Jim Camacho at Luna Star Cafe 9/18

Jim Camacho Plays Luna Star Cafe with Special Guests Humbert and More 9/18

MEDIA ALERT

Miami singer / songwriter Jim Camacho will be performing at the Luna Star Cafe (775 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161) on Friday, September 18, 2015, beginning at 8 p.m. The night will also feature a set by Hialeah power pop group Humbert, who are celebrating the recent release of new music. Cover is $10 (the establishment is cash-only) and all ages are welcome. For more information, call 305.799.7123.

Last month, Humbert issued a surprise dual single called “Summer 2015” through theirBandcamp page. Featuring two new songs called “She Goes” and “Just Now”, the new material is a continuation of the band’s sweet and melancholic indie rock, and features drummer Izo Besares on lead vocals. The group also features Ferny Coipel on guitar, keyboard and vocals and Tony Landa on bass and vocals. Learn more about them onwww.Humbert.net.

Humbert will play a set before Camacho, and Ruti Celli (singer / songwriter) and local legend Charlie Pickett (guitar) will be special guests of Jim during the evening. This event caps a busy summer for Camacho: he released his second single and video of 2015, “Please Come Home”, had a successful concert at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center and performed as part of the Mad Cat Theater Company’s production of RAM by Paul and Linda McCartney – all last month.

For more information, visit www.JimCamacho.com.

###

Media contact
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

 

LUNA STAR MARCH 2014 - WL

 

 

 

 

 

8th Everglades Awareness Concert on 9/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gramps to Host 8th Annual Everglades Awareness Benefit Concert September 19

Event to raise awareness of and funds for Everglades protection and public education to feature some of South Florida’s top bands, spoken word artists and community activists

Miami, FL – September 1, 2015 – Now in its eight year, the Everglades Awareness Benefit Concert combines activism, conservation and the arts like no other festival series in South Florida. The 2015 incarnation will feature some of the area’s best musicians from acts such as Spam Allstars, Suenalo, Iko–Iko, The Baboons andSunGhosts, repeat performers Sweetbone, Kuyayky, Mr. Grim Reapa and others, plus guest speakers, spoken word sets, dance performances, live paintings and more.  The concert takes place at Gramps in Wynwood (176 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127) on Saturday, September 18, beginning at 4 p.m. All ages are welcome and special advance tickets are available online: http://ticketf.ly/1JTWwr8. For more details, visitwww.Gramps.com or call 305.699.2669.

“We are truly excited about this year’s lineup and the opportunity to continue the momentum begun by last month’s well-attended Love the Everglades MovementSummer Symposium,” says LTEM co-founder and Miccosukee community member Reverend Houston R. Cypress. “Apart from addressing the pollution and conservation issues that the River of Grass faces, one of the goals of our movement is to unite artists, musicians, lawmakers and members of the community together to ensure and protect the ‘Rights of the Water.’ This event does so beautifully.”

“I couldn’t be prouder to help organize this three stage extravaganza showcasing some of South Florida’s top bands, spoken word artists and community activists, all joining together to raise awareness for this most vital of Florida’s natural resources,” says community activist and Ploppy Palace Productions head Flash. “We encourage everyone to pick up advance tickets to show support and provide more resources for the event.”

In addition to the acts listed above, the following are also scheduled to perform: ArmyGideon, The Oski Foundation, Purple?, Magic City Hippies, Above the Skyline,The School of Rock, Venus Rising Women’s Drum & Dance Ensemble, Orion,Teri Catlin, Val C. Wisecracker, Grant Livingston, Anthony Nelson, SilverNightingale, Linda Reiling and more.

Guest speakers include: South Miami City Mayor Phil Stoddard, Houston Cypress, Tropical Audubon Society Executive Director Laura Reynolds, the executive director for South Florida Wildlands Association Matt Schwartz, energy chair for Sierra Club, Callusa Chapter Rhonda Roff, The Python Invasion producer Oscar Corral, Gator in the Bay artist Lloyd Goradesky, and other concerned citizens.

