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The Road to CukoRakko: Will Clark of Funk You May 9, 2016 09:15

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Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival next weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently caught up with Will Clark (drums/vocals) of Funk You, one of Georgia's most promising up-and-coming bands.

FUNK YOU provides the audience with a furious fusion of influences ranging from Umphrey's McGee, Lettuce, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder. By colliding funk, jam, rock, fusion, and prog into one uniform sound, these guys will keep your jaw dropped and your feet moving. Their songs combine smooth melodies, catchy vocals, and intense shredding simultaneously into a unique well defined sound.

For five years the band has been building their fan base in the southeast. They have played numerous sold out shows in Atlanta (Terminal West, Aisle 5), Augusta (Sky City), and also Athens (Georgia Theater). With performances alongside the James Brown Band, Maceo Parker & Fred Wesley (James Brown horn section), Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Soul Rebels, Rebirth Brass Band, Tea Leaf Green, Robert Randolph, Snarky Puppy, Omega Moos and Moon Taxi, the band is climbing their way up the festival circuit. FUNK YOU was voted best R&B band by August Magazine and was named Relix Magazine's "Artist On the Rise" in their July/August 2013 issue. FUNK YOU's debut full length album "Apparitions" just released is receiving great reviews from Live For Live Music and Live And Listen. Perseverance and hard work best describe the band's attitude, so if you haven't yet, you will be seeing them soon. 
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Funk You is set to play CukoRakko at 10:30 PM on Saturday, May 14th.

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Funk You has been going strong for over five years now.  The days of playing routine gigs around Augusta are long gone.  What stands out the most when looking back over the last few years?
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Will: We are excited that we have been given the opportunity to continue playing gigs for this long. The music industry requires patience and we've been steadily growing our fan base to new cities across the southeast. And who doesn't love to travel for a living! We get tighter and tighter every weekend and that is what is most important; that we continue to grow together as a unit.
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As Augusta's music scene continues to grow, the opportunity to perform and build your following only increases.  How has Funk You's schedule shaped up thus far in 2016?  
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FY: 2016 has been one of the most exciting years for us. We are playing more festivals this year, highlighted by a performance at Sweetwater 420 Fest. We just opened up for the James Brown Birthday Bash in Augusta, which was streamed live across the nation by the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Meeting and jamming with all the incredibly talented James Brown Band members was truly a once in a lifetime experience for us. We also just signed with Hoplite Booking Agency so the sky is the limit for us this year.
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Watch Funk You perform David Bowie's "Let's Dance" at Terminal West here:
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Funk You recently released it's first full length album, 
Apparitions.  Tell me a little bit about how this group of songs came together.  How was the recording process different than your previously released self-titled EP?
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Will: We felt these songs together made the most cohesive representation of what Funk You is. Which is not a genre focus, but rather a statement. A statement of we will write whatever style we feel. This album "Apparitions" hits our highest of highs and lowest of lows. We are a diverse group of people and we portray that in our music. We recorded this album in Atlanta at Fractal Sound Studio. We added some collaborations with a horn section, female vocalist, violinist, and few different engineers helping mix and produce. We are very proud of the final product and can't wait for everyone to hear it!
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Every band has their own unique way of putting together a setlist.  What does the process entail for you guys as you prepare for each show? 
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Will: We typically write a song list first and decide whether to put them in an order or just go with the flow. There are different benefits to both. When we don't have a specified set order, we very much play to the crowd. Feeling their energy and feeding off it is very important to us. And sometimes when we do write out the order, we will call audibles if something gets stagnant or the crowd is calling for a different energy or feeling. This usually depends on set lengths and location of the performance.  
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Listen to Funk You's new album Apparitions here:
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We're coming up on CukoRakko, one of Alabama's young, growing music festivals.  Horse Pens 40 is without a doubt one of the most amazing locations in the state.  What does it mean to you guys to join the CukoRakko family?
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Will: We are stoked to play this festival after having heard so much about it from our peers. The location is beautiful and we are thrilled to be able to display our art to an eager audience. This industry is all about family and supporting each other and what better way to do that than by sharing the love of music with one another.
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CukoRakko will give you guys an opportunity to play in front of many music fans who might be seeing Funk You for the first time.  How would you best describe what the crowd at Horse Pens can expect from you guys?
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Will: That's one of the greatest feelings of being a musician, the first time an audience member hears your art and expresses gratitude to us for doing what we love. We always make sure to provide every new audience with a tight, diverse, energetic set that displays what Funk You truly is. 
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The Road to CukoRakko: Ryan Keef and Jason Guinn of Permagroove May 5, 2016 10:44

Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival next weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently caught up with Ryan Keef (guitar/vocals) and Jason Guinn (bass/vocals) of Permagroove, one of North Alabama's most promising up-and-coming bands.   

Recently described by Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band/TR3) as, "...the Allman Brothers x10 on acid," Permagroove is one of the South's most electrifying up-and-coming live bands. Their sound is an eclectic genre-blend, built on tight grooves, top-notch songwriting, and spacious jams with plenty of molten-hot guitar solos and instantly memorable lyrics. Originally from Fort Payne, AL, the band is currently touring in support of their new EP, "Perfectly Broken Machine."

Permagroove is set to play CukoRakko at 6:30 PM on Saturday, May 14th.

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Permagroove is one of many up-and-coming bands to surface out of North Alabama  in recent years. When did you guys officially get  this thing rolling? Tell me about the band's early days.  

Ryan:  I believe we just had our one year anniversary. Jason called me last spring and told me that he'd just gotten Isaac, and asked me to come join. We had all played together in some form or another over the years, so there was already a good chemistry and foundation to build from. I think we had one rehearsal, and it just came together. And we're even friends too, believe it or not. That helps a tremendous amount, actually.  

Jason:  It officially started rolling the first time Chase (drums) and I played with Ryan and Isaac together. The core between Chase and I was solid, and we had the most dynamic guitar player we could ask for with Isaac, but the one-two combination with the twin guitars took it over the top for us. Chase and I still look at each other when we're playing like, "Damn, these guys are something else." Also, Ryan’s songwriting is phenomenal. I believe everyone in the band was a fan of Ryan well before we started playing together. 

Alabama's music scene seems to be constantly evolving.  With new venues surfacing nearly every year, the opportunity to perform and build your following only increases.  How has Permagroove's schedule shaped up thus far in 2016?   

Ryan:  This year is treating us pretty well so far. We've got a few festivals on the books, and we're breaking ground into new markets and more premier, noteworthy venues. It can be difficult with all of the new venues opening and closing, but we've made some great strides in that last six months. Doors are opening, and I'm excited to see where the journey takes us.  

Jason:  Our schedule has shaped up very nicely. We've not only have been invited back to CukoRakko, but also added Jam in the Ham in Birmingham and Riverbend Music Festival in Chattanooga. Hammering the markets in Huntsville, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Chattanooga, and Auburn has started paying off. Our crowds keep growing everywhere we go and it's really exciting for us. We just recently added a run through Georgia in the fall, and we're also heading down to Florida in the Summer. We're always looking for new places to play where people love to hear live music. 

Click Here: Purchase tickets to CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival 

Permagroove recently released its latest studio work with the Perfectly Broken Machine EP.  Tell me a little bit about how this group of songs came together.  How was the recording process different than your previous work? 

Ryan:  With the exception of the Marley cover we put in there, these were all songs I had previously recorded under my own name. We reinvented and rearranged them in a very fitting way, which set them apart quite a bit. We tried to do most of it live in the studio, to capture the energy. But, there's also some overdubs in there. Overall, it's a pretty accurate representation of who we are as a band, and that's something you don't always get out of a studio recording.  

