Festival travels to Islamorada May 28 and 29, featuring Johnny Dread, Suenalo, Javier Garcia, and Bad Apples Brass Band
May 17, 2022 – Islamorada, FL –The award-winning Afro Roots Fest is to take center stage over Memorial Day weekend in Islamorada, with shows scheduled Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29. The Memorial Day weekend concerts in Islamorada are to take place at the Florida Keys Brewing Co. (FKBC), 81611 Old Highway. Attendees can expect a tasty blend of craft beer and melodic offerings from some of Florida’s top world-music talents.
Saturday evening’s show, beginning at 6 p.m. at the popular brewery, is to spotlight the Caribbean-influenced world beat mastery of Johnny Dread, paired with the Latin-infused rhythms of Javier García. Sunday’s musical schedule begins at 4 p.m. Audiences can sway to the sounds of the nine-piece Latin funk band Suenalo, a critically acclaimed South Florida favorite, and the funky New Orleans style of the Bad Apples Brass Band.
Both shows are to take place in the beer garden and admission is free. The festival is presented by Miami-based nonprofit organization Community Arts and Culture, and supported by the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Keys ICE, the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, and FKBC.
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.For more information, please visit CommunityArtsandCulture.org.
Free, all-ages show features Jesus Hidalgo, Philip Montalban, Gilmar Gomes, The Resolvers, Miamibloco and DJ Le Spam
May 9, 2022 – Hollywood, FL – The award-winning, multi-county Afro Roots Fest will be experiencing a series of firsts on Saturday, May 21, 2022: first concert in Broward County, City of Hollywood premiere, and maiden event at the Hollywood ArtsPark (1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, FL 33020). The free, all-ages internationally flavored show begins at 4 p.m. and features Jesus Hidalgo (Venezuela), Philip Montalbán (Nicaragua), Gilmar Gomes, (Brazil), The Resolvers (US), Miamibloco (Brazil), and DJ Le Spam (UK / Venezuela).
“We are happy to finally be bringing our world music concert series to Broward, and especially to the wonderful venue that is the ArtsPark,” says Miami nonprofit organization Community Arts & Culture (CAC) Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “This concert would not be possible without the generous support of the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the City of Hollywood, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts, and the Florida Keys Brewing Company.” CAC has successfully produced 24 seasons of Afro Roots Fest concerts so far.
Jesus Hidalgo is a medicine music composer and singer, an activist for the rights of mother nature and the rights of animals, and a guardian of the ancestral legacy from Venezuela. He is a messenger of spiritual music, and music with a conscience, and his intentions are to harmonize mind, body, and soul. He was nominated for a “Best New Artist” Latin Grammy in 2013, and founded the ¡Todo el Mundo Dice AHO! concert series, which will return to Miami later this fall. More information can be found at JesusHidalgoMusic.com.
Afro-Latino Reggae artist Montalbán amusingly refers to the term African / English / Spanish to describe his long-standing presence in the music touring industry and to refer to the African and / or Caribbean presence largely located on the Atlantic coast in his home of Nicaragua. Based in a transnational figuring of ethnicity and music, the Afro-Nicaraguan musician calls what has been explained / profiteered / idealized as globalization as “the world getting closer.”
A multi-instrumentalist, producer, visual artist and percussionist based in Miami, Gilmar Gomes was raised on the music style of reggae Samba in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. He’s toured the world and collaborated with artists like Angelique Kidjo, Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Harry Belafonte, Rihanna, Shakira, Prince, Gilberto Gil, Meshell Ndegeocello, the Dave Matthews Band, and Yerba Buena. He’s also a part of the super-group Forro in the Dark. More info: ffm.bio/gilmar.
The Resolvers define “Big Band Reggae” by combining classic Jamaican roots and lively New Orleans stylings. Siblings Ojay and Sahara Smith (son and daughter of international reggae artist Ernie Smith) exchange lead vocal roles with Israeli born bandleader and guitarist Ron Eisner, while their rock-solid rhythm and bombastic horn sections set the pace. The Resolvers have shared the stage with The Wailers, Julian Marley, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Kymani Marley, Inner Circle, English Beat, Yellowman, Matisyahu, Lee ‘Scratch‘ Perry and Mishka. Get more details at TheResolvers.com.
