The Fun Kicks Off Friday with the   Jefferson Avenue Block Party from 5-10 p.m. Followed by The Buffalo  Funk Fest Saturday when  it Returns to MLK!

In August of 2004 following the funeral of Rick James, thousands  of fans converged on MLK Park to pay tribute to his memory.

That tradition has taken place every year since then, however in 2008, the venue was changed to LaSalle  Park to accommodate the crowd as well as the performers.

This weekend, Saturday August 28,  the funk returns  to  Martin Luther King Park with a vengeance when headliners Patty Walker and the P-Funk Connection  hit the stage!   

“It should be a really good time!” said NICYO Funk Fest promoter and co-founder Marnetta Malcolm.   “We’re trying to do something good for Buffalo…and as long as we’re here we need and deserve a good time!”

-Kick Off   Friday  With the Jefferson Avenue Block Party- 

  The weekend kicks off Friday, August 27 from 5-10 p.m. with  the ever popular Jefferson Avenue  Block  Party (at E. Utica)- a classic   reunion-type, dancin’ in the street-back-in-the-day  funky good time .

When it was initially  launched several years ago , Marnetta  expressed the hope that it would  serve as  a “teaching moment”  and positive experience to the younger generation who are having to grow up in a violent-prone society.

–Saturday In  The  Park-

The NICYO  Buffalo Funk Fest- a tribute to Buffalo’s own King of Punk Funk – starts at 4 p.m. and runs until   10.

Marnetta reminds party-goers that no tents or grills are allowed. There will be plenty of vendors  on hand.

   She said her team  is taking as many precautions as possible to keep everybody safe.

     “You know COVID is coming to the concert too,” she quipped.

“So we encourage social distancing, bring a mask,  and  use common sense!”

The bottom line is, she added,  “I wouldn’t  give this festival if I knew it would hurt people…bring your mask please!!!”

We can  expect some great local entertainment including  Delvin Payton and the Lyef Band Delivered, and DC  and the Music Company.

-The P-Funk Connection-

 Patty Walker and The P-Funk Connection also has a Buffalo Connection! Patty, who started out in the music industry as a “Poplock Dancer” with the Parliament Funkadelic,  was at one time also George Clinton’s hair stylist, responsible for his icnic rainbow colored braids.

She also became Rick James hairstylist.

Patty, always the entertainer and entrepreneur, eventually formed her own group, P-Funk Connection after departing Parliament Funkadelic. It was made up of   talented   musicians, that also included several  P-Funk alumni and incredible musicians   such as Michael Hampton, Kevin Shider son of the iconic guitarist, late Garry Shider and  Scott Walker.

Michael Johnson, also a member of the P-Funk Connection, was a   finalist in THE VOICE competition.

“The band is incredible,” said Marnetta. “Everything is free and open to the public!   I’d  like to thank everyone and anyone who played any part  in making this happen!”(She  issued a special thanks to Majority Leader of the NYS Assembly  Crystal Peoples-Stokes,  one of the event’s  proud sponsors  ) See you in  the park! and If you Can’t Make It This Year Make Plans for Next Years Annual Funk Fest to Celebrate Our Hometown Kink of Punk Funk  Rick James!