Essence Fest to begin with ‘youth day’ acts by OMG Girlz, Coco Jones and Diggy

By Stacey Plaisance | Abbey Westbury
July 03 2012 02:12 PM

CP19281071 — FILE - This Jan. 14, 2012 file photo, shows singer Aretha Franklin performing during the BET Honors at the Warner Theatre in Washington. On Sunday, July 8, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin will be crowned with the Essence "Power Award" for four decades of hits during the Essence Music Festival beginning Thursday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

NEW ORLEANS – One of the premier music festivals celebrating black culture and music is branching out, extending its footprint in its 18th year to embrace the next generation of artists while still trumpeting industry veterans such as Aretha Franklin.

The Essence Music Festival has added a fourth day to its concert series in New Orleans. On Thursday — its opening day — Essence will focus solely on youth, including rapper Diggy Simmons, the Disney Channel’s Coco Jones, the OMG Girlz and New Orleans’ own The Roots of Music.

Essence runs through Sunday with performances set for the Superdome.

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.