Be sure to secure your tickets *now* for this GEM of a show this Thursday, March 26th at @olympiafilmsociety historic Capitol Theater with Funk Fest favorites @therumble.official and new friends @toubabkrewe
Shine up your dancing shoes and come boogie! Ticket link in comments 😎
The 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Fest is coming up in just 2 weeks and we hope you got your 🎫 @olyfunkfest
It keeps getting bigger every year and it's amazing to see the musical magicians that make the pilgrimage from the likes of New Orleans to add their sauce to this incredibly funky gravy. We get to share the stage with living legends like @georgeporterjr@tankandthebangas & @mononeon among many of our PNW contemporaries like @polyrhythmics & @funk.ways so it's a special happening that just happens to fall on the birthday's of Eldridge & Papa Ganoosh respectively.
Here are some shots from last year at the fabled Capitol Theatre in downtown Olympia, where we'll be closing out Saturday night from 11 to 1! Let's dance #olywa 🕺🏿👯♀️💃🏼
We've got something a little different for our Artist of the Week: We are thrilled to welcome ElectricTeel, holding it down at our new DJ lounge located at Ilk Lodge Brewing. Ilk Lodge will host DJs, tasty food and crafted microbrews, as well as youth artists all weekend and is FREE to the public! It's a perfect spot to rest your dancing feet, fuel up, and still enjoy the funk. ElectricTeel will also be involved in our Sunday masterclass series - more news forthcoming!
Be sure to go to the comments for ElectricTeel's latest episode on Shady Pines Radio that showcases a ton of upcoming Funk Fest artists!
ElectricTeel:
Born and raised in the Occupied Duwamish Territories around Seattle, ElectricTeel is known for unearthing the grooviest sounds from the Pacific Northwest. With a deep love for crate-digging and musical storytelling, they have become a beacon for the Pacific Northwest’s unsung sounds.
ElectricTeel's unique commitment to their community bridges decades of music from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia into one irresistible flow. They are honored to share the musical history of our region, and to elevate the voices that connect us across space and time.
From their weekly radio show, “NW Groove Therapy,” on Shady Pines Radio, to live performances, their mission is simple:
"What we can do together is greater than what we can do by ourselves, so grab a friend, get on the dance floor, and get ready to move your way into brighter tomorrows!"
Did you know our street closure will include amazing local food vendors throughout the festival? Be sure to fuel up with Thurston County's best BBQ by Bigfoot BBQ inc., try out Chicory's new pop-up featuring hush puppies, po-boys, gumbo and jambalaya by Gold Standard, and late-night munchies with Jax's Dogs . We are thrilled to have so many talented chefs providing tasty provisions to keep you grooving all weekend long!
Hey funky friends! This is some big news - We are sold out of weekend passes and have released a *very limited* number of single-day tickets. Boogie over to to purchase. We appreciate all of our new and returning attendees' support, and look forward to gettin' down with you in T-Minus: 23 days!
Huzzah! It's time to present our latest Artist of the Week: Eddie Roberts & the Lucky Strokes! The 2026 Olympia Funk Fest is thrilled to host this new (to Olympia) performer on our mainstage at Capital Theater on Sunday, February 1st from 4 - 6 PM. Fans of The New Mastersounds may recognize Eddie's distinctive guitar tone and styles - expect some heady rock and roll sprinkled on top of your funky weekend!
As a reminder, be sure to sign up for our email list, especially if you have not secured tickets yet: *Weekend Passes are SOLD OUT*, but we will be announcing other important ticket news to our email list FIRST!
Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes:
'If luck is what happens when hard work meets opportunity, the union of Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes epitomizes that adage. The New Mastersounds’ guitarist and bandleader has a knack for leaning into individual strengths and that sensibility is evidenced through his recruitment of Mississippi-based guitarist and vocalist, Shelby Kemp, who brings a Southern rock grit and candid, nimble songwriting to team up with the Tampa Bay-based Galbraith sisters who possess a simpatico rhythm section chemistry only found within a family bloodline. Powered by the urbane guitar playing and production of Roberts, and you have a new tour de force ensemble that makes listeners stop in their tracks the same way Roberts did upon hearing the talents of Kemp and the Galbraith Sisters.
The sound is an amalgamation of celebrated country lyricists such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and George Jones mixed with the rhythmically driven aesthetics of James Brown and rounded out by honest rock ‘n’ roll - a combination slated to make its own luck and take the scene by storm.'
This week's Artist of the Week is some local flavor - Olympia's own Luna Melt: an 8-piece funk outfit forged in the fires of Oly's music scene. Their latest full-length LP 'Soul Glow' was released in 2025, and exemplifies Luna Melt's songwriting, musicianship, and live performance energy. Locals know that performances are always a party, with danceable original grooves as well as thoughtful, funky cover tunes! Catch Luna Melt on Friday, January 30th at 3:30 PM, kicking off the 2026 Olympia Funk Festival on the Olympia Ballroom stage.