Miamibloco is a Samba percussion community committed to creating intergenerational creative spaces through playing and teaching people of all ages and musical abilities. They believe that the unique non-verbal communication (hand signals) needed to play in their group is a valuable tool that brings a wide range of people together and allows them to understand each other. They conduct interactive workshops throughout Miami – learn more about the group at Miamibloco.squarespace.com.
Miami-based DJ Le Spam, founder of Spam Allstars, is a producer, music archivist, and musician also known for his eclectic vinyl collection. Born in Montreal, and raised in London and Bogota, he was exposed to a variety of music and cultures from an early age. He specializes in rare and hard to find music. His expansive collection includes Latin, funk, Miami-bass, Haitian, jazz, and more. He began digging for records as he toured the world as the guitar player for Capitol recording artist Nil Lara and continued adding when he formed and toured extensively with his own band Spam Allstars. SpamAllstarsBiz.com
This year, Afro Roots Fest held events in Gainesville, Jupiter, Doral, Miami Beach, Homestead, and Key West. After Hollywood, the 2022 season wraps with a two-day event in Islamorada at the Florida Keys Brewing Company.
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.
The award-winning Afro Roots Fest is a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by CAC. This year, the festival has added new stops in Gainesville and Hollywood, gained new partners,and added a series of music and dance workshops.
April 18, 2022 – Miami-Dade County, FL – This weekend marks the “Miami-Dade” portion of Afro Roots Fest, when the festival holds three consecutive days of events in Doral, Miami Beach, and Homestead. On Friday, April 22, The Doral Yard hosts Cortadito and friends, featuring Jude Papaloko (Haiti), Panafrik, ITAWE (Colombia), and DJ Kumi (Nicaragua). The location is 8455 NW 53rd Street, Suite 106, Doral, FL, 33178, and the show is free and open to the public. Music begins at 7 p.m.
The North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141) is the site of the next concert, which stands as the signature event of the Afro Roots Fest series and is happening on Saturday, April 23. Scheduled to perform are Sinkane (Sudan), Dayme Arocena (Cuba), Son Mandinga (Venezuela), and DJ Lance-O (USA). General admission tickets are $30 and available online at bit.ly/ARFMB2022. Doors open at 6 p.m., music begins at 7, all ages welcome.
Wrapping up the weekend is a limited capacity RSVP live performance of the Everglades Songbook Suite at the Long Pine Key Amphitheater (40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL 33034) within the Everglades National Park on Sunday, April 24, beginning at 4 p.m. Inspired by Elias’ 2016 AIRIE (Artists in Residence in Everglades) artist residency and co-presented by Community Arts and Culture and Live Arts Miami, the performance will feature a variety of musicians from around the world. This event will be part of the park’s 75th anniversary celebration, and park entry fee applies.
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.
The award-winning Afro Roots Fest is a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by CAC. This year, the festival has added new stops in Gainesville and Hollywood, gained new partners,and added a series of music and dance workshops.
Live performance of original work to commemorate the park’s 75th Anniversary
April 12, 2022 – Homestead, FL– Community Arts & Culture (CAC) and Live Arts Miami (LAM) are proud to present Jose Elias’ Everglades Songbook Suite (ESS), a dynamic live concert event featuring new musical compositions and soundscapes that celebrate the sights and sounds of the Florida Everglades at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, at the Long Pine Key Amphitheater within Everglades National Park. Presented in honor of Earth Day and the park’s 75th anniversary, the concert is free and open to the public. Park admission required.
Everglades Songbook Suite is presented as part of LAM’s EcoCulturaseries of performances for the planet, and as the culmination of CAC’s annual Afro Roots Fest. The event is being produced with support from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and filmed for its “Arts Across America” docu-series.
“We are thrilled to be a part of bringing music into this glorious setting as part of our EcoCultura series, celebrating Earth Day in our beloved Everglades National Park,” said Kathryn Garcia, LAM’s Executive Director. “Through projects like these, artists can inspire us all to listen to, connect with and take care of our planet.”