There will also be spoken word performances by Alonso, Oscar Fuentes and more, dance performances by Elviza’s Rockabelly Hippies, Melody Gedbeon, MaiahDuck and others, live art by Anibal Fernandez, Linx and more. Also present: information booths from Love the Everglades Movement, the Tropical AudubonSociety, and other organizations.

The event is being presented by Ploppy Palace Productions and the Love the Everglades Movement, with production support provided by 7th Circuit Productionsand Miccosukee Media. Sponsorship and vending opportunities are still available. Those wishing to donate online can do so at www.gofundme.com/LoveTheEverglades. For more information, call 305.579.0069 or visitwww.PloppyPalace.com.

###

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

Benefit Concert banner

 

Michael Mut | C.V.

MICHAEL MUT


14100 Alamanda Ave | Miami Lakes, FL 33014 | 786.426.2277 | mmut13@gmail.com

Profile:

I am a dynamic, dedicated and experienced professional looking to continue to grow and take on new challenges. Experienced in the field of integrated marketing / communications, I have excelled in the areas of social media, public relations, writing, editing, advertising and event management. My job knowledge and savvy has enabled me to produce tangible results for a varying array of clients and employers. I collaborate well with others, often seizing the initiative in group projects, but can work quickly and efficiently in an independent situation.

Core Competencies:

>>Social media specialist
>>Superb copy writing
>>Strong media relations skills
>>Sharp script-writing skills
>>Events management experience
>>Charismatic public speaker
>>Experience in retail marketing
>>Strong public relations skills
>>Excellent copy editor
>>Internet and email marketing savvy
>>Experience in B to B marketing
>>Skilled blogger

Professional Experience:   

06/12 – present        Marketing Specialist for Vivant Skin Care

Miami Lakes, FL

  • My duties include creating and executing retail and wholesale marketing plans for Vivant Skin Care. I also manage all social media channels, write and edit copy, press releases and collateral, and plan, promote and manage trade show appearances. So far I’ve helped to expand our Internet retail outlets by adding ten new vendors during my tenure and helped increase 2013 sales figures by $500K over the previous year. I’m part of the team that earned CEW Insiders Beauty Award Finalist honors in the lip treatment category as well as Manufacturer of the Year award finalist honors from the SFMA and a 2015 Dermascope Magazine Aestheticians’ Choice Award for Exfoliating Cleansers.

 12/08 – 02/12           Corporate Director of Marketing for Dade Medical College

Miami, FL

  • Responsible for creating and/or overseeing all marketing, advertising and public relations communications for the college, I also maintained the school’s website and social media platforms and managed email and Internet marketing campaigns. I helped grow the college from a single campus to six now located throughout Florida, guided the redesign and relaunch of the website in ‘09 and helped increase revenue from $12M to $40M during my tenure. I developed and maintained new business relationships and managed a $1.2M advertising budget that was spread through television, outdoor, print, radio, direct mail and email mediums. Through social media efforts, I was able to get Facebook to become the fifth-highest source of web traffic by January 2012. My proudest accomplishment was creating and orchestrating the college’s yearly “Go Pink” breast cancer awareness campaign.

10/01 – 12/08          Internet and Sponsorship Coordinator for Dolphin Mall Management / Taubman Co.

Miami, FL

  • Updated mall website with copy and HTML and managed mall and sponsor events, ensuring that sponsors maximize their amenities. Reported results of campaigns and sponsorships to management and a remote corporate office structure. Also updated mall maps, signage and directories, booked live entertainment and developed and maintained relationships with tenants. I was part of the struggling shopping mall’s post 9-11 recovery and helped increase the brand’s overall name recognition during my tenure.

03/99 – 10/01              Marketing Assistant for MSI Music Corp.

Miami Lakes, FL

  • Primarily wrote content for an extensive music database, prepared marketing materials for the sales department and conducted Internet research on new releases and emerging artists. I also proofread copy, wrote feature length music profiles and assisted in inventory maintenance. I helped to increase business and deliver excellent customer service at a time when Internet sales of import CDs were booming on CD Now and Amazon.com.

 08/98 – 02/99              Editorial Assistant for Aboard Publishing

Coral Gables, FL

  • Assisted editorial and graphic design departments by writing and editing copy and layouts, requesting imagery from story sources and coordinating freelance traffic and submissions. I also conducted research for articles and maintained a source and contact database in addition to other miscellaneous newsroom responsibilities.

