Jeudi

Today, Charlie Wilson, D’Angelo and Trey Songz perform at Essence Fest, soul writer meet at the Public Library, Motions hosts a pop-up style bar at the W, Biz Markie is in town, and Jimmy Robinson releases a new CD. On this day in history, late gospel singer Bessie Griffin was born in New Orleans (1922), , and Louis Armstrong died in his sleep at his Corona, New York home at the age of 69 (1971). Now back to today:

Essence Music Festival (Superdome, all day) “Fierce, fun and fabulous,” the Essence Music Festival today will feature Charlie Wilson, D’Angelo, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, The Pointer Sisters, and a lot more.

Bayou Soul Writers & Readers Conference (New Orleans Public Library, 9:00am-11:00am; M Francis Gallery, 11:30am-1:00pm) Every Essence Fest weekend, readers, authors, publishers, and established writers come together to share ideas and empower the city’s potential young literary talent. On this last day of the conference: author panel discussion with Naleighna Kai, Tamika Newhouse, Sadequa Johnson and Renee Daniel Flagler at the New Orleans Public Library from 9:00am-10:00am; book club panel discussion at the Library from 10:10am-11:00am; and Phenomenal Women Award’s Program with keynote speaker Trevor Baldwin (James Baldwin’s nephew), “Ms. Black Louisiana” Ashley Hebert, and Pamela Davis-Noland at M Francis Gallery (604 Julia St) from 11:30am-1:00pm.

Motions Pop-Up Style Bar (W Hotel, 1:00pm-5:00pm) Motions, a hair product company for African-Americans, is hosting a pop-up style event with celebrity hairstylists, guest appearances and “special curl cocktails” over Essence Fest weekend.

Day Escape Party: Biz Markie (House of Blues, 3:00pm) After his big hit “Just a Friend” in 1989, appearing as a beatboxing alien in Men in Black II, and most recently is a regular on MTV2’s Hop Hop Squares, The Clown Prince of Hip Hop has arrived in New Orleans for a show during Essence Fest. He will be teaming up with Laz Alonzo for the afternoon show.

Where Y’art?!: Screening of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (New Orleans Museum of Modern Art, 7:00pm) Tonight’s weekly events include music by the Pfister Sisters (5:30pm-8:30pm), a demo by Exec. Chef Chip Flanagan of Ralph’s On The Park on summer BBQ (7:00pm), and a screening of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (7:00pm). Released last year, the film is inspired by Katrina and is a humorous allegory about “the curative powers of story.” Award winning author/illustrator William Joyce and co-director Brandon Oldenburg used miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation and a variety of techniques to create this old-fashioned story. Before the screening will be a short documentary on the making of it.

Jimmy Robinson CD Release Party (Carrollton Station, 9:00pm) After starting in a psychedelic rock band called Ejaculation in the late 60s, where he played weekly free concerts in Audubon Park, he formed a progrock band Woodenhead in 1975, became a member of Twangorama, and eventually went solo acoustic, Robinson is releasing a new album today in proper New Orleans fashion – a party. Present at the party will be Tommy Malone, Washboard CHaz, Mark Mullins, Spencer Bohren, Beth Patterson and more.

The Room (NR) (Prytania Theatre, midnight) Midnights at Prytania Theatre features the widely believed worst movie in history, the cult classic The Room. Bring your spoons. $8 for a light-hearted viewing of a bad movie.