Funk fest: Five Alarm Funk energizes joyful fans at Salmon Arm show

Happy dancers from 5 to 75 years filled the floor at Song Sparrow Hall, band to return in August

Martha Wickett
Apr 18, 2023 2:10 PM

Previous Next

1 / 1 Reaching for connection, Thomas Towers considers extending a hand to drummer/vocalist Tayo Branston during Five Alarm Funk鈥檚 performance in Salmon Arm on April 16.

Expand

The love was flowing at Song Sparrow Hall last Sunday night as both longtime and brand new fans showed their enthusiastic appreciation for wildly energetic Five Alarm Funk, back in Salmon Arm on their 20th Anniversary Tour.

Drummer Tayo Branston returned the feeling, shouting his admiration for people from five to 75 years on the dance floor, and for past audiences in Salmon Arm. The band is looking forward to coming back in August for the Roots and Blues Festival. Other than playing for the volunteer wind-up at the festival, Branston said this is the first time the band has played indoors in the community.

Sitting on the stage during a break was five-year-old Fletcher Price, wearing a Five Alarm Funk ball cap and large ear protectors.

Five-year-old Fletcher Price, a big fan of drummer Tayo Branston, sits on the stage during a break at Five Alarm Funk聮s sold-out concert/dance party at Song Sparrow Hall in Salmon Arm on April 16. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer) — Five-year-old Fletcher Price, a big fan of drummer Tayo Branston, sits on the stage during a break at Five Alarm Funk鈥檚 sold-out concert/dance party at Song Sparrow Hall in Salmon Arm on April 16. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer)

His mom Jenny Fremlin explained that Fletcher was so inspired by Five Alarm Funk at the 2022 Roots and Blues Festival that he decided he wanted to become a drummer. His family found him his own drum set, so now he listens to Five Alarm Funk nearly every day and practises his drums.

Fletcher was thrilled to get to meet Branston before the Song Sparrow Hall show.

Branston gave a shout-out during the show to Tori Jewell, artist liaison with Roots and Blues, who he said has made the band members feel so welcome over the years they鈥檝e come to Salmon Arm.

Missing from the band was trumpet player and band leader Kent Wallace due to illness.

Read more:

martha.wickett@saobserver.net
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily .

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.

琉璃神社