ESSENCE Music Festival
Main Stage Lineup
Did not enjoy this year. Could do without most. Liked Wilson, Scott, Blige.
How About the Super Lounges
Were not worth attending this year, so I didn't.
Will You Come Back Again?
NoWould You Recommend ESSENCE to a Friend
NoMy Review
We've been regular attendees since the third festival, so we were extremely disappointed and generally have been since Ms. Taylor stopped orchestrating the Festival. The concerts were poor, but as poor as the shows were, even worse was that taxi drivers refused to take people to and from the Dome if two or fewer people sought one. Something should be done about the lack of respect the taxi drivers give to the people who come to New Orleans for this event.
The one good musical event, interestingly enough, was the Gospel Explosion. We also had a great time walking around Bourbon Street and New Orleans overall. We enjoyed the hotel we stayed in too, the Westin on Canal Street. The service was very good. The food, as always was good, though at the Fest we have noticed that fewer and fewer of the regular vendors come. n
Since never really means never, and because we do enjoy the atmosphere surrounding the Festival, if we do come back again, the one thing I'm sure about is this: unless the quality of the concert acts improves, we won't be attending them. We'll spend our money on other things.
Speaking of the concert acts, Essence should at least let us attendees know well in advance who is coming to perform, or at least most of the acts contracted to come. I know it's difficult, but it's not right to hold people hostage, to have them guessing at who might perform. Every other concert promoter I know of--Festivals included--have some sort of close to finalized lineup before selling tickets.
Since I'm venting, those packages for the concerts are and were a very bad idea from the start.
