Celebrate Your Independence

Once again it is time for the return of Essence Festival and all of its attendant parties. Start things out Thursday night with the 5th Annual All White Boat Party on the Creole Queen. If you can snag a ticket, the ship leaves the dock at 8 p.m. sharp. Friday afternoon local native and Maroon 5 member PJ Morton will host an event celebrating his Morton Records Studio with performances by Denisia and 3D Na’Tee. Things get underway at 1 p.m. over at 411 S. Rampart. Saturday morning is the Hangover Brunch at the Court of Two Sisters till 11:30 a.m. If you missed your chance on the Creole Queen, the Natchez has two VIP sailings on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. There are too many parties to highlight everything, but check out the full calendar here.

If you can pull yourself away from the party circuit for a bit, there are some amazing performances at the festival proper. On Friday you’ve got Diana Ross, John Legend and India.Arie, as well as PJ Morton. Next, on Saturday, Mary J. Blige will be preceded by Chaka Khan, and Jill Scott. Sunday, Chance the Rapper will close things out after Solange and Trombone Shorty. As I have said before, Chance was one of the primary highlights of Hangout Fest and Bonnaroo this year. His set is tight, thoughtful and extraordinary. If you can only make one day of the festival, make Sunday the day. Check out this fan footage from Hangout below.

 

To Do This Week

There is a ton going on this week in addition to all the Essence excitement. Tonight the positively insane Chicago punks The Dwarves will be at Siberia. This will be an excellent show. Tomorrow the Free Friday set at Tipitinas is Maggie Koerner and Travers Geoffray plus Cha Wa. Friday you can catch Tab Benoit at the Maple Leaf. Saturday Alejandro Escovedo is at Chickie Wah Wah, this will be an outstanding show as well. Also on Saturday, local funks The Mutiny Squad will be at The Maple Leaf. On Sunday Promise of Redemption will be at Siberia with Best Ex. Monday Rick Ross is at the Saenger that same night Charmaine Neville does her usual two sets at Snug Harbor. On Wednesday the excellent back to back of The Tin Men and Walter Wolfman Washington will be at d.b.a.

 

To Listen This Week

 

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