Not only is it one of NOLA’s biggest weekends of the year, but it’s also the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina! Whether you’re local or visitng, we want to make sure you have a blast in the Big Easy. Here’s your mini-guide to this weekend’s most fab events, including the full ESSENCE Music Festival concert line-up, plus day and after parties and events. Print it, forward it to a friend, let it be known that Ashlee Nicole Spills your ‘go-to’ guides to the hottest, coolest, and most current haps.
ANS’ 2015 EMF GUIDE
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NEW ORLEANS, LA
THURSDAY, JULY 2 – SUNDAY, JULY 5
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL CONCERT
MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME
THURSDAY, JULY 2
MAIN STAGE
Hosted by Nephew Tommy
7 p.m.: Lecrae
7:45 p.m.: Trey Songz
8:45 p.m.: Kevin Hart
FRIDAY, JULY 3
MAIN STAGE
Hosted by Nephew Tommy
7:15 p.m.: Kem
8:20 p.m.: India Arie
9:25 p.m.: Charlie Wilson
11:25 p.m.: Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
SUPERLOUNGES
ART OF HIP-HOP
7:05 p.m.: Slick Rick
8:35 p.m.: Doug E. Fresh
HOT RIGHT NOW
7:45 p.m.: Adrian Marcel
8:40 p.m.: Nico & Vinz
SOUL OF R&B
7:35 p.m.: Avery*Sunshine
9:15 p.m.: Kelly Price
B-Slade
NOW PLAYING
6:55 p.m.: Luenell
7:30 p.m.: Goapele
10:15 p.m.: Kindred The Family Soul
SATURDAY, JULY 4
MAIN STAGE
Hosted by Nephew Tommy
7:35 p.m.: Common
8:35 p.m.: Erykah Badu
9:55 p.m.: Missy Elliott
11:15 p.m.: Usher
SUPERLOUNGES
ART OF HIP-HOP
7:20 p.m.: Mystikal
8:45 p.m.: Kool Moe Dee
HOT RIGHT NOW
7 p.m.: Sevyn Streeter
8:10 p.m.: Mali Music
9:20 p.m.: Esperanza Spalding
SOUL OF R&B
7 p.m.: Tank and The Bangas
7:55 p.m.: Tonya Boyd-Cannon
9:10 p.m.: Bilal
NOW PLAYING
7:20 p.m.: Wale
8:20 p.m.: Elle Varner
9:35 p.m.: Raheem DeVaughn
SUNDAY, JULY 5
MAIN STAGE
Hosted by Nephew Tommy
7 p.m.: Floetry
8 p.m.: Trombone Shorty
9:20 p.m.: Mary J. Blige
10:55 p.m.: Kendrick Lamar
SUPERLOUNGES
ART OF HIP-HOP
7 p.m.: Dee-1
7:55 p.m.: Dumpstaphunk
9:05 p.m.: MASE
HOT RIGHT NOW
7:05 p.m.: Andra Day
8 p.m.: SZA
8:55 p.m.: Lianne La Havas
SOUL OF R&B
7 p.m.: Teedra Moses
8:10 p.m.: Eric Roberson
NOW PLAYING
7:45 p.m.: Andy Allo
8:40 p.m.: Omarion
9:30 p.m.: Robert Glasper
Jeff Bradshaw + Tweet
DAY + AFTER PARTIES (click on “Tickets” to purchase)
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Essence Day Party Series: DJ DRAMA & Biz Markie | The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd. | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Tickets
Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City III | Masquerade [Harrah’s Casino], 228 Poydras St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Rock the Boat: All White Boat Ride, hosted by Kaylin Garcia [LHHNY] | The Creole Queen, 1 Poydras St. & Canal St. | 9 p.m. – Midnight | Tickets
Welcome to NOLA: The Official Meet & Greet | Aprés Lounge, 608 Fulton St. | 10 p.m. | RSVP for Complimentary Entry
Welcome to New Orleans | Bourbon Heat, 711 Bourbon St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Vice N Play, hosted by Trey Songz | EIFFEL Society, 2040 St. Charles Ave. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Welcome to New Orleans Gala After Party w/ U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond + DJs Captain Charles & Raj Smoove | The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | Midnight | Tickets
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Shop and Sip + Performance by Christian Scott | Exodus Goods, 518 Conti St. | 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. | FREE
The Just Wear White Party | Razzoo, 511 Bourbon St. | 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. | FREE
Essence Day Party Series: Funkmaster Flex & Biz Markie | The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd. | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Tickets
The Black Hollywood Party, hosted by Kandi Burruss & Friends | Masquerade [Harrah’s Casino], 228 Poydras St. | 2 p.m. – 8 p.m | Tickets
The Annual Welcome to New Orleans Day Party | Le Meridien (Formerly The W), 333 Poydras St. | Tickets
Red, White & You w/ DJ Funk Master Flex | Aprés Lounge, 608 Fulton St. | 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Tickets
Day Escape, hosted by Demetria [RHOA] + DJ D-Nice | The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | 3 p.m.
