High Sierra heroes the Main Squeeze and Bayou soul singer Marc Broussard headline Lake Tahoe’s funkiest musical event of summer, the Aug. 13-14 Brews, Jazz and Funk Fest in the Village at Squaw Valley.
The 15th annual event is not, of course, exclusively about music. It also celebrates beer and dogs. Craft beers from all over the West Coast will be served, and a $5 donation will benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. More than $20,000 was raised last year.
The Main Squeeze performed at the High Sierra Music Festival in both 2015 and 2016. Founding members Max Newman, a guitar player, and keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein began writing music together after meeting at a sleepaway camp in upstate New York. They formed the Main Squeeze while attending the University of Indiana in 2010 with singer Corey Frye, drummer Reuben Gingrich and bassist Rob Walker.
The band was based in Chicago until it relocated this year to Los Angeles after being recruited by Randy Jackson, who produced the band’s second album, “Mind Your Head.”
After seeing the band play at High Sierra, Tahoe Onstage music critic Spencer Kilpatrick wrote, “Corey Frye’s voice is effortlessly soulful and built for the kind of hit records that bury themselves in your head and guitarist Max Newman has the chops, taste and flair to build a cult following in the style of Jerry Garcia or Trey Anastasio.”
A lifelong Louisiana resident, Broussard’s most recent appearance in this area was in November 2014, when he played in the Cargo Concert Hall as a member of the Southern Soul Assembly with JJ Grey, Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson.
His Bayou soul is a gumbo of funk, blues, R&B and pop. He has five full-length studio albums, three EPs and a live album.
Also appearing at the Brews, Jazz and Funk Fest will be JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Eli Paperboy Reed, the Polyrhythmics and Reno’s Mojo Green.
“We’re excited to welcome an eclectic group of musicians and breweries to this year’s Brews, Jazz and Funk Fest,” said Caroline Ross, executive director for the Squaw Village Neighbourhood Company. “The festival is a fantastic mid-summer gathering for locals and visitors with a special philanthropic element. Our goal this year is to raise even more for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe than we did last year.”
Breweries from across California and the West will be in attendance, as well as several international breweries. Following are participating breweries: 101 North Brewing Co., Alaskan Brewing Co., Bear Republic Brewing Co., Carlsberg, Deschutes Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch/Wildcide Hard Cider, Kostrizter, Kronenbourg Brewery, Mad River Brewing Company, Mendocino Brewing Company, New Belgium Brewing Company, New Glory Craft Brewery, Out of Bounds Brewery, Ruhstaller, Six Rivers Brewery, Tahoe Mountain Brewery Co., Trumer Pils, and Yolo Brewing Company. The breweries will be selling 16 ounce beers for $5 each.
- Saturday, Aug. 13
• Main Stage
o 2 p.m.: Mojo Green
o 4 p.m.: Polyrhythmics
o 6 p.m.: Marc Broussard
• Second Stage
o 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Earles of Newton
o 5-6 p.m.: Earles of Newton - “Super Soul Sunday,” Aug. 14
• Main Stage
o 2 p.m.: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
o 4 p.m.: Eli Paperboy Reed
o 6 p.m.: The Main Squeeze
• Second Stage
o 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Earles of Newton
o 5-6 p.m.: Earles of Newton
Tim Parsons / Tahoe Onstage
