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)

When I was in high school I remember I attended a history panel by a famous Italian professor (I can’t remember his name of course…) He was talking about the cultural "bourgeois" revolution that happened after the French Revolution, consisting in the fact that after that event, relevant culture was not anymore commissioned, produced and consumed by the royalty, the oligarchs and the church, but by the middle class. The professor was wondering if in our times a similar but less traumatic event is "transferring" the control of culture to the masses – he called that "pop culture". I think the answer is "absolutely", and even in the "indie" side of music it seems obvious to me that we are witnessing an incredible "poppification" of tastes, which basically means that most bands are focusing more than ever on writing songs that can appeal to a large audience. Where are today’s Jim Morrison and Iggy Pops? The new Dead Can Dance or Nick Caves? Pop songs are great but tragedy is powerful, is that a too negative idea for our times? Like the kings and the oligarchs and the popes did after the French revolution I might be simply reacting to change, undervaluing a new idea of culture. But I still think that music like the one produced by Priestbird (Ex Tarantula AD) should have a place in our lives. You can buy their album with a small donation here.

I’m often surprised by the fact that many indie rock fans aren’t familiar with The Stranglers, one of my favorite punk/new wave bands of the 80s. The English group had 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, but they are a little more than a cult band in the States. Listening to their music automatically puts a grin on my face, because of their frontman "Teutonic" way of singing. This in my own little musical vocabulary means that he sings like an English speaking person pretending to be a German nazi: commanding, resolute, spiteful… asshole! I guess the Sex Pistols started that, but The Stranglers refined the idea, adding a baroque musical element that enhanced the "teutonicness" (baroque art was big in Germany). Brooklyn based The Sleepies’ music put that same grim on my face. They play highly charged post punk with that same kind of vocal style that makes you feel like punching somebody for a laugh. Feelers (stream it below) is the best punk song we’ve stumbled upon in a long time. Don’t miss their next show at Silent Barn on May 27.

Sami.the.great (pictured), Peter Salvato and Ivan Sandomire perform tonight, along with 10 more songwriters and rootsy bands, at the Deli-sponsored 5th Annual LC Fest, organized by independent music community Local Correspondents at Bar4 in Park Slope. Sami.the.great is a pop songstress who’s been a staple on the NYC scene for a few years now, and is releasing her first full length album on Bold Love Records in fall 2011. Singer/songwriter Peter Salvato backs his subtle lyrics with intricate acoustic guitar playing, and will be releasing his debut EP next month, while Ivan Sandomire, along with his band Ivan and the Terribles, plays melodic rock with an electronic edge. For the complete schedule of performers for all six nights of the festival, (from May 17th to the 22nd), visit the LC website.

We have something special going on for the last day of The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. (Best of Emerging Artists Fest). A night at Spike Hill with 6 very promising emerging female fronted bands, check this out:

12.15 – YANKEE BANG BANG

Imagine a lo-fi, electric version of Violent Femmes playing early Beach Boys songs with a female singer backed by a very imaginative guitar player. That’s what I visualize  when I listen to Yankee Bang Bang’s "That’s Love" (stream it below).

11.30 – BEAST MAKE BOMB

Having forged their friendships at noteworthy institutions of higher learning like NYU and the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, Brooklyn’s Beast Make Bomb are beginning to make waves on a national level. Winners of the Converse sponsored "Get Out of the Garage" contest, the band recently completed a number of high profile shows, culminating with a Rolling Stone Magazine live event at Highline Ballroom. With two solid EP’s already under their belt, there is building anticipation for the full length album to follow. (Dave Cromwell)

10.30 – SHENANDOAH & THE NIGHT

Shenandoah Ableman has the rare ability to turn any genre into sexy time. Comfortable singing in front of styles ranging from German cabaret to doo wop, her quintet Shenandoah and the Night are bringing sexy back… one sultry style at a time. The band’s new self-titled debut EP showcases this sensuality with deep confidence, but the best way to really feel the heat is to see the band live. Don’t miss them!

9.45 – ELECTRIC CHILD

Electric Child were picked by SPIN to play their 2011 SXSW show; lead singer Alison Clancy – a professional dancer who can be dangerous on stage – leads Electric Child on a disjointed journey; a touch of string guitar here, an electro-clash back beat there, a little bit emotional catharsis ("I can’t let go!"), and then an abrupt sign-off. This is her rollercoaster, and we’re all strapped in with blindfolds on, waiting for the next twist.  

9.00 – DEDE (CANCELED!)

DEDE‘s sophisticated and decadent pop conquered many hearts – ours included. My Old Kentucky Blog went as far as writing: "DEDE is my new soul-mate… unaware of it, at present moment." This NYC femme fatale’s breakout song, “My Secret Sweet” induces nostalgia for childhood Saturday- afternoon-play-time with the neighbors – and brings to mind one of our favorite British band of the aughts, Broadcast. Maybe it’s the “chopsticks” piano chords on repeat, or the chimes cueing her suggestion, “let’s play pretend”? Or is it the hand clapping, or her sweet, almost adolescent voice? Either way, the youthful overtones of her music don’t imply juvenile musical skill. Our strong desire to reminisce upon hearing her songs is a result of expert composition and intuition as to what sounds people are uncontrollably drawn to.

8.15 – MELATI MALAY

Originally from Indonesia, Melati Malay lived in Australia, Singapore and a whole bunch of other places before finally settling in New York, and the international influence resonates throughout her tracks. The songs we hear on her myspace profile are quite clearly split in two: rather traditional, intimate but tense ballads with bluesy overtones on one side, and more orchestrated, lush and sophisticated tracks like "Big Potential" on the other – we guess this is a new direction in her sound, which we like a lot. All her music though conveys this overwhelming feeling of an intensely sunny day with a breeze…albeit a breeze with a bite. Windbreaker weather.

7.30 – THE LAST INTERNATIONALE

The Last Internationale will kick off the night with their garagey rootsy rock that doesn’t shy away from guitar solos and classic blues structure, propelled by an energy hard to match, and a charismatic front lady who can play the kitty as well as the tiger. After this show the band will leave for a 10+ dates US tour

Shanna Zell, The Courtesy Tier and Victory Grin are among tonight’s 13 performers for the second night of theDeli Sponsored 5th Annual LC Fest, organized by independent music community Local Correspondents at Bar4 in Park Slope. Shanna Zell (in the picture), whose latest EP, Coming Undone, was just released in January 2011, plays quiet, vulnerable rock songs, while bluesy, electric duo The Courtesy Tier, whose new album "The Resolution" comes out later this spring, blends a Jimi Hendrix vibe with catchy rhythms and uncontrived lyrics. Victory Grin is the new side project of Derek Zimmerman, vocal arranger and keyboard player of Dinosaur Feathers., which combines elements of pop, dance, folk, jazz and experimental music. For the complete schedule of performers for all six nights of the festival, (from May 17th to the 22nd), visit the Local Correspondent website.