“Most Outstanding Group”
-Chicago Music Awards
“Best World Music Group”
-Chicago Reader
Celebrating 27 years in 2023, Funkadesi has been wowing crowds with their blend of Indian bhangra, Bollywood & folk with reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean grooves, Funkadesi emphatically personifies inclusive joy. Winer of this year’s Chicago Music Award for Most Outstanding Group, Chicago-based Funkadesi delivers a virtuoso high energy musical experience. With members who are unprecedentedly diverse (Indian-American, African-American, Jamaican, Latino, and European-American), their music expresses their motto: “One family, many children. . . . Insisting we all belong.”
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
2024 SHOWS:
1.17 Keynote for MLK Day @ Latin School (private)
1.18 Hello Baby book launch (private)
1.24 Ashe Elementary
1.26 City Winery BUY TIX HERE
1.31 Lincolnwood Elementary
2.9 Fitzgeralds: BUY TIX HERE
3.7 Calmeca Academy, Chicago
3.19 Fairview South Elementary, Skokie
3.21 Community Drum Circle @ District 45 w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi
3.23 Holi @ Navy Pier 1-5pm - FREE!
3.30 4-6pm Global Drum Jam w/ Rhythm Ambassadors Spring Break @ Navy Pier - FREE
[APRIL-JUNE] 20 Drum Circles for Special Children's Charities w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi
4.6 WORKSHOP: Healing from Racism Through Drumming & Dialogue w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi 11am-2pm, Elastic Arts (Logan Square) - REGISTER FREE
4.19 Deerfield High School
4.20 WORKSHOP: Healing from Racism Through Drumming & Dialogue w/ Dr. Sharma & Rhythm Ambassadors of Funkadesi 11am-2pm, Elastic Arts (Logan Square) - REGISTER FREE
4.20 Solidarity Bridge Silver Jubilee Gala
4.26 Maine West High School - Drum Circles & Concert
5.11 1pm-4pm. Healing from Racism Funkadesi Concert & Drum Circle. NOTE: FREE registration to folks who attended an April workshop - @Elastic Arts (Logan Square)
5.14 Funkadesi Rhythm Ambassadors "Taste of DEI" Corporate Event (downtown Chicago)
5.24 Celebratory Community Concert @ BUILD Chicago (5100 W. Harrison St., Austin)
6.7 Evanston SPACE. On sale mid-April
[MORE SUMMER FESTIVALS TBA]
7.11 Harper Court Music Series, 6-9pm (5235 S. Harper Court, Hyde Park)
8.10 Veggie Fest 3:30-5:30pm, Lisle IL
8.11 Veggie Fest 6-8pm, Lisle IL
8.22 Summerdance, 6-7pm dance instruction, 7:15-9pm music (601 S. Michigan Ave., downtown Chicago)
9.8 City Winery
9.12 Desi quintet (Bollywood fusion) Evanston Downtown Summer Sounds
10.10.24 Combat Blindness International Gala Concert (Madison, WI) @ Majestic Theater
12.6.24 SAVE THE DATE - Funkadesi 28th Anniversary Party Old Town School of Folk Music, Maurer Hall
Thank you family, friends, and fans for the Chicago Reader "Best of 2023" award for "Best World Music Group," and consecutive Chicago Music Awards "Most Outstanding Group" honors!
“There’s a lot of funk in that desi!”
– Barack Obama
“Funkadesi knows how to be fun and accessible, while grooving your socks off with their
reggae / Bhangra / roots music brew.”
– Latin Beat Magazine, Los Angeles
Photos courtesy of TEDx Chicago
Funkadesi on the TEDx Chicago stage
leading the TEDx crowd in a guided meditation with live improvised music.
Funkadesi had the honor of leading the TEDxChicago crowd through a guided visualization set to live music, followed by a performance. All band members are gifted healers, educators, and community advocates who are passionate about combining entertainment with education, experiential learning, and becoming better global citizens. Learn more about interactive workshops here.
Flashback to Our 25th Anniversary
In December of 2021, Funkadesi turned 25! Here’s a snippet of a feature documentary we showed that year, as part of the grand celebration! Thanks to filmmaker Sree Nallamothu for this collaboration!