Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
From a press release:
“Bigger bands, more outdoor music and an official afterparty are planned for this year’s Funk Parade on Saturday, May 2, the DC Department of Funk announced today. The events will feature over 50 music acts and dozens more dance and performance groups.
The day fair, from noon to 5 PM, will include free performances by over two dozen acts including Junkyard Band, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Michael Hampton of Parliament Funkadelic, and Brass Connection, officials said. (See the full lineup on page 2.)
The parade, from 5PM to 7PM, will feature groups including the Duke Ellington Radical Elite Show Band, Batala DC, and the Eastern High School Blue & White Marching Machine. And you, too, organizers hope: It’s a participatory parade, so if the spirit moves you, bring out your instrument, clap your hands, join the parade.
The music festival, starting at 7 PM, will showcase local favorites Black Alley Band, See-I, Congo Sanchez, Elikeh, Janka Nabay and more. For the first time, the music festival will feature a free outdoor performance area in addition to the free performances in local venues.
The performances will take place throughout the day and night in over 30 locations around the greater U Street neighborhood. All performances are free and open to the public. More details about the day’s events will be announced soon, officials said.
Also new this year: at 10 PM, the Howard Theatre hosts an official Funk Parade afterparty featuring Trouble Funk, Lee Fields and DJ Nitekrawler. Tickets ($30) are for sale at the Howard Theatre box office and online.
Below is a list of musicians and performers confirmed to date.
Day Fair Musicians and Performers (12 PM – 5PM)
Junkyard Band, Brass Connection, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Nappy Riddem, Empresarios, Batala Washington, Tosin, Yaomamanem Jazz, Crush Funk Brass, Marlee in the Mixx, JoGo Project, Akua Alrich, Rufus Roundtree and the B’more Brass Factory, Virtuoso Horns, Chelsea Green and the Green Project, Faycez U Know, Thaylobleu, Frankojazz, Ladies of Funk w/ Shi-Queeta Lee, The New Retro, Ministries of Christ Band from the United House of Prayer, Denyse Pearson and the DC Legendary Musicians Jazz Band, The Needle Exchange (TNX) Funktion w/ DJs Tommy Cornelius, Bil Todd, and Baronhawk, DC Legendary Musicians R&B Band, Gallons to Ounces, We Want The Funk and P Funk Radio present the Second Annual Maggot Brain Guitar Jam Session featuring Mike “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton, The Hip Hop Orchestra, Over Easy Funk Parade Edition w/ DJ Vanniety Kills, Malcolm X Drummers & Dancers, Universal Capoeira Angola, Hung Tao Choy Mei, FACE Poet, The National Hand Dance Association, DJ Thelonius Funky for U, Washington Performing Arts Rhythm and Flow Songwriter Workshop presented with Flashband and 7DrumLessons, Wanda Work It Studios – A Taste of Work It!, Vinyl District Vinyl Lounge at Den of Thieves, 15th & U Street Block Party and Celebration, Words Beats and Life DJs and Performers, Princess Mhoon Dance Institute, SPACEYcLOUd and more to come…
Parade Participating Groups (5PM – 7PM)
Batala Washington, Duke Ellington Radical Elite Show Band, Royal Knights Marching Band Options Charter School Marching Band, Eastern High School Blue & White Marching Machine
Evening Festival Performers and Musicians (7PM – 10PM)
Black Alley, See-I, Janka Nabay, Black Masala, Elikeh, The Funk Ark, Congo Sanchez, Crocodiles, Baby Bry Bry, Backbeat Underground, Joe Quarterman, Alma Tropicalia, Karikatura, Lucky So-and-So’s, Three Man Soul Machine, Astronaut Jones, Champion Sound, All The Best Kids, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band, SWAGFUNK, Aztec Sun,
Flashband Funk Parade Jam, Salsa Night on U At Wanda Work it Studios
Recent Stories
This rental is located at MacArthur Blvd near Q St NW. The Craigslist ad says:
“Dear PoPville, I recently saw this post and I’m pretty sure I encountered the same person in late March. I was walking my dog on the sidewalk in Kalorama when…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! On Saturday, May 18, Woodley House will host its second annual 5K Run, Walk & Roll, a family-friendly event in Rock Creek Park to raise critical…
1513 17th Street, NW I’ve been getting lots of emails asking for a Duke’s Grocery update on 17th Street. Here ya go! Update from Duke’s: “The renovation of our original…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
St Mary Armenian Church Annual Spring Food Festival
Come hungry and leave happy! Experience culture, community, and cuisine all in one place. See you at the festival!!!!
Comedy Cabaret
Kick up your heels at Bad Medicine’s COMEDY CABARET extravaganza at the DC Improv Comedy Club on Tuesday, May 21st. Revel in the sights and sounds of this entertaining musical revue, with songs, dance and sketch comedy that will have
