The Essence Festival of Culture, a mega-festival touting black culture and music, will be 30 years old in 2024. Slated on July 4–7 in New Orleans, this year shall kick off with a very grandiose staging, featuring a more than generously filled lineup of performances and activities that celebrate the evolution and legacy of this cultural phenomenon.
One highlight is set to be a special one-night performance by Usher, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his historic album “Confessions.” Released in 2004, “Confessions” remains one of the most influential R&B albums, featuring hits such as “Yeah!” and “Burn,” further taking over the charts and staying with fans until this day. The Usher performance is highly anticipated, with fans expecting a journey down memory lane as the musician captures the spirit of R&B from the early 2000s, along with his eternal and never-diminishing talent and charisma.
Another of the major selling points is Janet Jackson—an icon with over a four-decade-long career. With her history of smashing hits and scorching performances, Jackson brings along star power that really leaves no one in doubt. The effect of Jackson’s presence is deep in music, fashion, and pop culture; hence, she is sure to deliver one of the most unforgettable performances at the event.
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The festival has been able to bring veterans like the R&B singer Charlie Wilson, whose voice is opposite to those soaring through the city this week with soulful, raspy vocals and a dynamic stage presence. Starting with the band in the 1970s, Wilson’s career is such that he has enjoyed quite a bit of resurgence over the years—his booking is a testament to that continued drive behind the festival to celebrate artists who have given so much to black music and culture over the years.
In addition to these heavyweights, there are many more performers scheduled to grace the stage at the festival: Nigerian song singer Ayra Starr, R&B group SWV, legendary hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, and more. Mimicking the lineup, the festival is meant to represent music styles and genres in their most diverse forms—something there for everyone to like.
Although the Essence Festival of Culture features a ton of musical performances, it is way more: panels, workshops, and discussions on health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and social justice, among many other themes that comprise culture in general. Activities like these give thought leaders, activists, and social media influencers an opportunity to share their thoughts and inspire the audience on real issues concerning the black community.
Also on deck for an extraordinary tribute, Frankie Beverly & Maze come to the stage, a band timeless in memory with their smooth R&B and soul music. The tribute simply acknowledges that they remain a living legacy, exuding their influence over generations of music makers.
As the festival nears 30 years, it has continued to gain esteem as a huge cultural event that attracts people of many ethnicities from every part of the world. The festival had an impact of several hundred million dollars to be precise, $316 million in New Orleans and Louisiana in 2019 and was one of the shows with the highest economic impact on the community. This year, organizers are brilliant about the future, creating new memories, and more so for the tradition that dictates its stand in black culture in all its forms.
