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The story also appeared in The Capital Times.
They're all Madison Funk All Stars, but among the many musicians who will be playing at Friday's All Stars show is somebody who would have his own wing in the Madison Funk Hall of Fame.
Clyde Stubblefield, who played drums with the likes of James Brown and Otis Redding, will join Lisa G and Montage, as well as regulars Phat Phunktion and Mama Digdown's Brass Band, for the fourth annual All Stars event.
Everyone who attends will receive a free compilation CD featuring music from the bands, including advance tracks from upcoming albums by Stubblefield and Lisa G and Montage.
"We're absolutely flattered to be playing with the heavyweights in Madison," Lisa Gonzalez says. "For us, it's just going to be a gas."
The Madison Funk All Stars shows were started by members of Phat Phunktion and Mama Digdown's in 2000. Both bands were used to playing clubs where only those of legal drinking age could get in, and wanted to play before a larger, all-ages crowd.
"It's a kick playing in a big theater in front of a big crowd," says Eric Jacobson of Mama Digdown's. "Usually one of us as bands couldn't draw that kind of a crowd, but by pooling our resources and our fan bases together we can really push a show."
The shows have typically sold out, even in January 2001 when a massive snowstorm kept away more than 100 ticket holders. Seeking warmer weather, the bands moved the show to April in 2002, only to see a slight drop in attendance - the date conflicted with most local high schools' homecoming dances. So this year, they're back to January, hoping that the...