Essence Festival 2015 Music Coverage featuring Mary J.Blige + Usher + Kendrick Lamar Thursday 16 July, 2015
Ok as you all know I recently went to New Orleans to my first Essence Music Festival with The Travel Divas. I had a lot of fun with the agency but the Essence Fest isnt a fest without the music! I got an opportunity to cover the concerts on all three nights! Now FYI, it was my first time and things did get a little hetic with my credentials and scheduling. Although I got a lot of great coverage, I couldn’t get everything I wanted based on circumstances…its ok it was my first year and trials and errors. I still got good stuff…so lets get to it!
Every Night the Essence Festival concerts are held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome
So this is where the magic happens at the Lousiana Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Yes Saints games are held here…but for all of the nights major concerts were going on. Every night there was a different headliner and great artists who lined up the evening. Everynight was a literal party. Before each concert and during, I was able to be in the exclusive Essece Fest media press room to do a meet + greet with well-known & up and coming artist! Check out some of them below:
Grammy Award winning singer Esparanza Spalding
Singer Teedra Moses
Neo-soul singing duo Floetry reuniting!
Upcoming songtress Andra Day
Musical composer Robert Glasper
All this energy every night!
I found out exactly why the Essence Music Fesitval is so popular each year. AMAZING CONCERTS + ENERGY! So the concerts every night was serious! I got to cover 3 nights of it from Old School + New School + and Everything In Between; Charlie Wilson, Frankie Beverly + Maze, India Arie, Floetry, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Common, Usher Raymond, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and more! I got a chance to be up close for Usher, Mary J.Blige + Kendrick Lamar. Front row! That was amazing in itself! Check out the photos and video below!
USHER RAYMOND
I grew up with Usher and surprisingly I never been to a concert of his before. I thouroughly enjoyed this…I knew every word of each of his songs! Plus his fashion for the concert made a statement since his show was during thr 4th of July.
MARY J.BLIGE
special apperance by Method Man to sing “Your All I Need”
Some video footage of the Mary J.Blige concert!
KENDRICK LAMAR
There are way more photos and video on my Instagram here. Check out the Travel Divas hashtag too as I did cover for them as well as on my on platform #TDEssenceFest for more of the entertainment. I tell you social media is the best way to engage with a concert now! I love it!
More from my Essence Fest experience coming up on the next post as I interviewed singer Ledisi.
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
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Usher and Mary J would be a dream come true for me. I have loved those two for years. I remember when Usher was just a kid! And Mary, ugh, shes so powerful! Just love her.
Wow, looks like you did a lot of things (even though you didn’t get to capture everything you wanted) and it looks like a lot of fun! I have never been to the Essence festival myself, I’ll have to look into possibly going next time!
I’ve not seen Usher in concert but I bet he puts on a good show. He is just one of those artist that put it in their all. Mary J & Method Man OMG that had to be EPIC! I love their collabo and I still know all the words.
I have been wanting to go to Essence Festival. It looks like such an amazing time. I love Usher’s statement shirt and I just heard “You’re All I Need” on the radio so I would have loved to see that live!
Every year I say I’m going to The Essence Festival for my birthday but I never make it. Looks like I missed out on a fabulous time once again. I love me some “Ursha” Usher. And I would have went crazy for Method Man. That’s my boo right there. Great recap. If I close my eyes it’s like I was there.
This looks like it was so much fun! I can’t believe all the celebrities you got to see.
WOW what an awesome concert to go to and to be so close to the stage is pretty amazing! Lucky!
It sounds like it was an awesome show! Looks like you had great seats, too!
Looks like an awesome event! Lucky you getting to see all those stars so close.
This looks like a fun event. I really like Usher.
This sounds like such an awesome show. Usher and Mary J Blige are awesome vocalists.
I am so sad I missed out on all that fun. I love all three of these artists and would die to see Usher dance live and in person.
Looks like a great event and a fun time. I bet it was neat to see all those wonderful artist in concert.
OMG I would have loved to be there. Wow! I love Usher, a lot! I Grew up listening to him as well. Glad you had a great time!
Oh what a great event. I met Mary once. Dhe is awesome.
You are going to so many cool events girl! This one sounded like an awesome event as well!
Oh hey there Usher! What an awesome time this would be. Looks like a full house, and a lot of talent! So much fun.
What an amazing concert! I would love to see Usher and Mary J live some day. I’ve loved them for decades.
Now that looks like a great event! I would love to see Usher and Mary J. live in concert. I bet they both put on amazing shows!
That looks like so much fun! I can’t believe how close you were to Mary J. Blige. I would love to see her perform.
Usher and Mary J would be a dream come true for me. I have loved those two for years. I remember when Usher was just a kid! And Mary, ugh, shes so powerful! Just love her.
Wow, looks like you did a lot of things (even though you didn’t get to capture everything you wanted) and it looks like a lot of fun! I have never been to the Essence festival myself, I’ll have to look into possibly going next time!
The Essence festival looks like it’s so much fun! I really need to go one year.
I love that shirt Usher wore… Loved the statement… Looks like you had a lot of fun. Did you catch any of the workshops?
What an awesome event. I love looking at all your pictures.
Looks like you had an amazing time. Great line up. I saw Usher in concert last year and enjoyed myself.
Congrats on the gig, and how awesome to see such talented musicians live! I love Usher.
Fantastic pictures of the Dome and stars. You did an excellent job of getting it together and letting us know what happened.
Loved usher’s shirt but I am not a fan of him anymore. Now Mary…I saw her at a private concert here in Atlanta when she was the mad Mary loved it.
This seemed like a blast. Looking forward to attending next year.
Very nice, looks like you had a blast! I so wish I could make it home in time for summer to hit one of these. Maybe next year.
Essence is on my bucket list. The food, music, and the fun. I’m going next year.
What a great event and a opportunity for you! Thanks for all the pics. Feel like I was there too!
What an awesome event! We love love love Mary J. Blige!
You saw one of my ultimate bucket list concert folks in person. So jealous that Usher was on stage! I would have loved to been there
I’ve not seen Usher in concert but I bet he puts on a good show. He is just one of those artist that put it in their all. Mary J & Method Man OMG that had to be EPIC! I love their collabo and I still know all the words.
I already love Nola. Would’ve loved to go to essence fest. I would be so hyped to see Usher and Mary.
I have been wanting to go to Essence Festival. It looks like such an amazing time. I love Usher’s statement shirt and I just heard “You’re All I Need” on the radio so I would have loved to see that live!
Every year I say I’m going to The Essence Festival for my birthday but I never make it. Looks like I missed out on a fabulous time once again. I love me some “Ursha” Usher. And I would have went crazy for Method Man. That’s my boo right there. Great recap. If I close my eyes it’s like I was there.
I”m glad you had a good time, I’m looking to go next year. I always have a blast
Oh wow. This looks like it was awesome! Thank you for sharing with us! I love the styles and musicians featured!
Wow! What a great time you must have had. I would have loved to see Method Man!
I followed you on Instagram and looked like you had a blast! I love seeing celebs. Lol. Usher & Robert & Esperanza!!
Essence Fest is definitely on my list of places to be next year. Congrats on being able to cover the event, great recap!