Erie's Bayfront FunkFest to feature soulful Average White Band at Liberty Park
The Average White Band, an iconic soul and funk group widely known for belting out several hits in the 1970s, will headline the first Bayfront FunkFest on Sunday at the Highmark Amphitheater at Liberty Park.
The daylong music festival at 726 W. Bayfront Parkway comprises four bands total, including Erie's Breeze Band. Gates open at 1 p.m. with national touring and recording artist The Labra Brothers scheduled to perform an acoustic set at 2 p.m. to start the outdoor concert. The Breeze Band is set for a 3 p.m. show, followed by members of the Ohio Players, Beck-Ward Project, at 4 p.m. Labra Brothers plays a plugged-in set at 5 p.m. before headlining AWB takes the stage at 6 p.m.
The event is presented by Twins 2 Entertainment of Youngstown, Ohio.
The Average White Band, which has Scottish roots, are best known for their instrumental hit "Pick Up the Pieces," but the funk and R&B band's success includes several gold-selling albums and multiple Grammy nominations as Atlantic Records legacy artists, according to their bio at atlanticrecords.com. The six-piece band, formed in 1972, were influenced by Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Donny Hathaway and others as they developed their trademark sound which has influenced several artists. The current lineup includes noted American musicians alongside founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre.
Some of AWB's other hits include "Cut The Cake," "Let's Go 'Round Again," "Cloudy," "A Love Of Your Own" and "Nothing You Can Do."
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"The idea for FunkFest came after we had offers to bring AWB to Erie and started negotiations," said Twins 2 Entertainment's Scott Austalosh in an email. "Erie's music scene is strong and the promoters feel that there is a void that can be filled in this genre. There are already conversations about the next show."
The Labra Brothers, a self-described "Latin funk and soul band" from Youngstown, Ohio, are frequent attractions on regional music festival circuits. The band released its EP "Waiting" on April 29.
"Once AWB was confirmed, a call was made to personal friends Billy Beck and Rick Ward of the Ohio Players. They seemed the perfect complement to AWB," Austalosh said in an email. "The Labra Brothers were added due to their young and fresh approach to music. We also thought they would appeal to a younger demographic and hopefully bring some young people out to the festival and introduce them to some old-school funk and soul."
The Breeze Band performs soul, R&B, blues, Motown music and more around Erie regularly. The Breeze Band's Maurice Troop annually organizes Blues for Shoes, a fundraiser to collect money for school supplies and other school necessities for Erie-area children. According to the group's Facebook page, this year's Blues for Shoes music benefit is scheduled for Aug. 14 from 4 to 9 p.m. at BigBar, 14 E. 10th St.
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If you go ...
Tickets for FunkFest are $35 plus fees for general admission in advance online at eventbrite.com. For sections closer to the stage, ticket prices range from $45 to $55 plus fees. Tickets are $5 more at the gate.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase, according to eventbrite.com. No coolers or outside food or drink are permitted, but lawn chairs are welcome and encouraged.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie's Bayfront FunkFest to feature Average White Band at Liberty Park
