Its that time of year again. The good folks at Essence Magazine have revealed the initial line up for Essence Festival 2018. As usual, the festivities kick off in New Orleans during 4th of July weekend. This year because the holiday falls in the middle of the week, the festivities take place from July 5th to the 8th.
The major headliner so far this year is Ms. Janet Jackson. Mary J. Blige is returning this year as well after an amazing performance last year. Other headliners include Erykah Badu, Jill Scott in a special set curated by The Roots. Snoop Dogg will also be part of that performance.
Xscape also returns after they created complete pandemonium at the Super Dome a year ago for their first major show after all four of them reunited. No word yet on whether Kandi is joining the this year. She recently announced that she was taking a break from the group to focus on acting in the Broadway show, “Chicago”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmeM6nW86e8
Women are the focus of this year’s show, even more so than usual when you talk about Essence Mag. “In 2018, women are at the forefront of a seismic shift reverberating across the cultural landscape, and this movement comes to life for our community at the ESSENCE Festival,” said Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications. “Some of the most iconic female artists and powerhouse performers of this generation—Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Fantasia and others—embrace ESSENCE and the Festival as a sacred space to entertain, inspire, revel in culture and be renewed.”
Other confirmed performers include Miguel; Fantasia; 112; Daniel Caesar; Kelly Price’s For The Love of R&B featuring Dave Hollister and Vaughn Willis; Kevin Ross; MAJOR.; Mali Music; Marsha Ambrosius; MC Lyte; Mykia Jovan; Ro James; Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing Experience featuring Wreckx-n-Effect, Blackstreet and Guy; DVSN; H.E.R.; Idris Elba; Kelela; The Read’s Kid Fury and Crissle; VICTORY and many more to be announced soon.
Doug E. Fresh’s Legends of Hip-Hop Show featuring Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and more is also set to go down!
The mainstage host is Roy Wood, Jr.
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