Of course, I'm talking about the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL With the exception of the year 2006, this event has taken New Orleans by storm every summer for the last 15 years.
And to celebrate it's 15th birthday, the festival is going ALL OUT when it comes performances and educational forums. This will definitely be one of those events you'll hate to miss.
HERE's THE LINEUP FOR THE WEEKEND PERFORMANCES:
ON FRIDAY NIGHT: BEYONCE is the top draw. Bey is currently on her "I Am" tour to promote her latest album. She will share the stage with Ne-Yo, John Legend, Salt N Pepa and DJ Soul Sister.
In the SuperLounges on Friday: Dwele, Keri Hilson, Solange, and more!
ON SATURDAY NIGHT (the night I'll be in the hiz-ouse!), neo-soul crooner MAXWELL is the top draw. After an 8-year hiatus, Maxwell has finally returned to his eagerly-waiting fans. Press releases for the festival say this will be his ONLY preview of his upcoming album (to be released on July 7th) ... but he's already previewed audiences in NYC, L.A. and Atlanta.
Sharing the stage with Maxwell Saturday night: Robin Thicke, Anita Baker, Charlie Wilson, and Jazmine Sullivan.
In the Superlounges: Ledisi, Janelle Monae, Irvin Mayfield ... and more!
And ON SUNDAY NIGHT: Festival favorites MAZE f/ FRANKIE BEVERLY will headline the final night (as usual). Also performing are Lionel Richie, Al Green, Teena Marie ... and En Vogue (yes, them!).
In the Superlounges that night: Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Leslie, Lalah Hathaway, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and more.
- For the complete list of peforming artists go HERE.
Tickets have been on sale since the beginning of the year, but they were for the WHOLE WEEKEND (and had a price tag that averaged about $200).
At the beginning of March, the single-day tickets went on sale. On most nights the floor seats were already gone, but I managed to get a lower level seat for about $85.
A friend of mine bought tix in the last couple of weeks and said she was in the nosebleed section for Friday night.
Sooooo ... if you don't have your tickets already, you better get on it! Just go HERE.
Now ESSENCE is more than just MUSIC. The weekend also provides some great opportunities for networking, fundraising and education in the Black community. The festival hosts some amazing seminars featuring some of the top people in Black entertainment, politics, media, etc.
The 3-day Seminar Series is free and open to the public and takes place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center located at 900 Convention Center Blvd, in Hall C from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day.
This year's seminars feature some outstanding speakers, check em out ...
ON FRIDAY, hear from: Dr. Juanita Bynum, Lisa Wu Hartwell, Steve Harvey, Finesse Mitchell, Sharon Quinn, Donna Richardson-Joyner, Malik Yoba, Malinda Williams and Omarosa (plus more!)
ON SATURDAY: Roland Martin, Ed Gordon, Bill Cosby, Malaak Compton-Rock, Donna Brazile, Tom Joyner, Dr. Calvin Mackie, Donnie McClurkin, and Al Sharpton (plus others).
ON SUNDAY: Bishop T.D. Jakes, Bishop Noel Jones, Ledisi, Mayor Ray Nagin, Smokie Norful, Marvin Sapp, CeCe Winans, and more!
*** For more information on the seminars, go HERE. There you'll also find discussion forums on different seminar topics (and speakers).
And Hit up http://www.essencemusicfestival.com/ for ALL the ESSENCE INFO ... and I'll see you there!!! :)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment