Jim Camacho Performs Benefit Concert for Luna Star Café May 21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami singer / songwriter returns to live action for the first time in more than a year, aims to help popular North Miami listening house / coffee shop / restaurant

North Miami, FL – May 4, 2021 – Miami singer / songwriter Jim Camacho’s first performance since the pandemic turned the world upside down is happening Friday, May 21, 2021 for a good cause. The show will benefit the host venue, the Luna Star Café, located at 775 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161, and the performance is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. It will feature the artist performing his fan-favorite release / record Beachfront Defeat from cover to cover, plus a career-spanning set with some special virtual guests and surprises.   

“I’m looking forward to my first live show in a long time, and I’m happy to have it at Luna Star,” says Camacho. “It’s a place that has managed to survive this insanity but needs help to stay afloat.” He has performed there numerous times as a solo artist, both unaccompanied and with his Jim Camacho Band. All ages are welcome to the May 21 benefit concert, however, capacity is limited, and tickets will be available at the door on a sliding scale starting at $10. 

Camacho has been tirelessly working on music during the pandemic, finishing a full-length Americana record, a new acoustic album, and a record with his old band The Goods. He has just directed a production of his children’s musical Digging for Bones, for which he wrote the book, music, and lyrics. Also, Jim had been performing weekly livestream concerts on Facebook for a large part of 2020. 

Jim released “When the World Stops Spinning” in August of 2020, serving as testament to the need for resolve and resilience even in the worst of times. The song features musical support from Ana Cristina Cash, Dave Daeger, Ira Dean, Caitlin Evanson, Justin Johnson, RickLonow, Jodi Marr, Mike Webb and Justin Moses, and was produced by John Carter Cash at The Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, TN.  It followed “Going on Faith”, which was issued in the spring. 

A livestream will be simulcast on the artist’s Facebook page, and donations will be taken electronically as well through this GoFundMe page. 

For more information, visit www.JimCamacho.com.

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ABOUT JIM CAMACHO 

As co-founder (with his brother John) of the legendary Miami band The Goods, Camacho first attracted national attention through a series of albums that allowed the band to work with legendary producer Tom Dowd, sharing stages with the likes of PearlJam, The Smithereens, Cracker and Matthew Sweet, and reaping any number of accolades in the process. Since then, Camacho’s enjoyed a prolific solo career that’s included a number of memorable albums and EPs. In addition, his music featured in films, documentaries and television soundtracks, and high profile live performances that have taken him to any number of prestigious musical venues, including the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. He’s played the West Coast and the U.K. and has also had the distinction of touring with Alicia Keys, John Legend, Linda Perhacs, and Zascha Moktan. 

Camacho has also made his mark in the theatrical world with efforts that have included such well-received original productions as “Fools’ Paradise”, “Guru”, “MOUSE KING”, “The Cavie Islanders and the Troll”, “Mickey Herman Saves the $#&@ World” and, most recently, “Digging For Bones” – all critically acclaimed musicals, many that found him, Directing, and writing the book, music and lyrics.

Indeed, Camacho’s prolific prowess extends to spotlighting other artists as well. His YouTube series “Adventures in Songwriting” initiated in 2019, finds him working with a series of special guests and then writing a song in tandem within the program’s 30 minute timeframe. The songs were released as an EP that included collaborations between Camacho and such seminal South Florida talents as Fernando Perdomo, Charlie Pickett, Elsten Torres, Rob Elba, and the bands Ex–Norwegian and Deaf Poets. The Miami Herald’s Howard Cohen described the special release show as “Good fun and a testament to the power of inspired songwriting.”

For more information, visit www.JimCamacho.com.

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

Skunkape Headquarters Hosts Swamp Rally April 24 and 25 at Trail Lakes Campground

MEDIA ALERT

Event will feature motorcycles, live music, food and beer vendors, Skunkape merchandise, and more

Ochopee, FL – April 13, 2021 – The legendary Skunkape Headquarters is hosting their inaugural Motorcycle Swamp Rally on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25, 2021 at the Trail Lakes Campground (40904 Tamiami Trail US 41, Ochopee, FL 34141), from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The free, family-friendly event will be held at the 30-acre camping site nestled between Miami and Naples on the Tamiami Trail / U.S. Highway 41.