 Education:

  • Florida International University                 Miami, FL

Bachelor of Science in Communications, April 1998

Major: Print Journalism

Minor: Anthropology and Sociology

Honors: Golden Key National Honors Society membership, graduated Cum Laude, Dean’s List 1996 and 1997

  • Miami Dade Community College            Miami, FL

Associate of Arts, December 1992

Major: General Studies

Honors: Graduated with Honors, Dean’s List 1991 and 1992

 Awards:                  

Best Latin Band – Miami New Times Best of Miami 2009 and 2015, City of Homestead “Kindness Award” 2010; Bronze Telly Award 2012; CEW Beauty Insiders Choice Award Finalist 2013; SFMA Manufacturer of the Year Finalist 2013; Les Nouvelle Esthetiques & Spa – Best 2014 Finalist / MaxiLip Lip Plumper; Dermascope Magazine 2015 Aestheticians’ Choice Award Winner – Exfoliating Cleansers, Best Latin Band – Miami New Times Best of Miami 2015.                      

Computer Skills:     Microsoft Office and HTML

Languages:             Fully fluent in English and Spanish

References:             Available upon request

 Interests:                 Doting father to a precocious seven-year-old son and composing, recording and performing music professionally.

3e9fbb0

Electric Piquete Opens Ball & Chain Fest

Ball & Chain Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Three-Day Music Festival Labor Day Weekend

 

MEDIA ALERT

WHO: Ball & Chain, the notable and world-famous live music venue located at 1513 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33135, is thrilled to present their first annual three-day music festival in honor of the venue’s 80th Anniversary this Labor Day Weekend. The historical hotspot originally opened its doors in September 1935 as a live jazz music venue, closing its doors in the 1950s. The retro jazz bar on Calle Ocho was reopened with an authentic Cuban flare meticulously redecorated in iconic 1950s Miami style by new ownership Ben Bush, Zack Bush and Bill Fuller in September 2014.

WHAT: This is the first multiple-day musical driven event to celebrate the venue’s 80th birthday. The anticipated live performances will begin on Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 a.m. Featured bands include:

Nick Tannura Trio

Electric Piquete

The Baboons

The Politix

Spam Allstars

Suénalo

Conjunto Progreso

BARRIOACTIVO

Vlade Divak

Brendan O’Hara & The Rescue

Rum & Coffee Band

ArtOfficial

Elastic Bond

Tony Succar featuring Mixtura

Komakozie (special beatbox set)

Gene Paul

Jazhiel

Pepe Montes Trio
DJ sets by:

Le Spam (from Spam Allstars)

Danny Stern

Danis LaClave

Edward
Special 80th Anniversary cocktails will be added to the menu and available for purchase during the festival. All attending guests will be eligible for exclusive giveaways and raffles.

Full schedule will be announced closer to event date.

For additional information about Ball & Chain, please visit www.ballandchainmiami.com.

This is event is free and open to the public.

WHERE: Ball & Chain 1513 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33135

WHEN: Friday, September 4, 2015 through Sunday, September 6, 2015

ABOUT BALL & CHAIN
Ball & Chain is a historic and world famous live music venue located at 1513 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33135 in the center of Little Havana. The retro jazz bar on Calle Ocho was reborn in September 2014 reborn as a live music venue with an authentic Cuban flare and meticulously redecorated in iconic 1950s Miami style by new ownership Ben Bush, Zack Bush and Bill Fuller. Before the area became a harbor for Cuban refugees, the bar “On the Trail” (Tamiami Trail) from the mid-1930s to late 1950s was a popular late-night stomping ground for many of the world’s most famous jazz musicians including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Chet Baker.

The revived entertainment venue aims to reclaim its reputation as a power player in Miami’s nightlife scene with a 3,000 square-foot interior and a 3,500 square-foot patio both outfitted for live music. The music scene at Ball & Chain infuses contemporary sounds with old school jazz and salsa. The venue features live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and Sunday. The iconic bar features a full top shelf and premium liquor bar, signature specialty craft cocktails as well as a Cuban inspired tapas menu. Ball & Chain is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. from Monday through Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Happy Hour is Monday through Sunday starting at 4 to 7 p.m., featuring two for one specialty cocktails daily.