The vastly resplendent Everglades has inspired countless works of literature and art, including this new musical composition created by Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and producer Jose Elias. A 2016 Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) fellow, Elias wrote the music for ESS after spending considerable time at Everglades National Park. The project, which stands as the creative and artistic statement of his experiences, first came to fruition on June 21, 2021 as a short film shot in the Everglades, co-produced with LAM and AIRIE for International World Music Day. Now it returns with its first ever live performance at Everglades National Park.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to perform the ESSin the environment that inspired the piece in the first place,” said Elias, who is also the founder and executive director of the Miami-based nonprofit CAC. “To have it coincide with the 75th anniversary of the national park is a personal and professional honor.”
The project features a rotating cast of musicians playing a variety of global instruments, including the Cuban tres, Venezuelan cuatro, percussion and woodwinds, indigenous flutes, and the African Kora. Featured musicians alongside Elias (Cuba) will include: Morikeba Kouyate (Senegal), Aboubacar Camara (Guinea), Carlos Ochoa (Peru), Damian J.Sanchez (Cuba), Gino Coca Mir (Puerto Rico), Kenneth Metzger (Puerto Rico), Samuel Tommie (Seminole Tribe), Aboubacar Soumah (Guinea), and Rajesh Bhandari (India).
“The park is happy to partner on projects such as this that help others see and understand the Everglades in new and unique ways,” said Pedro Ramos, Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks. “We are excited that the Everglades songbook performance is going to be a part of the seminar series celebrating the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park.”
The artwork of Canadian-born Scottish artist Deborah Mitchell, a certified Master Naturalist from the University of Florida, will adorn the stage during the performance. Mitchell’s creative process is derived from experience-based field work, where observations become the driving force for studio work. Her photography-based work evolves into paint, fabric and / or installation-based collages.
WHAT: MDC’s Live Arts Miami Presents Everglades Songbook Suite WHEN: Sunday, April 24, 4 p.m. WHERE: Everglades National Park, Long Pine Key Amphitheater
40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
Parking is located at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, guests can take trolley to Long Pine
Key Amphitheater. Trolley will run to and from both locations from 2 – 6 p.m.
Tickets: This event is free with limited capacity. RSVP strongly encouraged at bit.ly/ESSENP2022. Please note that park entrance fees apply.
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. The award-winning Afro Roots Fest is a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by CAC. This year, the festival has added new stops in Gainesville and Hollywood, gained new partners,and added a series of music and dance workshops. More information and the full schedule is available atAfroRootsFest.com and through CommunityArtsandCulture.org.
ABOUT LIVE ARTS MIAMI Live Arts Miami is one of the city’s oldest and boldest performing arts series: an action-driven platform for powerful performances, impactful community programs and learning experiences that spark dialogue, raise awareness around pressing issues, and open minds and hearts in all who take part. Its EcoCultura initiative, a series of performances for the planet, features artists tackling climate change through dynamic dance, theater, and music events. Created in 1990, Live Arts Miami is proud to be a part of Miami Dade College’s celebrated Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, please visit www.liveartsmiami.org and follow @liveartsmiami on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, the park’s 1.5 million acres are home to critically threatened and endangered species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. The Everglades is also the main source of drinking water for residents of South Florida. Learn more at nps.gov/ever and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Signature all-ages event will also include performances by Son Mandinga and DJ Lance-O beginning at 7 p.m.
April 6, 2022 – Miami Beach, FL – Afro Roots Fest’s 24th season is shaping up to be a memorable one. Festival organizers are bringing a rising Sudanese-American star, and one of the hottest acts in Afro-Cuban jazz to Miami Beach’s North Beach Bandshell on April 23rd. World Music fans will be able to catch co-headliners Sinkane and DayméArocena along with SonMandinga and DJLance–O beginning at 7 p.m. on that day. All ages are welcome, and tickets are available online atbit.ly/ARFMB2022.
“We are very excited about this year’s lineup, especially Sinkane, who we get to bring back after having to cancel his festival performance in 2020,” says Jose Elias, founder and executive director of Community Arts & Culture (CAC), the Miami-based non-profit organization. “The diversity of the acts, plus the level of production, as well as the live presence of legendary radio host GeorgeColinet from Afropop Worldwide promises to make this a very memorable night of world music.” Elias is also a Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and producer.
Sinkane is a Sudanese-American musician who blends krautrock, prog rock, electronica, free jazz and funk rock with Sudanese pop. Born to college professors in London, he lived in Sudan, then moved to the US when he was five, and lived for some time in Ohio. From a very early age, he was a skate punk and a fan of hard-core, playing drums in bands like Of Montreal, Yeasayer and Caribou.
