PBS

The Beat Goes On: Dayton’s Next Generation Carries Forward the City’s Legendary Funk Legacy

September 10, 2025 By Dayton937

On Thursday, September 18, The Brightside Music & Event Venue will transform into a celebration of both Dayton’s storied past and its promising musical future. “From Dayton With Funk” promises an electrifying evening featuring three dynamic local acts: Luv Locz Experiment, MelinaMarie, and Freakquency. These rising stars will perform a carefully curated mix of iconic funk classics alongside their own original compositions, creating a bridge between the city’s golden age of funk and its contemporary renaissance.

The event offers more than just entertainment. Attendees will have the opportunity to view exclusive Dayton-centric segments from the PBS documentary WE WANT THE FUNK! providing historical context and celebrating the city’s often-overlooked contributions to American music culture. It’s a rare chance to see how Dayton’s musical DNA continues to influence artists today.

Luv Locz Experiment headlines “From Dayton With Funk”

What sets “From Dayton With Funk” apart from typical concert experiences is its commitment to supporting the region’s cultural infrastructure. Proceeds from the event will benefit PBS stations ThinkTV (Dayton) and CET (Cincinnati), and the Yellow Springs Film Festival, organizations that champion public media and arts programming throughout the area. In an era where funding for public broadcasting and independent arts initiatives faces constant challenges, events like this demonstrate how local music scenes can support broader cultural initiatives.

“It’s about more than just a night of great music,” explains event organizer, Libby Ballengee. “We’re investing in the platforms that help preserve and share our community’s stories.”

While the evening will undoubtedly feature beloved classics that have defined Dayton’s sound for generations, the focus on original material from contemporary artists ensures this isn’t merely a nostalgia trip. Luv Locz Experiment, MelinaMarie, and Freakquency represent different approaches to funk’s evolution, each bringing their own influences and innovations to the genre’s traditional foundation.

The Brightside Music & Event Venue, known for its intimate atmosphere and excellent acoustics, provides the perfect setting for this multi-generational celebration.

The beat that started decades ago in Dayton continues to pulse through the city’s venues, studios, and hearts. On September 18, that beat will be louder than ever, carrying forward a legacy while writing new chapters in the ongoing story of Dayton funk.

HOW TO GO?

Thursday, September 18

Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM

The Brightside Music & Event Venue

All ages welcome!

🎟️ Tickets: http://bit.ly/44LlW9T

General Admission – $25 (Advance) Limited seating available throughout the venue
VIP Table for 2 – $150 Reserved seating at premium tables near the stage (not on dance floor).
VIP Table for 4 – $200 Reserved seating close to the stage for your whole crew (not on dance floor).
General Admission Day of Show – $30 (we accept cash or credit at the door)

For more information about The Brightside Music & Event Venue and upcoming shows, visit their website here, or follow them on social media.

ThinkTV GreatTV 40th Anniversary Auction Begins Tonight!

April 18, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Inside the ThinkTV Studio on South Jefferson Street in Downtown Dayton

The 40th annual ThinkTV GreatTV Auction starts tonight, Monday, April 18, 2016 at 6 PM and will be broadcast live on ThinkTV 16 and ThinkTV 14 until its conclusion on Saturday night, April 23, 2016. The auction broadcast will start at 6 PM each night. Proceeds from the GreatTV Auction help support ThinkTV’s many educational services including early childhood and K-12 educator workshops, teacher professional development and ensures that ThinkTV will continue to provide greater Dayton with award-winning PBS programs like the recent two part documentary series Jackie Robinson by filmmaker Ken Burns plus locally produced series and specials.

Goods and services available on the auction block include sports memorabilia, jewelry, ticket packages from Dayton performing arts organizations, travel, tuition grants, works of art and much more.

Bids can be placed on major gifts valued at $500 or more by clicking here.

I recently visited the ThinkTV offices and studio on April 8, 2016 for a short tour/photoshoot with Isaiah Ashba, Manager of Events & Projects for ThinkTV. “Celebrating our 40th Anniversary is really a tribute to our community- the support we receive each year, hundreds of donors and volunteers are truly the ones that make the GreatTV Auction such a special event for us. 450-500 volunteers dedicate around 3,800 hours,” said Ashba. In addition, hundreds of local businesses and national companies have donated thousands of items in support of the auction.

“The GreatTV Auction is very much a volunteer-driven event. We have a crew of volunteers who have been writing copy for the auction items every Saturday since January,” said Operations Committee volunteer Jessica Singleton.

Keep up with the ThinkTV GreatTV Auction on TV by tuning in to ThinkTV 16 & 14, streaming it live at thinktv.org/auction and on social media via these helpful links below.

facebook.com/thinktv

twitter.com/thinktv

instagram.com/thinktvpbs

Photography by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography

Local Film Picked Up by PBS

November 2, 2012 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

The award-winning short film “Sparkle” by local documentarians Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert has been picked up by PBS for viewing across the nation. Premiering February 7 at 9 PM, you can see the short as part of a new show on PBS.

“Sparkle” was created as part of the pilot for “Lifecasters”. From the Web site: “The goal of Lifecasters is to inspire, engage and motivate national PBS audiences to share their underdog journeys of overcoming the odds. In today’s climate, this series is designed to bring hope and models for achieving goals to viewers.”

Each episode pairs a filmmaking team with a “lifecaster” – someone who is overcoming great odds to accomplish something special. Dayton’s own Sheri “Sparkle” Williams is a featured lifecaster on the first episode due to her great determination and talent in overcoming what could have been a career-ending injury. The filmmaking team of Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar tells the story in a heartfelt and truthful way. Their efforts garnered them the audience choice award for shorts at the prestigious SilverDocs Film Festival.

At the conclusion of A Premiere Evening (a benefit for DCDC), Jennifer Lawson, Senior Vice President of Television and Digital Video Content for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, announced the big news. Lawson spoke with great enthusiasm about how Bognar and Reichert are great ambassadors for our community. Even in all their travels, Lawson shared, “wherever they are, they are talking about Dayton!”

Tune in to PBS (locally – ThinkTV / CET) this February to catch the first episode of “Lifecasters” and see a powerful Dayton story told to the world!