Tue, Aug 14 - 8pm - $7

 The Funk Ark is a world funk ensemble based in Washington DC. The group draws on influences from the African and Latin funk/dance music scenes of the 1960s and 70s and the result is a gritty and soulful mix of inspired afrobeat and big band funk. Keyboardist and songwriter, Will Rast is well known for his work as a sideman with a veritable encyclopedia of artists both locally and internationally, such as Mya, Federico Aubele, Natalia Clavier, Ocote Soul Sounds, RAMP, Raheem Devaughn and Justin Jones. The coming year will find him immersed in no less than 4 records produced for the ESL Label including Funk Ark's own debut release coming in April 2011 and records by Thievery Corporation, Frank Mitchell Jr, and Ocote Soul Sounds, featuring Martin Perna of Antibalas and Adrian Quesada of the Grammy nominated Grupo Fantasma.THE FUNK ARK: Matt Rippetoe, Joe Hererra, Elijah Balbed, Greg Boyer, Jeff Franca, Marc Blackwood, Greg Loman, Josh Kay Rodney Richardson and Will Rast with special guest, Morgan Price.

 Greg Fulton (formerly of Cyclone Temple and Znowhite) left Chicago and his band “Rebels Without Applause” for Memphis in pursuit of fresh start and a new life. As a creature of habit, he played in juke joints and smoky bars until the day he met Simon Sunchess, a local club record producer. Sunchess and the deal he offered seemed legitimate at the time, but Fulton soon realized that it was all smoke and mirrors. After months of dodging Sunchess and his offers, Fulton realized that he no longer wanted to stay in Memphis. Fulton returned to Chicago and as soon as he hit the city limits, he began making phone calls, putting together the hottest band he could find. Upon hatching his plan, he gave Courtney, Andy, and Mah the blueprint for Sweet Diezel Jenkins. With the new band set and the plan in motion, Sweet Diezel Jenkins mashes up hits of yesterday and today, adding a heavy hand of backyard feel good party vibe with a dash of gritty juke joint smoky goodness. Using a range of artists from Usher and Kings of Leon, to the Stones and R.Kelly, the Sweet Diezel Jenkins blueprint was brought to life. It’s gonna be a party y’all!