The July 3-5 event, which will take place at various venues across New Orleans, also includes seminars featuring appearances by Bill Cosby, Donna Brazile, Tom Joyner, Hill Harper, Sheryl Lee Ralph and others.
Seminar topics inlude HIV/AIDS, black women in the media, black men’s issues, education, politics, the economy, the state of the black family and the role of the church in the community.
Filling out the musical roster so far are Solange, Robin Thicke, Salt-N-Pepa, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Ne-Yo, En Vogue, Teena Marie, Eric Benet, Jazmine Sullivan, Janelle Monae, Raphael Saadiq, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Zap Mama, The Knux, Blind Boys of Alabama, Ledisi, Brand New Heavies, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many, many more.
Complete info on tickets, accommodations and additional artists is available at EssenceMusicFestival.com.