Fusicology & Digiwaxx Experience Essence Music Festival 2010!

Fusicology & Digiwaxx Experience Essence Music Festival 2010 in New Orleans!

July 13, 2010

This Independence Day weekend, Fusicology spent a few days in the Big Easy taking in the 16th Annual Essence Music Festival. Among many highlights in the birthplace of soul music were 3 star-studded nights at Essence Encore, the Official Afterparties of Essence Fest, as well as the Heineken Red Star Soul INSPIRE NOLA event with Big Boi, Jay Electronica, DJ Clark Kent, Swizz Beats and more.

DJ Soul Sister

The weekend started out real right with DJ sets from NoLa’s own DJ Soul Sister on the main stage, and we certainly were not more entertained than by Janet Jackson’s uber risque stage show (guess that Superbowl fiasco is a thing of the past – wow). Charlie Wilson, Gladys Knight, Raphael Saadiq, and Mary J. Blige absolutely smashed it, while a disappointed crowd wanted to know why Frankie Beverly & Maze weren’t there (*Kanye shrug*) – New Orleanians LOVE their Maze! – even though Earth, Wind & Fire closed out Sunday night with a bang. We hear Alicia Keys is doing fine so far after her little spill, so this is good news. Not so sure we loved host Nephew Tommy, maybe Uncle Steve Harvey should look after him a bit more.

Jay Electronica

Saturday afternoon we got our hops on early at the Heineken Red Star Soul INSPIRE NOLA party where Big Boi and Jay Electronica murdered short but solid sets. [Photos c/o Greg Rhoades of 504otos / NewOrleans.com & Josh Davis of Fly Designs / Supereme Street] Back on over to Essence Encore, new friends were definitely made with the likable celebs that hung with us at Essence Encore – Eve, Keri Hilson, Lalah Hathaway, Angie Stone all proved to be down with the crowd... and oh yeah – Idris Elba surprised us all with an impromptu (sort of) DJ set in the Grey Goose Lounge (apparently everyone *is* a DJ). Funkmaster Flex, Kid Capri and NoLa’s Mannie Fresh kept it bouncin’ for 3 long and steady nights at a packed Club Metro! We thought folks were never going home.

Fusicology - New Orleans Interns workin it!

Fusicology, Digiwaxx and friends had a blast sponsoring Essence Encore – whatever you’re hearing about New Orleans, forget it and experience it for yourself! – Missed it? Peep our photo wrap-up c/o Josh Davis of Fly Designs / Supreme Street & Melanie Grace Lawrence here!

— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology.com

>Follow her on Twitter @JMoneyRed