- Essence Music Festival
Essence Music Festival is an annual music festival celebrating contemporary African-American music and culture. It is the largest event celebrating
African-American culture and music in the United States. [cite web
title=2007 Essence Music Festival 'Coming Home' to New Orleans July 5, 6, 7
url=http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1550230,00.html
accessdate=2007-04-17] It has been held inNew Orleans, Louisiana every year since 1995 except for 2006, where it was held inHouston, Texas due toHurricane Katrina . Essence Music Festival, known locally as Essence Fest, is sponsored by "Essence", a magazine aimed primarily towards African-American women.The 14th Essence Music Festival, held from July 4th to July 6th,2008, featured lineup included several chart-topping
artists and some Essence favorites, among themChris Rock ,Kanye West , Patty Labelle, Chris Brown,LL Cool J , Grand Master Flash andMary J. Blige .Fact|date=July 2008References
It Is rumored that beyonce will be headlining 2009 Essence Music Festival which would make her the longest female to ever headline the Festival.
For the first time since its 1995 inception. the
festival was not produced by the originalproducer team. Instead, Essence Communications, owner of the festival and theESSENCE magazine, contracted Rehage Entertainment Inc., to help reinvigorate the festival's presentation and marketing. A new main stage face-lift, ,designed byproduction designer Stefan Beese and instituted by the newregime at Essence Communications &Rehage Entertainment , was the most obvious change and ushered the festival into a new era.External links
* [http://www.essence.com/essence/emf/ Essence Music Festival 2008]
* [http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/festivals/musicfestivals/essence.html Essence Fest Holds a "Coming Home" Party]
* [http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2008/03/essence_returns_with_kanye_wes.html Essence returns with Kanye West, Chris Rock and a new producer]
* [http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2008/07/essences_offered_up_fans_a_new.html Essence '08 highlighted by new stage]
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