For additional info, please visit www.ballandchainmiami.com.

###

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

 

Save the Date

Advocate for the “Rights of the Water” 8/22-23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Love the Everglades Movement Summer Symposium to Advocate for the “Rights of the Water” August 22-23

Weekend of presentations, guest speakers, excursions, entertainment, art installations, prayers, and strategizing aims to raise awareness and spur action to preserve the River of Grass

Miami, FL – July 29, 2015 – The non-profit, volunteer organization Love the Everglades Movement implements strategies to address the environmental, structural, cultural and spiritual problems plaguing the Florida Everglades by raising awareness and organizing community engagement. On August 22, 2015 at the Miccosukee Resort & Convention Center (500 SW 177th Ave, Miami, FL 33194), and August 23, 2015 at Florida International University’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus (Graham Center, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, room 150), the group will convene during the 2nd annual Summer Symposium.

“Protecting our natural resources is a concern for us all because the water is sacred and the water unites us,” says symposium organizer and Miccosukee community member Reverend Houston R. Cypress. “The Love the Everglades Movement is providing the community with a platform for education and action. Now we need the public to participate and be part of the solution.”

Guest speakers, PechaKucha presentations, physical and digital art displays, workshops and live entertainment will serve to educate and hopefully inspire the community to conserve South Florida’s greatest natural resource. Day one of the symposium runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the second floor ballroom of the convention center, with a catered lunch served courtesy of the symposium’s presenting sponsor, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

Day two of the Summer Symposium 2015 will consist of an in-depth look at activist planning, strategies and tactics with environmental organizations with a common mission: to restore and preserve the Everglades. F.I.U.’s Global Indigenous Forum is the venue sponsor for day two, and is providing additional support. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with a diverse community of environmental advocates, and they will break up into groups to explore in detail regional environmental concerns with the goal of creating plans of action for making progress on these issues.

This year, the symposium’s goals are to:

  • Articulate the moral imperatives that motivate action to restore the Everglades
  • Engage various communities in environmental issues and actions
  • Provide networking opportunities between individuals, communities, and organizations
  • Provide information on environmental, political, social, and spiritual concerns regarding Everglades restoration, water contamination, land use, and indigenous rights.

“This is a great educational opportunity,” continues Cypress. “We encourage teachers, students, artists, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested to attend. If you care about the Everglades, it is worth the effort to get involved.” Love the Everglades Movement is publishing all presentations and discussions through a variety of media platforms to contribute to the global discussion on Everglades and environmental matters. “We’re also very excited that people are stepping up to meet the challenge by offering their support. Agustina Woodgate is going to be bringing herRadio Espacio Estacion project to the event to broadcast it live via Internet radio.”

“As artists, we have to use all the tools available to us to get this work done,” explainsJean Sarmiento, co-founder of the Love the Everglades Movement. “We have to give the water the respect it deserves. I don’t care if you’re a diva, a gangster, if you’re RickRoss, if you’re black, white, green, or purple – it behooves us to reach out to as many people as possible and engage them in this necessary work.” To that end, the event organizers will be providing multilingual translation services in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Miccosukee, and American Sign Language. They are also providing community organizations with free booth space so they can get their message out to attendees.

“There’s going to be a lot of different examples of what people are doing,” says Dr. J. Michael Lemus, member of the Coordination Circle for Love the Everglades Movement. “We hope that by seeing all the ways people are doing this work, people will be inspired to do what they can to save the Everglades. It’s going to take all kinds of people doing so many things: art, policy, prayer, research. I’m so glad that we’re making this available to people that speak different languages. What an exciting time to get involved.”

The event is free and open to the public both days and all ages are welcome. Free table space is available for community organizations that would like to participate on Saturday, August 22. A special benefit concert is planned for Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Gramps in Wynwood; details are forthcoming.

For more information, including the full list of speakers, entertainment, activities and registration, visit www.lovetheeverglades.org/summer-symposium-2015.html or email Cypress at LoveTheEverglades@gmail.com.

