Put on your favorite bell bottoms and platforms and head on over to Seminole Casino Immokalee’s “Fantasy of Funk” festival on Saturday, July 21. The outdoor event features performances by George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, Nouveaux Honkies, Bonerama and Glen David Andrews Band. Gourmet food trucks will also be serving up delectable treats throughout the festival.
To kick off the day of funk, Seminole Casino Immokalee will host a free party at its Zig Zag Lounge on Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m. Party-goers with the funkiest outfits will be rewarded with great prizes. They’ll also groove to live tunes from blues and R&B group Nouveaux Honkies. The band’s sounds have been compared to that of the Rolling Stones, with hints of Dire Straits, Curtis Mayfield, Jimmy Hendrix and Howlin’ Wolf. The group’s second album, Where Do I Go, reached number 3 on the roots country chart.
Also in the Zig Zag Lounge on Friday, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., the casino celebrates ladies with complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, great prizes and giveaways. Ladies must be Seminole Casino Players Club members (membership is free).
The “Fantasy of Funk” festival begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, just outside of the casino. More than 10 food trucks from across the state will be on hand.
“We are excited to host this special event for our players to enjoy legendary and award-winning musicians,” said Jim Gibson, director of marketing at Seminole Casino Immokalee. “This is a unique opportunity for area residents and visitors to experience the origins of funk music.”
The Nouveaux Honkies will once again take the stage with a special funk only set. Next, New Orleans brass funk rock band Bonerama will play funk and jazz-flavored numbers. The band was formed by trombonists Mark Mullins and Craig Klein, both of whom had been members of Harry Connick Jr.’s big band from 1990 to 2006. Bonerama has been recognized as the “Best Rock Band” by the Big Easy Awards in 2007 and 2010.
Glen David Andrews and his high-powered ensemble will also bring New Orleans funk to Immokalee. The gospel/R&B singer and trombonist veers from traditional jazz to gospel, rock, blues and funk, all in the same show. He was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also named “Best Male Performer” by the Big Easy Awards in 2009 and 2010. Andrews was also named “Best R&B Performer” by the Best of the Beat Awards in 2009.
At sundown, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic will top off the music festival with an electrifying performance of generation-spanning jams. The band is credited with being one of the most prominent innovators of funk. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. They are also among Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” (2002), SPIN Magazine’s “50 Greatest Bands of All Time” (2010), and VH1’s list of “The Greatest Artists of All Time” (2010). They have more than 40 R&B hit singles and three platinum albums.
Festival tickets are $25 in advance and are available at the Casino Cage or by calling 1-800-218-0007. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $30. Player’s Club members will receive a discount and should visit the Player’s Club for more details.
In addition to food trucks, there will be water, sodas, beer and wine for sale.
No coolers and no pets. Bring your own chairs. Rain or shine.
For more information on “Fantasy of Funk,” visit http://www.http://seminoleimmokaleecasino.com.
About Seminole Casino Immokalee
Open 24/7, 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming destination, with 1,200 Las Vegas-style slots, from high-paying progressives, video poker and the industry’s newest titles like Tarzan, Betty Boop, and The Hangover, themed for the hit movie. The 75,000-square-foot plus casino offers 34 live tables games, including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold ‘em, Texas Hold ‘em Bonus, Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21, and Casino War. It is also contains the Zig Zag Blackjack pit, where the Zig Zag Girlz play. The new Paradise Room is a high-stakes gaming parlor with Blackjack and Mini-Baccarat pit and a separate area for high limit slot machine play. The new WPT Poker Room has both limit and non-limit games. No limit Texas Hold ‘em poker tournaments are held Wednesday through Sunday. Bonus Hand and High Hand of the Day are also featured. Seminole Casino Immokalee participates in the Seminole Players Club Wild Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem points at all Seminole Casinos throughout Florida.
Dining options include 1st Street Deli, Southwest Florida’s only authentic New York-style delicatessen. This award-winning restaurant is open 24 hours, serving late-night breakfast, lunch and dinner. The EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill serves the best and freshest dishes in Southwest Florida, including its signature authentic Seminole fry bread and fresh-from-scratch classic favorites. The Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, is “where the party never ends” with nightly live entertainment and no last call. Two, 42-inch HD televisions and a 103-inch screen at the Zig Zag bar air sporting events and other entertainment. A 10,000-square-foot Event Pavilion seating up to 800 guests is for large entertainment events, such as concerts, weddings, banquets, company outings and privately-held dances. With 1800 parking spaces, there’s always more than enough parking available at Seminole Casino Immokalee.
Seminole Casino Immokalee is easily accessible to all of Southwest Florida via I-75, and Southwest Florida International Airport is only a 45-minute drive from the casino. Located between Miami and Naples, north of Alligator Alley on Highway 846, it’s five blocks south of Highway 29. Approximately 30 minutes from Naples and Fort Myers, the casino is a 90-minute drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. For directions or other information call toll-free (800) 218-0007; fax (239) 658-0204 or write: 506 South 1st Street, Immokalee, Florida 34142; http://www.seminoleimmokaleecasino.com.
