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The beat is back on this summer at the Go-Go on the Rooftop Concert Series at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library!
This June, in honor of Black Music Month, the Go-Go Archives are inviting you to a FREE concert each Sunday in June with beats by DJ Big John and a line-up that features both current and future legends of D.C.'s official music. Meet some of D.C.’s incredible small business owners at the Pop-Up Vendor Mall in front of MLK Library.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed on the rooftop only. Stay tuned as more bands are added!
Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott is a globally known recording artist, frontman, lead vocalist, and bass player of the band E.U. (Experience Unlimited). E.U. has had 3 billboard hits including the “Da Butt” which peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles in 1988 and was also a featured performance in Spike Lee’s film “School Daze”. Also, to his credit, his group Experience Unlimited aka E.U. was not only an opening act for the commencement ceremony for the 2016 opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture but they also have an exhibit on the third floor of the museum. Learn more on their website.
Still Familiar is a GoGo band created just as the name suggests. The band was initially formed in 2000 as "911" and boasted a collective of some of the most highly regarded GoGo musicians. Evolving over two decades, with new members and several name variations, the band still managed to retain a unique and familiar sound its fans enjoy. In 2004, 911 was reintroduced onto the GoGo scene as Familiar Faces. It was during this time when the band developed a loyal fan base and a real permanence in GoGo. Eventually, Familiar Faces transitioned to Team Familiar and in 2019, the band restructured and reestablished as Still Familiar. The new name is a moniker and testament to the band’s resilience and quality of sound.
Based out of Southeast DC, the birthplace of Gogo, Mental Attraction 2.0 has logged over 20 years of experience under their wheels. When they say “Welcome To The Kranktrain!” they’re not playing because this train runs on schedule every weekend of the year, sometimes performing as many as three shows between Friday and Sunday. Taught by their hometown local legends, the last time this 13-piece played Charlottesville there was an Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House on Pantops bordered by woods! B.J., the band leader fronts a team of all-stars. His bass player is in Wale’s backing band and “Congo E” has been a semi-finalist in the DMV area’s legendary conga competitions. Mental Attraction has shared the stage for Wale (obviously), Jadakiss and even provided backing duties for Fat Trell when opening for him. Mental Attraction has loyal fan base with over a 100 strong piling into buses and riding seventeen hours as far South as Miami to see them live.
Black Alley has been pushing the art of music to its rhythmic limits for some time now. Determined to create a unique musical elixir, Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of funk, jazz, soul, and rock to create a sound and genre all their own; they call it “Hood Rock." The band is one, each musician surrendering to the union of sounds, each delivering music from their soul, while they are in dialogue with one another through their instruments. Each member of this collective is essential to the workability and funkability of the unit which is Black Alley.
Mature Clientele Band is a heavy percussion-based band that specializes in party crank!
Backyard also known as BYB is the most successful and widely known Go-Go band in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area as well as nationwide. BYB consists of Anwan ‘Big G’ Glover (lead talker) whom is nationally known for his role on HBO’s the Wire as Slim Charles. Leroy ‘Weensey’ Brandon (vocals), Earl Vincent (vocals), Tiffany ‘Sweetthang’ White (vocals), and Carlos ‘Los’ Chavels (rapper) who all make up the frontline. Keith ‘Sauce’ Robinson (percussion), Paul ‘Buggy’ Edwards (percussion), Bobby ‘Bob’ Terry (lead guitar), Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Field (Bass Guitar), Eric ‘EB’ Britt (keyboard), Michael ‘Mike’ Dunklin (keyboard), and Marcus Johnson (keyboard).
Relentless Band started in the streets of Washington D.C. and has grown to become one of the top up and coming bands in D.C.'s Go-Go music scene. Blending the sounds of the old school with the new school as well as our own unique touch, Relentless paves the way for a new era of Go-Go and beyond. A major goal for Relentless is to bring our style of music beyond our home. Relentless guarantees to be a crowdpleaser for the long-time fans, the brand-new ones, and everything in between. Some highlights for the band include opening for Tank on the Odyssey cruise line in D.C., participating in the "Battle of the Beltway" at Marygolds, and being voted to compete in the upcoming "Who Got Next?" battle.
Junkyard Band began in 1980 as a group of kids playing in a lot with plastic buckets, soda cans and other found objects, emulating the sounds of some of their favorite go-go bands who performed in their Southeast, DC neighborhood Barry Farms also known as "the projects". The band began to play talent shows and street performances throughout DC, taking audiences by storm - playing from the grounds of the Smithsonian and Washington Monument, to the streets of Georgetown. Adding to the band's many accomplishments, special honors, awards, and accolades, Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., proclaimed Jan. 15, 2018 as Junkyard Band Day!
Rhythm and Soul Project, better known as R&S Project play a dynamic fusion of GoGo, R&B, Jazz, Country & Pop. This group of talented musicians are ready to take the world by storm, come along and enjoy the ride!
A phenomenal DJ who highlights EVERY corporate event, party, or function! He goes by the name of DJ BIG JOHN ~ DAT BAMMA BE CRANKIN! John Royster, professional known as “DJ Big John” is a native Washingtonian. He was raised in Southeast, DC and graduated from North Carolina Central University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Public Administration.
The Go-Go Archive, established in 2012 honors, preserves, teaches and shares the living history of D.C.’s official beat, Go-Go. Each concert in the summer series will be filmed and added to the Go-Go Archive. Learn more by visiting the library's permanent exhibit on the 4th Floor of the MLK Library Up From the People.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Collections | Musical Performance |
