# Sugar Water Festival

The Sugar Water Festival was a music festival founded by American recording artists Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah and Jill Scott. The trek played to amphitheaters and arenas in the United States during the summer of 2005 and 2006. It began in 2005 as an event to bring awareness to health issues to African-American women. British duo Floetry opened shows during the 2005 run. The festival was relaunched briefly in 2006 with Kelis opening the show and comedian Mo'Nique hosting the festival. 2006 was the final year for the outing. The festival had plans to expand into Europe and Asia, however, this did not come to fruition.

## Background

The festival was announced in May 2005. Forming the "Suger Water Festival, LLC, the trek was headlined by Badu, Latifah and Scott. The singers stated performing Lilith Fair was the inspiration for the outing—with each singer wanting to bring a specific message to African American women. The festival was planned within six months, not providing enough times to gain notable sponsors. Badu says the meaning behind the name is the symbolism of "water" to "Earth", as the planet is three-fourths water. She continues to say women are the sweetness to the water, giving them the name of the tour."
To introduce the shows, Badu stated:
   The Sugar Water Festival is much more than a concert tour", said Badu. "It's about educating, enlightening and entertaining. Queen, Jill and I are all committed to tapping into the communities we play—to raise awareness, in a positive way, of what we can all do to create a better world.

## Opening acts

* Floetry (2005)
* Kelis (2006)

## Set list

* For the 2005 outing, the set list included an opening performance by, Scott, Latifah and Badu performing "Night's Over Egypt" and closing finale, "Never Too Much" as a tribute to R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross.
* "Nights Over Egypt"

### Queen Latifah

* "Baby Get Lost"
* "Hard Times"
* "Hello Stranger"
* "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh"
* "California Dreamin'"
* "Simply Beautiful"
* "Latifah's Had it up 2 Here"
* "Just Another Day..."
* "Ladies First"
* "U.N.I.T.Y."

### Jill Scott

* "Golden"
* "The Way"
* "Do You Remember"
* "Gettin' In the Way"
* "Cross My Mind"
* "A Long Walk"
* "Whatever"
* "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)"

### Erykah Badu

* "Rimshot (Intro)" (Instrumental Interlude)
* "Green Eyes"
* "Didn't Cha Know?"
* "Cleva"
* "Orange Moon"
* "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)"
* "Otherside of the Game"
* "Danger"
* Medley: "On & On" / "...& On"
* "Back in the Day (Puff)"
* "Bag Lady"

### Encore

* "Never Too Much"

### Jill Scott

* "Exclusively"
* "The Way
* "Cross My Mind"
* "Bedda at Home"
* "Whatever"
* "A Long Walk"
* "Golden"
* "The Fact Is (I Need You)"
* "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)"

### Queen Latifah

* "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"
* "If I Had You"
* "California Dreamin'"
* "Simply Beautiful"
* "Lush Life"
* "A Good Woman"
* "Just Another Day..."
* "Come into My House"
* "Ladies First"
* "U.N.I.T.Y."

### Erykah Badu

* "I Want You"
* Medley: "On & On" / "...& On"
* "Next Lifetime"
* "Tyrone"
* "Back in the Day (Puff)"
* "Otherside of the Game"
* "Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi)"
* "Cleva"
* "Green Eyes"
* "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" (contains elements of "Rapper's Delight")
* "Danger"
* "Bag Lady"

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America—Leg 1 ||||
| July 8, 2005 | Virginia Beach | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater |
| July 9, 2005 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| July 12, 2005 | Wantagh | United States | Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater |
| July 13, 2005 | Boston | United States | Bank of America Pavilion |
| July 15, 2005 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| July 16, 2005 | Camden | United States | Tweeter Center at the Waterfront |
| July 17, 2005 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| July 21, 2005 | Atlanta | United States | Chastain Park Amphitheater |
| July 22, 2005 | Atlanta | United States | Chastain Park Amphitheater |
| July 23, 2005 | Charlotte | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
| July 26, 2005 | Clarkston | United States | DTE Energy Music Theatre |
| July 27, 2005 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| July 29, 2005 | Chicago | United States | Lakefront Pavilion |
| July 30, 2005 | Columbus | United States | Germain Amphitheater |
| July 31, 2005 | Maryland Heights | United States | UMB Bank Pavilion |
| August 2, 2005 | Greenwood Village | United States | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre |
| August 4, 2005 | Concord | United States | Chronicle Pavilion |
| August 6, 2005 | Paradise | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| August 9, 2005 | Los Angeles | United States | Greek Theatre |
| August 10, 2005 | Los Angeles | United States | Greek Theatre |
| North America—Leg 2 ||||
| August 3, 2006 | Grand Prairie | United States | Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie |
| August 5, 2006 | Atlanta | United States | Chastain Park Amphitheater |
| August 12, 2006 | New York City | United States | Prospect Park Bandshell |
| August 13, 2006 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |

## Additional notes

* During the August 13, 2006 show in Columbia, Maryland, Scott along with Latifah and MoNique performed with Badu on her closing finale, "Bag Lady".