11:00am | Huge crowds flocked to downtown Long Beach this Saturday for the 2nd annual Long Beach Funk Fest, featuring two stages of non-stop music from some truly funkadelic acts.
With one stage located in the middle of a closed down Pine Avenue and the other occupying the nearby Promenade, fans could roam from one musical set to the next, passing by live graffiti and paint artists, breakdancing competitions, trashcan drummers and much more. I truly had a funky good time.
The music started early with DJ’s spinning new and classic records by noon on Saturday. But the action really began to heat up as the sun started to sink, with legendary funk and rock n’ roll artist Jimmy Castor revving up the crowd. Click here to read an interview that Castor gave to lbpost.com music columnist Steve Propes last week, and click the video below to watch his live performance of his 1982 hit “E-Man Boogie.” Drum solo!
As Castor wrapped up, the band Bloco Nove and their guests Delta Nove turned up the heat on Pine Avenue with their combination of guitar, brass, keyboard and a whole lotta percussion. People were literally dancing from the rooftops as they grooved along to this set.
But no one was going to overshadow the grand finale, as the soul sisters Ladies Of P-Funk, with help from the Brides of Funkenstein and Parlet, brought out the classics to put this Funk Fest to bed. Watch as their powerful grooves send the crowd into frenzy and everyone in attendance lends their voice to the funk.
See you next year!
Disclosure: Summer And Music is an advertiser of the lbpost.com.