Featured on NationalGeographic and the SmithsonianMagazine, the Skunkape Headquarters is run by renown skunkape expert Dave Shealy, offers guided tours, houses a zoo, and sells officially licensed merchandise, including the new line of BBQ and hot sauces. The Airboat Club is conducting a fundraiser for their non-profit, as is Everglades Conservation and Sportsman’s Club, who are raising funds for their conservation efforts in the Big Cypress Preserve.

Numerous food, beer, and arts and crafts vendors will be present at the event, including Viking Customs Motorcycle Repair Shop, Red Woman CBD, Iona’s Frybread, Victoria Osceola’s Seminole Arts & Crafts, Buffalo Tiger Airboat Rides, and renown python hunter Dustin Crum aka “Wildman” from Discovery Channel’s show “Guardians of the Glades”.

The live entertainment schedule is as follows:

April 24th:

Southern Stampede | Noon – 3 p.m.

Raiford Starke | 3 – 6 p.m. 

April 25th:

Third Wheel (pictured below) | Noon – 3 p.m.

Southern Stampede | 3 – 6 p.m. 

DJ Monsta host of Bike Night Broward will MC and DJ between the bands.

For event camping and vendor spots, call 800-504-6554 or visit www.evergladescamping.net. There is a larger rally / event planned in for October.

For more information about the Skunkape, visit skunkape.info. 

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

Agape Featuring Nadia Harris Release “Time is Now / From Illusion to Realization and Letting Go” Video

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director Erick Paredes’ short film serves as a psychedelic reminder not to wait for the perfect time

Miami, FL – April 1, 2021 – Released on December 6, 2020, the dystopian, environmental psychedelia “Time is Now” is a culmination of a vision that began nearly a decade ago. Animator and director Erick Paredes, who heads the label Sustainable Music, also produced and composed the music heard in the film, recorded along with the band Agape, which is spearheaded by Paredes and singer / songwriter Nadia Harris. Although the run time is just over 17 minutes, the short film is three separate music videos woven together and serves as a poignant commentary about current events such as the theme of manipulation by the mass media. However, hemmed together, the three are a complete manifestation.

“The first thing I would like the audience to get from it is an introduction to the band and the project,” says Paredes. “Our message is that of one love and harmony, which are the highest feelings and vibrations we have experienced though music and in life. It has always been about being ourselves and embracing our truth and essence. It is about empowering ourselves and others through the creative process, sound, and the arts. Our message.” The idea of making music videos has been an integral part of the band’s creative process from the start, and this project is a continuation of that ethos.

Time is Now is equal parts Spy vs. Spy and Brave New World, is heavy on the HegelianDialectic, and touches on themes of social engineering, propaganda, mind control, and the old socio-political tactic of divide and conquer. What begins as a black and white study on surveillance and digital privacy, ends in a stunningly beautiful, shamanistic release set on the River of Grass. Along for the trip, the viewer travels through Toronto, a favela in Brazil, and winds up in the Florida Everglades. By it Paredes suggests the game is rigged and urges viewers to break free. The downtime afforded by the pandemic allowed for the project to be completed.

The first song and clip featured in the film is “She Really Likes It” begins at the 2:40 mark and represents the “illusion” part of the voyage. This video and segment of the film was directed by Ryan Furlong in Toronto. The song is shot in black and white (reminiscent of film noir) and also in color. The video starts by Nadia ingesting an “A” administered by a Jester/Joker like figure who we see through the whole film. The video has this Alice in Wonderland feel and explores the theme of whether “she really likes it”, which at first seems like a sexual suggestion, but a deeper meaning is revealed at a closer listen and within the context of the film.

The clip ends with a scene leading to the next video that encompasses current events, such as the isolation everyone is feeling due to the pandemic and echoing the social unrest of last summer’s Black Lives Matter and other protests. The music highlights the vocal talents of Harris, while the up-tempo / retro / mod-ish song also showcases the multi-national band that is Agape.

