Photos by Kaylee LoPresto
A cool breeze blew over the Hillsborough River as the deep thumps of an electric bass floated off into the breeze. Festival goers strolled down the recently completed Tampa Riverwalk from their parking spots to Water Works Park in downtown, near the outskirts of Ybor.
As you walk up to the venue, the tantalizing sounds of jam heavy rock and funk instantly set the vibe for the festival you’re about to enter. As the music gets louder the closer you approach, you see children playing in the connected water park and realize how nice of a day it is outside; a few clouds but nothing too obstructive to the cool, blue sky.
Gritt, a rock band from Gainesville, played a set to start off the day while the food trucks set up and everyone found their place in the grass. After they were done, self proclaimed “psychedelic folk rock” artist Max Norton graced us with his smooth, unique stylings. As the festival carried on, the grass began to become more and more crowded and the inevitable flow artists and jugglers began to find their spots in the park. The general ambiance of the whole thing was almost like that of a funky Creole party on the bayou.
Roadkill Ghost Choir was next to take the stage and they quickly became one of my favorite bands to see live and one of my favorite band names of all time. They have a sound almost akin to folk rock mixed with whatever the fuck Neon Tres is classified as.
And who could forget the musical powerhouse known to most as “Dumpstaphunk.” When my editor briefed me on the band, he had texted me the educated warning, “Wear diapers, the bass makes you poop your pants.” And while my pants stayed, thankfully, unsullied, the dueling bass stylings of Dumpstaphunk’s Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III laid one of the smoothest groove sections I’ve heard in my life. This legendary New Orlean’s funk band got everyone in attendance on their feet and at the very front of the stage. The audience grooved and rocked while they drank and jammed to the funky music the night had to offer.
The festival continually thanked their organizer, Phil Benito for his efforts towards the event. All proceeds from the event are to go towards the Voices for Children of Tampa Bay and to the Guardian ad Litem program, both benefiting abused and neglected children in the Hillsborough County area.
This article appears in Nov 3-10, 2016.