"Hailing from Olympia, Washington, Luna Melt effortlessly blends elements of funk, soul, R&B, and jazz to create a unique sound that keeps audiences on their feet. Inspired by the likes of Herbie Hancock, the Brecker Brothers and Patti Labelle, Luna Melt puts their own modern twist on the classic funk sound. Their original compositions are filled with infectious hooks, catchy melodies, and tight horn arrangements that transport listeners back to the golden age of funk while also incorporating contemporary elements.
With their irresistible groove and undeniable charisma, Luna Melt is a force to be reckoned on the funk scene. Whether they're performing at intimate clubs or outdoor festivals, Luna Melt's magnetic energy and undeniable talent never fail to create an unforgettable experience. Stay tuned for the latest updates and releases from Luna Melt as they continue to spread their funk-infused magic worldwide. Get ready to melt into the groove with Luna Melt!"
The holidays are in full swing, and we are excited to share our 2026 Funk Fest artist(s) of the week - @sgtsplendor featuring Kate Vargas & Eric McFadden! Kate and Eric have visited Olympia in the past, but not in this formation: Hot off the heels of their new release 'Isotopia', Sgt. Splendor brings soulful grooves mixed with ripping guitar licks to present blues, rock, funk, and new genres that have not been yet named. Catch them at the 2026 Olympia Funk Festival on Friday, January 30th at 6:30 PM on the Olympia Center stage!
"Before joining forces, the duo behind Sgt. Splendor were already formidable solo artists, Kate Vargas chalking up acclaim at outlets like NPR, HuffPost, SPIN, No Depression, Rolling Stone, and Vice (including praise from the “Dean of American Rock Critics” Robert Christgau).
Eric McFadden has amassed an impressive resume including stints on guitar with George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars, Anders Osbourne, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, and Eric Burdon & The Animals, plus a slew of solo albums, and session work and gigs with everyone from Jackson Browne to The Clash’s Joe Strummer.
“Tom Waits’ music has always been a point of connection for me & Kate. While our musical approaches differ, they’re also kindred and share a lot of common elements. Our Southwestern upbringing comes through—that sort of mysterioso desert thing—but also a carnivalesque Waits-ian vibe. The new record is a bit more cohesive but still eclectic. Kind of an Alt-Funk, Desert Roots, Dirty Blues, Rock thing. Our styles have always been complementary.” Vargas concurs: “Sgt. Splendor really feels like a combination of both of us—equally.”
Among the players who have accompanied Sgt Splendor in the studio and on stage are Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Norwood Fisher & Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Dominic Davis (Jack White), Paulo Baldi (Les Claypool), Falcon Greenwell (Tedeschi Trucks), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads)."
Reddit has spoken - Olympia Funk Fest "goes unreasonably hard". It warms our hearts to see such positive feedback from YOU! See y'all soon!
Also mentioned - it is run by some "very nice people" 🤪
It's time to present our next *Artist of the Week* - The Gold Souls ! Joining us for their 2nd Funk Fest in a row, The Gold Souls have proved time and again that they are ready to bring the Funk (You may even catch our co-organizer Danielle Westbrook joining them on stage from time to time)! Be sure to check out their newest album, 'Something in the Air', and catch them at the 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Fest on Saturday at the Olympia Center stage at 6:00 PM.
"The driving grooves of funk, rich textures of soul, and the compelling storytelling of the blues converge through The Gold Souls’ unique brand of boogie. Captivating lyrics tell modern tales, while fresh arrangements propel a classic sound, inspiring audiences everywhere with positive messages straight from the heart to the dance floor.
Led by the dynamic Juniper Waller, the group is made up of young talent hailing from the Bay and Sacramento areas. With Alex Severson on the keys, Billy D. Thompson on the drums, Madison Armstrong on saxophone, Liliana Moore on trumpet, Kari Anne Estrada on trombone, Chris Paisley on guitar, and Avery Jeffry on bass, each member has a hand in writing and song composition, making The Gold Souls a truly collaborative effort."
Featured Artist of the Week: Erica Falls (& Vintage Soul!). We are excited to spotlight upcoming artists for our 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Festival!
Soul singer and songwriter Erica Falls credits her unique vintage sound to her childhood growing up in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, where her parents introduced her to Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, and Whitney Houston. Whether on stage or in the studio, she channels a sassy, soulful tone that recalls an earlier era. But Erica cautions her fans: “Vintage soul is not about bringing the listener back to a time of authentic music, it’s about reminding them that it never went anywhere,” she says.
Erica has toured nationally with renowned New Orleans funk band Galactic as their lead vocalist for the last 5 years, but she made the decision to leave that position and nurture her solo career. In 2024, Erica released her new LP ‘Emotions’ with her backing group, Vintage Soul. Written during the pandemic, the full-length studio work reflects Falls’ experience living life as a Black woman during a tumultuous time. With lyrics that invite listeners to ride a roller coaster of human sentiments, Emotions digs deep into love, sadness, frustration, fear, grief, marginalization, joy, doubt, encouragement, and release.
Be sure to catch Erica Falls & Vintage Soul on Saturday, January 31st on our main stage - pick up your weekend passes now at OlyFunkFest.com
