Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band

Most people think of Spring in DC as Cherry Blossom season, but around the U Street Corridor and Shaw neighborhoods we know it as Funk Season. On May 6th the sounds and spirit of funk will again rock DC at the fourth annual Funk Parade and music festival. Before that there are funds to raise, volunteers to recruit, permits to be obtained, acts to sign, and hype to hype–all the groundwork that goes into pulling off a day and night that draws tens of thousands of people to experience a few dozen acts at multiple clubs and outdoor venues. But first, before the work and before the festival, we party.

This past Friday the DC Department of Funk sponsored the Funk Parade Kickoff Jam at Tropicalia, one of U Street’s basement music clubs. I was there to get into the groove and to photograph all of the bands and dancers.  Continue reading →