The Godfather of Soul would’ve turned 89 on May 3.
And Augustans will party on May 7 with lots of music inspired by the Hardest Working Man in Show Business.
Coco Rubio of ALMA decided to put together a musical celebration after C4 Live’s previously planned soul music festival fell through.
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The company had announced large scale renovations at Lake Olmstead with the promise of multiple concerts during Masters week plus the soul music event. When the group announced problems with the construction and canceled the Masters week events, the soul music event also fell by the wayside.
“I reached out to Deanna Brown,” said Rubio, who is no stranger to events in honor of James Brown. Last year, he organized a block party on James Brown Boulevard in front of the Cole Phail mural.
It was a smaller scale event because the city still had COVID restrictions in effect.
The event kicks off around 5 p.m.
DJs and multiple bands will play until 11 p.m. at the Augusta Common.
The City of Augusta, Westobou, Greater Augusta Arts Council and Downtown Development Authority have lined up to sponsor the event.
Among the bands playing on the night will be The Brownstown Gritty, who will open the event.
According to its Facebook page, The Brownstown Gritty is an Augusta “funk band bringing your soul, funk and jazz in the name of James Brown.”
Other musical groups include James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils and the headliner will be Funk You, a band with its roots in Augusta and has been playing for more than 10 years.
In between the groups, there will be DJs spinning hits.
There will be plenty of food trucks available on the night.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
