Gumbo Dance Party
In April 2016, Gumbo Dance Party launched its first event at Touch Supper Club and, since that time, it has become the signature monthly event in Cleveland. Powered by Jason Walker and Allen Boseman, Gumbo has become the event where young professionals let their hair down and have an incredible night of networking, great music, and dancing. Both Allen and Jason are professionals in their respective fields as Allen is a successful lawyer who co-owns the Sherman Boseman Legal Group and Jason serves as the Program Director for a nonprofit agency that provides services for veterans in Ohio and Indiana.
Understanding that the nightlife scene requires a different vibe for young professionals, Jason and Allen knew a unique experience would be necessary to create something special and sustainable that has never been done in Cleveland or anywhere else for that matter. The name “Gumbo” is inspired by the famous New Orleans cuisine that combines various and unique ingredients to create an amazing dish with vibrant flavors. Like the dish itself, Gumbo fuses different genres of music – including, reggae, funk, hip hop, salsa, house, rock, and a host of other genres – together in one big “pot” to create a one-of-a-kind experience that patrons cannot get anywhere else. To add to the New Orleans’ feel, a live brass band plays simultaneously and in sync with the DJ to generate more energy and turn the acoustics up to an entirely different level.
Every month Gumbo draws a multicultural and diverse crowd due to an environment that does not displace or narrowly cater to any one ethnic group. Gumbo also embraces a communal approach to its events that makes everyone feel welcome whether they are a budding young professional or a multimillionaire. Gumbo has even adopted the phrase “The Gumbo family” for regular patrons and every effort is made to avoid separating people based on status symbols such as “VIP” or tables. When patrons come to Gumbo, we are all one “family” and that is the wave that has carried the event to the top of the Cleveland event scene. Gumbo has become its own brand and for two summers before COVID-19, the brand expanded to include an annual Gumbo Live Music Festival on Coventry. While COVID-19 has obviously had an impact on our ability to consistently do this event, in the last year or so, Gumbo has performed at the last “Mix” at the Cleveland Art Museum, the House of Blues, the Real Black Friday’s Juneteenth event, Brite Winter’s virtual music festival, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.