This year, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture is celebrating its 30th anniversary in New Orleans over the Fourth of July weekend! Trust me when I say, there is nothing like this annual cultural event! It’s a weekend-long celebration of music, fashion, film, beauty, wellness, politics, economics, and culture. The four-day event has become the nation’s largest festival by per-day attendance with panel discussions, art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, and concerts.
In the recently released ESSENCE Magazine Men’s Issue, standout artists who’ve helped define their Festival of Culture were highlighted. Here are NOLA Concerts Top 5 that we have previously seen live:
Usher
Grammy-award-winning and 2024 Super Bowl LVIII halftime headliner, Usher is no stranger to the main stage! At only 19 years old, Usher performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998. At the time, Usher had only released his self-titled debut album, and his second album, My Way, which features his first number-one single, “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna…”
This year, Usher is returning for a special 20th-anniversary performance of his album, Confessions! I’ve previously seen Usher live twice – at the Smoothie King Center for his UR Experience Tour in 2014 and at Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve in 2019. He’s a must-see performer! Catch him at the Evening Concert Series on Saturday, July 6th at the Caesar’s Superdome.
Master P
New Orleans’ own, Master P, had a No Limit Soldiers reunion on the main stage of the ESSENCE Festival back in 2017! There’s no denying the impact and legacy the city of New Orleans and the No Limit Soldiers have had on the nation and the world. In fact, in 2013, Master P was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, making him the first hip-hop artist to be inducted!
From Miller’s platinum hit, “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” to No Limit’s timeless tracks like “Choppa Style” and “You Ain’t Gotta Say Too Much,” it’s always a party with Master P taking the stage!
Tank
It’s been twelve years since Tank made his ESSENCE Festival debut. The R&B singer-songwriter started as a backing vocalist for Aaliyah before becoming a solo act in 1998! By 2012, he had already released five albums including his Sex, Love & Pain album which features his hit single, “Please Don’t Go.”
The four-time Grammy nominee is now part of the R&B trio, TGT, with Tyrese and Ginuwine. I previously saw TGT take the stage back in 2013 on July 7th along with performances by Beyoncé and Janelle Monáe! Supergroup TGT is returning to ESSENCE this year on Saturday night during the Evening Concert Series!
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
This group is no stranger to ESSENCE or the City of New Orleans. In 1996, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly took the stage bringing all joy and no pain with performances of “Before I Let Go,” “We Are One,” “I Can’t Get Over You,” and more!
They previously closed out the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in 2019, where Mayor LaToya Cantrell presented Beverly with a key to the city. And in May over Memorial Day weekend, they stopped at the Smoothie King Center for their ‘I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour’. On Sunday, July 7th, you can witness an unforgettable tribute to Frankie Beverly with special guests, produced by Bryan Michael Cox! Don’t forget to pack your all-white outfit!
Kendrick Lamar
Compton native, Kendrick Lamar, has come a long way since I first saw him open for Kanye West’s Yeezus Tour in 2013. In 2015, the Grammy Award winner graced the ESSENCE Festival main stage following the success of his albums, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly. Since then Lamar has curated and executive produced the soundtrack for the Black Panther film, won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and headlined three arena tours!
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Lamar live twice – opening for Yeezus Tour in 2013 and headlining his Big Steppers Tour in 2023. Like his music, Lamar tells a story during his live performances. Like ESSENCE said, “he’s a modern-day poet” who gives “a show that was a master class in storytelling.”
The 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture
This year’s celebration is taking place on July 4th – 7th in New Orleans, LA. The daytime experience at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center includes the Food & Wine Festival, BeautyCon, the Film Festival the GU Creators House, and more! The Nightime Concert Series at the Caesar’s Superdome features performances by Janet Jackson, Usher, Busta Rhymes, Charlie Wilson, Victoria Monét, SWV, Raphael Saadiq, The Roots, and more!
You can purchase tickets at ESSENCEFestival.com!
NOLA Concerts 