The first event at a new venue near Eureka Springs is going to be a phunky affair.
The Phunkberry Music Festival debuts Thursday and continues through the early morning hours of May 10 on a private venue called The Farm, located about 9 miles west of Eureka Springs.
FAQ
Phunkberry Music Festival
WHEN — Thursday through May 10
WHERE — The Farm, located on Blue Heron Lane about 9 miles west of Eureka Springs
COST — $40 for a Saturday-only pass; $75 for a three-day pass, with other options available
INFO — phunkberry.com
Phunkberry finds its roots in another music and camping festival. Organizer Jon Walker of Deadhead Productions says the now 6-year-old Highberry Music Festival started at his home.
It was a "private party that got out of control," Walker says. That led him to move the event to Byrd's Adventure Center north of Ozark. The success there -- Walker expects as many as 4,000 to attend that event when it returns July 2-5 -- prompted the creation of another two festivals. Phunkberry debuts next weekend, and Hillberry, a bluegrass-centered event, takes place Aug. 20-23, also at The Farm.
Phunkberry, the earliest of the trio, obviously focuses on funk music. Bands featured at the event include Dumpstaphunk, Kung Fu and the Bernie Worrell Orchestra, featuring Worrell, who played keyboard player for both Parliament Funkadelic and the Talking Heads.
A series of local funk talent such as Groovement, Guta and the 1 Oz. Jig are all scheduled to perform. Walker's band, Friends of the Phamily, will perform Grateful Dead tributes, but this time with a twist, giving the songs funk treatment.
Walker expects as many as 1,500 people will attend the first Phunkberry festival.
-- Kevin Kinder
NAN What's Up on 05/01/2015