What’s Going On?

The Fillmore Jazz Festival is one of the most entertaining festivals in San Francisco. For many years, the festival is enjoyed by many and 2009 has been no different in terms of popularity. The diversity in types of jazz gives attenders so much freedom in selecting a particular style of jazz to listen to. Jazz encompasses a wide variety that I feel no one would be disappointed attending.

The Fillmore Jazz Festival located on Fillmore between Jackson Street and Eddy Street receives thousands of visitors from all over the Bay Area, States, and the world. The 12 block festival provided a wide array of things to do. Activities at the festival included eating of diverse ethnic foods, a farmers market (Saturday only), various informational booths, shoes and clothes shopping, Michael Jackson memorabilia, 4th of July trinkets, art (paintings and photography), carnival rides, a small animal farm, horse and mule roundabout, a swing dance floor, hip hop DJs, and three jazz grandstands. Other surrounding merchants also allowed visitors to shop in their stores, restaurants, and bars for a fun weekend with friends and family.

One band that returns every year that I cannot help, but to enjoy is Groove8 (formerly known as Audioform) from North Carolina. This year like every year in the past they have performed in front of the Marcus Bookstore and crowds gather by the truck load. Bringing a cool funk groove, Groove8 has captured me 100%. With now 8 members, Groove8 has a great horn line (sax, trombone, trumpet), keys, drums, congas, bass guitar, and electric guitar. One thing that I love about this band is that every time I hear them, I get reminiscent of years past when Kool and the Gang, the Doobie Brothers, and Chicago were on the radio. My hopes is that in future years they will be large and in charge taking upon the grandstand. Currently, most of the bands that play on the grandstands are local groups and are booked almost every year as well. Next year, I hope that thousands would hear this group and bring a funk revival back to the States.