Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige to Headline Essence Music Festival

Missed the Saints' Super Bowl victory bash in New Orleans? Then make a beeline down to Louisiana this summer for the annual Essence Music Festival. Not only will this year's event have headliners like Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J and Keri Hilson, but the July 2-4 shindig will celebrate the magazine's 40th anniversary.

According to a press release, the Essence Music Festival, which began in 1995 in honor of the magazine's then-25th anniversary, is "the nation's largest annual gathering of African American music and culture." Mary J. Blige has headlined the event (dubbed "Essencefest") three times, and this year she'll be the official spokesperson.

The double whammy of the magazine's 40th anniversary and New Orleans location warrants a star-studded lineup that not only spans generations, but also honors the local music of the host city. Headliners like Earth, Wind, and Fire will share equal billing with local luminaries such as Arrested Development and Irma Thomas, the "Soul Queen of New Orleans."

In addition to musical performances, festival attendees are invited to attend uplifting lectures and seminars. Women's Celebration kicks off on July 2 and comedian Steve Harvey will be giving a Love & Relationships Super Fest. On July 3, Bill Cosby, Dr. Steve Perry and the Rev. Al Sharpton will empower parents, motivate students and dole out advice on how to close the racial divide at the African American Education Summit. Fittingly, Essence will conclude the weekend with an all-star gospel salute.

According to NOLA.com, attendance for last year's Essencefest, which was held in the New Orleans Superdome over the course of three days, reached 428,000. Want to be part of history? Book now for three days of music, empowering seminars and a celebration of one of the magazine industry's iconic publication's 40th anniversaries.

Photo by goulao via Wikimedia Commons.