Wheedle’s Groove: So Funked Up

If hip-hop is the new Seattle sound and grunge is the infamous Seattle soundtrack, then funk ‘n soul is the sound that Seattle forgot. Recent trends and events have sought to revive memories of fedora-laden gentlemen and high-heeled ladies. And while these dancing nights bring out the best of the city’s vintage apparel, nothing comes as close to the reality of Seattle’s 60's and 70's Soul than Wheedle’s Groove.

The trifecta of Wheedle’s Groove this weekend: band performance, film, “Day” as declared by the Mayor. That’s right. September 4 is officially “Wheedle’s Groove Day,” and it’s a day to celebrate the rich history of funk and soul in Seattle, which has largely remained obscure to our fair city’s inhabitants. There was a time (roughly 1960's-70's) when the Emerald City was alit with the bright colors of a mushrooming soul scene. Writes one Groover, “There must have been twenty-five hard-giggin’, Superfly-like, wide-leg-polyester-pant-and-platform-shoes-wearing, wide-brim-hat-and-maxi-coat-sportin’, big-ass, highly-“sheened”-afro-stylin’, Kool & the Gang song-covering live bands playing four sets a night from 8 p.m. ‘til O-dark-thirty in the morning.” Damn do we wish we could have been there.

Luckily, Seattle-based filmmaker Jennifer Maas has recreated this magical moment with a documentary film called Wheedle’s Groove. It memorializes these now scattered musicians, many of whose musical careers were displaced with the popular emergence of disco in the 70's. The players’ reunion set the stage for the film as well as inspired the band, Wheedle’s Groove. Clips from the flick will play at Bumbershoot on Saturday at SIFF Cinema and the entire film will be screening at Northwest Film Forum September 3-9 with guest appearances from various musicians featured in the documentary. And as if that wasn’t enough, the conglomerate of musicians spawned by the film will be funking up the stages of Bumbershoot on Saturday as well.

So bust out your slickest dance moves, throw on your hot pants and celebrate “Wheedle’s Groove Day” in style. We promise. It’ll revive your soul.

Saturday, September 4 // Bumbershoot // $22-40/day

September 3-9 // Northwest Film Forum // $6-9