Funk Fest Punta Gorda to Throw One Hell of a Party for Its 10th Anniversary
Funk Fest Punta Gorda just threw down the gauntlet for its 10th anniversary celebration with a lineup announcement that includes the current reigning deities of funkdom, Lettuce, who will be headlining the two-day festival set for February 15 and 16. Purveyors of mystery and raging beats Here Come The Mummies will be joining them along with Papadosio, The Werks, The Joe Marcinek Band, Voodoo Visionary, Funk You, Floatiez, Hedonistas and Banyan.
The festival draws thousands of fans to historic downtown Punta Gorda, where Funk Fest serves up a scrumptious mix of bands playing, funk, soul, rock, R&B and electronic dance music across two stages. This tenth edition promises to break records with Brooklyn-based Lettuce, whose incendiary live shows have earned them a rabid fan base who have been known to express their love by throwing heads of lettuce onto stage during the band’s performances.
Made up of guitarist Adam Smirnoff, bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes, drummer Adam Deitch, keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom and saxophonist Ryan Zoidis, Lettuce have been crushing stages around the world with their horn-heavy brand of funk for more than 20 years. Drawing on funk and soul influences like Herbie Hancock, Tower of Power and Earth, Wind and Fire, Lettuce lace their music with layers of jazz, soul, R&B and Hip Hop. Their shows are guaranteed to turn into explosive, raging dance-a-thons. Come February, southwest Florida fans won’t know what hit them.
Asheville-based Papadosio is a genre-busting quintet that proffers space-age grooves that blend progressive rock, jazz and electronic music into an ever-changing journey in sound. Consisting of Anthony Thogmartin on guitar, vocals and keys; Rob McConnell on bass and vocals; Billy Brouse on keys; Mike Healy on drums; and Sam Brouse on guitar, the band is a staple on the festival circuit, appearing at big events like Peach Festival, 420 Festival, Electric Forest, and Suwannee Hulaween. Surprising, innovative and forward-thinking, Papadosio promises the unexpected.
Returning by popular demand, the undead mavens of funk, Here Come The Mummies, will be making their eighth appearance at Funk Fest. Kitschy as hell, the band’s penchant for dressing as mummies belies the fact that they are a phenomenal funk outfit that slays audiences around the country with its brass-centric, relentless mix of funk and soul. Their get-ups are ridiculous, but their musicianship and ability to whip a crowd into a frenzy is no joke. Based in Nashville and rumored to be award-winning studio musicians, Here Come The Mummies will only give their identities as Mummy Cass(anova), Eddie Mummy, K.W. TuT, Spaz, The Flu, Ra, B.B.Queen, The Pole, Midnight, & Mummy Yo! I can firmly vouch for them, but don’t take my word for it. Come see for yourselves.
Jam world favorites and hosts of their own festival (The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival), The Werks are playing two sets at Funk Fest. Friday night will feature “The Werks Funk The Red Hot Chili Peppers.” On Saturday they’ll be playing a set of original music — a blend of psychedelic, dance, jam and funk-rock that makes them one of the most entertaining and beloved live bands on the music scene. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, The Werks are Rob Chafin on drums and vocals, Jake Goldberg on bass and vocals, Chris Houser on guitar and vocals, and Dan Shaw on keyboards and vocals. Plan on them taking you into new sonic territory and sensory perceptions.
Guitarist and bandleader extraordinaire Joe Marcinek keeps audiences on their toes with a rotating stable of world-renowned musicians who make up The Joe Marcinek Band. The latest incarnation of the band appearing at Funk Fest will be Marcinek, Melvin Seals, keyboardist and vocalist for the Jerry Garcia Band; Alan Evans, drummer for Soulive; and Tony Hall, bassist for Dumpstaphunk. That’s a whole bunch of talent in one quartet, and the funk will be strong with this one.
Atlanta is loaning Punta Gorda two of its best – maestros of dance-till-you-drop funk Voodoo Visionary and genre-fusing wizards the Hedonistas.
Made up of keyboardist Dennis Dowd, bassist Jimmy Lynch, vocalist Scottie MacDonald, drummer Mac Schmitz, and guitarist Mike Wilson, Voodoo Visionary inhabits a world of psychofunk. Taking their cues from the likes of Parliament-Funkadelic, The Talking Heads and The Grateful Dead, Voodoo Visionary can’t stop, won’t stop until every last person in the audience is boogieing until their reflexes react to nothing but funk. Their face-melting performances are full of improvised dance rhythms that cross into new territory, layering searing guitars over soul, funk, rock and even a little gospel. This will be a return engagement for Voodoo Visionary, having brought their party train to Funk Fest several times before.
The Hedonistas will keep the good vibes rolling with a tasty combination of rock, jazz, Latin, soul and a little hip hop just to spice things up. The Atlanta quintet includes Max Blount and Peter Brazeal on guitars, Sawyer Drummond on drums, Jake Keeble on vocals and keys and Hunter Tredway on bass. They’ll be bringing their high-energy show to Funk Fest and smashing some boundaries in the process.
The Peach State is also sending Funk You to do just what its name says. The Augusta outfit, comprised of drummer Will Clark, keyboardist Will Foster, percussionist and vocalist Gavin Hamilton, guitarist Evan Miller, bassist Rob Thompson, and percussionist Palmer Owens, will be funking things up indeed when they take over the stage with their dance-driven grooves and soulful vocals.
Members from all three aforementioned Georgia bands will be forming a super group at Funk Fest to perform a Jamiroquai jam the likes of which have not been seen before. This is a do-not-miss set in honor of Space Cowboy and god of progressive dance music Jay Kay and his legendary cohorts.
Florida natives Banyan will round out the lineup with sonic creations drawn from the natural world. The duo, songwriter, guitarist and producer Michael Saenz and technical engineer Logan Gomez, take inspiration from sounds, cultures, musical instruments and nature from around the world. They’ll be putting festival-goers in a life-affirming space with innovative soundscapes.
New to the festival this year is a themed VIP experience. Dubbed Captain Nemo’s Nautilus Lounge, it will come with complimentary craft beer and boutique wine, a cash liquor bar, private bathrooms, leather couches, special effects and front stage access. Attendees can also enjoy expanded festival grounds and 15 food, beverage and craft vendors.
For more information and how to purchase tickets, click on the links below.