Fred Wesley Headlines “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Brown Band Alum Fred Wesley Headlines “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy” February 4

Funk forefather to appear with his band The New JBs, plus Roosevelt Collier, DJ Le Spam and kids from the Guitars Over Guns Organization

Miami Beach, FL – January 10, 2017 – When the legendary James Brown issued his famous early 70s edict to “Make It Funky”, trombonist Fred Wesley answered the call. As the leader and musical director for Brown’s renowned backing band The JBs, Wesley is largely responsible for the arrangements heard on some of the Godfather of Soul’s biggest hits. Wesley and his band The New JBs will headline “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy” on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141).

Hosting the show is Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts & Culture, which fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities. Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias offers: “I’m truly excited to offer this funk-tastic lineup that not only includes one of the genre’s godfathers, but also features locals Roosevelt Collier, DJ Le Spam, as well as Guitars Over Guns, who do great work with at-risk youth here and in Chicago.”

The event is part of the ongoing A Day at the Beach Concert Series, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary last fall. Tickets are $30 and available online through http://bit.ly/DATB2017MWFF; doors open at 5 p.m. and the show is all-ages.

An active recording and performing artist in his 70s, the Columbus, GA-native Wesley also served as arranger for another standout funk act, P-Funk. He led the Horny Horns and also collaborated on solo projects by fellow JBs alums Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis. Fred has also recorded and performed with Count Basie, as well as on solo outings by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, and countless other names. This will be The New JBs’ first-ever performance in Miami.

Collier is also known as “The Dr.” because of his mastery of the pedal steel guitar. Brought up in the “sacred steel” tradition of the House of God Church, Roosevelt built his reputation alongside his uncles and cousins in The Lee Boys, known for their spirited, soul-shaking live shows. He’s notably performed alongside artists such as the Allman Brothers, Los Lobos and the Del McCoury Band. A favorite on the jam band scene, Collier will be backed by the Phunk Phactory on February 4th.

Andrew Yeomanson AKA DJ Le Spam is an award-winning musician, producer, and funk selector. When not recording local acts, he works to preserve and restore classic R&B and funk at his home studio City of Progress. Yeomanson also leads the premier Miami Latin funk band the Spam Allstars, who recently released a highly-anticipated collection of songs called Trans-Oceanic. He will be spinning records from his collection of rare 45s in between the live acts.

Guitars Over Guns Organization (or GOGO) is the brainchild Dr. Chad Bernstein. Founded in 2008, the volunteer project has offered music and mentoring at seven schools in Miami and Chicago. They work collaboratively with schools and communities to deliver high-impact, arts-based mentoring programs to empower at-risk youth. The GOGO kids ensemble will be performing live, marking the first time many of them will be showcasing their skills in a professional setting.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org or call 800.838.3006.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds.

CAC also produces the Afro Roots World Music Festival, one of the longest-running events of its kind, as well as co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area at-risk children.

For more information, visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

A Day at the Beach Series’ 5th Anniversary is 11/26

MEDIA ALERT

A Day at the Beach Celebrates Five Years of Music at the North Beach Bandshell November 26

A Day at the Beach Concert Series, presented by Miami non-profit organization Community Arts & Culture (CAC), will be celebrating five years of music on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the North Beach Bandshell. Location: 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141.

Scheduled to appear:

Nil Lara
Elastic Bond
Birdman’s Clambake
Aaron Lebos Reality
DJ Ephniko Dialecto

In addition, there will be live painting by local visual artist Amos, crafts for sale by various vendors, and a full liquor bar.

CAC aims to foster appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures. Show is all-ages; admission is $5. For more information, visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

Third World Headlines A Day at the Beach Concert 4/16 & 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Third World Headlines the Two-Day April Edition of the A Day at the Beach Concert Series

 

Miami Beach, FL – March 30, 2016 – Community Arts and Culture and Intune Productions present the spring edition  of A Day at the Beach concert series, two days of music, art and kid-friendly activities at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, Florida 33141) on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17, 2016. Presale tickets for day one are $20 (http://bit.ly/DATB0416) and $30 the day of the show; doors open at 2 p.m. Day two is free and open to the public, with activities beginning at 12 noon.

 

The reggae ambassadors Third World headline the first day of music, which will also feature performances by Jo Mersa and Yohan Marley, Big Harvest, Uma Galera, and a special performance by the Miami Latin funk and worldbeat band The Baboons, who are celebrating the release of their new CD titled Spanglish.   DJs Gravy and Tom Laroc will be spinning music between sets, and there will be a selection of food, drinks, and goods for sale.