The dub / reggae of the second song in the trilogy of “If Love” at 7:15 marks switch to color and manifests the “realization” part of the journey. The visuals feature the children of Projeto Final Feliz and Dreams Can Be Foundation, and is dedicated to the memory of Marcelo Yuka, the late legendary Brazilian drummer who collaborated with Paredes who along with Christine Clauser helped to facilitate the shoot in Brazil. This segment also echoes the theme of surveillance, and at the end triggers a cinematic “system error” and ushers in the “letting go” passage at 13:33, and was directed by Ryan Furlong.

The viewer, now free from psychological programming and the confines of the past, is welcomed to the final “Row” segment by a vivid color explosion. This musical and visual culmination, set to an electronic dub exploration, celebrates the diversity and vastness of life, and the sanctity of indigenous culture, exploring the Everglades landscape via Tigertail Airboat Tours.

The visuals and the music again work to great effect to discernably transports the observer through a moving canvas. This segment and the collaboration with Executive Producer Houston Cypress was born of the process of Paredes trying to secure passage on an airboat and access to Miccosukee tribal lands. The results were not just the video for “Row”, but the partnership that eventually produced the trilogy, and a 2013 award at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. 

Paredes continues: “At the end of all of these ideas and subject matter, the trilogy culminates with ‘Row’, where the premise is to look within, towards the center. To question and let go of the game that is and has been clearly rigged, and to look towards nature and our ancestral guides for harmony, balance, and health for the individual and the whole.” He offers that the piece is a blessing to all. 

Time is Now is a warm up to bring to attention to the release of a series of new singles and videos the band is cooking up, an invitation for viewers to join them in an evolving story that is happening now, and reflects the times. “We would like to build and vitalize our following in anticipation of our next song and video, which is called “Love Me Like I Am”, and explores identifying the cycles of trans generation abuse and trauma we all carry.”

Paredes is planning to celebrate the release here in South Florida once conditions allow for a safe gathering of large groups. He is also planning to mint and sell a very limited quantity of NFT art from the imagery found in the film to continue funding this evolving body of work, and help with the preservation of the Everglades. More details are forthcoming.

For more information and to view the film now, visit sustainablemusic.com. 

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

Afro Roots Fest Ventures to Key West April 21 – 23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award-winning world music concert series returns to Monroe County for a three night run at the Green Parrot featuring Cuban folk, funk and world grooves

Key West, FL, April 6, 2021 — Some come for Fantasy Fest and the legendary Duval Street party scene, some for the Ernest Hemingway House and six-toed cats. Others still for the Truman Little White House or the Custom House Museum of History. On April 21 through 23, 2021, many will flock to Green Parrot Bar (601 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040) for the world music, as Afro Roots Fest returns to the Conch Republic for the third time during the award-winning event’s 23rd overall season.

“We are excited to get back down to Key West to share a slice of Miami’s thriving global music scene,” says festival founder and musical curator Jose Elias, who also serves as the executive director for the presenting non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC). “It’s always a great time at the Green Parrot and we appreciate not only their support, but the generous and vital assistance given to us by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council in making this event possible.” Elias is also the co-founder and tres player in the Cuban folk group Cortadito, one of the festival’s featured performers.

Here is the complete Key West schedule / lineup:

Cortadito with special guest Tomas Diaz (April 21)

Guerra Grooves (April 22)

FABI World Music with special guest ITAWE (April 23)

There are two performances each day, one at 5:30 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. 21 and over welcome, all shows are free. 

Elias founded Cortadito alongside Julio Cesar Rodriguez Delet in November of 2011 and the band became an instant success. The duo soon recorded and released their debut CD titled Abriendo Caminos in 2012, then subsequently expanded their roster by adding several notable musicians. They quickly became regional and national festival favorites. In 2018, the band released an EP titled Canciones de Julio, and were named “Best Latin Act” by the Miami New Times in 2019. Get more details at CortaditoSon.com. Tomás Diaz is a solo artist and lead vocalist / percussionist for The Spam Allstars. 

