Funk fans everywhere have been mourning the loss of Bernie Worrell, the beloved Parliament-Funkadelic and Talking Heads keyboardist who passed away earlier this summer following a fatal battle with lung cancer. The legendary musician’s contribution to funk is undeniable, having influenced just about everyone in the funk and jam scene in some way.
On Saturday, October 1st, an array of musicians will help pay tribute to the Woo with an official Bear Creek Bayou after party presented by Live for Live Music. Taking place at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans, the all-star lineup will feature Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Ian Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Nick Daniels (Dumsptaphunk), Nigel Hall (Lettuce), Nikki Glaspie (The Nth Power), Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce), Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce), Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), and TJ Norris. Tickets can be found here.
Worrell essentially helped to define the funk genre with his contributions to P-Funk and various other projects, making a New Orleans throwdown the ideal place for a tribute. Following the newly relocated Bear Creek Bayou festival, funk fans can make their way over to the Howlin’ Wolf for a proper New Orleans late night party featuring some of the funkiest cats in the game.
Several of the band members have previously paid homage to the funk legend at a memorable Dumpstaphunk show in Colorado. Watch fan-shot footage of Dumpstaphunk covering P-Funk’s “One Nation Under A Groove” at the Mishawaka below.
This show is sure to be a special tribute to the one and only Bernie Worrell, featuring classics and B-sides from P-Funk, the Talking Heads and beyond. Tickets are available here.
Tickets to Bear Creek Bayou featuring The Flaming Lips, George Clinton and P-Funk, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, Soulive, Foundation of Funk, and more can be found here.