 

Third World has blazed a trail in reggae music, performing and recording together for more than 40 years. Jo Mersa and Yohan, grandsons of the legendary Bob Marley and eldest sons of Stephen Marley, represent reggae music’s next generation of talent. Big Harvest and Uma Galera play authentic roots rock reggae ripe with soulful guitar riffs and sometimes augmented by horns; they are bi-lingual English and Spanish.

 

The Baboons create a seamless fusion of all the worldly influences found on the streets of their hometown into a global gumbo with a unique Miami sound. Spanglish is their third full-length album. Laroc is known as a leading East Coast video DJ; Gravy creates unique environments and brings diverse groups of listeners together through his rice and peas collective.

 

Day two will feature yoga with Afrobeta, one of Miami’s premiere electro-pop bands and a frequent performer at Ultra Music Festival, “Mommy and Me” yoga with Nicola, a performance by the Guitars Over Guns organization’s students and alumni (GOGO), the Gypsy Latin sounds of Tamboka, and the Monkey Village All Stars celebrating their 15th Anniversary and DJ sets by Ephniko in between it all. GOGO volunteers work with at-risk youth at area schools, mentoring them with music.

 

Monkey Village is a collective of musicians that lived, jammed and performed together, giving rise to several local mainstay groups, including Suenalo. Ephniko also collaborates with several prominent Miami groups and makes music with his own project, the Patacon Conspiracy.

 

A Day at the Beach Concert Series is underwritten by the National Endowment for the Arts, Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council, and the Florida Department of Cultural Affairs.

Additional support comes from Blackwell Rum, Shake 108, Rock the Moon Productions, Dancehall USA, Large Up, Moksha Family Arts Collective, 7th Circuit Productions, and Elation Vodka.

 

For more information, visit the brand new dabmusicfestival.com website or call 786.218.6854.

 

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

 

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures by educating individuals of all ages and social backgrounds through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities.

 

CAC also produces the Afro Roots World Music Festival, one of the longest-running events of its kind, as well as co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area at-risk children.

 

For more information, call 786.218.6854 or visit dabmusicfest.com.

 

MEDIA CONTACT

 

Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

DATB-2016_-MONKEY_web (1)

 

Virginia Key GrassRoots Previewed 2/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance Previewed at the February 14 a Day at the Beach Concert

Day two of the concert series to feature Big Mean Sound Machine, Afrobeta, Jean P Jam, Oigo and Big Brooklyn Red at the North Beach Bandshell

Miami Beach, FL – February 2, 2016 – The fifth annual Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance returns to Virginia Key February 18-21, 2016, but fans can enjoy an exclusive preview of a few of the acts scheduled to perform on Sunday, February 14 at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139). The free, all-ages show, featuring Ithaca, NY’s Big Mean Sound Machine and local faves Jean P Jam, Oigo and Big Brooklyn Red, will also feature yoga beats with Afrobeta, workshops, food vendors, crafts and more. Doors open at noon; learn more at www.VirginaKeyGrassRoots.org.

“Our partnership with the GrassRoots organization is a natural one – we share the common goal of wanting to positively impact our communities through the arts,” says CAC Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias. “We invite everyone to come back to the North Beach Bandshell the day after our opener to take in a special Valentine’s Day sneak preview of this year’s Virginia Key GrassRoots Fest, which promises to be their best yet.” Community Arts & Culture won a 2015 Knights Arts Challenge South Florida grant and was recently awarded a National Endowment of the Arts Challenge America award. They present the arts as a tool for education and are a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Big Mean Sound Machine’s stated goal is to create music that stimulates both the body and brain. A dozen plus-piece big band, they thrive in the live setting, passionately emoting a mix of Afrobeat, funk, dance and experimental music, drawing influences from West Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America and performing from 100-150 dates a year throughout the United States. They are currently promoting their third full-length release called Contraband, which was recorded live, fully analog and in two sessions at 19th Century churches.

Jean P Jam was born Jean Almatas Pokito in Haiti where he began is musical exploration on guitar and with the Konpa and Racine styles. His professional career began at age 16, and he went on to tour with the Gemini All-Stars on bass, before joining the legendary Magnum Band, touring and recording with them for several years. In addition, he’s worked with notable artists such asRichie and Cedella Marley (Mother B), as well as several prominent local acts. He is currently based in Miami and is well-known throughout the region for his unique blend of reggae and world music. His latest recording Keep Walking is now available on CD.

