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About ESSENCE Festival
Since its 1995 debut, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has helped shape, define, and celebrate black music and culture. Held every July 4th weekend, the multi-day event initially was meant to be a one-time affair to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. However, it turned out to be an incredibly impactful and empowering event, prompting its return the following year and subsequently evolving into one of the largest and most highly regarded annual festivals in the United States.
While you'll need to purchase tickets to catch the music at #essencefest, anyone can check out the free daily activities and panels held throughout the weekend which includes expert panels, workshops and shopping focused on beauty, health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and more.
This year marks the 30th birthday of the Essence Festival of Culture! The party with a purpose" always includes a stacked lineup of music's biggest names in hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, and gospel. Throughout the years, there have been many memorable performances and this year will be no different. Buy your tickets and come party with us for our dirty thirty!
Janet Jackson's 2010 Essence performance was spectacular to say the least! We had so much fun! She is an amazing performer. She must have changed outfits at least 6 times. She looked beautiful and the dancing and singing was phenomenal! She put on an awesome show! I'm glad I was there to see it in person. Truly fantastic!
Janet was truly amazing. She looked incredible and performed all of my favorite hits!! Her body is banging and she has inspired me to hit the gym!!! :) Janet still got it going on!!!
It's so amazeing how these singer or getting Better and Better, with time show are awsome!!! Big, Better,entertaining, Movie. Were u get to watch a Movie?and have the singer live( no were). :) I love it!!!!!!!! LoL Janet Jackson, charly Wilson , monca, Ruben did I sutter, it was D best and it not over yet. Get back at me Monday.
I wouldn't have ever thought Charlie Wilson was that good on stage and Janet Jackson, what could you say, the girl was the BOMB!
Charlie Wilson was ALL THAT!!!!! He, by far, connected with the crowd better than any other artist. I was disappointed that other wonderful performers were not on the main stage & not more accessible to viewers (i.e. Chrisette Michelle, Mary Mary). We tried to enter the lounge to view them, but the lines were so long we were unable to enter due to fire marshall recommendations. It also got very cold towards the end. Everyone on my row and the row behind me were shivering. Overall, I had a great time. Raphael Saadiq and Monica were good, but the majority of the crowd had not arrived yet.
EMF got off to a great start. As expected, Charlie Wilson did his thing. His show with very electric and had much crowd involvement. This man knows how to work the crowd. We definitely feel like we got our money's worth. Janet Jackson's show was good too. Hers was more of a choreographed, scripted show with a lot of pomp and circumstance. Good too...just a different kind of good. On a different note: unfortunately the Superdome was freezing as in previous years. It really makes for a less enjoyable time when the temperature is near "artic." I have commented on previous surveys that MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS need to be made on that front. On a more positive note, the shows were close to on time. That was an improvement from years past.
Monica was good. Raphael Sadiqq was horrible. He should been in a super lounge. Charlie Wilson is always a show stopper. He brought the party to the Superdome. Janet Jackson was good but she had too much down time in her performance showing clips from all of the movies and sitcoms she has performed.
The Essence Music Festival was an amazing experience! The concerts were extremely fun. I never in my lifetime thought that I would be up dancin in the aisle listening to Janet Jackson sing all of her hits at 1:30am in the morning! The temperature in the Superdome was the only bad part, as it was very cool due to our seats being located right in front of the air conditioning vents. The staff and police force was visible and very PROFESSIONAL! Never heard so many thank you, please, good morning, can I help you's before from citizens of the city we were visiting! Getting my mind set to do it all over again tonight, as Alicia Keys headlines tonight's concert at the Superdome and I will be right in my seat ready when the Essence Music Festival sign rises in the air and the show begins. (Oh yeah, "Nefew Tommy" from the Steve Harvey Morning Show is hosting the event and is as funny throughout the night as he is on the show)
Janet Jackson and Charlie Wilson were outstanding; the other two artist were poor. I really want my money back for the poor performance.
Janet Jackson was simply awesome. Her performance was exciting, creative, sensual, and inspiring. She looks incredible. She sounds great. I fully expected her to lip sync; but she did not (at least not a lot). I saw her last during her Velvet Rope Tour. I didn't think anything could top that concert (it ranked among the top 5 I have ever attended, and I attend a lot of concerts and enjoy a wide variety of music). Janet's ESSENCE 2010 is now among the top two all time greatest concerts I've had the pleasure of attending (NE HEARTBREAK is still #1).
Janet's performance was great. She performed all her hits and she did not disappoint. She looked great with her new look as well. If you were not in attendance you missed an icon giving yet another fabulous show.
Essence this concert event was great!!! Loved all of the main stage. Hated the crowded lounges. Hint these artists should be main stage too. Can't wait until tonight!! So we could do it all again.
The show was more than I expected Janet was fabulous her performance was worth every cent.
This is my first time attending the Esssence Music Festival. The seminars were informative. The concerts were off the chain. I had a great time and hope to return next year.
OMG I am beyonce’s #1 fan and I just bought the essence music festival cd/dvd (15th anniversary) from walmart and it was HOT!!! She sounds so good live and she is the best dancer out there forreal!!! If you haven’t seen the DVD or listened to the CD from last year and you are a HUGE fan of Beyonce’s then go out and get the 2009 essence cd/dvd because she is OUT OF THIS WORLD and OFF THE CHAIN!!!! ☺ Now I HAVE to go see her in concert!!!! NE-YO LOOKS SO CUTE ON STAGE TOO!!!
I must say there is nothing like Essence Weekend and being in New Orleans just puts the icing on the cake..My advice to someone who has never had the Essence Weekend experience to try it one time. I guarantee you will always want to be a part of it from that moment on. I can't wait to see Janet, Mary J, Monica, Jill Scott, and Charlie Wilson..These are my top favorites but the entire line up is spectacular..I live in Baton Rouge and I make the trip every year..My all time favorite essence experience is Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
Being that I'm a La. native, I must say that I absolutely LOVE Essence Fest wknd and I love it even more so b/c it's held every yr in my favorite city of Nawlins!!! The fact that u don't have to worry about transportation to go from 1 place to the next b/c hotels, restaurants, clubs, the Superdome, casinos, shopping centers, etc are all walking or cab driving distance is 1 of the best things about having an event in N.O.! Every yr there's a great line-up, the atmosphere is always a pleasure to be a part of, the food is awesome, the vibe is positive, the ppl are nice, just any and everything about Essence Fest wknd is just AWESOME w/ a capital A baby...lol!!! If you've never been to Essence Fest or any other wknd event in N.O., plzzzz do urself a favor and attend @ least 1 time and I promise u, u'll want to attend every yr! And before I forget....WHO DAT!!!
The Essence Music Festival is an annual "To-Do." The environment and energy is CRAZY! It is simply ramazing!
My friends and I have made the ESSENCE Music Festival the place to be July 4th weekend. The heat, the music and the activities and the food make New Orleans extra hot! Can't wait to see Janet, Mary, Alicia, Trey and my favs in the Superlounges like Lalah and Estelle!
