A few months ago, I received a press inquiry for a new music festival: The First Ever P-Funk Festival, taking place in Tallahassee. And of course, if P-Funk is in the name, and this is taking place in Tallahassee, this must mean it is none other than the legendary George Clinton. So what did I do? I flew my ass to Tallahassee for approximately 24 hours to go see what the funk was about! And although I am a few months behind, I figured, what better time to get this article out then right before the singer’s 85th birthday, the milestone that resulted in this incredible experience.
It all truly began when I posted to Threads that I needed a videographer. I had no money to offer since I was coming out of pocket, but I could promise a media press pass to see the one and only Parliament-Funkadelic up close and personal. I had a dear travel companion also enticed by the prospect of what this new festival would entail, and they took on the role of my assistant (and caretaker at that point cause ya girl was exhausted). Enter Jaron Anderson, a complete stranger from the internet and an amazing component to the whole experience. We caught a 5 am flight to Tallahassee, and got rid of some of our belongings. Jaron was already at the venue when we arrived, so one of our first steps was to locate him. But before that, we had to receive our credentials and get inside. This might have been the craziest part of the day. We simply walked up to the table, told them who we were, received our passes, and then walked right in! No bag or security checks, which was a bit insane, but also, no attitude. They knew a journalist was coming from the City of Brotherly Love, and upon discovering I was said journalist, they met us with open arms, kindness, and eagerness to help. Roots Picnic and LiveNation, take note.
What we first noticed was just how open everything was. There was no rhyme or reason, barely any barricades. Artists and fans alike were all strolling through the grounds, reuniting with loved ones and enjoying the phenomenal performances happening in the background. I know there was a supposed VIP section, but I’m not entirely sure where it stopped or started. There was only one stage in the center of everything, with a sparse crowd and pretty high-quality sound. There were numerous chairs set up as well, taking into account the fact that the crowd was potentially going to be a bit older. Near the front of the stage, we spotted a white guy with long hair and a camera, our Tallahassee-native photographer for the day. When we met him, he was super kind, albeit just as lost as we were, waiting for me to take control. First things first, we needed booze. From there, we connected with the promoters to carve out the space for our interviews, which ended up being right outside of the artist’s green room, and right next to the entrance where ticket holders were walking in. Even then, no one bothered us. People looked with excitement, but let us do our thing, and after a few minutes of getting ourselves set up, we were good to go!
The curators were not only kind and accommodating, but eager as well! They worked with me to bring over as many artists as they could for interviews, never once making me feel as though I asked for too much. We really focused our time and attention on 3GP, or 3rd Generation Parliament, the newest iteration of Parliament Funkadelic, which features children and grandchildren of the legendary George Clinton and some of his bandmates. Although we were blessed to see the OGs like Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton rock the stage, Scottie Clinton, Garrett Shider, Tra’zae Clinton, all related to George and other original members, were front and center for the final performance of the night. One of the stars of the night was Thurteen, who is a large part of 3GP and their newer music. His vocals blend seamlessly into the Parliament Funkadelic legacy, even utilizing old samples and lesser-known songs to create his latest album, Thurtdelic. We got a chance to catch up with some of these artists and others to discuss what this festival meant to the performers, the fans, and the history of Parliament Funkadelic, which you can check out below.
Thurteen in George Clinton’s Tiny Desk
I am heartbroken to admit that we had an amazing interview with the lovely Kendra Foster, someone I hunted down from the minute I hit the festival grounds, to speak to. But unfortunately, due to technical issues, we were unable to recover the interview. With that being said, we were able to not only watch her during her solo set earlier in the day, but also again on the stage later in the evening with George. We got the chance to speak about her newest collaboration with the one and only Ray Angry, who is no stranger to Spice on the Beat. She had her butterflies in full effect as we spoke at the very end of the night about what the magical creatures mean to her, as well as the way she uses the symbolism in her artistry. She is as kind and warm as one would imagine, and I hope to have a re-do for this interview in the near future.
While we spent most of the day at the festival bouncing around artists, by the time George took the stage, we knew we had to be front and center. By then, the festival was starting to look pretty different. The seating had been pushed a little further out, but was still available. The media pit was now a more secluded area, and we had access right in front of the stage for coverage and photos. When the show started, we had no intention of moving. One by one, the stage started filling up, and by the middle of the performance, it was crowded with artists of all ages and genders, hugging and coming along in what had to have felt like a moment of relief for a successful first concert. All of the artists that I was able to speak to earlier in the day were on stage, channeling an extremely different energy from what I experienced more intimately. Instead, they all channeled George, whether related to him or not. They all, quite literally, inhabited the funk to join the stage for Parliament Funkadelic, whether veteran or novice. The most pivotal moment was absolutely Michael Hammond destroying “Maggot Brain” with every member of the audience standing hypnotized at attention. LGBTQ representation was also extremely apparent with queer background dancers shaking their asses alongside Scottie Clinton, and the non-binary bassist stealing the show while stripping down to almost nothing. Thurtdelic was right by George’s side, appearing like a younger version to carry on the torch, not that George Clinton looked like he was going anywhere soon. The crowd was closed in together, but remaining respectful as we all witnessed history together at the first ever P-Funk Festival.
Although this was the first P-Funk Festival, I truly hope to see it become a Spice on the Beat tradition. From Coachella to Dreamscape to the Roots Picnic, this was one of the most stand-out experiences in my career. The novice mistakes and imperfections may not have always felt the most calculated, but no part of the festival felt disorganized. The festival did not feel as though every second was planned out, and yet everything came together perfectly with love, community, and family. Hell, George’s own family made sure to make it known that Spice on the Beat is officially P-Funk Fam, and I am taking that to the grave. I am truly so excited to see what next year’s festival brings, and I hope to be even more involved as this is something I believe in. A festival that doesn’t prioritize clout and financial gain, but instead, the love of the music and the importance of preserving the history behind it. In that small field in Tallahassee, I knew I’d witnessed something great and important, and I was reminded why I do this.
A big thank you to my travel companion for staying by my side. A thank you to Jaron, also known as @curvedglassmedia based in Tallahassee, for meeting a stranger off the internet and trusting her completely. Not the strongest of survival instincts but either way, it was a joy to work with you. Your kindess was not unnoticed. Thank you to Dana, Shoshana, and every other contact throughout the festival who put the millions of things they had to do aside to help me navigate the festival and get the most out of the experience during my short stay. An enormous thank you to every artist I got the lovely chance to talk to; your passion and your artistry were incredible to witness on stage, and I can’t wait to continue to watch all of your journeys. And of course, the biggest thank you, and a very Happy 85th Birthday, to a Mr. George Clinton. You are an inspiration.
Spice on the Beat 