This Year’s 2022 Funk Fest Tribute to Rick James is a 3-Day Celebration Dedicated to the Memory of Jerry Livingston, Beginning With the Jefferson Avenue Block Party Friday 8/26, Followed by the Art of Funk Festival Saturday 8/27 and Ending with the Annual Buffalo Funk Fest Event in MLK Park on Sunday 8/28!
Set up outside Mike’s Lounge on Jefferson Avenue a few weeks ago, Marnetta Malcolm was in her element selling red black and green inspired Funk Fest T-shirts and engaging with her beloved community.
A young man walked by and stopped to admire the shirts. Marnetta urged him to “buy a T-shirt and smile.” He responded: “I can’t afford it right now but that’s a good shirt to have.” Then he smiled. “It really is.”
Indeed. All the proceeds were going to support a very “funky” cause: the 2022 Buffalo Funk Fest, which has morphed and expanded into a three-day celebration this year in tribute to Buffalo’s own legendary Rick James and dedicated to the memory of one of Buffalo’s finest musicians, Jerry Livingston (who appeared on five of James’ albums and was a member of his Stone City Band.)
Marnetta, a true “community champion,” is president of the Buffalo Funk Fest Foundation Inc. which is hosting the weekend along with promoters and producers Iris Boston and Benjaminee Boston.
“I love my community,” declared Marnetta. “And we’re going to party like Rock Stars!”
“This atmosphere makes for a great party” she said surveying the Jefferson
Avenue streetscape. “There used to be at least 20 business on this block. But we can bring it back.”
-Funk Fest Weekend-
Buffalo Funk Fest Weekend breaks down like this:
•The ultimate ‘party with a purpose, ’ the Jefferson Avenue Block Party kicks off the weekend on Friday between E. Utica and Glenwood from 5-10 p.m. in celebration of Buffalo’s resiliency by honoring the victims of the Tops tragedy. “It’s time for us to honor then heal….Hate tried it but it didn’t even come close to winning!” declared Ms. Malcolm, who grew up on Riley St. between Jefferson and Masten just a heartbeat from the Tops Market. “This is my community!” It will also be a great opportunity to support our local vendors during Buffalo Black Business month!
•The ‘Art of Funk’ on Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. marks the historic collaboration of Buffalo Funk Fest and 50 Women With A Vision’s Jefferson Avenue Art Festival; a one-day presentation of community art and artists with a Funk Fest Flavor – more DJ’s music, vendors and food! “We’ve also added a Funky Chalk Walk on Saturday and Sunday for the kids to display their artistic talents,” said Marnetta.
•On Sunday from 12 noon – 4 p.m. the MLK Park Tennis Court turns into a community rink with the Funk & Roll event for young people, featuring free roller skating in collaboration with In Rare Form Consulting & Events and sponsored by 716 Rollers, WAVE & GSF .
Then from 4-10 p.m. inside the park the party is taken to another level when BUFFALO FUNK FEST presents the return of the
P-Funk Connection. Also on stage, LA Sky (which includes one of the original members of the Stone City Band) will perform a Tribute to Rick James. Local talent The Unity Band, The Music Company and Delivered, will also rock the park.
Buffalo Funk Fest 2022 Presented By: Council Member Ulysses Wingo, Community Foundation of Buffalo Co-Sponsored: By NICYO, NYS Majority Leader Crystal Peoples, Mayor Byron Brown, Council President Darius Pridgen, NYS Senator Tim Kennedy, Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson, Council Member Rasheed Wyatt, Fidelis, Tops, Key Bank, Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin Sponsored by: Buffalo Urban League, African American Cultural Center, Communi-ty Health Center of Buffalo, Best Self Behavioral Health , In Rare Form, Brian K. Lewis, Intan-dem, Evans Bank, Tommy Fluker, CAO, Atty John Elmore, CASNY, Carmen Sims, Geneva’s Auto, Camellia Foods, Sop The Violence Coalition, The Challenger, Power 96.5
-18th Year-
Now in it’s 18th year, Funk Fest started out in MLK Park. Rick transitioned August 6, 2004.
The event later moved to LaSalle Park, now known as the Ralph Wilson Park, which is currently undergoing major improvements. Marnetta is Vice President of the Ralph C. Wilson Conservancy Board.
She noted that at some point the Funk Fest would return to the waterfront.
“We spent many, many years there. But in some way we should also definitely keep some connection to where it started in MLK Park…the people love it. And I love it too!”
“I want to thank every sponsor, because you can’t give a free event without people donating toward it. We hope this is the beginning of something huge, because we think Buffalo deserves what other major cities have – good free quality entertainment and a lot of that comes from our locals because we have great local entertainment/artists.
“I try my best to remind Buffalo how great we are…not were – but are. We are a great city. We are great people and we’re strong. And the fact that someone tried to come out and destroy that, only intensified the love, that’s all it did…”
Marnetta pointed out that this is the first COVID free FunkFest since the Pandemic
“The significance of the festival this year in light of all that’s happened is the fact that we’re still here, ” she concluded. “ We’re a resilient people…no matter what.”
See you in the park!