Janelle Monáe – Age of Pleasure Tour in August

With the 2013 release of her genre-spanning second album The Electric Lady, Janelle Monae took her already-experimental funk sound to the next level, incorporating elements of jazz, gospel, and even pop-punk to dazzling effect.  Bolstered by hit singles “Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu)” and “Prime Time (feat. Miguel),” the album landed at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and served as fertile material for her ever-evolving live concerts. Revered by ticket buyers for her creativity and showmanship, Monae had fans dancing from start to finish at her energetic 2013 shows.  Discovered by Diddy and signed to Bad Boy Records in 2006, Monae released several EPs before making her full-length debut in 2010 with concept album The ArchAndroid. Aesthetically, Monae is known for her modelesque looks and androgynous style, and is rarely seen without her signature pompadour and tuxedo. Though she only stands at 5′, her concerts are known to have giant ambitions, earning her a reputation as one of the most entertaining acts in contemporary pop music.