Thursday, June 30, 2011

2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Rhythm & Blues

The festival is divided into three contiguous areas with Rhythm & Blues sandwiched in the middle. Smaller that the other two, R & B features two large performance tents and a smaller "Session" tent for demonstrations and presentations about cultural aspects of the music.

A lecture on the role of "Social Dance" in the inception of the music genre opened the session tent.

The festival always offers visitors food, and Barbecue was the most popular feed tent on The Mall.

After enjoying a lively performance by Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls at the Soulsville tent, I enjoyed some old school Motown classics by The Funk Brothers at the Motor City tent. Great music in both venues.

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