Suds Francisco Fest Will Combine Funk, Fantastic Views and ... Fermentation?
To the uninitiated, “funk and fermentation” might sound more like a stinky hospital ward full of weird infections than it does like a party. But in fact, Suds Francisco 2026: A Funk & Fermentation Festival is a real-life Aug. 23 event where people brewin’ and people groovin’ collide. (Hopefully in a non-sticky way?)
On the groovin’ side is San Francisco rapper-producer Afterthought, who’s set to perform with his big, eclectic backing band, the Top Chefs. Expect a hearty dose of positive mental attitude, heartwarming vulnerability, and a blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and (yes) funk, that’ll leave you with the warm and tinglies before you’ve even tried any spicy kimchi.
Also on the bill is Katdelic, the latest project by former Parliament Funkadelic member, RonKat Spearman. (The soulful and multitalented San Francisco resident is also playing the Boom Boom Room the night before Suds Francisco, for those of you who prefer your funk in small, dark rooms.) Katdelic as a quintet prides itself on producing genre-bending party music, so get ready to move.
This rooftop party at Salesforce Park is hosted by the Bay Area Brewing Guild, Bernal Heights’ Barebottle Brewing Company and 26 other reputable independent breweries. As such, Suds Francisco will likely be this summer’s hottest party for Bay Area beer breweries, wineries, cideries, sake- and kombucha-makers, and the fans who love them. The fermentation foodies will be happy too, with a selection of artisanal pickles, kimchi, sourdough, sauerkraut and more to snack on.
Entrance is free, but tickets (starting at $85) are available for anyone wanting to indulge in unlimited tastings. Ticket proceeds benefit the Bay Area Brewing Guild, a nonprofit trade association that unites, showcases and supports independent craft breweries around the region.
Is funk and fermentation kind of a weird theme to build a festival around? Probably. But fermentation is undoubtedly having a moment right now, a natural end-point for the multitude of sourdough obsessions that started during the COVID pandemic. And yes, as Parliament noted all the way back in 1975, we’ve still gotta have that funk.
Suds Francisco 2026: A Funk & Fermentation Festival takes place Aug. 23, 2–6 p.m. at Salesforce Park (425 Mission St., San Francisco).