ESSENCE.COM AND GOOGLE LIVE-STREAM HIGHLIGHT ESSENCE FESTIVAL NIGHTLY CONCERTS AND DAYTIME EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING
FEATURING NAS, ROBIN ROBERTS, SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, MARSHA AMBROSIUS, ALICE SMITH, SEVYN STREETER, AND AN ALL-STAR GOSPEL TRIBUTE TO YOLANDA ADAMS HOSTED BY DONNIE MCCLURKIN
PLUS, FIRST-TIME YOUTUBE ALL-STARS PANEL SPONSORED BY GOOGLE ACCELERATE PRESENTING LIFESTYLE GURUS MAHOGANYCURLS®, SHAMELESS MAYA, FRANCHESCA LEIGH RAMSEY AND TIFFANY ROTHE
NEW YORK, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — This Fourth of July weekend, the ESSENCE Festival’s digital platforms – including Essence.com and Essence’s YouTube and Google+ channels – will offer for the first time full live-stream coverage of the event’s entertainment and empowerment experiences. Marking the Festival’s 20th anniversary, July 3-6, in New Orleans, LA, many of the world’s top performers and speakers can be streamed online and enjoyed around the world.
At-home viewers will have front-row access to ESSENCE Festival performances and keynote speakers, including Nas, Robin Roberts, Marsha Ambrosius, Alice Smith, Sevyn Streeter, and an all-star gospel tribute to Yolanda Adams hosted by Donnie McClurkin. (See the full schedule below).
Plus, Essence is introducing the YouTube All-Stars panel, “Empowering Your Voice Through YouTube” presented by Google Accelerate to inform and inspire budding entrepreneurs. The conversation will include Jessica Lewis of MahoganyCurls®, Maya Washington of “Shameless Maya”, comedian Franchesca Leigh Ramsey and professional fitness coach, trainer and instructor Tiffany Rothe.
20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival Live Stream Schedule:
Thursday, July 3rd
Nas – Now Playing Concert
Time: 10:50pm-12am
Friday, July 4th
Robin Roberts and Sally Ann Roberts – Sisters in the Name of Love
Time: 12:10pm-1pm
YouTube All-Stars Panel w/ Soledad O’Brien
Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm
Alice Smith – Ford Superlounge
Time: 8:20pm-9:05pm
Marsha Ambrosius – Ford Superlounge
Time: 8:30pm-9:30pm
Sunday, July 6th
Gospel Tribute to Yolanda Adams featuring Donnie McClurkin (host), Cheryl Wills (co-host), Kim Burrell, Erica Campbell and more
Time: 2pm-6pm
Sevyn Streeter – Ford Superlounge
Time: 7:30pm-8:15pm
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in New Orleans this Fourth of July weekend (July 3-6), the ESSENCE Festival is now the country’s largest live event. The annual Festival hosts more than 543,000 attendees over 4 days for entertainment, empowerment, and cultural experiences during the day and the world’s best performers each night.
Daytime offerings this year will include the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience, featuring 150 world-renowned speakers and influencers such as: Steve Harvey, Robin Roberts, Alicia Keys, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Iyanla Vanzant and others; interactive sponsor activities; the Arts & Culture Marketplace showcasing original designs and handcrafted arts in the nation’s largest marketplace; ESSENCE Eats, featuring food vendors hailing from New Orleans’ finest restaurants; screening rooms for the hottest movies and T.V. episodes; and pro-social community offerings. Each year, top global brands participate in rich cultural experiences such as makeovers, vehicle test drives, celebrity meet-and-greets and more. Headliners such as Prince, Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson and many more are among the more than 80 artists announced for the evening performances in the Louisiana Superdome and throughout Festival weekend.
For information about accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE FESTIVAL, visit www.essencefestival.com. Join the Festival community: follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2014 ESSENCE Festival on Facebook.
Sponsors of the 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors Ford, McDonald’s, My Black Is Beautiful, StateFarm, Verizon andWalmart. Superlounge sponsors include: Coca-Cola, Ford and Verizon.
