Princeton University has announced that Ghanaian American singer-songwriter Amaarae will headline its Fall 2025 Lawnparties, set to take place this Sunday, September 7, 2025 in front of Frist Campus Center.
Student band Casual Riot will open the main stage before Amaarae takes over. Lawnparties, held twice a year, is one of Princeton’s biggest student traditions. The day-long festival features a headlining act, performances hosted by Prospect Avenue’s eating clubs, food vendors, lawn games, and other campus activities.
Amaarae, whose sound blends pop, R&B, alté, and Afrobeats, has been on a steady rise internationally. Born in the Bronx and raised between Atlanta, New Jersey, and Accra, Ghana, she made history in April as the first Ghanaian artist to perform a solo set at Coachella. Her latest album, Black Star, debuted in August with over 5 million streams, adding to her reputation as one of the genre’s most eclectic voices. She is perhaps best known for her breakout 2020 single Sad Girlz Luv Money, which exploded globally after a 2021 remix featuring Kali Uchis.
The selection of Amaarae marks a genre shift for Lawnparties, which has largely leaned toward rap headliners in recent years. Amaarae is the first Afro-Pop artist to take the main stage, according to Apple Music categorizations.
Still, her public profile is comparatively smaller than past Lawnparties headliners. Lil Tecca, who led the Spring 2024 lineup, currently has over 27 million monthly Spotify listeners, far outpacing Amaarae, who ranks near the bottom among headliners since 2021. But organizers believe her artistry speaks louder than numbers.
“I think everything about Amaarae is visionary,” said Misa Mims ’27, a member of the Lawnparties planning team. “She’s an eclectic artist, and her music is infectious.”
Her groundbreaking artistry extends beyond music. Amaarae has been vocal about gender as a fluid concept, often weaving that perspective into her songwriting. Her lyrics avoid rigid gender binaries, with shifting pronouns and universal expressions of intimacy.
Organizers also highlighted the importance of bringing diverse perspectives to campus. “I’m genuinely thrilled that we’re welcoming Amaarae, a groundbreaking Afrobeat artist, to Princeton this year,” said D’Schon Simmons ’27. “Right now, it’s more important than ever to highlight diverse voices and showcase the richness of Black culture on our campus.”
The announcement came just four days before the event, the shortest notice since Fall 2021. Amaarae is scheduled to perform at 3:00 p.m., though past headliners have often started late.
This semester’s festivities will feature food from favorites like Nomad, Tico’s, Rita’s, Taco Bell, and Cheesecake on a Stick, alongside new vendors such as Alfalfa, Jammin’ Crepes, and Silver Line Wings. Kosher options will also be available. Attendees are encouraged to wear bohemian styles and lighter earth-tone colors.
With a fresh sound and bold artistry, Amaarae’s performance promises to be a defining moment for this year’s Lawnparties, and for many Princeton students, a chance to witness an artist on the rise.