Worlds of influences are brought to life by Guerra Grooves, and they are propelled by a love for the urban rhythms of Cuba, Jamaica, New Orleans funk and Miami soul. Signature arrangements, mash-ups and high-energy performances inspire audiences to move and sing the songs they love, making bassist Ariel DLP and vocalist Nikki Guerra and her cajon a much sought-after musical force. Learn more at guerragrooves.com.

Singer / songwriter and multi-instrumentalist FABI is an international touring artist based in Miami. His music carries a wide blend of world rhythms, along with a powerful and original sound. Itawe Correa is the charismatic lead vocalist for Locos Por Juana, a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominated bilingual band. He is recognized for his high energy live performances and unique fusion of reggae, funk, cumbia, salsa, and rock.  

For more information, visit www.GreenParrot.com or call 305-294-6133. Check www.AfroRootsFest.com for updates and additional festival stops; more information about CAC is available at 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 through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds.

CAC has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami-Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmonious relations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community.

In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition. Organizers produced a “Virtual Fest” successfully live streamed from the North Beach Bandshell for the first time ever in September of 2020.

An all-new membership program launched in March of 2021, just in time for the latest season of events, the 23rd overall.

For more information, please visit CommunityArtsandCulture.org. 

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

Afro Roots World Music Concert Scheduled for April 17 at Guanabanas

MEDIA ALERT

Fans can enjoy Cuban folk by Cortadito, Afro-Venezuelan grooves from Venezonix, and world music by FABI, beginning at 4 p.m.

Jupiter, FL — April 5, 2021 — The Road to Afro Roots travels through Jupiter, FL on Saturday, April 17 with a special afternoon and evening of live music by Cortadito, Venezonix, and FABI WORLD MUSIC with special guest Rajesh Bhandari. All ages are welcome before 9 p.m. and there is no cover. Enjoy multiple sets of live music on the Loxahatchee riverfront at Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar, located at 960 U.S. Highway A1A, Jupiter, FL, 33477.

Now in its 23 season, the award-winning Afro Roots Fest features concerts scheduled throughout Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties this month and next.

For the full festival lineup and schedule, visit AfroRootsFest.com.

Who: Community Arts and Culture

What: Road to Afro Roots concert

When: Saturday, April 17, 2021, beginning at 4 p.m.

Where: Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, 960 U.S. Highway A1A, Jupiter, FL, 33477

More: CommunityArtsandCulture.org

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

Afro Roots Returns to Miami Beach May 1 Featuring Roosevelt Collier and Friends, Plus More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fans welcome to a socially-distanced layout including performances by Vieux Farka Toure, Philip Montalban, Fulu Miziki, Richard Bona, Weedie Braimah and more TBA

Miami Beach, FL — March 30, 2021 — Last year, the pandemic forced Miami-based non-profit Community Arts and Culture (CAC) to scrap all scheduled Afro Roots Fest performances due to safety concerns and restrictions. It’s annual Miami Beach concert became a “Virtual Fest” that was live streamed and watched by thousands in dozens of countries world-wide. This year, the show will once again welcome fans in person, and feature a lineup of regional and international acts, and most importantly, welcome live music fans back safely. 

The concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141), beginning at 7 p.m. The master of ceremonies will once again be world music legend Georges Collinet, host of the award-winning Afropop Worldwide syndicated radio program, which is heard locally on WDNA. Tickets are available online by clicking here. 

“We are excited to get back to presenting live music to a live audience, and look forward to having Roosevelt Collier with special guests Richard Bona and Weedie Braimah, and Philip Montalbán entertain folks live, and Vieux Farka Toure and Fulu Miziki do so virtually,” says Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias. “This event could not have been possible without the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council, the Rhythm Foundation, the Broadmore Hotel, and Afropop Worldwide.”

Soft spoken by nature, South Florida-bred Collier does his hollering on 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 performances. Seated front and center, “The Dr.” leaves an indelible mark on listeners, flooring audiences with his lightning-fast slide work on the pedal steel.

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Vieux was initially a drummer / calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts, but secretly began playing guitar in 2001. As a passionate champion for the people of Mali and The Sahel, Vieux founded the charity Amahrec Sahel in 2012. Vieux is also the director of The Ali Farka Touré Foundation, an international organization dedicated to the preservation of Ali’s legacy and the cultural growth of Mali.

