Bloglander

Back for just its second year, the expanded three-day Perry Street Shakedown is going big by bringing Northwest hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot to its outdoor stage. Yes, the “Baby Got Back” MC, who was recently in the area last Halloween, closes down Saturday night’s festivities at the all-ages free event — although the entire South Perry Pizza parking lot serves as a 21+ beer garden; admission is $3.

Headlining the block party tonight is Vancouver, B.C.’s Five Alarm Funk, who threw one of the biggest Spokane dance parties of the year at the previous Shakedown. The group may be rooted in funk, but their music is a passionate mix of gypsy steampunk madness and rock ‘n’ roll. We asked Five Alarm Funk’s drummer Tayo Branston how his nine-piece band felt about coming back to Spokane.

“Last year we were blown away by the [Shakedown] crowd,” Branston says. “It was a first-year festival, and it’s scary when it’s first year, but the response for the crowd … they were so into it. And then when it came along to play here again, we were more than excited.”

Expect the same wildness from the band tonight, with a couple brand new songs. Mostly, just expect to get your groove on.

Here’s the full Perry Street Shakedown schedule:
TONIGHT
Breezy Brown, 5 pm and spinning breaks
Real Life Rockaz, 6 pm-7:30 pm
Five Alarm Funk, 8:30 pm-10 pm

SATURDAY
DJ Teej, 1:30 pm and spinning breaks
Bandit Train, 2 pm-3:30 pm
B Radicals, 4 pm-5:30 pm
Milonga, 6 pm-7:30 pm
Veda Lux Boutique 5th Anniversary Fashion Show, 7:45 pm-8 pm
Sir Mix-A-Lot, 9 pm-10 pm

SUNDAY
Poncho P, 1:30 pm and spinning breaks
L.O.S. (Left Over Soul), 2 pm-3:30 pm
Mama Doll, 4 pm-5:30 pm
The Lil' Smokies, 6 pm-8 pm.

Note that nearby Lantern Tap House also hosts a sour beer tasting and offers live music starting at 10 pm (following the outdoor shows): Cathedral Pearls on Friday and the Hoot Hoots on Saturday.