For those interested, here's the info:


Some performers scheduled to perform are Morris Day and the Time;Ledisi;Christian Scott;Jill Scott;Rihanna;Kanye West;Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, and many others. (check website for updates/changes)

http://www.essence.com/essence/emf/




Tickets: $56, $67, $72 - Floor seats: $83 and $110

Superlounge Artists

Friday, July 4th[/color]
BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION FEATURING NEW ORLEANS FUNK AND SOUL EXPLOSION
TERENCE BLANCHARD
PEABO BRYSON
GIL SCOTT-HERON
GRANDMASTER FLASH
MINT CONDITION
REBIRTH BRASS BAND
CHRISTIAN SCOTT (Performed at Prince's 3121 Jazz Cuisine Club in Las Vegas 2006)

Saturday, July 5th
IRVIN MAYFIELD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
LYFE JENNINGS
KERMIT RUFFINS BAND
SOLANGE KNOWLES
LEDISI (Performed with Prince on Jay Leno and Coachella Music Festival)


Sunday, July 6th
RAHEEM DEVAUGHN
FUNKY METERS
CHRISETTE MICHELE
NICOLAS PAYTON
PRESERVATION JAZZ HALL BAND’S GOSPEL REVIVAL
IRMA THOMAS
[Edited 5/16/08 20:57pm]



HOTELS/RATES:


Map Hotels Single Rate Double Rate
Downtown
6 Best Western St. Christopher Hotel $169 $169
11 Comfort Inn & Suites $179 $179
12 Country Inn & Suites $189 $189
14 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown St. Charles $167 $167
17 Days Inn Canal $119 $129
18 Doubletree $169 $169
25 Hampton Inn Downtown $153 $163
27 Harrah's New Orleans $299 $299
29 Hilton Garden Inn N. O. French Quarter/CBD $163 $163
31 Hilton Riverside $186 $186
32 Hilton St. Charles $169 $179
33 Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome $154 $154
34 Holiday Inn Express $155 $195
43 InterContinental $179 $179
44 International House $205 $205
45 JW Marriott $175 $175
46 La Quinta Inn & Suites Downtown $179 $189
47 Le Pavillon Hotel $221 $228
49 Loews Hotel $226 $226
54 Omni Royal Crescent $169 $169
56 Parc St. Charles $144 $184
59 Queen & Crescent $149 $159
62 Renaissance Pere Marquette $169 $169
65 Royal St. Charles $149 $159
69 Sheraton New Orleans $179 $179
71 Staybridge Suites $185 $185
72 W New Orleans $200 $200
73 Whitney Wyndham $172 $180
74 Windsor Court $225 $225

French Quarter
2 Astor Crowne Plaza $165 $205
4 Best Western French Quarter Landmark $170 $170
7 Bienville House $159 $159
8 Bourbon Orleans $169 $169
9 Chateau LeMoyne French Quarter $168 $168
10 Chateau Sonesta Hotel $180 $180
16 Dauphine Orleans $147 $147
21 French Market Inn $155 $195
35 Holiday Inn French Quarter $168 $168
37 Hotel Monteleone $175 $175
39 Hotel Provincial $168 $168
40 Hotel St. Marie $159 $159
41 Iberville Suites $225 $225
42 Inn on Bourbon-Ramada Plaza $169 $169
48 Le Richelieu in the French Quarter $135 $135
50 Maison Dupuy Hotel $169 $169
53 New Orleans Marriott $163 $163
55 Omni Royal Orleans $179 $179
58 Prince Conti Hotel $159 $159
64 Ritz Carlton New Orleans $285 $285
66 Royal Sonesta Hotel $179 $179
67 Saint Ann/Marie Antoinette Hotel $145 $145
68 Saint Louis $155 $155
75 Westin New Orleans Canal Place $164 $184

Garden District
22 Garden District Hotel $139 $149
26 Hampton Inn-Garden District $143 $153
51 Maison St. Charles Quality Inn & Suites $145 $145
57 Pontchartrain Hotel $162 $162

