August 22, 2009

Summer and Music -- LONG BEACH FUNKFEST

Long Beach Funkfest
August 29 · Pine Ave & Broadway · FREE!

Oh the Funk you will see, if only you'll venture down to Pine St. 10 bands of Grade A, first class, Funk, Funk, and more Funk.

Say it with me, Charles Wright and the 103rd St Band (Express Yourself, go ahead), Dawn Silva and the Brides of Funkenstein (including members of the Family Stone), Breakestra, Mandrill, The Meters Experience (with Leo Nocentelli), 00 Soul, Baby Stone (who grew up calling Sly Stone "Daddy"), Danny Bedrosian (of P-Funk), Delta Nove, and Slapback - scattered throughout the day will be members of Parliament/Funkadelic, The Family Stone, and several other bands who helped define the genre (including a possible surprise that might just blow your mind) but talking about surprises is never good form, so we'll just say "if you're on the fence, get off" and leave it at that.

If you're thinking, "yeah, it sounds fun, but what about all the people?" "Where will I go to get a break?" First, there will be a space set aside to chill on the Promenade, but if you want to hear the music, leave your mark on a day-long buffet, and secure yourself some VIP parking, you should hop over to the SAM website and peep the VIP Access Deal. Conversely, if you're all about staying center-stage from the first note to the last, maybe a hotel is what you're looking for... if so, click here for a very generous hotel offer from one of the nicest hotels in the whole city, the Avia Hotel.

If you're looking for a way to get involved, maybe thinking you should give a little back to the Funk that's been so good to you, we recommend throwing your hands in the air and saying "pick me, pick me" until we give you the nod.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something huge and epic, but if a Day-long free event, with world class talent, a VIP package, and a hotel offer aren't enough to get you off the couch you should really hit the SAM link and skip around a bit until you come to your senses.