Afro-Latino reggae artist Montalbán is an Afro-Nicaraguan singer / songwriter who blends Mestizo, Afro-Caribbean and the indigenous cultures of Miskito, Rama, and Garifuna influences together musically. His albums range from showcasing a mix of Creole English and Spanish to his presenting specific Miskito words in song lyrics. He is an  intense, serious songwriter noted for his thoughtful songs of love, harmony, and hope that call for Africans everywhere to unite. 

Fulu Miziki is a multidisciplinary ensemble of musicians from Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) founded by Old Pisko Crane. For several years, Pisko envisioned an orchestra made from materials found in trash cans and dumps. The instruments vary constantly in search of new sounds. Fulu Miziki’s artists make their own performance costumes, masks and instruments. Their distinct sound supports a Pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and a deep concern about the ecological situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the whole world. For Fulu, everything can be reclaimed and re-enchanted.

The following night, Sunday May 2, there will be a special event at Smart Bites To Go (791 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33127) featuring live music by Xperimento and Pan Afrik, and hosted by DJ Lance-O. Also on hand will be a show called “Travels with Afropopo Worldwide and Georges Collinet“, a lively multimedia experience of video, images, music and stories from the Peabody Award-winning radio show’s field work in Zimbabwe, Congo, Egypt and Mali. 

Collinet himself will also be on hand to meet and greet fans, and discuss his 50 year’s experience as broadcast personality and film-maker, as will Afropop’s founding producers, Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre.

For more information, and the full festival lineup and schedule, visit AfroRootsFest.com. 

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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 has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami-Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmonious relations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community.

In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition. Organizers produced a “Virtual Fest” successfully live streamed from the North Beach Bandshell  for the first time ever in September of 2020. An all-new membership program launched in March of 2021, just in time for the latest season of events, the 23rd overall. .

For more information, please visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

Community Arts and Culture Launches Membership Program

Initial level offers free merch and tax credit, future levels to offer more

Miami, FL — March 23, 2021 — Miami-based non-profit Community Arts and Culture (CAC) has long been a champion of the arts in South Florida. From hosting the award-winning Afro Roots Fest for more than two decades, to bringing Roots in (to) theSchools, and curating the Day at the Beach concert series, CAC has fed the public’s appetite for African culture and expression since its inception. Now, supporters have an opportunity to “Join the CAC Tribe” and unlock special membership privileges.   

“Our multicultural programming is usually made possible by the generous support from municipal organizations like the Miami-Dade County’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council,” says Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias. “Now we are offering individuals the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation that will not only help fund our events, but will grant them some exciting membership benefits.”

For starters, any “Give 33 to Join CAC” action earns the donor a tax-credit and the choice between a limited-edition Afro Roots t-shirt or tubular buff, which both sell for $19.99. One can also become a member by texting JoinCAC to 44321. Founding members levels will have exclusive access to additional benefits in the works, once conditions allow.    

“Our world music fans are the inspiration and essentially the co-creators of our events. Their continued contributions and support allows us to bring exceptional world music to South Florida, and we look forward to making these rewards available to them,” says Elias. “We are honored to welcome them to the CAC Tribe.” 

This year’s series of events kicks off with a Road to Afro Roots concert in Jupiter at Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar on April 17, 2021 with an afternoon of live music featuring Cortadito, Venezonix, and FABI World Music. Tour tops will also include Key West April 21-23, Miami Beach on May 1, Miami May 2, Doral on May 15, and Islamorada on Memorial Day Weekend.   

For more information about the organization, visit CommunityArtsandCulture.org. Those interested in membership can click here or text JoinCAC to 44321.

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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 has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami-Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmonious relations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community.

In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition. Organizers produced a “Virtual Fest” successfully live streamed from the North Beach Bandshell for the first time ever in September of 2020. An all-new membership program launched in March of 2021, just in time for the latest season of events, the 23rd overall.