Jason: We are a live band. I know a lot of people say that, but we truly are. We recorded this album with no click tracks, we just laid it down. Ryan has an awesome collection of songs, and he allows us to put our spin on things. I think it comes across pretty well. We weren't originally going to record Could You Be Loved, but Dave Brandwein (from Turkuaz) gave us some encouragement, and I'm glad we did. I am really excited about not only about this recording, but the future ones we've yet to record. 

 Watch Permagroove perform "Fish Agree" at Zydeco in Birmingham here:

Every band has their own unique way of putting together a set list.  What does the process entail for you guys as you prepare for each show?  

Ryan:  That depends mostly on the venue; different set times and all that jazz. Once in a while, one of us will write out the setlist early in the day and we'll all discuss any segues or different arrangements together. Usually we'll just rattle off three or four songs to start with and see where it takes us. We try to avoid dead air.  

Jason: "What do you wanna play?" is usually the question asked about five minutes before we play, and then everyone gives a roundabout. Then, two seconds before start it's "What are the first three songs?" and the rest usually just comes together somehow. 

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival 

We're coming up on CukoRakko, one of Alabama's young, growing music festivals.  Horse Pens 40 is without a doubt one of the most amazing locations in the state.  What does it mean to you guys to be back once again this Spring?

Ryan:  I have to say, Horse Pens 40 is gorgeous. We're really looking forward to being back. Jamie and Greg, and all the folks involved are all class-acts, and that makes things easy. We kicked off the fall festival last year, but we had to get to another gig that evening. Hopefully we'll be able to spend more time there this year. It doesn't hurt that it's close to home either.  

Jason: It means a lot to me. The community that CukoRakko has created is very family oriented and everybody involved are just top notch people. I know Jamie and Greg do not invite back a lot of repeat performers, so I feel very honored for us to get asked back for a second time. The Shultz family do a wonderful job preserving Horse Pens 40, and the scenery is second to none. CukoRakko has gained such a reputation that you don’t even have to look at the lineup to know that the music is going to be awesome every year. I am fired up, and I know the guys are excited to not only play, but be a part of the fellowship that takes place. 

Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL :: Home of CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival

CukoRakko will give you guys an opportunity to play in front of many fans who know your music well, as well as many who will be seeing you for the first time.  How would you best describe what the crowd at Horse Pens can expect from Permagroove? 

Ryan:  Endless self indulgence. But no, really. What I love about playing with these guys is that it's always fresh. We can play the same song back to back and it's going to be different. We feed off of each other and the crowd, we listen, and we let the music take us where we're going.  

Jason: We're going to give you everything we’ve got for whatever length we are given. There are going to be parts of our playing that are completely spontaneous and off the cuff. You might hear some something one minute that is rooted in country with a blues twist, and the next some rocked out “mountain funk," but whatever it is it'll be us. 

Official Website: Permagroove

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The Road to CukoRakko: A Conversation with Mike Sinopole of Festival Expressions October 2, 2015 08:29

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Photo by Roger Patteson: Type II Photography
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Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to the CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival, held this weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently caught up with Mike Sinopole (guitar/vocals) of Festival Expressions to hear their thoughts on the festival. 
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Festival Expressions is an original band from Birmingham Alabama that formed in the summer of 2011.  Their music integrates multiple genres including Rock, Jazz, Funk, Organic Electronica, and Jam. The mixture allows for a completely original sound.  Festival Expressions is best known for their unique songwriting & energetic live performances. 

Over the years, the band has made an effort to perform at as many charity events as possible.  Giving back to the community is an important part of the Fest-Ex agenda.  Throughout 2012 the band wrote, recorded, and produced their first studio album titled Festival Expressions.  The album was officially released in January of 2013.  In the Summer of 2014, the group has released their second studio album titled Conversations

Festival Expressions has opened for Tim Reynolds TR3, JJ Grey & Mofro, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk.  The band has also shared the stage with The Emmit-Nershi Band, Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, John Popper of Blue Traveler, and Col. Bruce Hampton at the 2012 Red Clay Revival Arts and Music Festival.  In 2012 Festival Expressions was honored with the opportunity to record one track with Ken Scott of Abbey Road Studio at UAB’s Audiostate 55.  The group also headlined The Birmingham Arts and Music Festival(2012),  The Sloperfest Climbing and Music Festival(2013), Tunes Against Typhoons(2014), The Alabama Mountain Games(2014). and played Wakarusa Music Fesitval(2015).

