Over Labor Day Weekend, Phish will return to Colorado for their annual end-of-summer run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. With the devastating cancelation of Curveball this past weekend, fans are beyond excited for the shows, which are sure to be some of the Vermont foursome’s finest of the summer. As always, a number of special afterparties, bus services, and pre-shows have begun to spring up—many of which revolve around Denver’s fan-favorite dual-room independent music venue, Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side.
Recently, Cervantes’ has continued to expand its calendar of shows around Phish Dick’s. On Thursday, August 30th, James Brown Dance Party will host a funk-fueled celebration to kick off the weekend in style in the Ballroom side of Cervantes’ (tickets available here), while DJ Williams’ Shots Fired holds it down on the Other Side. After Cycles makes their headlining debut at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom on Friday night, Cervantes’ has also announced that the venue will host a special supergroup featuring members of Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk, appropriately (and hilariously) dubbed “Let Us In The Dumpsta“, on Saturday, September 1st (tickets available here) and Sunday, September 2nd (tickets available here).
For the Thursday night pre-show with James Brown Dance Party, an all-star cast will pay tribute to the Godfather of Soul, including Isaiah Sharkey (D’Angelo, John Mayer), Claude Coleman Jr. (Ween), Adam Chase (Jazz Is Phsh), Adam Dotson (Rubblebucket), Chuck Jones (Dopapod), Megan Letts (Mama Magnolia), Farnell Newton (Bootsy Collins, Jill Scott), Daniel Casares (The New Mastersounds), and Jamar Woods (The Fritz). Last year, the James Brown Dance Party absolutely tore up Cervantes’, making for one of the most explosive shows of the year. You can check out a highlight reel from the group’s performance in 2017 below.
James Brown Dance Party at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Highlight Reel
[Video: JamesBrown DanceParty]
Up next, fans are already beyond excited for “Let Us In The Dumpsta” featuring members of Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk. Already, Lettuce and Dumpsta are two of the most celebrated funk acts in the scene today, with members from both acts frequently collaborating during musical marathons like Jam Cruise and New Orleans’ Jazz Fest. For the supergroup’s two-night run, Dumpstaphunk’s keyboardist and vocalist Ivan Neville, bassist Nick Daniels III, and drummer Alvin Ford Jr. (also of Pretty Lights Live) will be joined by Lettuce’s drummer Adam Deitch (Sunday only) and guitarist Adam Smirnoff for a celebration of New Orleans-style funk.
Members of Dumpstaphunk & Lettuce As The Bear Creek All-Stars – Bear Creek 2013
[Video: Funkatopia]