For more information, please visit CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

Afro Roots Fest Returns for a 23rd Edition, Announces Multi-County Event Schedule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award-winning world music concert series drops multiple Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach County dates in April and May 

Miami, FL – March 3, 2021 – Faced with an unprecedented situation in 2020, the Afro Roots Fest was forced to recalibrate and reinvent itself, culminating in a first-of-its-kind “Afro Roots Virtual Fest”. This year, fortune seems to favor a return to form of sorts, and the Miami-based non-profit organization behind the music, Community Arts and Culture (CAC), has now announced the lineup of events and artists for its 23rd season of events. 

“We are happy and excited to be able to get back to in-person Afro Roots events,” says festival founder and musical curator, and CAC Executive Director Jose Elias. “We look forward to continuing to share some exciting local, regional, and international world music acts, but are intent on doing it safely and according to all coronavirus safety recommendations.” Elias is also the co-founder and tres player in the Cuban folk group Cortadito and the guitarist in the Nag Champayons, two of the festival’s featured performers.

The schedule of events is as follows: 

Road to Afro Roots Jupiter
Saturday, April 17, 4 p.m.
Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar – 960 Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477
Acts:
Cortadito
Venezonix
FABI World Music
More info

Afro Roots Fest Key West
Wednesday, April 21 – Friday, April 23, 5:30 and 9 p.m. each day
The Green Parrot – 601 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040
Acts:
Cortadito with special guest Tomas Diaz (April 21)
Guerra Grooves (April 22)
FABI World Music with special guest ITAWE (April 23)
More info – Day 1
More info – Day 2
More info – Day 3

Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach
Co-presented by the Rhythm Foundation
Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m.
North Beach Bandshell – 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141
Acts:
Roosevelt Collier with special guests Richard Bona, Weedie Braimah, and more TBA
Vieux Farka Toure (virtual performance)
Philip Montalban
Fulu Miziki (virtual performance)
Tickets: bit.ly/ARFMB2021

Afro Roots Fest Miami
Sunday May 2, 6 p.m.
Smart Bites To Go – 791 NW 20 St, Miami, FL 33127
Acts:
Xperimento
PanAfrik
DJ Lance O
More info

Afro Roots Fest Doral
Saturday, May 15, 5:30 pm
Doral Yard – 8455 NW 53rd St, Doral, FL 33166
Acts:
Venezonix
Vanya Allen
DJ Le Spam
More info

Afro Roots Fest Islamorada
Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30, 6 p.m. each day
Florida Keys Brewing Company – 81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036
Acts:
Electric Piquete and JUke (May 29)
Electric Kif and Nag Champayons (May 30)
More info – Day 1
More info – Day 2

This year’s festival is being generously underwritten by: the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar, the Green Parrot, the Broadmore Hotel, Smart Bites to Go, Afropop Worldwide, the Florida Keys Brewing Company, Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, and Keys ICE. Sponsorship opportunities are available – interested parties can email info@CommunityArtsandCulture.org. 

Concert goers can prep for events by shopping the Afro Roots Fest online store and purchasing branded masks at www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org/store. Music from selected performers is available for downloading through the organization’s Afro Roots Recordings online music store: www.AfroRootsRecordings.com. 

Check www.AfroRootsFest.com for updates and additional events; more information is available at 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 through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds.

CAC has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami-Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmonious relations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community.

In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition. Organizers produced a “Virtual Fest” successfully live streamed from the North Beach Bandshell for the first time ever in September of 2020.

For more information, please visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

Stokoff Releases “Country Music Hits en Español” Album Also Featuring Original Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Remakes of songs by Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and others are mixed in with compositions by the Colombian / German Country Music en Español artist

Nashville, TN – January 29, 2021 – Stokoff, the German-born, Colombia-raised singer, songwriter and producer has realized a long sought-after goal: to issue an album’s worth of country music hits by some of his favorite acts alongside some of his own originals. Recorded and mixed in Nashville, TN and mastered at Gateway Studios by Adam Ayan, the new 17-song collection called Country Music Hits en Español is now streaming and available on all major online music stores. It features the lead single “Solo Por Ti” (“All About You“).