Big Brooklyn Red is a neosoul recording and performing artist whose classic gospel stylings have appeared on countless house and dance tracks and compilations. Influenced by Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Al Green and others, he can be seen performing throughout Miami at lounges, clubs and hotels as a solo artist, in the Red Monkey duo or as part of a few different groups. His release Foreward is available on iTunes.

With sister events also occurring in Shakori Hills, NC and Ithaca, NY during the last 25 plus years, the GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance organization, its own 501(c)3, has served to both engage and give back to the local and regional communities in which they exist by providing financial and organizational support to impact positive change. The Virginia Key festival officially opens with a pre-concert Culture Camp, which runs February 14 – 17 at the festival site, featuring instrument, dance, movement and cooking workshops, nightly themed dances and more. Beachfront camping is once again available.

Descemer Bueno, who is best known for the 2014 international hit “Bailando”, will headline the opening day concert planned for the day before, also at the bandshell, marking the official start of Community Arts & Culture’s (CAC) busy season of musical and educational activities. The concert is an all-ages event also featuring members of the at-risk youth mentorship program Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO). Pre-sale tickets are $25 and available at bpt.me/e/2471841; show begins at 4 p.m.

The concert series is generously being sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, theMiami Beach Cultural Arts Council, Blackwell Rum, 7th Circuit Productions, and the Moksha Family Arts Collective. For more information, call 786.218.6854 or visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures by educating individuals of all ages and social backgrounds through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities.

Prior to receiving non-profit status, the Arts at St. Johns served as a fiscal agent for CAC’s programs and development. For their 2003/2004 season, the Arts at St. Johns received funding through a DAN (Digital Arts Network) grant to serve as an incubator for emerging arts administrators. CAC also produces the Afro Roots World Music Festival, one of the longest-running events of its kind, as well as co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area at-risk children.

For more information, call 786.218.6854 or visitwww.communityartsandculture.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

 

 

A Day at the Beach with Descemer Bueno 2/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Descemer Bueno Kicks off Community Arts & Culture’s 2016 Season on February 13

Cuban singer/songwriter to be joined by Guitars Over Guns mentor program kids for a special concert at the North Beach Bandshell

Miami Beach, FL – January 19, 2016 – Descemer Bueno, composer of the 2014 smash hit “Bailando,” will headline A Day at the Beach on February 13, 2016 at the North Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach. The all-ages concert also features performances by members of the at-risk youth program Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) and marks the official start of the Community Arts & Culture (CAC) 2016 season of events. Pre-sale tickets are $25 and available at bpt.me/e/2471841; doors open at 4 p.m. The North Beach Bandshell is located at 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

“We are very excited to have an artist of the caliber of Descemer headline our Day at the Beach concert,” says CAC Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias. “This is a true sign of our festival’s growth and will be a tremendous platform to showcase the great work that Chad and GOGO are doing in our community.” Community Arts & Culture, winners of a 2014 Knights Arts Challenge Award and more recently a National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America grant, presents the arts as a tool for education and is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

A classically trained Cuban guitarist born in the Alquizar neighborhood of Havana, singer/songwriter and producer Bueno founded the band Yerba Buena and is probably best known for his international hit collaboration with Enrique Iglesias. He’s written and arranged songs for artists such as Black Eyed Peas and Orishas, as well as worked with Earth, Wind and Fire, Dave Matthews Band and Siete Rayo. He is currently promoting his latest release Bueno and is hard at work writing and recording a follow-up.

Led by CNN Heroes recipient and local musician Dr. Chad Bernstein, GOGO provides mentoring to at-risk youth through music education and performance as an alternative to the negative and harmful influences that often dominate their environments. Their programs target the most vulnerable students, pairing them with professional musicians who use contemporary music to reach young people and teach them the skills necessary to unleash their potential to be leaders, both in and out of school. Founded in 2008, GOGO also operates a chapter out of Bernstein’s hometown of Chicago, IL, and will soon be featured on the Steve Harvey Show.

“CAC is our portal to a world of arts through many different cultures,” says Bernstein, who serves as GOGO’s president and CEO. “Our students broaden their perspective through exposure to the amazing artists and develop an understanding of how they fit into the fabric of the arts community. Performing can be intimidating for young students, but being vulnerable and taking chances on stage builds a sense of identity and pride. It’s invaluable for our students to be supported by the community in this way. These character-building experiences arm them with the confidence they need to be successful on the stage of life.”

A special Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance preview happens the next day at the same venue; more details forthcoming. For additional information, call 786.218.6854 or visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures by educating individuals of all ages and social backgrounds through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities. CAC also produces the AfroRoots World Music Festival, one of the longest-running events of its kind in South Florida.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com