###

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

LTEM cover image

Jim Camacho Releases “Please Come Home”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim Camacho Releases “Please Come Home” Single and Video July 28

New song, a lyrical and sonic gem, captures Camacho’s expertise at songwriting and recording

Miami, FL – July 28, 2015 – One of Miami’s premier singer/songwriters Jim Camacho has independently issued a new adult alternative single called “Please Come Home”. An acoustic guitar-driven Americana song co-written by Camacho, Jodi Marr and George Noriega , and co-produced with Fernando Perdomo, the new single reflects a slide towards country music. The production has a timeless feel reminiscent of the Eagles or Bruce Springsteen. The track is now available as a download on iTunes and can be streamed on Spotify.

The song was recorded and co-produced by frequent collaborator and L.A.-based musician / multi-instrumentalist Perdomo at his Reseda Ranch Studios and Capitol Studios during Camacho’s spring 2014 tour of the Northwest and West Coast. Camacho sings lead vocals and plays acoustic and bass guitar. Perdomo handles electric, slide and acoustic guitar and organ, in addition to handling production duties.  Jordan Welch is featured on drums and percussion, John Camacho contributes backing vocals and Sharief Hobley, who’s worked with John Legend and Rufus Wainwright, among others, contributes electric guitar parts. The track was mixed by Charles Dye and mastered by Ryan Smith.

The opening lyric “Some call it madness, some call it love,” sets the tone of this romantic song about forgiveness. “Maybe she’ll leave me, it’s what I deserve, or maybe she’ll keep me for better or worse”    – these lines demonstrate a simplicity embedded with barroom wisdom and a relatable story. Jim’s vocal delivery is convincing and impassioned. The slide guitar mimics the pedal steel guitars heard in country-flavored music; they serve to provide a soft bed for the other sounds to lie in and widen the song’s appeal.

The video, directed by Juan Davila and produced by Annie Fernandez, stars local chanteuse Samantha D’Giff and features cameo appearances by Fritz Dorigo (Crease), Ferny Coipel (Humbert) and Alex Ibanez (Price) as Jim’s band. Shot at the now-defunct venue The Stage Miami and at Copiel’s Shack North Annex studio, the video is brilliantly edited and deftly tells the story of the song. It can be viewed on Jim’s YouTube page.

Coming off a well-received, sold-out debut at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center earlier this month, Camacho’s next move is to perform as part of the Mad Cat Theater Company’s production of RAM by Paul and Linda McCartney Friday, July 31 and Saturday August 1, 2015 at the Miami Theater Company. Tickets are available online here: http://bit.ly/MadCatRAM.

For more information, visit www.JimCamacho.com.

ABOUT JIM CAMACHO

Miami native Jim Camacho co-founded and led the standout group The Goods, which was active during the 1990s, worked with legendary producer Tom Dowd, won the prestigious “Album of the Year” Florida Jammy award and topped the Billboard Florida Radio & Record charts with their single “I’m Not Average”. Their high-energy live show, outstanding musicianship and relentless touring led them to sign a recording contract with Polygram Records and be featured in a VH1 documentary. The Goods shared the stage with Pearl Jam, The Smithereens, Cracker and Matthew Sweet, among others.

His solo career has seen him release five collections of songs, including 2005’s Stalker Songs, which earned a Gold Remi award in the Music Video category at the 40th Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for the song titled “Houdini.” His material garnered “Best Acoustic Performer” (2005) and “Best Album” (2009 for Beachfront Defeat) honors from the Miami New Times. The Broward Palm Beach New Times called Everywhere one of the top albums of 2013.

In addition, Camacho’s music was featured in the Grammy-nominated Tom Dowd & the Language of Music documentary, in National Lampoon’s movie Pledge This, and the documentary Fatboy, which was nominated for “Best Use of Music in a Documentary” accolades at the Sundance Film Festival. His song “I Don’t Need You Anymore” (also from Beachfront Defeat) was featured prominently in the soundtrack for the hit ABC family show Pretty Little Liars. Jim has played at Radio City Music Hall, the Kodak Theater and Mirage Hotel, toured with Alicia Keys and John Legend as guitarist and musical director for the solo artist Zascha Moktan.

