MODERN FUNK FEST: LOS ANGELES

Jewel's Catch One Lounge, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

Representing the "Modern Funk" scene on the west coast, the Modern Funk Fest: Los Angeles is one of the first of it's kind. Showcasing the best Artists and DJs immersed in this scene, across a wide spectrum of labels and vibes, this event strives to preserve and honor the long history of funk music, and also push it's boundaries forward.

LIVE ARTISTS Brian Ellis' Reflection XL Middleton & Moniquea Zackey Force Funk Turquoise Summers

DJs Hotthobo Eddy Funkster

LABELS Voltaire Records MoFunk Records Hit & Run Records Omega Supreme Records

BRIAN ELLIS' REFLECTION Hailing from Escondido, CA, Brian Ellis is set on a mission to push authentic drum machine synthesizer funk to the livest, rawest level. His gear list is strong, his output is prolific, and his work ethic is unrivaled…armed with his oberheim DX, oberheim Matrix-1000, Roland SVC-350 Vocoder, and an arsenal of various guitars, synths, and outboard effects, Brian and his group “REFLECTION” are prepped to unleash an array of utterly devastating jams onto the dancefloor.

Brian Ellis alongside brothers Adam and Jordan Chini, and drummer, Andrew Bailey, make up the modern funk group REFLECTION. These multi-instrumentalists employ a slew of analog synthesizers, vocoders, vintage drum machines and live guitars and drums to create their own brand of live funk. Standing firmly behind the motto "no computers", REFLECTION perform without the help of sequencing or quantization giving the audience a true live show. REFLECTION aims to create timeless music, free of fads and trends, and rich with adventurous songwriting, lush textures, fat basslines and soaring leads.

XL MIDDLETON, MONIQUEA, and EDDY FUNKSTER XL Middleton and Funkmosphere resident DJ Eddy Funkster are a southern california based funk production duo and founders of MoFunk records. XL Middleton can be heard as the MC on Dogg Master's infamous "Pop Lock Funk", and has produced albums for other artists, most recently the Modern Funk anthem "Press Play" featuring Zackey Force Funk, and the Moniquea LP "Yes, No, Maybe".

Moniquea is a MoFunk Records recording artist and one of the few in the modern funk scene who is not a keyboardist or multi-instrumentalist; her only instrument is her voice, one that can be as silky and soothing as it can be hard-edged. It was this dynamic vocal presence that made producer XL Middleton realize that the funk was a perfect fit for Moniquea - along with her own longtime love of the 80's boogie and new wave she grew up on.

ZACKEY FORCE FUNK Zackey Force Funk was born into this wild world in Tucson, AZ in 1974. In and out of prison since the age of 17, ZFF began producing on pirated software his brother gave to him once he had given up a life crime to focus on writing tunes and raising his family.

First discovered by Kutmah back in the golden era of Myspace, Zackey's signature "Force Funk Sound" swiftly grabbed the attention of a number of formidable producers. Collaborations followed shortly after with the likes of Salva, Lazer Sword, Lorn, Baron Zen, Daedelus and B. Bravo, as well as forming the group Demon Queen with Tobacco. As these tunes were scattered across various labels, finding their homes on their respective collaborator's projects, ZFF continued to hone his style, delving deeper into the psychedelic future funk realm of which he has created for himself. The fruits of his discipline all add up to his forthcoming debut LP entitled 'Money Green Viper", to be released in July of 2014 on LA based collective Hit+Run.

'Money Green Viper' plays as a scrapbook of late night joyrides, fast women, demonic visions, real rap rituals and the ever-present pursuit of infinite paper. All of these tales are woven over dust ridden, boogie and funk influenced beats with Zacky's beautifully haunting vocal stylings as our tour guide. Productions are laced from an appropriate cast of sound architects from across the globe, including Max Kane and Teeko, XL Middleton, Jellphonic, Cupp Cave, Tom Noble, Mike Gao, and of course ZFF himself. Having recently transplanted from Tucson to LA, it seems only natural for the year of the Force Funk Sound to be upon us. 'Money Green Viper' serves as the initial full length transmission of a fantastical mind that has many more stories to tell. We await the dark doctrine with open eyes, ears and hearts.

TURQUOISE SUMMERS Turquoise Summers pours an original perspective through vintage beat machines and synths of the late 70's and early 80's to present us with an authentic sound of the highest quality and integrity of modern funk. His passion clearly is fueled by and TRUE to the original sounds of the early 1980s funk scene, like it was 1983, but THIS sound is all his own and will carve his name into funk's bright future. Searching for funk's future? Don't look any further!

HOTTHOBO Randy "Hotthobo" Ellis is a co-owner and label manager of Voltaire Records in California, and a frequent contributor/collaborator to Loose Shus, Elegant Borzoi, and Chautauqua. His 100% vinyl sets journey deep into an abyss of new, classic, and obscure 12" and 7" records, with a focus toward high-end boogie, disco, two step, sweet soul, italo, house and modern funk.

Age limit: 21+