Wattstax- Film & DJ after-party from Fraggs (Poetic Funk)

Wattstax was a benefit concert organised by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 riots in the African-American community of Watts, Los Angeles.

The concert took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972. The concert’s performers included all of Stax’s prominent artists at the time. It was headlined by Issac Hayes and the performances ranged across soul, gospel, R&B, blues, funk, and jazz.

Months after the festival, Stax released a double LP of the concert’s highlights; Wattstax: The Living Word. The concert was filmed by David L. Wolper’s film crew and was made into the 1973 film titled Wattstax, that was directed by Mel Stuart and nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary Film in 1974.

It’s an incredible snapshot of Black American culture – the music fashion and dance moves – all narrated by Richard Prior. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’.

The spirit and atmosphere of the screening will continue with a set from Fraggs, who brings us his own electric mix of soul & funk, so stay for a drink and a dance and great music!