R&B singer Ne-Yo to open Columbus Symphony's Picnic with the Pops series
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A summer of rhythm and blues, soul, disco, pop and more is coming up for the Columbus Symphony, which will launch its 2023 Nationwide Picnic with the Pops summer concert series with R&B singer Ne-Yo on June 17.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday in person at the CBUSArts Ticket Center, 39 E. State St., online at PicnicWithThePops.com or CBUSArts.com or by phone at 614-469-0939.
General admission lawn tickets are $36.75-$47.25 in advance or at the gate. Lawn tickets for children 3-12 years old are $10.50-$15.75. Children 2 and younger are admitted for free. Full tables and single-table seats are available from $63-$998.
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All concerts take place at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion in the Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., at 8 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Kicking off the series will be Shaffer Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, a three-time Grammy Award winner whose influences include Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Babyface and Usher. The son of musicians, he is a songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer in addition to a vocalist. He will join the symphony for an evening of hits performed with his band and dancers.
On June 24, Super Diamond will take the stage to pay tribute to pop icon Neil Diamond. The San Francisco band has appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman," CNN, VH1, Comedy Central and has been featured in publications including Rolling Stone Magazine, Spin and The New York Times.
The symphony will celebrate the Fourth of July with Grammy-winning Broadway artist Tamika Lawrence and the Worship and Praise Chorale on July 1, offering American classics with a soulful twist — and of course, a dazzling fireworks display.
Another Broadway performer, Rashidra Scott, will come to the Commons on July 8, when Windborne Music and the Columbus Symphony present the music of the late Whitney Houston, including hits like “Saving All My Love,” “How Will I Know?” and the blockbuster ballad, “I Will Always Love You.”
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The symphony and guests will unite on July 15 for "The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA," playing such memorable tunes as "Mamma Mia," "Waterloo" and "Dancing Queen."
On July 22, the symphony will welcome singer-songwriter, musician and composer Ben Folds — perhaps best known as the former frontman for the Ben Folds Five, which scored a hit with "Brick" in 1999. Folds' latest album, "What Matters Most," is due out in June.
Per tradition, Picnic with the Pops will close with a team-up of the symphony and the Ohio State University Marching Band on July 28-29.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Want to see Ne-Yo at Columbus Commons? Here's how to get tickets
