GATA’s Sports Bar & Grill will have not a penny, not a dime, but A Nickel Bag of Funk performing on its stage this Friday at 9:00 p.m.

GATA’s owner, Christian Bennet, said he likes to have a variety of entertainers and has had A Nickel Bag of Funk come and perform for the past two or three years.

“People are always asking when is A Nickel Bag of Funk coming back. They’ve always had a very successful following and people love to see them. Now they’re more popular than ever,” Bennet said.

The Savannah-native band began with a small fan base in the Savannah and Statesboro area and that fan base has grown over time.

“It just took a little time for people to hear them once or twice and that was it,” Bennet said. “They’re very unique and very fun.”

Band members include Leslie Adele for lead vocals, Anthony Jones for keys and vocals and Jermaine Baker handling the drums.

“When A Nickel Bag of Funk first formed eight years ago, our original members of the group thought the name would be a play on words, but as our reputation built up, everything worked out,” Adele said.

“We came off as church kids with no cursing and the negative aspect of the name went away,” Adele said.

Now further in their careers, A Nickel Bag of Funk carries themselves to be sure they are invited to play again.

“You may not know me now, but I promise you when I say thank you and goodnight, you’ll never forget us,” Adele said.

A Nickel Bag of Funk plays music that goes hand in hand with their name for the most part, but the band members try to keep a few tricks up their sleeves.

The band also performs a cover of something that is completely unexpected, Bennett said.

A Nickel Bag of Funk is releasing their album “Melodic Schizophrenic” this November and those who plan on being apart of the crowd will get a taste of it.

Bennet said if A Nickel Bag of Funk is playing, everybody’s showing up.