Prince [ tickets ] is scheduled to open this year's Essence Music Festival, which runs July 2-4 in New Orleans.

Others on the bill include Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Gladys Knight, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, The O'Jays, Donnie McClurkin, Tyrese, Jagged Edge, Anthony Hamilton, Millie Jackson, Kem, The Ohio Players, Freddie Jackson, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Solomon Burke, Little Milton, Sinbad, Ledisi and The Dazz Band.

Other acts will be announced, and more information is available at Essence Magazine's website.

Lenny Kravitz [ tickets ] issues "Baptism," his seventh studio album, on May 18, according to Virgin Records. The set's first single, "Where Are We Runnin'?" is set to hit radio in late March, and a video shoot is scheduled in the coming weeks.

The album will mark Kravitz's first collection of new material since 2001's "Lenny." He wrote, produced, arranged and performed all the tracks on the album, and also played most of the instruments.

Kravitz plans to tour Europe this summer, and a U.S. outing is expected to launch in August, according to Virgin.

Barenaked Ladies [ tickets ] will perform an April 7 benefit concert at Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA, to benefit New England families whose loved ones perished during the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies, according to the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund.

Guster, Averi and special guests to be announced will also be on the bill. Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday (3/6). (Ticketmaster is liveDaily's parent company)

Hip-hop stars Ludacris [ tickets ] and Kanye West [ tickets ] are scheduled to perform at the Boost Mobile Pro of Snowboarding, which takes place on March 26 and 27 at Chicago's South Soldier Field.

More information is available at the event's website.