The Get Down Funk Collective Gathers World-class Portland Talent for Unique Shows

Fans of live funk jams in Portland, Oregon have reason to celebrate as 2023 gets underway. A promising new improvisational music series built around a revolving roster of Portland-area players is being established, and these events are sure to achieve “you-shoulda-been-there” status.

The Get Down Funk Collective series will act as a forum to tap into and showcase the bountiful live performance groove and funk talent that exists in the City of Roses, and will bring together musicians who don’t often have the opportunity to share a stage.

A lover and purveyor of local live music, Funk Collective curator Jeremy Sievert is always working to not only get exposure for favorite Portland bands, but to connect local musicians who may not have otherwise crossed paths. Sievert met a kindred spirit in Blake Boris-Schacter, who long had plans to open a new Portland music venue. In April of 2022, hard work and determination finally ran down the dream, and The Get Down opened its doors. A spacious, 400-capacity basement space in close-in SE Portland, The Get Down was, as cliché as it may sound, created by music lovers, for music lovers. Since opening, the venue has received the nod from music-loving patrons and musicians alike, building its clientele alongside its reputation for things done right.

Episode #1 of The Get Down Funk Collective took place on January 30th, 2022. The lineup featured some of Portland’s funkiest heavyweights. Trumpet player Farnell Newton has toured with Grammy award winner Jill Scott, as well as Bootsy Collins. Trombonist Kyle Molitor was a member of Bootsy Collins’ Rubber Band and has also played with Joshua Redman. Tye North was the original bass player for Leftover Salmon and recently wrapped up a tour with Keller Williams and The Motet’s Dave Watts. Speaking of The Motet, Kyle Divinsky, who has performed as front man and vocalist for the group, was on vocals. Galen Clark has recently toured as keyboardist with Sleater-Kinney, and writes songs and plays keys in Outer Orbit, a Portland band that also features the evening’s drummer, Tyrone Hendrix, who has laid down rhythm for the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Liv Warfield. Tate Peterson rocks guitar with his local blues/R&B power trio, the Resolectrics, along with several other Portland groups.

These musicians can play with anyone, including each other. By the time the group worked its way through the opening number, James Brown’s “The Chicken,” the wheels were greased, and the The Get Down Funk Collective was chugging down the tracks. Songs such as Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing,” The Meters “Love Slip Upon Ya,” Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon,” and “God Made Me Funky” by The Headhunters provided the foundation upon which the Collective built its house of funk. Those in the audience were, indeed, getting down.

Sievert says about half the lineup will change from show to show, and it’s highly unlikely you’ll see the same lineup twice. Episode #2 of The Get Down Funk Collective is scheduled for Saturday, February 25th, at, you guessed it, The Get Down.