Interview by Jordan Kirkland - Live & Listen 

Festival Expressions emerged on the Birmingham music scene back in 2011.  What memories stand out the most when looking back over those first couple of years?
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Mike: Just all of the people who have stuck with us since the beginning. It’s been amazing to see friends still supporting us through each step of our journey.  When we first started we were just pumped to play a gig.   Now the feeling is the same but the gigs have gotten a lot cooler. 
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There has been an abundance of great, original live music coming from North Alabama in recent years.  CBDB, Little Raine Band, Mother Funk, and you guys, just to name a few.  How big of an impact has the culture in Tuscaloosa had on this band?
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Mike: There is something really cool going on in the Alabama music/arts world.   A lot of great bands have emerged from the woodworks and at the same time a scene has developed with it.  I think we are lucky to have some contemporaries to kind of do this thing with.   We have all played together many times and share a similar fan base because of it.  It’s exciting to see great musicians that are dedicated to the craft. 
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Earlier this year, the band released it's second full-length album, Conversations.  How was song selection and recording process different than that of the previous self-titled album?
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Mike: On our first album, Festival Expressions, we were just looking to put something out for the folks to listen to.  With Conversations we knew exactly what we wanted from it. We wanted to make a cleaner, well-rounded, album that told a story.
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We're coming up on CukoRakko, one of Alabama's young, growing music festivals.  Horse Pens 40 is without a doubt one of the most amazing locations in the state.  What does it mean to you guys to be a part of such a special weekend?
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MikeFirst of all we’d like to thank the Schultz family for making the whole thing possible. It is really great what they are doing for the Alabama music world. Cuko Rakko has made it possible for local artists to come together and support each other in one of the most beautiful places in the state.  It means a lot for Festival Expressions to be involved with this festival every year.  Horse Pens 40 has always been our favorite place to play.  Each time we come back it’s better than the last.  I mean what more could you ask for as a musician and a music lover? A natural amphitheater with a big stage cozied up against a couple giant rocks.  It’s awesome
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CukoRakko will give you guys an opportunity to play in front of many fans who know your music forward and backward, as well as many who will be seeing you for the first time.  How would you best describe what the crowd can expect from Festival Expressions?
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Mike: CukoRakko is very special to us so we like to put a little extra work into our set.  I’d say the fans should expect something different than we’ve ever done. We’ve been working on a lot of great music for this show but at the same time we’ve made sure to leave plenty of space for exploration.
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We're entering the fourth quarter of 2015.  I'm sure the Fall and Winter both hold many exciting things for the band.  What has you guys the most excited, and what type of goals are being set for 2016?
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Mike: We are looking forward to starting work on a new studio project. I don’t have a lot of details but it’s going to be exciting.  And big things in 2016!
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Festival Expressions is...
Ransom Pewitt - guitar/vocals
Mike Sinopole - guitar/vocals
Marcus O'Neill - bass
Kevin McClure - keyboard/synth
Josh Wiseman - drums/vocals
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The Road to CukoRakko: A Conversation with Davis Little of Little Raine Band September 29, 2015 09:52

