Artist Profile: Joe Marcinek Band and Voodoo Visionary Take on Funk Fest Punta Gorda

Funk and jam heavyweights Lettuce, Here Come The Mummies, The Werks and Papadosio are about to descend upon Southwest Florida to headline Funk Fest Punta Gorda Tenth Anniversary February 15 and 16 along with a stellar undercard that is guaranteed to shake things up. Among them are two acts that may not be household names just yet but soon will be at the rate they’re blowing minds and seriously funking things up across the land – Joe Marcinek Band and Voodoo Visionary.

Joe Marcinek is an immensely gifted guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has recorded three albums with JMB – 2012’s Both Sides, 2016’s Slink and last year’s Jm3.  But his real talent lies in his ability to bring together some of the brightest artists on the music scene today to form The Joe Marcinek Band, a constantly rotating cast of characters. The list of musicians who’ve played with JMB is too long to list but includes luminaries like Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), George Porter, Jr. (The Meters), Erik “Jesus” Coomes (Lettuce) and Bernie Worrell (P-Funk, Talking Heads). For Funk Fest, Marcinek will be bringing Melvin Seals, the legendary pianist with The Jerry Garcia Band; Tony Hall, bassist and founder member of Dumpstaphunk; and Nikki Glaspie, one of the hardest hitting drummers in the pantheon of percussionists and founding member of The Nth Power.

Part of the joy of a JMB performance is not knowing what to expect with no two sets alike. On any given evening, Marcinek and his cohorts will pull blues, psychedelia, funk, jazz or The Grateful Dead out of their quiver of surprises. An Indiana native, Marcinek formed JMB in 2011 with a changing roster of Chicago area musicians playing jazz and rock fusion. He’s been on the road ever since taking a super jam format with an emphasis on improvisation and high-energy grooves to enthusiastic audiences everywhere.

JMB will be performing sets on both days including a Dead Funk Summit on Friday, February 15. An idea Marcinek came up with in 2017, the “Summit” combines the musical worlds of New Orleans and The Grateful Dead along with original music.

Marcinek will also be hosting an afterparty with special guests on Saturday, February 16 at Perch 360 Restaurant on the roof top of The Wyvern Hotel in downtown Punta Gorda. Only 90 tickets will be available and can be purchased by clicking here. This will be JMB’s second appearance at Funk Fest, having performed there in 2018, and this one is sure to be one for the books.

If you don’t spontaneously break into groove-till-you-drop spasms listening to Voodoo Visionary, head to a doctor immediately to find out what’s wrong with you. The Atlanta-based quintet, comprised of Dennis Dowd (Keys), Trent Gilson (Bass), Scottie MacDonald (Vocals), Mac Schmitz (Drums) and Mike Wilson (Guitar), have been laying down a blend of improvisational grooves layered with funk, jazz and soul for nearly a decade.

With two outstanding albums (2015’s Spirit of the Groove and 2017’s Off The Ground) under their belt and appearances at major festivals like Suwannee Hulaween, Sweetwater 420, Purple Hatter’s Ball and Great Outdoors Jam, the band has toured relentlessly since their inception in 2013. Performing at venues large and small, Voodoo Visionary have played direct support for Col. Bruce Hampton, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, TAUK, Big Something, DJ Logic and more, gaining new converts along the way.

This will be Voodoo Visionary’s third year in a row playing Funk Fest Punta Gorda with sets on both Friday and Saturday. Members of the band will also be joining forces with members of Hedonistas and Funk You – two wildly funky outfits also based in Atlanta – to form Floatiez, who will perform a Jamiroquai Jam on Friday, February 15. Wear comfortable footwear ‘cuz there’s no parking on the dance floor for this.

To be held at City Market Place in historic downtown Punta Gorda, Funk Fest is selling out fast, but tickets can still be purchased by clicking here. For more information, click on the links below.

PUNTA GORDA FUNK FEST TENTH ANNIVERSARY
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