept him touring steadily for two decades. Together, the two-hour set promises a run through a deep well of 2000s and 2010s hits.
The full weekend runs September 25-26 at the Garrison Grounds on Citadel Hill. Night one, previously announced, brings Sexyy Red, Alesso, and Swae Lee, a lineup that leans harder into current hip-hop and dance sounds. Night two’s Akon and Ne-Yo booking shifts things toward nostalgia, giving the weekend two distinct flavours across its two days.
This marks the festival’s fifth year running, and past editions have pulled in acts like Dom Dolla, The Kid Laroi, 21 Savage, and Don Toliver. Organizers describe the event as having grown from a concert into something closer to a music community on the East Coast, drawing fans from across the region rather than just the city itself.
Organizers say the rest of the lineup is coming soon, along with local vendors and other additions scattered across the grounds. Ticket prices are expected to climb as more names are added, so early buyers get the lowest rate available.
“None of this would be possible without local support, our sponsors, and the entire crew behind the festival,” the Magnetic World Music Festival team said. “We do our very best to make this the best weekend of the year for all demographics, music lovers, and our city.”
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