Estelle
Courtesy
Grammy Award-winning artists Estelle, Maxwell, Trey Songz and Hezekiah Walker will headline “The Road to Essence” event, a free concert set for Friday, June 14 at Orchards Park in Bentonville.
The event, sponsored by Walmart, is similar to other mini concerts held in communities across the country in previous years to build excitement for the Essence Music Festival, an annual event held in New Orleans aimed primarily towards African-American women.
In a news release, Kim Davis, head of diversity programs for the Northwest Arkansas Council, called this year’s event “an important step toward accomplishing a key achievement – promoting racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity in Northwest Arkansas and supporting quality–of-life enhancements by developing events that appeal to a variety of demographic groups.”
The event starts at 6 p.m. at the park, located just east of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art at the corner of John DeShields Boulevard and Northeast J Street.
London-born Estelle released her debut album The 18th Day in 2004. She rose to fame in 2008 after the release of the Top 10 single “American Boy,” a Grammy-winning collaboration with rapper Kanye West.
R&B singer Maxwell won a Grammy in 2010 for his single “Pretty Wings,” a tribute to Michael Jackson. In all, his work has received 11 Grammy nominations. His biggest hit was “Fortunate,” which was recognized as the Best R&B Single of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards in 1999.
