ESSENCEFEST

Latest news and updates for the 2008 Essence Music Festival

A dazzling stage worthy of Times Square announced the Essence Music Festival's new era Friday in the Superdome. Gone were the old Essence logo, curtain and gauzy decor, replaced by flashing vertical and horizontal LED screens and local DJ Soul Sister spinning old-school vinyl between acts.

Michael Democker/ The Times-PicayuneOne highlight of the Essence Music Festival's revamped main stage was local DJ Soul Sister spinning old-school vinyl between acts.

The main stage face-lift was the most obvious change instituted by the new regime at Essence Communications led by president Michelle Ebanks and a new festival producer, Rehage Entertainment. Elsewhere, Essence felt very much like Essence, from the rainbow hue of fabrics worn by the sharply dressed crowd to the smell of deep-fried soul food in the superlounges.

During his set at the Essence Festival Sunday night, Chris Rock noted that the NAACP had staged a symbolic "funeral" for the infamous n-word.

"Well," Rock said with typical gusto, "today is Easter."

Keith I. Marszalek / NOLA.comFrankie Beverly with Maze close out the Essence Music Festival Sunday, July 6, 2008.

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Between Mary J. Blige's and Maze's Sunday night sets, Essence Communications president Michelle Ebanks made a surprise announcement on the main stage: Beyonce is already booked for the 2009 festival.

Beyonce delivered an eye-popping set in the Superdome during the 2007 Essence. That show was more than enough to earn her an invitation to return for the 15th Essence Festival, scheduled for July 3-5, 2009.

Keith I. Marszalek / NOLA.comSarah Dash, Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx perform at the Essence Music Festival Saturday night in New Orleans.

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Neo-soul singer Jill Scott gave an Essence performance that was equal parts arena concert and underground jazz club, bringing out nothing but love from the audience and giving it in return.

"I see you, New Orleans," she said, smiling, after finishing a rousing "It's Love." "You don't understand what I see up here. It's like a golden glow of browns and creams and choco-lattes...and it's gorgeous."

After starting the set off slow and intimate, with slow jams like "Crown Royal," she expertly worked the energy up so that, before long, the audience was hanging on her every word.
By the time she was on to "Hate On Me," with most of the audience out of their seats, it was clear that, thus far, Scott is the queen of Essence 2008.