Clyde Stubblefield returns to King Street
Madison's Funky Drummer will anchor Sonny Knight and the Lakers this Friday, June 10 at the Majestic in downtown Madison.
Clyde Stubblefield / Maurice Thaler via Flickr
For over twenty years, Clyde Stubblefield brought the funk to downtown Madison every Monday night. Stubblefield, best known as the “funky drummer” for James Brown and Public Enemy alike, would bring his band down to the King Club (now the site of Woof's at 114 King Street). Stubblefield retired from Funky Mondays in 2011 for health reasons, but continues to make appearances in Madison. These days, Funky Mondays have returned in an understated way: the High Noon Saloon hosts a monthly Funky Monday Happy Hour, with Stubblefield and his All-Star Band.
So it's with much excitement that King Street welcomes Clyde Stubblefield back this Friday night, in an equally understated way: the Clyde Stubblefield All-Star Band will be supporting Minneapolis' own Sonny Knight & the Lakers at the Majestic. The headlining act of the night is returning to King Street after headlining a funky summer night at the Majestic's Live on King last August.
Sonny Knight and the Lakers / band webpage
The Lakers have two albums out on Secret Stash, an eclectic Minneapolis label. Frontman Sonny Knight, now a retired truck driver, led bands in the Twin Cities during the 1960s and 1970s. Many recordings of that Minnesota soul scene were lost, but the roots of the scene never left the Twin Cities. A few years ago, Secret Stash pulled together a soul revue concert featuring Sonny Knight and the Lakers. The band stuck together, expanding first to the Midwest festival circuit, and then to a year of touring the US and Europe. The current leg of their tour largely centers on the Midwest, with additional dates in Milwaukee and across Minnesota.
Two hard-hitting acts from the golden age of RnB are sure to make for a groovy night at the Majestic this Friday night. Between Clyde Stubblefield's roots in Southern funk, and the North Star soul of Sonny Knight & the Lakers, King Street is in for a treat.
Sonny Knight and the Lakers perform with the Clyde Stubblefield All-Stars at 8:30pm this Friday, June 10 at the Majestic. The Clyde Stubblefield All Star Band will perform next at 6pm on Monday, June 27 at the High Noon Saloon.
Adam Maisto hosts Mad City Groove Cruise on WSUM, Tuesdays 8-10pm.
