WASHINGTON (AP) - This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival features a series of evening concerts on the National Mall, beginning with a group from West Virginia University and a funk concert featuring George Clinton.

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The festival begins Wednesday and concludes July 8. It's centered between 7th and 14th streets.

The evening concerts begin at 6 p.m. The opening night concert will feature Clinton and other funk legends, including Meshell Ndegeocello, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk.

It marks the groundbreaking this year for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The concert also features West Virginia University's Steel Band Drum Ensemble with drummer Ellie Mannette. Mannette is a National Heritage Fellow. He started the university's steel drum ensemble in the 1990s.

Other concerts will follow most nights of the festival.