Metro Area
3 Best Western Avalon Hotel $139 $139
5 Best Western Landmark - Metairie $120 $120
15 Courtyard by Marriott Metairie $125 $125
20 Four Points by Sheraton $169 $179
24 Hampton Inn & Suites Elmwood $132 $142
30 Hilton Airport $139 $159
60 Radisson Hotel New Orleans Airport $139 $139

Warehouse District
1 Ambassador Hotel $145 $145
13 Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center $154 $154
19 Embassy Suites $159 $179
23 Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Center $163 $173
28 Hilton Garden Inn N. O. Convention Ctr $143 $143
38 Hotel New Orleans $169 $169
36 Hotel Le Cirque $144 $184
52 Marriott N. O. at the Convention Ctr $172 $172
61 Renaissance Arts $169 $169
63 Residence Inn Downtown by Marriott $169 $169
70 Springhill Suites $154 $154
76 Wyndham Riverfront $185 $185
[Edited 5/16/08 21:10pm]

Scheduled Seminars during the Essence Music Festival - July 4th - July 6th

"The ESSENCE Music Festival hosts three full days of dynamic speakers at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. No tickets needed. Just come and enjoy! Here are highlights of the many choices."

Friday, July 4
TYLER PERRY AND FRIENDS

Opening Remarks
Angela Burt-Murray

ESSENCE Music Festival® Welcome
Michelle Ebanks

City Of New Orleans Welcome
Mayor C. Ray Nagin

A City of New Orleans Special Presentation to Tyler Perry
Mayor Nagin Presents Key to the City to Tyler Perry

Conversation with Tyler Perry
Moderated by Angela Burt-Murray
Audience Q & A

World Premiere
"The Family That Preys" Trailer

Honoring Local Heroes

Episode Premiere
House of Payne

House of Payne Walk-on Role Contest

Leading Ladies Talk About The Representation of Black Women In The Media
Keisha Knight Pulliam, Cassie Davis
Moderated by: Cori Murray

Conversation with "House of Payne" Cast
Lance Gross, Cassie Davis, Lavan Davis
Moderated by: Tanika Ray

Saturday, July 5
RECLAIMING THE DREAM

Opening Remarks
HOST: Roland Martin

Louisiana State Welcome
Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu

Education: Addressing Failing Schools and the Achievement Gap
Keynote Address
Dr. Bill Cosby and Dr. Poussaint
Moderated By: Wendy Wilson

Taking Back Our Community Keynote Address
Tom Joyner

Finding Solutions
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Jabali Sawicki, The Charter School Brooklyn

Essence Music Festival Seminars:

Relationships
Michelle McKinney Hammond, Big Boom

AIDS: The War on Women
"Sometimes I Cry"
Sheryl Lee Ralph

State of the Black Family
"The Power of Us"
Bishop TD Jakes

Finding Solutions
Ed Gordon, AA Father/Daughter Initiative/Journalist
Rose Rock, Celebrity Foster Mother/Author

Election 2008: "My Message to Black America"

Sunday, July 6
AN AFTERNOON OF PRAISE, WORSHIP & INSPIRATION

Welcoming Remarks
HOST: Mikki Taylor

Tye Tribett

Words of Inspiration
Co-Pastor Debra Morton
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church

Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church Choir
Greater St. Stephen Karar Liturgical Dancers

Musical Performance
Regina Belle

Bishop Paul S. Morton and Co-Pastor Debra Morton
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church

"The Testimony You Have Been Waiting To Hear"
Dr. Juanita Bynum

Musical Celebration
Tye Tribett

Closing Remarks
Angela Burt-Murray
[Edited 5/16/08 21:11pm]

I wish I could go . I'm DYING to see Ledisi in concert ...hopefully she'll be crossing the pond and doing the festival circuit here
.

Ottensen said:

She's going to be performing in Miami, Florida for the JVC Jazz Festival tonight, Saturday, May 17th, 8pm.

I may go see her perform on June 25th during the JVC Jazz festival in NYC at the Le Poisson Rouge.

She's also going to be on the CBS Early Show on Friday, June 28th performing,7:00am

Here's the JVC Festival Link

http://www.festivalnetwor....php?ID=15
[Edited 5/17/08 7:28am]