ANNUAL CULTURAL CELEBRATION SET FOR JULY 3, 4 AND 5 IN NEW ORLEANS

THE ULTIMATE PARTY WEEKEND WITH HEADLINING PERFORMANCES FROM MORE THAN 30 ACTS INCLUDING BEYONCÉ, MAXWELL, ANITA BAKER, LIONEL RICHIE, AL GREEN, JOHN LEGEND, NE-YO, SALT N PEPA,  ROBIN THICKE, CHARLIE WILSON, JAZMINE SULLIVAN, MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY, TEENA MARIE AND EN VOGUE

ESSENCE EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS TO FEATURE STEVE HARVEY, BILL COSBY, ROLAND MARTIN, SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, TOM JOYNER, JUANITA BYNUM, MAYOR C. RAY NAGIN, BEN JEALOUS, DONNA BRAZILE, BISHOP T.D. JAKES, REV. AL SHARPTON AND MANY MORE!

ESSENCE AND CNN TEAM FOR CO-PRODUCTION OF “RECLAIMING THE DREAM”

Coming off its most successful year ever with more than 270,000 attendees in 2008, this year’s ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL will mark its 15th anniversary this July 3, 4 and 5 in New Orleans, LA with the biggest names in entertainment and the nation’s most influential speakers, artists, authors and leaders.  The annual weekend of entertainment and empowerment will once again dazzle and uplift with an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations over the festive Fourth of July holiday weekend. 

“We’re looking forward to commemorating 15 great years of the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL this Fourth of July weekend in New Orleans,” said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc.  “Between the fantastic music line-up and the exciting offerings of the Seminars and on-site sponsor activities, this year’s Festival is certain to be a one-of-a-kind celebration that entertains, inspires and empowers.”

This year’s list of performers is comprised of some of today's greatest African-American artists. The weekend-long celebration will conclude in great tradition as Frankie Beverly and Maze wrap up the festival by closing the show as they have for the past 14 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVALs including 2006’s post-Katrina festival in Houston. Main stage performers in the Louisiana Superdome are as follows:  Friday, July 3:  Beyoncé, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Salt N Pepa, DJ Soul Sister; Saturday, July 4:  Maxwell, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke, Charlie Wilson, Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Soul Sister; Sunday, July 5:  Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Lionel Richie, Al Green, Teena Marie, En Vogue, DJ Soul Sister.

Running concurrently with the mainstage performances in the Superdome’s four Superlounges are shows by some of today’s rising stars, living legends and New Orleans hometown favorites:  Friday, July 3:  Eric Benet, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Solange, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Keri Hilson, Marva Wright, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Preservation Hall Jazz Band Revue, Dwele, DJ Captain Charles, DJ Jubilee, DJ Dynamite Dave Soul and DJ EF Cuttin; Saturday, July 4: Ledisi, Janelle Monae, Zap Mama, Irvin Mayfield, Dan Dyer, Little Freddie King, DJ Captain Charles, DJ Jubilee, DJ Dynamite Dave Soul and DJ EF Cuttin; Sunday, July 5: Raphael Saadiq, Lalah Hathaway, Melanie Fiona, Ryan Leslie, Blind Boys of Alabama, The Knux, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave All Stars, Rebirth Brass Band, DJ Captain Charles, DJ Jubilee, DJ Dynamite Dave Soul and DJ EF Cuttin.

The 2009 Essence Empowerment Seminars (free and open to the public) will host three full days of socio-political dialogue and spiritual inspiration led by dynamic motivational speakers at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  The Empowerment Seminars kick-off on Friday, July 3 with a women’s forum on “Living an Authentic Life”, featuring Steve Harvey’s “Love and Relationships Tour”.  On Saturday, July 4, ESSENCE and CNN will present “Reclaiming the Dream: Annual Town Hall on Families, Finances and the Future”, as well as an exclusive television co-production, “Reclaiming the Dream,” which will be filmed on-site at the ESSENCE Music Festival and air later this summer. The Seminars will close out on Sunday, July 5 with an all-star gospel “Tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes”, featuring special performances by CeCe Winans, Ledisi, Marvin Sapp, and Smokie Norful, to name a few.

In addition to the ESSENCE Empowerment Seminars, the Festival’s daytime offerings also include the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE, a showcase of quality fine arts & crafts by African-American vendors from all over the world. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will also feature interactive sponsor presentations, celebrity meet-and-greets, Festival souvenirs and a book fair with author book signings.

The ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL—the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture—started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. Now the Festival has been heralded as one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” in 2007 by Advertising Age; was hailed by USA Today as having “achieved a balance of old-school homage and cutting-edge innovation at the Superdome” (7-7-08); and highlighted prominently among well-known consumer events such as NASCAR and Spring Break. In its 15-year history, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL has featured an array of performers including Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Chris Brown, Destiny's Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Kanye West, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, The O'Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

For additional information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit www.essencemusicfestival.com.

The 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI). The 2009 Empowerment Seminars are produced by GeChar.  The 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL sponsors include Presenting Sponsor Coca Cola; Major Sponsors:  Covergirl Queen Collection, Ford, McDonald’s, Pantene Pro-V, U.S. Army and Walmart; and Official Sponsors: CNN, Coors Light, Hennessy, Mastercard, My Black is Beautiful, Southwest Airlines, TBS and TVOne.