Ludacris as ever, Boise’s largest one-day music festival reveals 5 major headliners

If you’re an even slightly jaded concert fan, the annual Boise Music Festival probably strikes you as somewhat ludacris.

After all, past lineups have brought us nostalgic hilarity ranging from MC Hammer to Vanilla Ice. Heck, Tag Team — the “whoomp there it is!” band — was on the bill last year.

But this summer? Things will get totally Ludacris.

Known for early 2000s hits such as “Rollout (My Business)” and “Move Bitch,” rapper Ludacris will headline the 12th annual event. It will take place outdoors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St.

Other main stage acts include Jelly Roll, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Elle King and C+C Music Factory. (You know Idahoans will lose their minds when C+C Music Factory unleashes 1990’s “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).”)

The lineup actually provides a decent range of genres — from hip-hop to country. (Even if it’s a little light on rock. Bring on “Ex’s and Oh’s,” Elle King!) And, reality or not, the bill somehow feels more current than some other years.

As usual, there will be five other stages featuring dozens of local bands. And, as always, you will hear lots of promotional hype in the next few months from radio stations owned by Townsquare Media, which produces the festival.

Tickets to this year’s Boise Music Festival are available for $25 to $90 through a link at boisemusicfestival.com. And if the main-stage headliners aren’t enough of a roller-coaster ride for you? There’s also a carnival on site. (It costs extra.)

Rather take your chances on winning free tickets to the festival? Plenty are given away through contests held by Townsquare stations.

Started in 2010, the Boise Music Festival was held at Ann Morrison Park before being relocated to Expo Idaho in Garden City. Tens of thousands of people typically attend; 40,000 in 2019, according to numbers supplied by Townsquare Media to the Statesman.

That makes it the largest one-day music festival in Idaho. Townsquare Media did not reply to requests this week for last year’s attendance number.

This story was originally published February 6, 2023 at 12:11 PM.