Fresh off their win in the 2014 Improper Bostonian ‘Best’ awards for Best Dance Party (which seems like a routine thing by now), Soulelujah will soon be taking it outside. The long-standing Saturday night soul night at Zuzu recently expanded to the far reaches of the Middle East to ease overcrowding inside the Cambridge club, but this Friday night they’ll have as much space as any party imaginable: Boston’s City Hall Plaza.
For the special outdoor dance party, Soulelujah will join forces with Cultures of Soul for their first-ever Funk Summit, a free, all-ages event that runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“As always with Soulelujah, this event will be a strictly all vinyl affair,” reports co-organizer Sean Quinn, who as Claude Money will be joining Soulelujah’s DJ Ty Jesso and Cultures of Soul’s DJ Deano Sounds on the decks. “We have always felt that those old records have the ability to just soak up positive energy when they are loved, and can release that energy to the crowd when they are shared.”
So what should be expect, besides full-frontal awesome? Here’s the lowdown from Quinn…
In this corner: Cultures of Soul’s Deano Sounds!
“Jeff Swallom, a.k.a DJ Deano Sounds, is the mastermind behind locally based re-issue label Cultures of Soul,” says Quinn. “Jeff has put out a tremendous amount of previously unknown music on his label, including Soulelujah’s very first 45!
“His latest effort, Tropical Disco Hustle, focuses on the disco sounds of the Caribbean in the 1970s, so expect to hear lots of funky rays of sunshine washing away the sand between your ear holes.”
Quinn adds: “Here is a Joanne Wilson cut, ‘Got To Have You,’ from that release. Listening to it may just transport you the beach, give it a shot. And if that ain’t enough, you can get a taste of the whole compilation here.”
And in the other corner: Soulelujah’s Ty Jesso!
“Ty Jesso, one of the founders of Soulelujah, will be on hand to deliver a steady dose of heavy funk, funky soul, soulful funk, soul salvation, hand claps, foot stomps and all around funky sensations,” Quinn tells us. “Expect to hear funky soul classics like ‘Four Corners’ by Lee Dorsey as well as lesser known funk explosions like ‘Let The Groove Move You’ by Gus The Groove.
And like Soulelujah’s weekly throw-down, all are welcome on Friday.
“The Funk Summit is a FREE event and open to all Earth People, so bring the whole family,” says Quinn. “First time visitors to Earth are also welcome, as well as pigeons, squirrels and all funky urban creatures.”
Word. And shout-out to the Mayor’s office for letting this whole thing happen. Here’s the flyer for additional details…
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