This weekend offers a great chance to check the local funk and beyond as the Funkybatz present FunkFest II. It kicks into gear Friday at the Parish with Galactic drummer Stanton Moore leading his Trio, featuring young guitar whiz Will Bernard, and Mike Dillon’s Go-Go Jungle opening. Things move to La Zona Rosa for the next two days and nights. Saturday afternoon you can sample the Taste of Louisiana and Gumbo Cookoff to the sounds of Uncle Bruno and Cyril Neville’s Tribe 13, before the evening features Topaz, Mingo Fishtrap, and a horde from the Crescent City including Papa Grows Funk and the Midnite Disturbers. If you last that long, Sunday actually offers the strongest lineup with appearances by the Karl Denson Trio and the Meters’ Leo Nocentelli fronting his Supa Group, as well as Papa Mali, Greyhounds, Barfield, and too much more.
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This article appears in July 27 • 2007.