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Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to the festival held this weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently caught up with Davis Little of the Little Raine Band, one of Birmingham's most promising young bands.  
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Little Raine Band is a band on a mission to follow their dreams by creating an amazing concert experience and music with lyrics that have visionary, philosophical, and universal elements that will leave an impact in people's lives. Each member has former jazz band experience and influences from all forms of music including bluegrass, funk, electronic music, jazz fusion, progressive rock, avant garde, indie, folk, R&B, and gospel.
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The band's influences are vast, but the band is naturally developing their own unique sound and also a noticeable following of fans that seems to be growing month by month.  Little Raine Band is set to play CukoRakko at 8:00 PM on Saturday, October 5th.
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Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
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The Little Raine Band is one of  many young, up-and-coming bands to surface out of North Alabama in recent years  When did you guys officially get this thing get rolling? Tell me about the band's early days.
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Davis:  Its hard to say when things officially got rolling, but the band as a name has been around since Daniel Raine and I (Davis Little) began the to play gigs when we were around 14 or 15. We spent a majority of our high school years as trio (with Marc Cameron Kosow on drums and Daniel Raine on Guitar/Bass/Harmonica) playing at small pubs and restaurants in Birmingham. We also most importantly had a 4 year weekly residency at a Mexican restaurant called Pablo’s, where we really learned how to play together, and we started a small fan base comprised mostly of friends and friends of our friends.
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Around senior year a good buddy brought Isaiah Smith over to Daniel’s parents basement, where we would jam, and things instantly clicked. Once we graduated, we tried to cut an album.  Right before we started the album, our drummer left the band to start his landscaping business. Daniel and I knew DeVonte Hutchins from playing with him at high school in the show choir band.  We jammed with him during our free classes in school.  So I called up DeVonte, and he was stoked at the offer and joined immediately. We never released that album, but we did release a debut album in April. 
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There has been an abundance of great, original live music coming from North Alabama in recent years.  CBDB, The Doctors & The Lawyers, Mother Funk, and you guys, just to name a few.  How big of an impact has the the music scene in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and beyond had on the band?
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The music scene in Alabama has no doubt had a huge impact on us. Each Alabama city has always had its own music scene, with its up years and down years.  Recently, the music scene in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Auburn has been on a huge rise.  Its to the point where we are now seeing these music scenes in each city merging into one big scene/community. We are good friends with most of the other Birmingham, Auburn, and Tuscaloosa bands.  It's really a special thing, because we are all mutually in the spirit of working together to help create a big scene, as opposed to the inevitable competition in cities like Nashville, Athens, New Orleans, L.A., and so on. We are insanely honored to be part of this Alabama music scene/community.
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It's easy to get caught learning new cover tunes, as the requests seem to always roll in at the college/bar gigs.  How much original material has the band accumulated over the last few years?
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Davis: Surprisingly, we have around 40 original songs.
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Every band has their own unique way of putting together a setlist.  What does the process entail for you guys as you prepare for each show?
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DavisWe take a lot of care in writing our setlists. We have a database of all of our song,s and we have just about all of our recent set lists from the last few years. We kind of judge our sets depending on the set of the last time we played in that venue/city. Mainly though, we get together and write the set list before the show or on the way to the show and try to create a journey with our song choices. However, we really try to listen and be at "the forefront of the moment" as we call it, so more often than not we end up straying from the set list and exploring other musical areas. 
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We're coming up on CukoRakko, one of Alabama's young, growing music festivals.  Horse Pens 40 is without a doubt one of the most amazing locations in the state.  What does it mean to you guys to be back for the second time this year?
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Davis: CukoRakko is a very special festival to us. Not only is it the only festival in Alabama that consciously chooses to showcase mainly Alabama based bands, but its a grassroots handmade festival with genuinely good people running the event and attending. Greg and Jamie are some of the kindest men in the music industry.  It is an honor to be back again this Fall.
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CukoRakko will give you guys an opportunity to play in front of many fans who know your music forward and backward, as well as many who will be seeing you for the first time.  How would you best describe what the crowd at Horse Pens can expect from The Little Raine Band?
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DavisThere is no telling what everyone can expect from us this year. There is a lot of magic on the grounds of Horse Pens 40, so we’ll feel it out when we get there. 
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The Road to CukoRakko: A Conversation with Freekbass September 28, 2015 08:40

