Asheville Horns kicked off the season of street festivals for the City of Asheville on May 20 for the first Downtown After 5 of 2011. DTA5 is somewhere in between a block party and a mini festival. Held on the third Friday of each month, Asheville's Downtown Association sets up a big stage on Lexington Ave. and with the street closed off to cars, thousands come out to dance, socialize and take in the great food and beer available at the event. When DTA5 is in effect, 4 hours can't last long enough because it is such a great time. Asheville Horns with many members of Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band and Josh Phillips Folk Festival blazed funk which kept anyone close to the stage shakin' their stuff. Greg Hollowell switched between his alto and tenor saxophone which set the city groovin' to some authentic funk. Derrick Johnson was smooth on the trombone to where any musician from New Orleans could learn a thing or two. The highly talented and beautiful Mary Frances made the best use of ten fingers that one could imagine with intricate, tight and just right-on jams on the keyboards as well as with her Roland Lucina handheld synthesizer.
