Live For Live Music is thrilled to announce a socially-distanced edition of The Funk Sessions, the all-star funk residency at Denver’s Cervantes’. This special installment of The Funk Sessions—the first in more than a year—will feature four very limited-capacity shows on Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th, with an early show and a late show taking place each night. Tickets to the two Friday shows will also include a New Orleans-themed three-course meal provided by Michelin star chef Merlin Verrier. All four shows will be subject to strict health and safety rules in accordance with Colorado state re-opening guidelines (scroll down for more info).
Related: ‘The Funk Sessions’ Announces Saturday Live Stream Benefiting Backline
Throughout 2019 and into early 2020, Live For Live Music and Cervantes’ The Funk Sessions grew into a beloved tradition in the Denver music scene, bringing together the best of the best from across the live music spectrum for monthly funk throw-downs. After a concert-starved year, the first 2021 installment of the collaborative concert series offers one of its most exciting artist lineups to date. In addition to vocalists Shira Elias (Turkuaz) and Lyle Divinsky, the band will feature a team of heavy-hitting instrumentalists from Denver and beyond including enigmatic bassist MonoNeon (Prince, Ghost-Note), teenage guitar sensation Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, guitarist/bandleader Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), keyboardist Joey Porter (The Motet), drummer Alvin Ford, Jr. (Pretty Lights, Dumpstaphunk), trumpeter Gabe Mervine, and saxophonist Nick Gerlach.
Tickets to the two Friday, February 12th shows will include a 3-course, NOLA-themed dinner provided by Michelin star chef Merlin Verrier. Chef Merlin Verrier is the co-founder of the counter service food concept, Street Feud. Chef Merlin’s culinary history is steeped in fine dining multi course tasting menus. Having spent seven years in Chicago and achieving two Michelin stars, he even prepared a birthday dinner for then-President, Barack Obama. Chef Merlin has also cooked headliner meals at music festivals such as Hulaween, Okeechobee, and Lollapalooza. As Chef Merlin explains, “My pure joy is curating a menu for music fans and the artists that pleases your palette and fuels your body to dance all night long.”
A portion of proceeds from The Funk Sessions ticket sales will be donated to Backline. Backline is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources—streamlining access to a network of trusted organizations and care providers that truly understand this line of work.
The seated, socially-distanced shows will comply with strict health and safety guidelines. In addition to the drastically-reduced capacity and distanced seating, the events will require attendees to wear a mask at all times while not seated at their tables. All attendees must remain at their table for the duration of the shows except when visiting the restroom. Attendees seated at different tables will not be permitted to commingle during the events. In order to prevent crowding, drink orders will not be taken at the venue bar. See below for a full list of safety precautions in place for the event.
Limited tickets to The Funk Sessions at Cervantes’ on Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, January 22nd, at 10 a.m. MT here. See below for more details and RSVP to the Facebook event page for updates.
**SHOW INFO**
Dates: Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th (2 socially distant shows per night)
Show: Live For Live Music & Cervantes Present: The Funk Sessions
Artists: Shira Elias (Turkuaz), Lyle Divinsky, Joey Porter (The Motet), Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), Alvin Ford Jr. (Pretty Lights), MonoNeon (Prince), Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Gabe Mervine, Nick Gerlach
Venue: Cervantes’ Masterpiece –2637 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Tickets (very limited capacity, on sale Fri, 1/22 @ 10 a.m. MT): Friday, February 12th – $100 (includes dinner); Saturday, February 13th – $65
Time: Early Shows – Doors 5:30 p.m. / Show 6:00 p.m. | Late Shows – Doors 8:15 p.m. / Show: 8:45 p.m.
Notes: Friday tickets include three-course dinner by Michelin star chef Merlin Verrier. A portion of ticket sales from all four shows will be donated to Backline.
Health/Safety Info: GOLDEN RULE – Parties must remain together from the time they arrive until the time they leave. Once seated, guests must remain at their designated table throughout the performance unless they are visiting the restroom. Guests are allowed to stand up at their tables and dance but must remain at their tables while standing.
Seated groups will not be permitted to commingle at the concerts. You may have friends seated at other tables. They are not allowed to visit your table and you are not allowed to visit their table.
Cervantes’ is adhering to all re-opening guidelines set forth by the state of Colorado. First and foremost, DON’T FORGET YOUR MASK. Masks must be worn at all times by all attendees while away from their table. Guests must wear their masks when lined up in front of the venue, while being escorted to their table, while exiting the venue, and at any other time at which they are not seated at their table.
Guests will scan the QR code on their table in order to access the bar menu. Guests will be served at their tables. Orders will not be taken at the bar.