FAQs
Down To Funk Festival is a community-built Funk Music festival produced by Down To Funk Fund, a nonprofit organization that prioritizes fair pay, creative integrity, accessibility and care for all people involved. Learn about the festival!
What’s the difference between the Fund and the Festival, and why do we need both?
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Donated funds will help cover operational costs related to founding and administering the Down To Funk Fund, in addition to production costs related to Down To Funk Festival. This includes paying artists, staff and crew living wages, covering licenses and fees, ensuring accessibility and covering other expenses that ticket sales alone can not cover. Donate Now!
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How will donated funds be used?
Born out of soul, rhythm & blues, gospel, and jazz, funk music has been tied to social change, collective expression, and community building. It requires time to build. It asks patience, and insists on cooperation from every participant, dancer and player alike. As soon as the groove hits, funk creates an undeniable feeling of joyful rhythmic unity. Also, just like jazz, blues, and rock’n’ roll, funk is essential to the story of American popular music.
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Why focus on funk music?
Why have a funk music festival in Northern California?
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Northern California has long been a cornerstone in the evolution of funk music. In 1967, the very same year James Brown was developing his “Raw Soul” sound in NYC, Sly Stone was in San Francisco about to drop his groundbreaking debut album “A Whole New Thing”. These two visionaries were tuned into the original funky source of inspirational energy at the same time - coast to coast.
This is only one example of the rich history we’re connecting to the present day with an intentionally curated funk music gathering. Building community around this music is a part of California’s history which is why we are delighted to offer a beautiful destination with a long history of hosting multi-day gatherings.