FunkFest: Greetings Funky People! Now that the dust has settled post FunkFest, I'd like to share some of the highlights! First, a very heartfelt thanks to Papa Mali for helping me to put together the Papalactic AftaBlasta and also for being my friend and advisor on this project. Next I want to send big luv to all the artists who contributed to these series of aftershows in Austin Texas during the 2006 Austin City Limits music festival. Working with you all was an incredible experience.

The line up was stellar, in order of appearance over three nights: Big Sam's Funky Nation, Topaz, A Papalactic AftaBlasta w/ Stanton Moore (drums), Papa Mali (guitar), Rob Mercurio (bass), Rich Vogel (keys) and special guests: Cyril Neville, Scrappy Judd, Topaz, Ari Dvorin,; The Greyhounds and the grand final w/ The Stanton Moore Trio w/ Robert Walter & Will Bernard, Special Guests: Ivan Neville, Papa Mali and Trombone Shorty....Needless to say, it took my breath way. Now somewhat recovered, I ponder the next possible projects! Someone...please help me find my sanity....?

How FunkFest started: Once upon the 2005 JazzFest I was visiting with our krewe's grand pu pah, Robb Barker. Over a cold beer, we wished for more late-night funk-groove oriented shows in Austin Texas around ACL. Katrina hit, a year went by, and many musicians sought solace and work in Austin. Austin Texas known for its blues, roots and a hub for creativity on so many levels, embraced this renewal in the genre. Unknown to me at that time, funk had made its mark in Austin many years before and sort of waned except for the occasional road shows. What happened was an influx of funk influence, a sort of resurgance in light of the rebirth beginning to happen in New Orleans. Perhaps it isn't 'official' but I see Austin as a sister city to New Orleans and vice versa when it come to musical collaborations and sharing of talent.

So, when ACL went mostly the Alt/Rock/Indie/Folk/Pop route, our krewe agreed this would be an opportune time to roll out FunkFest as a complement to ACL. Although largely sparse in the funk, groove, boogaloo, swamp hoodoo flavors of music, a few favorite bands still performed at ACL such as Galactic, Greyhounds, New Orleans Social Club and more.

The lights went on, the Excel spreadsheets evolved and the idea was to recreate the magic of the late night shows that ocur during the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The next thing I new we had built a FunkFest around a nice lineup of professional sponsors. Essentially I produced and promoted my first ever live music shows. You can view the FunkyBatz Electronic Press Kit at http://amfmstudios.com/funkybatz/

As luck would have it, the shows were widely attended and we even sold out the PapalacticAfta Blasta on Saturday night!

Now....to top this!