As a solo artist, he toured the west coast with folk legend Linda Perhacs and played a string of dates in the U.K. in 2014; Jim also laid down tracks at Capitol Records’ vaunted L.A. recording studio for a series of singles. In 2015, Camacho enjoyed a sell-out homecoming show at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.

Camacho has also become prolific at writing musicals and scoring children’s theater productions. His initial foray into the realm began with Fools’ Paradise, which was directed and choreographed by the acclaimed Jonathan Cerullo. The show ran as a full production in Miami and played to sold out workshops in New York. Next, he co-wrote and scored Guru, which premiered in  Miami, scored Mickey Herman Saves the $#&@ World, which premiered at the Adrienne Arsht Center, wrote the book and music for The Cavie Islanders and the Troll and The Guru of Gir.

He has collaborated with Sesame Street veteran Noel MacNeal on Who Put the Trick in Trick or Treat: Tales of Amazing Tricksters, Beasts of the Magical World, and The Carnival of Extraordinary Animals – all of which enjoyed runs during the “Boo at the Zoo” at the Bronx Zoo 2012-2014. Another collaboration with MacNeal, Mouse King, has become a new South Florida holiday tradition and will run for a third consecutive year this December. This year, Camacho premiered Digging for Bones, a musical about a group of time-travelling paleontologists and a friendly T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.

For more information, visit www.JimCamacho.com, like the Jim Camacho Music page on Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @JimCamacho.

###

Media contact
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com

AfroRoots World Music Festival Aug. 6-8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annual Afro Roots World Music Festival Returns for a 17th Season

2015 edition expands to 10 acts over three days at three Miami and Miami Beach venues, panels and workshops

July 15, 2015 – Miami, FL – The Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture, dedicated to presenting the arts as a tool for education, is planning their biggest festival event ever. Taking place August 6 – 8, 2015, the 17th annual Afro Roots World Music Festival will launch with a kick-off celebration on Thursday, August 6th at Blackbird Ordinary (729 SW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33130), continue with a World Music Conference and Global Locals Showcase on Friday, August 7th at the Little Haiti Cultural Center (212-260 NE 59th Terr, Miami, FL 33137), and wrap with a main event headliners concert on Saturday, August 8th at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141).

Celebrating the evolution of African culture by featuring some of the best performers from all over the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa, the festival’s opening event will feature music by Cortadito (Cuba / Miami) and Patacon Conspiracy (Colombia) along with a global bazaar. Day two at the LHCC includes showcase performances byConjunto Progreso (Cuba / Miami), PALO! (Cuba / Miami), Morikeba Kouyate(Senegal), the Nag Champayons (Little Haiti) and Los Herederos (Cuba / Miami), plus DJ Moses spinning  global selections. Day three on Miami Beach will conclude the festival with headliners Hassan Hakmoun (Morocco), Locos Por Juana (Colombia) and Bateria Unidos de Miami (Brazil), along with DJ Le Spam.

Day two’s World Music Conference and Global Locals Showcase is the festival’s most recent undertaking. The conference will feature three highly-informative panel discussions focusing on the business of world music; such as how to build an effective management, publishing and publicity team, what artists need to know about booking agents and touring, and more. Speakers and panelists will include Dmitri Vietze (CEO / founder of Rock Paper Scissors, Inc.), Isabel Soffer (co-founder / co-director of Globalfest), Deirdre Valente (Lisa Booth Management), Cary Sullivan (producer, Airtel Music Express / booking agent, Afro Funke), Gustavo Fernandez (CEO, Delanuca Music Group, president, BVE 45), and Janice Bond (cultural curator | arts advocate).

Workshops will focus on North and West African traditions and Afro-Cuban folklore. This year’s main festival headliner Hassan Hakmoun will present a lecture on the traditional sounds and culture of the Gnawa people of Marrakesh, and demonstrate his main instrument the sintir, a three-stringed lute with a body made of camel skin stretched over nutwood. Master percussionists Roman Diaz and Mauricio Herreraand multi-instrumentalist Onel Mulet will demonstrate the application of traditional Afro-Cuban based folkloric music in the context of modern or contemporary music. Senegalese percussionist Aly Mbaye and Morikeba Kouyate on the kora will show attendees the rhythms of the sabar drum and djembe, as related to the Mandingo musical traditions of Senegal, West Africa. Delou Africa Inc., a locally based non-profit organization that presents the annual African Diaspora Dance & Drum Festival of Florida, will be hosting a West African dance workshop with a live percussion ensemble.

