LONG BEACH FUNKIEST FEST

Who ever thought Heaven could be reached so quickly? Thanks to the 100% gratis 2nd Annual Long Beach Funk Fest, myself and every other person in the greater Los Angeles County call victory on another week of memorable experiences. File that away for the future grandkids. Two outdoor groovy-freshy musical-mayhem city-blocks set the scene for legendary performing artists, bopping speakers, samba and break dancers, eclectic vendors, bellbottoms, and all-ages community celebration.

Last Saturday, August 7, 2010, Downtown Long Beach got taken for a smooth ride back to the 70's. As the vision promised... Our Futures are Sustained. In more ways then just bringing us pure Funk. This year, the event incorporated self-contained solar-powered stages. What does this mean? The LB Funk Fest was a 100% pollution free concert... one of thirteen free summer concerts by Summer and Music 2010. I thought this was so progressive and exciting that I included their promotional video below. Funk-tastic.

Let's get one thing straight between you and eye, FUNK is NOT DISCO. The trailblazer of Funk Music is (bow-please) James Brown. FUNK is known for it's breaks (to my hip-hop & techno brothers and sisters, this is where our dirty electro and dirty south was born). Common signs that you are listening to FUNK... blazing horns, rhythmic percussions and sexy guitar solos seeping in through your gourd and down to your toe, causing leg movement, hip gyration, and hand clapping.

Saturday passed in a sweet psychedelic blur... when we arrived on the scene the OG (translation: Original) Stone City Band minus the late-great Rick James was vibing sex and love to an eager open-arm crowd. Swigging gin from the flask we hollered at the crew of live artists gracing the scene... anyone want a taste? We bopped over to Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, jived to Bloco Nove feat. Delta Nove and finished off the day with the Ladies of P-Funk, Brides of Funkenstein and Parlet (!).
I saw sparkles and danced from day to shimmering night with my down crew. During this lovely time my Colombiana amiga Manny of MANU Swimwear and I tried our first-ever Funnel Cake, thank you generous Sayuri Flores, provider of delight (check the blurry photo of our first experience). What to do when the show's over? An EPIC after-party at Rhythm Lounge featuring an All-Star Jam Session with the key members from performing bands at Funk Fest.

I earned my wings at The Long Beach Funk Fest. To FUNK and Beyond!

PS. We were so stoked on the vibe we forgot to take photos ... please enjoy the photos & video courtesy of Capoeira Salve taken at the LB Funk Fest Aug 7, 2010 (don't mind my cameo lol).

Sabrina Vedete

THE SHOWDOWN AT AREA 33

Do you have any plans this Saturday, July 31st, from 10pm to 6am?

Now you do.

Area 33 is going off and it's another special night you cannot miss. Art Cruz and Area 33 Events throws The Showdown & The Send Off - a night of DJ vs. DJ & a send off for SUNEVIL AKA Love Child before he goes on a Euro Adventure. Love Child is an Electro/Glam/House beat-mix-master don't forget your dancing partner.

Area 33 is an eyeparty hangout/dancespot that always excites, uplifts. Walk in, feel the vibe, good energy, slide along the dance floor, groove to banging music. Go outside, smoke some stoogies, meet your new crew, have interesting conversation with down folks, then go back inside, order another doozy then back to the dancefloor. Righteous.

Or keep it mellow at the Patio with some downtempo, talk about life, the stars, whatever gets you off. Like fire? They got a pit. Like art? Watch it created in front of your zinging eyeballs. Then go on, peruse the Gallery.

Get your costume, or leave it at home. I recommend costume... dig out those glitter sparkle eyelashes and leather bustier, dudes get your feather caps and chaps & fly out of your box! Always beautiful people inside and out, sharing creativity, smiles and namaste! All one till 6am!

How do I get on the bus? Who do I donate my money to? What DJ's can I expect to bless my drummies?

Visit Facebook! Go to: Area 33 Presents: The Showdown for all event details and links to buy tickets.

