New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Essence Communications) ESSENCE Festival organizers today announced that programming for the leading cultural gathering of its kind will expand to 20 stages of entertainment and empowerment in celebration of the event's 20 th anniversary, July 3-6, 2014 in New Orleans, LA .
Over the past two decades, "...the Festival has become one of the most important forums for non hip-hop black music and culture," as reported by the New York Times . This year's milestone 4-day celebration will feature both world-renowned and up-and-coming performing acts, as well as the country's top speakers, authors, leaders, innovators and celebrities - who will come together to entertain, excite, engage, inform and inspire the Festival community of more than 543,000.
The Superdome Mainstage performers will include powerhouses
Prince (previously announced),
Lionel Richie ,
Mary J. Blige ,
Jill Scott ,
Erykah Badu ,
Ledisi and
Charlie Wilson .
The intimate Superlounge stages will feature eclectic crowd-pleasers such as: 112, Amel Larrieux, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Doug E Fresh,
Elle Varner , Eve, King, Kourtney
Heart ,
Leela James , Liv Warfield ,
Marsha Ambrosius , Naughty by Nature, PJ Morton, Raheem Davaughn, Robert Glasper ,
Sebastian Mikael ,
Sevyn Streeter ,
Stephanie Mills and The Original Pinettes Brass Band .
The daytime Essence Empowerment
Experience stage will feature influential leaders and personalities including Rev. Al Sharpton , Steve
Harvey , and Iyanla Vanzant , who is offering a group transformation to lucky winners of a contest launched in the January 2014 issue of Essence magazine.
Plus, attendees will get lifted during an all-star gospel tribute to illustrious vocalist
Yolanda Adams , hosted by legendary Pastor
Donnie McClurkin .
The Mainstage host each night will be comedian
Nephew Tommy.
* More performing acts and speakers to be announced soon. To purchase tickets, get more exciting news, talent and program updates go to www.essencefestival.com .
Last year, the ESSENCE Festival saw record-breaking numbers as fans spent the Fourth of July weekend enjoying the annual event's mix of exciting newcomers and cherished Festival favorites. In describing the annual event, Billboard magazine stated: " Not many festivals break attendance records in their 19 th year. But then, most festivals aren't ESSENCE which saw a record 540,000 people attend four days of programming in New Orleans ."
For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE FESTIVAL, visit ESSENCE Festival www.essencefestival.com , join the Festival community: follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2014 ESSENCE Festival on Facebook .
Sponsors of the 2014 ESSENCE Festival include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors
State Farm and Verizon.
