The way it was told to Cyril Neville, “funk” comes from the West African word “fonk.” It refers to a person who breaks a “positive sweat,” who works hard and takes care of the family. Someone who is a credit to the village is a “fonky” person.

“Playing funky dance music is doing the same thing,” Neville said.

Expect that kind of performance from Neville this weekend, Saturday May 9 at the Piedmont Blues Festival. A member of the legendary funk/R&B band The Neville Brothers, Cyril and his family were among the vocal advocates for Hurricane Katrina victims and their New Orleans hometown. The percussionist and vocalist shows a deep affection for the origins of blues and funk, breaking a “positive sweat” for his music and family.

Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 2pm
Festival Park
200 North Davie St., Greensboro
23rd Annual Carolina Blues Festival
presented by YES! Weekly
$18 in advance; $30 at the gate

Produced by the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, this is the anchor event for the Sixth Annual EMFjazz&blues. Headlining the festival will be Cyril Neville of the legendary New Orleans funk/blues group The Neville Brothers, with special guest Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. Also appearing will be Diunna Greenleaf and the Blue Mercy Band with special guest Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, the Nighthawks, Adrian Duke, as well as the two winners of the PBPS Blues Challenge: The Landon Spradlin Blues Band (electric band contest winners) and Greensboro’s Bump & Logie (acoustic solo/duo contest winners).