Pop Beak Live: Ari Lennox ‘The Vacancy Tour’ with Lekan, PHABO and special guest Jasmine Sullivan at The Met in Philadelphia, PA on Sunday May 24, 2026
Singer-songwriter Ari Lennox brought her contemporary R&B and ’70s soul sound to a packed house at The Met in Philadelphia on Sunday night May 24. She is touring in support of her critically acclaimed third studio album Vacancy, which was released in January. This Grammy-nominated artist played to an extremely enthusiastic crowd. She is known for her unapologetically raw and relatable lyrics and her stunning voice.
Lennox brought along two special R&B artists Lekan & PHABO to open. Both artists did a great job of getting this predominately female audience primed and hyped up for Ari Lennox’s set.
She was backed by a incredible band and two backing vocalists. The stage set was designed to resemble a retro ’60s-’70s hotel lobby or lounge. An illuminated “Vacancy” sign sat at the front desk, complemented by plush velvety sofas, dated chairs, a bellhop luggage cart and flowers scattered on tables giving the set a real throwback feel. The lighting during the night were warm retro tones.
Lennox walked out on stage in a stunning cheetah print outfit. She and her band played a 30-song set. She opened the show with “Mobbin in DC,” a track from her latest release. Her set was heavy on songs from her recent album but she also played alot of fan favorites and older throwback tracks. Newer tracks that stood out were “Pretzel,” “Twin Flame,” “Horiscope,” and “24 Seconds. The fans were extremely vocal throughout the night and sang along to many songs, especially those from her debut EP PHO , which included “GOAT,” “Cold Out Side,” and “Night Drive.” They also lit up their phones during the song “Dreaming.”
The audience literally screamed upon hearing the very recognizable opening chords to “New Apartment” and got even louder when she played “Whipped Cream” and “Shea Butter Baby” back to back. All three of these songs are off her debut studio album. Lennox had a big surprise for the crowd and whipped them into a frenzy when hometown native, singer-songwriter Jasmine Sullivan walked out on stage to join Lennox on their song “On It.” It was deafening! No joke! Sullivan looked absolutely incredible in her black latex catsuit. Another great moment from the show was when she brought up audience members to sing and dance along during “Soft Era Girl.”
It was a fun moment. The night ended with ‘Hocus Pocus.” This really felt like a very special performance. The band was incredibly tight during the set and along with the backup vocalists, were exceptional. Ari Lennox’s voice was flawless. She effortlessly navigated every soaring note and every soulful low. The crowd was all in from the minute Lennox walked out on stage and remained incredibly vocal for the rest of the set. The audience turned alot of songs into a shared high-energy sing- along that made the venue feel absolutely electric. There is no question this unfortettable performance left a permanent mark on everyone in the crowd.
