Trey Songz, Brandy, Janelle Monae, TGT, Charlie Wilson, New Edition, Solange, Jill Scott, Brandy, L.L. Cool J and many more were amongst the big names to grace the stage at the 2013 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. The four-day festival saw a range of talent pass through the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The fest also included performances by acts like Faith Evans, Jody Watley, Leela James, Deep Cotton, Avery Sunshine, Greta Prince, PJ Morton, Bridget Kelly, Bilal and Big Daddy Kane in the Super Lounges around the arena before wrapping on Sunday with a massive performance from Beyoncé at the Superdome. What most Essence Festival fans like the most is the fact that the concert is in equal parts contemporary and throwback, with more than enough options to excite fans of R&B, soul, hip hop, funk and even the neo-soul and new-jack swing era that we so dearly miss.
It’s safe to say Trey Songz and TGT had all women swooning to their love-filled sets. Uncle Charlie Wilson and New Edition had everyone out of their seats “jamming” and dancing to each hit. Uncle Charlie opened his 70-minute set with “Party Train,” & took concert-goers down memory lane with classics from his Gap Band days (“You Dropped A Bomb On Me,” “Yearning for Your Love”), (“There Goes My Baby”) and introduced two new songs (“Turn Off the Lights” and “Love, Charlie”). R&B fans rocked in awe to both Uncle Charlie’s amazing energy and stage presence as well as for the memories classics like “Yearning For Your Love” brought back.
New Edition brought the house down performing their hits like “If It Isn’t Love” and the Bell Biv Devoe classic “Poison” Matching their sleek attire, was their silky performance.
Beyonce of course not only stole the night, but she stole the entire weekend with her electrifying performance of her hits since circa 2003. She closed with a beautiful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” The diva didn’t miss a beat or a note and got the crowd rallied up with her “Who Run The World” and “Diva” performances amongst others.
If you have never been to The Essence Festival please get your hotel rooms now for Essence Festival 2014!