A special after-party will take place Saturday, August 8 at Naomi’s Garden Vibes Restaurant (650 NW 71st St, Miami, FL 33150), beginning at 10 p.m. featuring DJ Lance – O and the Kulcha Shok crew. There will be a $5 cover charge and the event is open to those 21 and over.

Support for the Afro Roots World Music Festival is made possible the KnightFoundation, the Funding Arts Network, the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Blackbird Ordinary, the New Yorker Hotel, Kulcha Shok Musik and Blackwell Rum.

Day one is free and open to those 21 and over. $20 two-day passes for days two and three are available online at afrorootsfest17.bpt.me or admission is $15 at the door. A $10 discounted door rate is available for students and seniors with ID; kids 12 and under are free.

For more information, visit www.AfroRootsFest.com or contact 786.218.6854 |cacblogspot@gmail.com.

###

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

AFROROOTS-15_poster_web

Love the Everglades Summer Symposium

MEDIA ALERT

Love the Everglades Movement Summer Symposium Scheduled for August 22-23

Save the dates for a weekend of presentations, guest speakers, tours, entertainment and more

Who: Love the Everglades Movement, a volunteer organization that implements strategies to address the environmental, structural, cultural and spiritual problems plaguing the Florida Everglades by raising awareness and organizing community engagement, using an approach that engages the full spectrum of being.

What: The 2nd annual Love the Everglades Movement Summer Symposium featuring guest speakers, PechaKucha presentations, physical and digital art displays, workshops, live entertainment, a catered lunch and more. Free table space available to community organizations; sponsorship packages will be available.  Event is free and open to the public; all ages welcome. A special benefit concert is planned for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. More details coming soon.

When: Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2015.

Where: Miccosukee Resort & Convention Center, 500 SW 177th Ave, Miami, FL 33194 and locations TBA.

Why: Because the Everglades matter.

More information: www.lovetheeverglades.org.

###

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

Finger Lakes GrassRoots Miami-Flavored

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance Rich in Miami Flavor

Twenty-fifth edition of summer concert features four local acts and takes place in upstate New York July 16-19

Miami, FL – July 1, 2015 – This year’s lineup of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will feature mainstays like Donna the Buffalo, KeithFrank & Soileau Zydeco, Marco Benevento, Jim Lauderdale, and Big Mean SoundMachine. Also scheduled to appear: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, JohnBrown’s Body and Jimkata. Notably, a musical cadre from the South Florida area will also make the trek north: Lanzallamas, the Nag Champayons, Telekinetic Walrusand Nery Arevalo.

Originally an AIDSwork benefit concert thrown together in 1990, the Finger Lakes Festival of Music & Dance is now half-way into its third decade of existence. The event will take place over the course of four days at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds(2150 Trumansburg Rd, Trumansburg, NY 14886) and could be the perfect summer getaway from the South Florida heat. The nearby Finger Lakes Wine Country and the area’s renowned Rieslings may be of interest to travelers, as are the great opportunities for fishing and hiking along the myriad streams and gorges.

Lanzallamas is a five-piece modern Afro-Latino folkloric group that combines salsa, cumbia and electronic elements into an original and hypnotic sound. Led by singers / percussionists Fabio Patiño and Cintia Lovo, the group has appeared at the Finger Lakes, Shakori Hills (NC) and Virginia Key GrassRoots Festivals before, as well as at several other Miami-based music and arts events.

The Nag Champayons are an Afrogalactic, tropidelic six-piece who just releasedRising Sounds of a Sinking City, an eight-movement, 21-minute theme weaving together sonic textures from Africa to Colombia, then Stateside via Cuba, all done in a screaming 60s psychedelic rock style. The band features keyboardist / graphic designer Ryan Caccolici, bassist Edwin Cardona, guitarist Jose Elias, drummerKenneth Metzker, vocalist Komikaze. This year will mark the group’s debut at Finger Lakes.

