For the past two years, Funk Fest Tampa Bay has enjoyed, shall we say, mixed success at Vinoy Waterfront Park in St. Petersburg.

In 2010, the inaugural funk and R&B festival drew controversy thanks to a larger-than-expected crowd, which led to shortages in water, shade, toilets and facilities. Organizers promised to do better in 2011, and for the most part they succeeded ... but they lost one of their top headliners when El Debarge dropped out due to substance abuse issues.

Well, it's now 2012. And judging by this year's early Funk Fest Tampa Bay lineup, it looks like organizers finally have it figured out.

Erykah Badu (above), Morris Day and the Time, Fantasia, Charlie Wilson, Slick Rick, Evelyn "Champagne" King and, yes, El Debarge will headline Funk Fest 2012, scheduled for April 6-7 at Vinoy Park. Seriously, Erykah Badu is amazing enough, but you're throwing in a Grammy winner like Fantasia and a funk icon like Morris freaking Day? With even more artists to be announced? This. Sounds. Awesome.

On Saturday (1/7) only, you can purchase an early-bird ticket to both days of Funk Fest 2012 for just $50. Get them at a handful of businesses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Seffner and Lakeland. Click here for a list of ticket locations.  (Regular ticket info and onsale dates are not yet available, but we'll update you when we have them.)

Click here for the full details on Funk Fest 2012. And get the full day-by-day lineup (so far) after the jump.

Friday, April 6: Erykah Badu, Fantasia, Evelyn "Champagne" King

Saturday, April 7: Charlie Wilson, Morris Day and the Time, El Debarge, Slick Rick

-- Jay Cridlin, tbt*. Photo: Bode Helm