This is a first time for us and it promises to be a spectacular one! Tonight’s B.E.A.F. fest show at The Knit will include a show dedicated to musical genres indigested to most NYC hipsters, but loved by pretty much every other New Yorker: Funk, Soul, Afro-Beat, Hip Hop and World Music. The lineup is pretty impressive, check this out:
TURKUAZ – 11pm
Turkuaz is the funk-soul tornado that can transport you back to the time of bell-bottom and polyester. In a world where the original froth of funk has been adulterated and diluted by genre cross-polination, bands like Turkuaz generate breathless awe. Their masterful musicianship, nuanced synergy, and and genuine celebration of the experience they cultivate results in a remarkable live-music experience. If there was ever an excuse to dust off your moneymaker, Turkuaz is bringing it to you.
ZONGO JUNCTION – 10pm
Brooklyn’s Zongo Junction mixes traditional West African rhythms with American funk, soul and jazz to garner a truly unique sound. They are a 13-piece ensemble that began in early 2007, the band’s name originating from the bus stop drummer Charles Ferguson lived off of while spending six months in Accra, Ghana. Much like their inspiration, Nigerian superstar, political activist and afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo, Zongo Junction never fails to get their audiences on their feet and riled up at their shows. Though now based in New York, the core of the band are from San Francisco’s Bay Area, moving to New York after playing together all their lives. The band’s list of inspiration runs long, and includes such artists as James Brown, Osibisa and Bob Marley.
YC THE CYNIC – 9.00
Purists, favoring the classic two-turntables and a microphone setup, celebrate acts like YC the Cynic whose stunning lyricism earned two SXSW showcases this year for this twenty-year-old. Coming out of Hunts Point in the South Bronx, YC , is thoroughly committed to the art, feeling the need to bring hip-hop back to its birthplace. YC’s music has a polished delivery and an infectious energy not typically found in hip-hop. He also posses an unusually large vocabulary and a quick eye for detail, making his music–whether live or not–highly entertaining.
Early on we’ll have NYC ‘s new queen of soul KENDRA MORRIS – 8.15 and the unique Jypsynese rockers KAGERO – 7.30.
Buy tickets for this event here, ($8 online, $12 at the door)