50 years of music: Funk Fest brings ultimate old school hip-hop experience to Louisville

Fifty years of hip-hop were celebrated Friday as the 2023 Funk Fest returned for a fifth year to downtown Louisville.

The first act of the night, Big Daddy Kane, had just taken the stage as music festival veterans, Bennie and Wilma Anthony of Cincinnati, Ohio finished setting up their lawn chairs and accessories for the evening of music.

"We love outdoor concerts," said Wilma Anthony. "We go to them all over the country and our friends keep telling us we have to come to Funk Fest so here we are."

As he rolled out a straw mat under their lawn chairs, Bennie Anthony, who said the couple had just been to an outdoor Jazz festival in Panama City, Florida, explained that a mat keeps the bugs off their legs and is more comfortable when they remove their shoes.

Yep, this couple, who has attended dozens of festivals, know the tricks of making an outdoor music festival comfortable. Umbrellas, sunscreen, sunglasses and plenty of cash or credit cards are also good ideas to bring the Funk Fest.

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The Anthonys were just two of the several thousand music fans gathered at Waterfront Park's Great Lawn, 129 River Road, for the first night of the two-day music festival featuring Juvenile, Big Daddy Kane, 8Ball & MJG, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh and culminating with headliner Jeezy.

As part of June's Black Music Month and the weekend of Juneteenth celebrations, Funk Fest is billed as a music festival with the feel of a family reunion.

"I come from Indianapolis every year for Funk Fest," said Lonie Whitfield. "I just love the music, it's a tradition. My wife and I come every year and just hang out and have fun."

Funk Fest began back in 1994 as a small festival in Mobile, Alabama but has grown into a series of annual multi-city concerts. Leo Bennett, CEO and founder of Variety Entertainment, has produced theFunk Fest Tour concert series in cities across the nation, including, Charlotte, North Carolina, Miami, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, and Louisville.

The festival was created to celebrate the rich, cultural heritage of "old school music" and over the years, it has grown into a celebration of human expression. Many of these concerts feature classic R&B, funk, throwback hip-hop, blues and even some disco.

Gene Washington and Galen Gordon, also from Cincinnati, Ohio, lit up a couple of cigars and joined their friends, the Anthonys, for the first night of the festival.

"We've always heard Funk Fest is a great time and we're ready for it," Gordon told the Courier Journal. "This weather is great, the lineup of music is great and we're with great friends."

Day two of the 2023 Funk Fest starts at 5 p.m. with a focus on R&B. Saturday's lineup includes Sunshine Anderson, Fantasia, Case, Ginuwine, Cameo and Jagged Edge. Tickets start at $40 and are available at funkfesttour.com.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Funk Fest music festival takes over Louisville's Waterfront Park