Will Sutton: Essence Festival can’t afford major hiccups, mess ups as it bounces back

In just a few days, New Orleans will once again host the Essence Festival of Culture, a major event that has called Louisiana home for more than 30 years.

Essence Fest got a lot of heat last year. Performances ran late, going into the early morning. Production and sound quality weren’t good. Fans expected the yearslong, free-access Superlounge experiences to provide more intimate programming, but they were angry when they learned those spaces were available, with premium VIP ticketed access.

Essence has to do better. I said so last year…

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