“I am very proud because of this release because we worked very hard developing and realizing my Country Music en Español sound,” says Stokoff. “These 17 songs are a milestone for me personally, and each song truly tells a story. I enjoyed the challenge of re-imagining and singing the covers in my native language of Spanish, and I hope that comes across to listeners.” For him, working with incredibly talented musicians in Miami and Nashville to make the record, and having the opportunity to work with the late Dan Warner before he passed away were the best parts about the process. 

In 2020, Stokoff released tributes to several of his favorite recording artists: Fito Paez (“A Rodar Mi Vida“), Jose Feliciano (“Que Sera“), Rascal Flatts (“Camino Difícil“, the Spanish version of “Bless the Broken Road”), and Tim McGraw (“Nunca Te Olvides de Amar“/ “Humble & Kind”). He also issued the lyric video for “Si Tu No Estas“, which features stunningly beautiful visuals by Youssef Abd-Elfadel, and a clip for “Fuego y Hielo“, shot in Nashville in 2020. He also performed weekly Facebook livestream solo concerts on his Facebook page. Before the pandemic hit, he made his Carnaval on the Mile debut in Coral Gables, FL.

The originals on CMHEE were written in Stokoff’s unique style, resulting in an energetic and positive listening experience, and each track features stellar performances by a roster of amazing County studio musicians. In addition, the collection features the co-production and guitar work of the beloved and highly respected Warner. The album will be pressed to vinyl and issued on CD in the months to come.

Coupled with this monumental release, Stokoff has also recently undertaken another huge life change: he has relocated to Nashville with his family. “It’s a big step in my musical journey, and I think it is the place to be if you want to write songs and get really involved in the country music scene,” states the artist.

For more information, please visit www.Stokoff.com or call 786-426-2277.

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

Alexa Lash Releases Debut EP Sage and Wine About Love, Heartbreak, and Self-Forgiveness

Material written during the pandemic quarantine also touches on honesty, anxiety, acceptance, happiness, and self-realization.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami, FL – January 26, 2021 – In the Victorian age, Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said something about loving and losing love being better than never having loved at all. In today’s society ripe with entitlement and self-dealing, toxic relationships are sometimes not worth the heartbreak. In the case of Miami-based singer / songwriter Alexa Lash, it inspired a set of songs she recently released called Sage and Wine, material written during the pandemic quarantine touching on themes of self-forgiveness and honesty, anxiety, acceptance, happiness, and self-realization.

 “The whole Sage and Wine EP is the story of love, heartbreak, and self-forgiveness,” says Lash, who was born and raised in North Miami, FL, and educated in Orlando and Boston. “It was inspired by deep conversations about toxic relationships and commiserating over wine while we saged my apartment to rid it of the negative energy that comes with a person who doesn’t just break your heart, but almost makes you forget who you are.” The EP is now streaming and available online for purchase through bit.ly/SageandWine.

The record represents her first solo release and was recorded and mixed by Ferny Coipel at the Shack North Studio and Rehearsals in Hialeah. “I was so nervous recording because I don’t have a ton of confidence in my guitar playing,” shares Lash. “Ferny was not only patient with me, but he was also encouraging, and really made me feel like my music was something special, worth being recorded and heard.”  Sage and Wine was mastered by Little Cheddar Studios out of New York. There are more tracks in the works.

Lash listened to a lot of 80s and 90s music with her mom as a youngster, having been influenced by Queen, Meat Loaf, Blondie, Madonna, No Doubt. She has fond memories of singing them all loudly with her in the car. “Before that, I was raised in a Jewish household, so I remember the music from the holidays, the deep and impassioned songs that told stories of sadness and miracles. Those were a pretty big influence, too.” Today she enjoys Postmodern Jukebox, Bright Eyes, Metric, TV on the Radio, Jesca Hoop, Tune-Yards,and a playlist of all the locals she has shared a stage with.

Alexa founded a virtual open mic series on Tuesdays called “Creatively Undistanced”, an online community to give people a place to gather, talk, and share their art. Occasionally, she hosts evenings at local live music oasis Bar Nancy in Little Havana (2007 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33135). Fans will have several opportunities to catch her there the next few months, including Friday, January 29, 2021, beginning at 8 p.m.

For more information, visit linktr.ee/alexalashmusic.

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