Figuring it was time to mellow out a little bit, I headed over to the State Farm Stage, just in time to catch Budos Band. While I am not usually a fan of the instrumental easy-listening genre, I was mildly intrigued, to say the least.

Fluctuating from ten to thirteen members at any given time, Budos Band is self-described as “Afro-Punk.” Mixing both soul and funk together, with an undercurrent of their Ethiopian influences, they add in nontraditional instruments for festivals such as these with more traditional instruments like their incredibly beautiful baritone saxophone. Combining all of these together creates a very funky sound that would just be ruined by the addition of a vocalist.

Reminiscent of Parliament Funkadelic with a hint of jazz thrown in, these guys seriously rocked the stage overlooking the Fisher Green here at the Center. Making the crowd dance and having a blast, they were the perfect mid-afternoon break between the general vibe of the festival and a great promise of what was to come later in the evening.

Check them out at http://thebudos.com/