See you out there. Ka-pow!

Sabrina Vedete

BRASILIAN CARPENTRY 101

New Life! My Capoeira academy has a new home in Huntington Beach. We left the studio I grew up by in Los Angeles, Bellflower, and moved beach-side. It was a Sentimental move, Damn good memories, left my Sweat and Blood in the grains of that floor, Footprints on the walls and mirrors. Forged friendships, True Love, Devotion, Passion, Broken bones, all of this came to me through those doors, Centrosul Capoeira, Escola de Vida.

Life moves forward and so do we March on, the new place is... Beautiful. Open. Airy. Sexy. Home.

So what's good about the new Centrosul Capoeira? We've got a new member to our Family - Professor Mosquito. We all be down to get down to Learn and Expand. Blessed! We're also gonna have a Juice Bar. Totally fly-away stoked on this. This Juice Bar is going to be the Missing Link connected in our Universe as soon as we build it. I already envisioned the possibilities in a dream last week, there were Acai bowls and Mango Coconut smoothies dripping from the walls, sticky tasty sweet (in my dream).

I've never helped build a Juice Bar before, and wasn't quite sure if there were Instructions or Special Tools when it comes to demolishing walls. Well, you could bring in the hard hats and the drills, the wrecking ball and the red cones... if you're a pussy(kat). But that's not the way they do it in Brasil. And that's not the way we get down at Centrosul. All we needed were a few good men and their stomping hard feet. Please enjoy these informative instructional videos, not to be tried at home, Brasilian Carpentry 101. Axe!

Sabrina Vedete

Brazilian Carpentry!

Plenty of after hour's excitement at Huntington Beach's Capoeira Centrosul. In the rough and tough economy with a heavy emphasis on "going green" what better way to take on a late night remodel then to put the "play with" (but really kill) your opponent's moves into action. The powerful bencao was a perfect replacement for a sledge hammer when said wall belonging to future refreshment bar needed to be removed. Maestre Gui was nearly struck by an enthusiastic foot, but please don't worry, he's a trained profesional.

Erica Ether's STAR+CROST

What's a girl to do with all the talent? Illustrator, singer, dancer, fashionista/designer Erica Ether has managed to put it all together in a motion comic video. An East Coast girl with an uncaged spirit the wings of this woman have roamed the streets of Boston lived in the maze of New york city, and soaked up the California sun. I've had the pleasure of dancing with her personally and even witnessed some of her creative genius in person and now you will too with her video STAR+CROST. She personally illustrated, wrote and sang in this piece, I know and have created the possibility that Erica Ether will not be underground for too much longer. Check out more of her work at Erica-Ether-Music-Art

-Jamie Starr

These boots are made for Art walking

I often assume that "everyone", whoever the heck that is, knows about the monthly Santa Ana art walk. Well, I'm just putting it out there now so that you first-weekend-of-the-month-don't-know-what-to-on-Saturday types know that your pockets don't have to be full to see some rad art and get free wine. Multiple galleries, stores featuring art and dj's, dub-step, reggae, rap, cover bands and break-dancers, original t-shirts, bizarre sculptures, artists lofts and apartments all waiting for you to come join, drink and dance in right in down town Santa Ana. Last month not only did I get to see some of my artistic colleagues have there art featured in some of the stores, I also got invited to an "I can't believe my house isn't a gallery party" where I mixed and mingled to the sound of funky beats, had a hug war and soul connected with people around a back yard fire pit. What does Santa Ana have in store for you? Check it your Artwalk possibilities!

If I were in your shoes...

I'd dance the night away this weekend at Audiotistic. This San Bernardino festival has such a great line-up I'm wiggling in my bed sheets! Bassnecter, the cool kids, N.A.S.A, flosstradamus,Donald Glaude & kill the noise are just a few that I'd be thump thump thumping to. If I had some dimes in my pocket and a clear calendar you'd know exactly where to find me. Gosh! I'd kill to be you!

http://www.facebook.com/audiotistic