WNKU is pleased to announce the addition of Cincinnati-native funkateer, Freekbass, to its lineup of local hosts. His show, Funky Friday’s with Freekbass debuts this Friday night at 6pm.
Freekbass has been a staple of the Cincinnati music scene and beyond for over two decades. He formed SHAG in 1992 using the moniker, “Freekbass”, given to him by his mentor in funk, Bootsy Collins. Since then, Freekbass has gone on to collaborate with Mike Gordon (Phish), Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads, P-Funk), DJ Logic, Steve Molitz (Particle), Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), and of course, Collins himself. He now records and tours the country with his band, The Bump Assembly.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have someone of Freekbass’ stature in both the funk genre and the Cincinnati music scene on our airwaves,” said WNKU General Manager, Sean O’Mealy. “He’s not only an extremely talented musician, but he’s also a walking encyclopedia of funk.”
Every Friday night, Freekbass will take listeners on a musical journey through space and time - from Cincinnati to New Orleans and points in between…from the origins of funk in the sixties to the modern-day hip-hop inspired by the genre. He’ll play the music and talk with those who helped create it. In his first show, Freekbass will talk to none other than Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton.
“WNKU is all about discovering local and diverse music, and you don’t get any more local and diverse than funk,” said Freekbass. “It’s such an important cornerstone of our region’s musical heritage. We have the Isley Brothers from Cincinnati. We have James Brown whose career began with Cincinnati’s King Records. We have the Ohio Players, Zapp, Lakeside, and Heatwave, to name just a few of the bands that made Dayton the epicenter of funk in the seventies. And then there’s Bootsy.”
Of course, we also have Freekbass. Cincinnati is lucky to have him as a musician, and now WNKU members and listeners are lucky to have him hosting his own show on the radio. Tune in every Friday to WNKU (105.9/89.7/104.1) from 6p to 9p for Funky Fridays with Freekbass.
You can catch Freekbass this Saturday at 20th Century Theatre w/Elementree Livity Project, The Magic Lightnin' Boys, SOUSE! More info here. 100% of net proceeds will be donated to the National MS Society, Ohio Valley Chapter!