Gold and White | Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon St. | 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Tickets
All White Everything Affair w/ Monica + Avant + Raheem DeVaughn | The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Mardi Gras in July, hosted by Kandi Burruss + Big Tigger | Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Ave | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Flashback Friday, hosted by Doug E. Fresh, ft. DJs Mannie Fresh & Jubilee | Republic, 828 S. Peters St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
The Double Up Party w/ DJ Kid Capri | Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
The All White Fabulous Friday Affair, hosted by Bryan M. Cox + Lance Gross | Le Meridien (formerly The W Hotel), 333 Poydras St. | Tickets
Vice N Play, hosted by Adrian Marcel + Tank | EIFFEL Society, 2040 St. Charles Ave. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Born to WEN & HERStory Lifestyles Power Brunch ft. Lisa Nicole Cloud and Dr. Heavenly Kimes (Married to Medicine) + Jewel Tankard (Bravo’s Thicker Than Water) + Pastor Debra Morton | Aprés Lounge, 608 Fulton St. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Tickets
New Orleans Natural Hair Expo | Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Tickets
VIP On The River ft. DJ Bomshell Boogie | The Steamboat Natchez, 400 Toulouse St. (behind JAX Brewery) | 1st cruise: 11 a.m.; 2nd cruise: 2 p.m. | Tickets
Beauty + Books Makeup Mixer w/ Tonya Boyd-Cannon + Beautii J + more | Faces of Virtue Makeup Studio, 220 Julia St. | 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Tickets
Essence Day Party Series: Spinderella | The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd. | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Tickets
The Makeup & Martini Mixer III :Essence Fest Edition w/ Rico Love | Hyatt French Quarter, 800 Iberville St. | 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Tickets
Pink & Blue Day Party + Performance by Chrisette Michele | PURE Lounge, 1011 Gravier St. | 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
30 Years of Hip-Hop Day Party, hosted by Doug E. Fresh + music by Biz Markie | Masquerade [Harrah’s Casino], 228 Poydras St. | 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Tickets
All White Affair, hosted by Kenny Burns + Raheem Devaughn + Ryan Cameron | The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | Tickets
Damn That DJ Made My Day Party + Lance Gross’ Birthday Bash | House of Blues, 225 Decatur St. | Tickets
The All White Great Gatsby Day Party, hosted and music by DJ Envy | Aprés Lounge, 608 Fulton St. | 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Tickets
Wine and Grind: Missy [Elliott] Appreciation Night, hosted by Solange | Etolie Polaire Lodge #1, 1433 N. Rampart St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Black Hollywood Explosion, hosted by Omari Hardwick + Tank + Avant | House of Blues, 225 Decatur St. | Tickets
The Art of Luxury Black & White Affair w/ Common + Kenny Burns + DJ Biz Markie| The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
All White Affair, hosted by Beautii J (Cutting It in The ATL) | The Vibe, 1605 Esplanade Ave. | 10 p.m. | No Cover w/ all white attire (LGBT)
Scandalous, hosted by Jussie Smollett | Republic, 828 S. Peters St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
The Double Up Party w/ DJ SNS | Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
The Best Damn Night Party Period, hosted by Doug E. Fresh + DJ Kid Capri | Empire Ballroom [Hyatt Regency], 601 Poydras St. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Essence Day Party Series: DJ Cassidy | The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd. | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Tickets
Sunday Soul Cleansing | Exodus Goods, 518 Conti St. | 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Tickets
Sunday Reign w/ Estelle + Lance Gross + DJ Raj Smoove | The Metropolitan, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. | 10 p.m. | Tickets
Have a fierce, fun, and fabulous time, but please, drink responsibly while doing so. =]
This guide will be consistently updated.
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