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Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to the festival held this weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the one and only Freekbass for our latest interview.  Freekbass & The Bump Assembly are set to play CukoRakko at 12:30 PM on Sunday, October 4th.  The Bump Assembly consists of Big Bamn on drums and Jason Burgard on saxophone.  Freebass recently signed with Ropeadope Records, and is scheduled to a release his new album, Cincinnati, on Friday, November 20th.
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You've been at this thing for roughly 20 years now.  When did you first begin playing music, and what are a few of your first memories of playing on stage?
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FB:  Yeah, I started playing live when I was about 14 with a lot of the places being before I was legally allowed to be there if I wasn't in "the band". I read where Keith Richards said that the stage is the place that most feels at home, and I definitely feel that way. I couldn't tell you what I ate for lunch but I think I can remember almost every stage experience since I started. It's a unique place to grow up. Probably one of my earliest stage memories is when we played the 8th Grade talent show. Everyday in the lunchroom there was this big, pretty intimidating looking cat that would always call me names and threaten to beat me up. At the talent show I played guitar and we played "The Jack" by AC/DC. That next day the same dude who acted like he was going to pulverize me, acted like he was my best friend with a huge smile on his face full of positive energy. That was one of the first times I realized the power in music. 

Who were some of your earliest musical inspirations?  Can you point to anyone specifically who drove you towards being a full time musician?
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FB:  I worked at a music store the summer going into high school to pay off a bass I wanted.There were always older musicians who were gigging for a living coming into the store talking about the lifestyle, touring, and recording. They would compare stories with each other about where they had been, what gear they liked, crazy road stories , etc. It was fascinating to a kid just starting to play. Then a lot of times they would sit down and play and let me play with them. That is how I learned how to thump and pluck on the bass. One person from an r&b/funk group would come into the store and start thumping on the bass Louis Johnson style. It sounded magical, so I asked him if he could show me how to do that on the bass. About once a week he would stop in the store and have me mimic back and forth what he was doing and little by little I would "get it". 
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I've read that the legendary Bootsy Collins can be thanked for giving you the name "Freekbass." You've been fortunate enough to collaborate with Bootsy a number of times over the years.  How did that all come together?
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FB:  Bootsy's singer from the original Rubberband, and a member of George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, had heard about me around Cincy and asked me to play bass on some of his demos. One day he called and said he was working on a track for a new compilation album for P-Vine Records (funk label out of Japan) which were songs written about Jimi Hendrix. A different funk collaboration would do each track. Muddy was doing a track with Kidd Funkadelic/ Michael Hampton and asked me if I would like to play bass on the track. I said of course and asked him where we would be recording it. He said Bootsy's, and Boot would be producing and engineering the track.
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As you can imagine I was pretty excited. We went to Bootsy's studio and he and I hit it off great, and a couple of weeks later he asked me back out to the studio to write some songs and record together. Definitely a huge turning point in my career. That is when he gave me the name 'Freekbass' too. He had a bunch of bass effects at his studio and I always used a lot of my own too and he would always say "do that Freekie thing with your bass" and folks around the studio picked up on it and everyone started calling me "Freek" or Freekbass and it stuck. 
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One of your first groups, Sleep Theatre, was signed to a major deal just as you guys were officially parting ways?  How did that experience affect you as a young musician?  
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FB:  Wow, you are going back right after high school days. Right when we got that deal (which was a big indy label distributed by a major) was right when SHAG (the funk band I toured with right before I started the Freekbass band ) was starting. So for a while I tried doing both bands. But SHAG started touring so much it became really difficult to do both things and I didn't think it was fair to the ST band to suffer or take a back seat to what I was doing. So I made the decision to move on with SHAG. It was tough to do because I had been playing and writing with those guys since early high school days, but it felt like the right move. 
 