Experimental / psychedelic / hip-hop / electronica act Telekinetic Walrus features the colorful cast of characters Y Diz, the Time–Zoo Keeper, Corinne Stevie, Faun 5000,Buffalo, as well as Komakozie. They are currently embarked on the “Drive Through Tour 2015” in support of their recently released recording Spaceship with the Heavy Bass Bump.

Nery Arevalo is an El Salvador-born, Miami-based percussionist who has played with the James Montgomery Blues Band, the Fabulous Charmers, and currently, with the Nag Champions and Morikeba Kouyate and Friends.

Single day and four-day admission tickets are available online now atwww.GrassRootsFest.org. For more information, call 607.387.5098.

###

ABOUT GRASSROOTS
The original Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance began in 1990 as a benefit concert to support a local AIDS organization in Ithaca, NY.  Encouraged by the success of that night, a decision was made to create an annual festival dedicated to raising money for the fight against AIDS, while supporting arts and education. With the help of countless volunteers, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival has become an internationally-recognized event with a focus on traditional and contemporary roots music and dance from all over the world.  For four days every July, the festival hosts more than 60 performing groups on four stages at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Central New York near the university town of Ithaca.

Twelve years later, the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance was launched on a 75-acre farm in rural North Carolina near the triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Twice a year, in April and October, thousands of people attend the event to revel in great music, sweat it out on the dance floor, celebrate the arts, and build community. The site has since become the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization created to strengthen the community through music, arts and education.

The festival winters at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, just off the coast of Miami, FL. This year’s edition was the fourth such year of the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, featured local and national acts and was the most successful one yet.

For more information, visit GrassRootsFest.org  or call 607.387.5098.

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

header-grf

frontpageimage

 

unnamed (2)

#AfroRoots17: August 6-8

The 17th Annual Afro Roots World Music Festival: August 6-8, 2015

Save the dates for one of Miami’s longest-running music, arts and cultural events

Who: Community Arts and Culture, 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.

What: The 17th annual Afro Roots World Music Festival, celebrating the evolution of African culture by featuring some of the best performers from all over the Caribbean, the Americas and African countries such as Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali and the Republic of Congo. Sponsorship packages available; volunteers sought.

When: Thursday, August 6 through Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Where: various locations in Miami and Miami Beach

Day 1 – Kick-Off Celebration: Blackbird Ordinary (729 SW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33130), featuring Cortadito, Patacón Conspiracy and Global Bazaar; 9 p.m. start, free, 21 and over welcome.

Day 2 – Global Locals Showcase: Little Haiti Cultural Center (212-260 NE 59th Terr, Miami, Florida 33137), featuring Conjunto Progreso, PALO!, Los Herederos,Morikeba Kouyate and the Nag Champayons; 5 p.m. start all-ages welcome, $15 at the door, $20 for two-day pass (includes access to Day 3 concert at North Beach Bandshell). The night also features sets by DJ Moses.

The day will also feature panel discussions, lectures and workshops by some of the top professionals in the industry. Topics will focus on the business of world music and give artists an inside look into management, publishing, collecting royalties and booking tours.

Day 3 – Concert at the North Beach Bandshell (501 72nd St, Miami Beach, FL 33141), featuring Hassan Houkmoun, Locos Por Juana and Bateria Unidos de Miami; all-ages welcome, $15 at the door, $20 for two-day pass (includes access to Day 2 Global Locals Showcase). The night also features sets by DJ Le Spam.

A special after-party will take place at Naomi’s Garden Vibes Restaurant (650 NW 71st St, Miami, FL 33150), beginning at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge and the event is open to those 21 and over.

Ticket link: http://afrorootsfest17.bpt.me

A $10 discounted door rate is available for students and seniors with ID Days 2 and 3; kids 12 and under are free.

Support for the Afro Roots World Music Festival is made possible the Knight Foundation, Funding Arts Network, the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the New Yorker Hotel and Blackwell Rum.

More information: www.AfroRootsFest.com

###

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

AFROROOTS-15_large-flyer_front_web