For many attendees, the 2025 Essence Festival felt different this year, according to a number of ticketholders who encountered a range of difficulties and inconveniences, ranging from high prices for VIP treatment to acts coming on stage hours late, and playing to a nearly empty Superdome.
What happened? For 30 years, Essence Festival has been a hugely successful event, not just from an economic standpoint but also as a place where Black culture takes up a lot of space in a way that really means something to people who attend the concerts, workshops and other events. So why the slide into disorganized mediocrity?
We spoke to NOLA.com Music Journalist Keith Spera about what he saw on the ground and what he heard from others who were there. What he had to say will surprise you - or, if you experienced the lackluster festival, maybe it won't. Take a listen in the audio player above.