You have had the opportunity to share the stage with many of the music scenes most accomplished musicians.  Can you share a few of your favorite collaborations from years past?
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I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have gotten to play with some incredibly gifted folks. We already talked a bit about Bootsy which was and always is incredibly inspiring when we get together. Playing and writing with Bernie Worrell has been pretty amazing. Bernie is one of those folks that it is very easy to use the word genius with. He has been on a few of my albums , and I got to play with him at Moogfest a few years back which was incredible since him and Moog are so closely linked. 
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Also, playing and recording with Mike Gordon has been great. He and I met at Bass Player Live (event put on by Bass Player Magazine) few years back. I asked him if he would like to be on my album and he was down. Since then we have become pretty good friends usually spending a lot of the time talking bass geek stuff like the newest pedals and effects. He is a great bassist with his own very unique voice and such a good guy. 
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You're scheduled to play this weekend's CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival at Horse Pens 40 on Sunday afternoon.  For those who have yet to see your live show, how would you best describe what they can expect?
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We try to take the approach to how a DJ runs a set where each song breaks into the next bringing the audience to different areas of sonic movement and space. 
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Over the last 20 years, you have seen the digital music revolution evolve in front of your eyes.  People essentially expect all new music to be free these days.  What advice would you give a young, up-and-coming artist who is just getting started in the midst of this new age?
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Be very good live! No matter where technology leads us nothing can replicate a great live performance!
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CukoRakko Pre-Party Featuring Sidewalk Chalk & Jeffrey James - Montgomery - Thurs 4/23 April 22, 2015 11:52

The Saza Serious Sound Series is bringing CukoRakko to Montgomery on Thursday night!  CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival is a dynamic family event at historic Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL, just north of Birmingham, the first week in May and first week in October.

CukoRakko will be hosting their first ever Montgomery Outreach Pre-Party with Ropeadope Records artists, Sidewalk Chalk, from Chicago. You don't want to miss this powerful night of music and art.  Check out some of their latest videos below.  There will also be visual art on display from Abstract Mafia and other artists and activities to be announced, as well as our friend DJ Jeffrey James before and after the band.

Come enjoy The Sanctuary, Montgomery's newest music and arts venue in the Capitol's oldest neighborhood, Historic Cottage Hills. Join us in learning more about this great venue, neighborhood, band, and festival.

Visit Helicity Montgomery to learn more about the growing cultural movement in the capitol city.

PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY!

 

(Sidewalk Chalk - "Blue" - From their latest release, Shoulder Season)

SIDEWALK CHALK (Chicago, IL)

With the release of its sophomore album, Leaves, Sidewalk Chalk continues to lead the contemporary evolution of hip-hop, soul, and jazz. The band’s roots are firmly planted in Chicago where all eight members bring their respective talents together to update a sound first heralded in the Native Tongues era but never so musically diverse. The group’s unique arrangement allows them to incorporate numerous styles seamlessly: an MC and female vocalist; a trio of keys, bass, and drums; a horn section with trombone and trumpet; and a tap-dancer.

In contrast to the 2012 debut release, Corner Store, this new album finds the group venturing into a grittier space and capitalizing on a subtle approach that is at times hauntingly beautiful. Leaves represents change, both the loss of something dear and the excitement of exploring something new. “The album is about growth, growing pains, and letting go of the past if need be,” states MC Rico Sisney. Vocalist Maggie Vagle adds, “It’s also about unfolding into a new color. Shedding to shine brighter."


(Sidewalk Chalk - "Get It Right" - From their latest release, Shoulder Season)

Sidewalk Chalk has created a live show that captivates a variety of audiences. The group has already shared stages with Questlove, De La Soul, Action Bronson, Jean Grae, Hiatus Kaiyote and other notables. Individually, band members have acted as musical director(s) for Brother Ali, toured with Jazzanova and played behind Buddy Guy and Talib Kweli. Sidewalk Chalk was named "Most Outstanding Group" at the 2012 Chicago Music Awards, and its MC represented Chicago at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China.

Sidewalk Chalk is: Rico Sisney (MC), Maggie Vagle (Vocals), Charlie Coffeen (Keys), Garrett McGinn (Bass), Tyler Berg (Drums), Jumaane Taylor (Taps), Sam Trump (Trumpet), and David Ben-Porat (Trombone).

(Sidewalk Chalk - "Vibrations" - From their latest release, Shoulder Season)

 PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY!