Essence Music Festival

Essence Music Festival

Location(s)	Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
Years active	1995 - present
Date(s)	4th of July weekend
Genre	R&B • Soul • Funk • Gospel • Blues • Hip-Hop • Jazz • Reggae
Website	Essence.com

The Essence Music Festival, known as "the party with a purpose", is an annual music festival which started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE, a magazine aimed primarily towards African-American women. It is the largest event celebrating African-American culture and music in the United States. Locally referred to as the Essence Fest, it has been held in New Orleans, Louisiana every year since 1995 except for 2006, where it was held in Houston, Texas due to Hurricane Katrina. It features artists simultaneously performing on a main stage as well as four standing-room only superlounge stages.

In 2008, for the first time since its 1995 inception, the festival was not produced by the original producer team. Instead, Essence Communications, owner of the festival and the Essence magazine, contracted Rehage Entertainment Inc.. A new main stage facelift was designed by production designer Stefan Beese.

Traxx Girls Inc. has partnered with Studfish Productions to offset the first annual Essence Weekend for Ladies Edition of Essence Music Festival by hosting events for the alternative lifestyle women who enjoy attending Essence Music Festival weekend, but want to attend events that cater to alternative women.

Concert line-up

2001

Erykah Badu - Destiny's Child - Joe Lewis Thomas - Yolanda Adams - Carl Thomas - Angie Stone - Tower of Power - Solomon Burke - Patti LaBelle - Jill Scott - Eric Benét - The O'Jays - Bilal - The Dells - Clarence Carter - Patti Austin - Zion Golan - Irma Thomas - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Teena Marie - Steve Harvey - Kelly Price - The Whispers - The Roots - Jeffrey Osborne - Steel Pulse - Brenda Russell - Rebirth Brass Band - Vintage - Donald Harrison

2002

Luther Vandross - Alicia Keys - Cedric the Entertainer - Gerald Levert - India.Arie - Me'Shell Ndegeocello - The Roots - The Ohio Players - Denise LaSalle - Kindred - Myself - Big Al Carson - Mary J. Blige - The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley - Faith Evans - Babyface - Tom Joyner & the Morning Show Crew - De La Soul - Oleta Adams - Femi Kuti - Average White Band - Mike Phillips - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Brian McKnight - Steve Harvey - Al Green - Angie Stone - Etta James - The Brothers Johnson - Tyrone Davis - Glenn Lewis - Rahsaan Patterson - King Floyd - Friends

2003

Stevie Wonder - Erykah Badu - Jamie Foxx - The Gap Band - Yolanda Adams - Musiq - Keith Sweat - Dianne Reeves - Third World - Amel Larrieux - Groove Theory - Jaguar Wright - Dwele - All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross featuring Patti LaBelle, Gerald Levert, Faith Evans, Ashanti, Kelly Price, The Luther Vandross Band and more - LL Cool J - Mo'Nique - Chaka Khan - Jaheim - Biz Markie & Doug E. Fresh - Michael Franks - S.O.S. Band - Kindred - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Anita Baker - Smokey Robinson - Heather Headley - Will Downing - Nappy Roots - Bobby "Blue" Bland - Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers

2004

Prince - Morris Day & The Time - Anthony Hamilton - 112 - Millie Jackson - Freddie Jackson - Dionne Farris - Mary J. Blige - O'Jays - LL Cool J - Common - Ohio Players - Little Milton - Lalah Hathaway - Rebirth Brass Band - Irma Thomas - Ledisi - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Gladys Knight - Sinbad - New Edition - Donnie McClurkin - Kem - Dazz Band - Solomon Burke - Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore

2005

Aretha Franklin - Alicia Keys - John Legend - Ruben Studdard - The Roots - Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - Bobby Blue Bland - Vivian Green - Lyfe Jennings - Destiny's Child - Kanye West - Teena Marie - Fantasia - Floetry - Mint Condition - Jeffrey Osborne - Jamia with Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Lionel Richie - Black Eyed Peas - Mo'Nique - Carl Thomas - Regina Belle - Terrence Blanchard - Talib Kweli - The Wailers

2006

Mary J. Blige - Earth Wind & Fire - Mo'Nique - LL Cool J - Yolanda Adams - Chris Brown - Goapele - Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - New Edition - Bobby Brown - Steve Harvey - Jaheim - Kindred - Brand New Heavies - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Toni Braxton - Cedric the Entertainer - Charlie Wilson - Keyshia Cole - Musiq - Loose Ends - Rebirth Brass Band - Michael Ward

Venue: Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas

2007

The O'Jays & Levert with special guest appearances by Keith Sweat & Johnny Gill - Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley - Barack Obama - Ludacris - Ciara - McDonald's Gospel Tribute: Smokie Norful - Vanessa Bell Armstrong - Rachelle Ferrell - Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore - Ruben Studdard - Kindred - Rahsaan Patterson - Pieces Of A Dream - Jermaine Paul - Roi Anthony & Legit - Cupid - Beyoncé - Steve Harvey - Chris Brown - Robin Thicke - Mint Condition - Slum Village - Najee - Anthony David - Nuttin' But Stringz - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Mary J. Blige - Lionel Richie - Ne-Yo - Kelly Rowland - Angie Stone - Common - Chuck D & Public Enemy - Lyfe Jennings - MC Lyte - Sunshine Anderson with special guest Solange Knowles - Rebirth Brass Band

2008

Kanye West - Chris Brown - Rihanna - J. Holiday - Peabo Bryson - Angie Stone - Mint Condition - Grandmaster Flash - Terence Blanchard - Big Sam's Funky Nation - Rebirth Brass Band - A celebration of Patti LaBelle featuring original LaBelle members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, Ledisi, Chrisette Michele, Ruby Amanfu and more - Jill Scott - LL Cool J - Musiq - Lyfe Jennings - Solange - Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra - Marva Wright - Cupid - Karina - Bamboula - Kermit Ruffins' tribute to Louis Armstrong - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Mary J. Blige - Chris Rock - Keyshia Cole - Morris Day & The Time - Chrisette Michele - Estelle - Raheem DeVaughn - Gil Scott-Heron - Irma Thomas - Preservation Hall Jazz Band's Gospel Revival - Nicholas Payton - Christian Scott

2009

Beyoncé - John Legend - Ne-Yo - Salt N Pepa - Eric Benet - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Solange - Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars - Keri Hilson - Marva Wright - Big Sam’s Funky Nation - Preservation Hall Jazz Band Revue - Dwele - Maxwell - Anita Baker - Robin Thicke - Charlie Wilson - Jazmine Sullivan - Ledisi - Janelle Monáe - Zap Mama - Irvin Mayfield - Little Freddie King - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Lionel Richie - Al Green - Teena Marie - En Vogue - Raphael Saadiq - Lalah Hathaway - Melanie Fiona - Ryan Leslie - Blind Boys of Alabama - The Knux - Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave All Stars - Rebirth Brass Band

2010

Janet Jackson - Charlie Wilson - Raphael Saadiq - Monica - Chrisette Michele - Irma Thomas - Arrested Development - Big Sam's Funky Nation - Mary Mary - Irvin Mayfield & The NOJO - WAR - Little Freddie King - Alicia Keys - Gladys Knight - LL Cool J - Keri Hilson - Laura Izibor - Sam & Ruby - De La Soul - Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers - Mint Condition - Joe - Rebirth Brass Band - Earth Wind & Fire - Mary J. Blige - Jill Scott - Trey Songz - Estelle - Hot 8 Brass Band - Lalah Hathaway - Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk - Ruben Studdard - Melanie Fiona - PJ Morton Band - Soul Rebels Brass Band

2011

2011 EMF Logo

Usher - Charlie Wilson - Jennifer Hudson - Fantasia - Boyz II Men - Macy Gray - Dwele - Alexander O’Neal and Cherrelle - Mint Condition - Soul Rebels Brass Band - Tank - Miguel - Mavis Staples - Irma Thomas - Kanye West - Jill Scott - Chaka Khan - El Debarge - Eric Benet - Morris Day & The Time - Stephanie Mills - Naughty by Nature - To Be Continued Brass Band - Mary J. Blige - New Edition - Trey Songz - Loose Ends - Hal Linton - George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic - Rebirth Brass Band - Kelly Price - Vanessa Bell Armstrong - Trin-i-Tee 5:7 - Brian Courtney Wilson - MC Lyte - Doug E. Fresh - Hot 8 Brass Band

2012

2012 EMF Logo

Diggy Simmons - OMG Girlz - Coco Jones - Square Off - Charlie Wilson - D'Angelo - Trey Songz - Keyshia Cole - The Pointer Sisters - Marsha Ambrosious - Kindred & The Family Soul - Vivian Green - Stephanie Mills - Gary Clark Jr. - Rebirth Brass Band - SWV - Goapele - Mary J. Blige - Kevin Hart - Ledisi - Mary Mary - Tank - Eric Roberson - Teedra Moses - The Stylistics - Robert Glasper - Dru Hill - Big Sam's Funky Nation - Chaka Khan - Aretha Franklin - Anthony Hamilton - Fantasia - Kirk Franklin - Syleena Johnson - Faith Evans - KeKe Wyatt - Nicci Gilbert - Melanie Fiona - Carl Thomas - Alex Boyd - Eve - Estelle - Luke James - Raheem DeVaughn - Bridget Kelly

Beyonce is headlining the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans for 2013.

External links

• Essence Music Festival 2010 Review by UnRated Magazine
• Essence returns with Kanye West, Chris Rock and a new producer
• Essence '08 highlighted by new stage
• Essence Fest Holds a "Coming Home" Party