The aptly named explosive Canadian 8-piece collective Five Alarm Funk has been nominated for a 2018 Juno Award by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The group’s 2017 record Sweat is up for Instrumental Album of the Year, with the results to be announced late next month. In the interim, the group has completed a new EP, Boots & Wheels set for release on March 9. Joining the bank on the recording is legendary bass player Bootsy Collins.

Collins explains, “When I first heard Five Alarm Funk it felt very familiar and something I could embrace, so it was a no-brainer for us to do something together. They sent me this track and I felt it was fresh food for funk, so I wrote some funked up lyrics to it. Looking very forward to working more with them in the near future as well.”

Five Alarm Funk drummer/vocalist Tayo Branston adds, “Bootsy is Funk, the whole Funk, and nothin’ but the Funk! His music, style and personality onstage are a catalyst in the inception and delivery of FAF. It’s an honor to work and create with such a pioneer in funk music. I grew up listening to Bootsy — he’s inspired my writing, my performance, and shown that enjoying what you create and how you deliver it is one of the most important steps in longevity. ‘We Play The Funk’ is packed with slammin’ groove, and Bootsy’s iconic style takes it over the top. We’re pumped that it’s not only available digitally, but also on a 7” Flexi, so it’s a true party on plastic! We couldn’t be more honoured than to work with such a Funk legend! It’s just the beginning…”

Today we premiere their collaboration on “We Play The Funk,” which will appear on the forthcoming record. Five Alarm Funk’s current tour dates appear below.

Five Alarm Funk Tour Dates
Fri 2/16 — Spokane, WA — The Big Dipper
Sat 2/17 — Seattle, OR — Nectar Lounge
Wed 2/21 — Kamloops, BC — Blue Grotto
Thu 2/22 — Jasper, AB — Jasper Legion Branch 31
Fri 2/23 — Grand Prairie, AB — Better Than Fred’s
Sat 2/24 — Grand Prairie, AB — Better Than Fred’s
Tue 2/27 — Golden, BC — Rockwater Bar & Grill
Wed 2/28 — Revelstoke, BC — Traverse Pub
Thu 3/1 — Red Deer, AB — Bo’s Bar & Grill
Fri 3/2 — Calgary, AB — The Palace Theatre
Sat 3/3 — Edmonton, AB — The Rec Room
Sun 3/4 — Banff, AB — Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon
Tue 3/6 — Regina, SK — Revival Music Room
Thu 3/8 — Thunder Bay, ON — The Outpost Pub
Fri 3/9 — Duluth, MN — Red Herring Lounge
Sat 3/10 — Minneapolis, MN — 7th St Entry
Sun 3/11 — Fargo, ND — The Aquarium
Wed 3/21-Sun 3/25 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest
Fri 4/6-Sun 4/8 — Santa Barbara, CA — Lucidity Festival
Fri 4/20 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore
Fri 4/27 — Campbell River, BC — Tidemark Theatre
Sat 4/28 — Victoria, BC — Capitol Ballroom