BP96 at NOLA Funk Fest 2025: The Groove, The Grit, and The Glory of New Orleans

From BP96: The groove returned to the riverfront this October as NOLA Funk Fest 2025 brought the city’s funk, soul, and musical royalty together for one unforgettable weekend at Spanish Plaza in downtown New Orleans.

This year, Black Power 96 Radio was officially invited to cover NOLA Funk Fest 2025 as accredited press. Representing the station, Dr. Mariah received full media credentials to capture the weekend’s cultural heartbeat with Talmadge leading the visual media production, including photography, video coverage, and on-site coordination. Together, the BP96 team brought their signature community-driven storytelling to Spanish Plaza, immersing audiences in the sounds, sights, and soul of New Orleans funk at its finest.

Black Power 96 Radio was on-site October 17 and 18 capturing the sound, the sweat, and the soul of Louisiana’s finest. With performances from Master P featuring The Soul Rebels, Dumpstaphunk’s tribute to Sly Stone, Galactic with Irma Thomas, Funky Meters 2.0, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, The Rumble, Erica Falls & Friends, and more, the festival lived up to its promise… a celebration of music that moves generations.

From the moment the gates opened, the city pulsed with rhythm. The scent of gumbo, fried catfish, and beignets filled the air while vendors sold everything from handmade beadwork to vintage records. The Masking Indian Village stood as one of the weekend’s most soulful highlights, a living exhibit where Big Chiefs told the story of New Orleans’ rich Black Masking Indian culture through music, dance, and brilliant hand-sewn suits that shimmered in the sunlight.

“This festival is about honoring our musical past while amplifying the artists shaping funk’s future,” said Festival Head Chris Beary, who helped found the event through the Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, which is the same team behind the city’s upcoming music museum project.

Friday afternoon brought the first wave of heat, and that was both literal and musical. Dumpstaphunk’s tribute to Sly Stone had the crowd two-stepping beneath the sun, and when The Soul Rebels and Cymphonique Miller hit the stage alongside Master P, the city’s generations collided in sound.

Saturday’s lineup delivered even deeper emotion. Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, took the stage in an intimate performance with River Eckert, a 15-year-old piano prodigy who left the audience in awe. Moments later, Galactic transformed the night into a storm of brass, bass, and joy, reminding everyone why funk is not a trend, but it’s a tradition.

Beyond the main stage, the Super VIP Experience hosted special shows that blended education with entertainment. Highlights included Kermit Ruffins’ tribute to Louis Armstrong, Fred Wesley’s Louisiana Roots presentation with curator Bob Santelli, and an emotional session titled Behind the Mask, presented with Loyola University, where five Big Chiefs told their stories through live performance and oral history.

Throughout it all, BP96 captured every detail, from the smiles of vendors and fans dancing barefoot, to the gold-and-purple glow of the stage lights at night. As Mariah reflected in her coverage: Though the festival wrapped Sunday, BP96 concluded coverage on Saturday night, signing off as the Mississippi River mirrored the glow of the city’s stage lights. The team left Spanish Plaza with hours of footage, interviews, and enough energy to fuel a full month of November coverage across BP96’s social platforms.

Be sure to tune in to Black Power 96’s social media pages and on-air segments for exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and our full NOLA Funk Fest 2025 recap and highlight coverage celebrating the sound, soul, and spirit all month long.

About NOLA Funk Fest NOLA Funk Fest celebrates the musical heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana through live performances, educational exhibits, and community experiences. The event is produced by the Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, dedicated to preserving and promoting the region’s cultural legacy.

About BP96 FM

Black Power 96 Radio (96.3 FM, St. Petersburg FL) is a community radio station amplifying the voice of the people, highlighting independent artists, Black culture, and local news from the African working-class perspective.