The 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture is rapidly approaching in a few weeks. Blasting off like fireworks on Friday, July 4th and ending on Sunday, July 6th, the annual festival — affectionately dubbed “Auntie Con” — will have something for all ages, interests and tastes throughout the holiday weekend in New Orleans. Probably the biggest draw, however, is the music, and there will be plenty of it at this year’s ESSENCE Fest. After rolling out the first round of artists who’ll grace the stage at Caesars Superdome during the Evening Concert Series, festival organizers have unveiled the second wave of performers and announced the return of the Superlounge.
At the top of the list of new additions is Jill Scott, who is curating a multigenerational set entitled “Jill Scott Presents A Philly Jawn” featuring her Philadelphia soul sisters Patti LaBelle and Jazmine Sullivan. Neo-soul enchantress Erykah Badu will mesmerize the audience with her green eyes and her music. Living legend Babyface will be in his bag with his deep catalog of his own hits and those he’s crafted for other artists. Hip-hop icon Doug E. Fresh will get the party started in celebration of ESSENCE magazine’s 55th anniversary. Ari Lennox will be applying “Pressure” and bringing her “Soft Girl Era” with her to NOLA. Meanwhile, R&B girl group Psiryn and Afro-fusion singer MOLIY will be making their ESSENCE Fest debuts.
The previously announced “ESSENCE Flowers” Quincy Jones tribute curated by Jermaine Dupri has been fleshed out. Festivalgoers can look forward to seeing SWV, Xscape, Robin Thicke, Tyrese, Al B. Sure!, Mobb Deep and The Pharcyde honor the musical titan who passed away in November 2024.
More details have emerged about New Orleans native Master P’s performance, which will be his last one ever. His mic drop moment will be shared by No Limit’s Mia X and Silkk The Shocker, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Dru Hill and Keri Hilson.
Following an outcry from attendees in recent years, EFOC will be bringing the Superlounge back to the Evening Concert Series. The reimagined Superlounge promises an experience to rival those infamous Superlounges of yesteryear.
All of the aforementioned artists will join Maxwell, Nas, The Isley Brothers, Boyz II Men, Donell Jones, Buju Banton, Summer Walker, Muni Long, GloRilla and Davido in performance at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture.
If you haven’t made plans to attend this year’s ESSENCE Fest yet, it’s not too late! Get your crew, get your tickets, get your travel arrangements and accommodations together and get your groove on in New Orleans this July. Hit the ESSENCE Festival website ASAP to get all the information you need, and visit Ticketmaster when you’re ready to secure your tickets.
