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ABC/Randy HolmesMary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, H.E.R., Nas and more will all perform at this year’s Essence Festival, scheduled to take place July 4-7 in New Orleans, LA.
Now in its 25th year, the annual three-night concert series is set to be hosted by Loni Love and feature more than 80 of the most talented and creative artists from across the globe. The lineup for the Louisiana Superdome event also includes Anthony Hamilton, Doug E. Fresh, Frankie Beverly, Jermaine Dupri, Ledisi, MC Lyte, Musiq Soulchild, Pharrell Williams and Teyana Taylor.
Additional performers include 702, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Brownstone, City Girls, El Debarge, Elle Varner, Ginuwine, and Jacquees. More acts are set to be revealed in the coming weeks.
“When the ESSENCE Festival was founded 25 years ago, it marked a pivotal moment of vision and reverence in the power of our culture,” Michelle Ebanks, Chief Executive Officer of ESSENCE Communications, said in a statement.
Ebanks continued, “In the years since, it has set a standard that many other festivals have aspired to, and today, the ESSENCE Festival has grown to represent an annual homecoming for black artists from across the globe.”
Special performance highlights will include two seminal albums thematically brought to life: Blige’s My Life and NAS’ Illmatic. Both are are marking their 25th year anniversaries in 2019.
ESSENCE is also set to honor Frankie Beverly for his lifetime contribution to music.
For information about ticket sales and accommodations, visit Essence.com/festival.
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