Arocena draws inspiration from the intertwining musical legacies of her native Cuba. An Afro-Cuban jazz singer, composer, and choir director from Havana, she’s a bright-shining performer carrying the flame for a new generation of Cuban musicians. Approaching jazz, soul and classical influences with an innate sense of rhythm, she has been described as Cuba’s finest young female singer. Early on, her soul and jazz-obsessed nightclub manager father constantly filled her ears with the music of GeorgeBenson, PérezPrado, Sade, and LaLupe.
Son Mandiga is a product of Afro-Venezuelan influences, specifically the ones from the coasts of the state of Aragua, and the two brothers, Andrés and Guillermo Schloeter. Driven by their passion for percussion, the group wows audiences with their Afro-Caribbean drum and vocal stylings.
Lance-O was introduced to Peter Tosh in 1974, and this was also his foray into reggae music. In 1990 he began working at Reggae Report magazine, which also gave him an on-air slot on WAVS 1170AM. It was here that Lance-O took Saturday night radio to another level, earning him a top-five rating in the market. Today, Kulcha Shok is a lifestyle brand and Lance-O is an in-demand DJ and event host.
The event is generously supported by the FloridaDivisionofCulturalAffairs, the Miami–DadeDepartmentofCulturalAffairs, the CityofMiamiBeach Cultural Arts Council, the RhythmFoundation, AfropopWorldwide, PurehoneyMagazine, and the BroadmoreHotel.
For more information and the full festival lineup, please clickAfroRootsFest.com.
###
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.
Free concert at the waterfront bar and restaurant to feature music and artists from Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the US
April 5, 2022 – Jupiter, FL – The award-winning Afro Roots Fest, a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC) and now in its 24th season, is headed back to Jupiter. World music fans are in for a treat on Saturday, April 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar (960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477). The lineup features Philip Montalbán (Nicaragua), Panafrik (Ghana / USA), Bad Apples Brass Band (USA), and DJ Ephniko (Colombia).
“We’re happy to once again bring top-notch world-music acts to Guanabanas and appreciate the support from Roots Music,” says festival founder, Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and producer Jose Elias. “This year’s lineup is a diverse mix of American, African, and South and Central American musicians, and we are excited to present them to the Palm Beach community.”
Afro-Latino Reggae artist Montalbán amusingly refers to the term African / English / Spanish to describe his long-standing presence in the music touring industry and to refer to the African and / or Caribbean presence largely located on the Atlantic coast in his home of Nicaragua. Based in a transnational figuring of ethnicity and music, the Afro-Nicaraguan musician calls what has been explained / profiteered / idealized as globalization as “the world getting closer.”
The Bad Apples Brass Band is a fun and funky New Orleans group based in South Florida. Opening and jamming with bands including Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama, PapaGrowsFunk, GlenDavidAndrewsBand, JonCleary, Bad Apples Brass Band has brought the Crescent City sound to the area fusing an infectious street beat with the funkiest jazz and the heaviest sounds.
Panafrik mixes the traditions of West Africa, Cuba, Brazil and numerous other folkloric styles of music found throughout the African Diaspora. In addition to DJing, Ephniko is also an MC who fronts the six-man audio/visual collective NagChampayons and leads the PataconConspiracy, which fuses Hip-Hop and raw lyricism with Pan-African and Latin American rhythms to create a worldbeat sound.
Opened by Jupiter surfers as a sandwich shop in 2004, Guanabanas has grown to become an institution in northern Palm Beach County for three reasons: the lush, tropical setting; great cuisine and cocktails; and live music from both national acts and the hottest names in South Florida.
The event is free and open to all ages before 9 p.m. 21 and over welcome after. More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com.
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.
Festival travels to Key West April 28-30 and Islamorada May 28 and 29, features several acts over several days at each stop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLORIDA KEYS, April 3, 2022 — Audiences can celebrate world music in the Florida Keys during the annual Afro Roots Fest, whose 2022 season includes multiartist showcases in Key West and Islamorada.
The award-winning festival is to take center stage in Key West Thursday through Saturday, April 28-30, and over Memorial Day weekend in Islamorada, with shows scheduled Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29.
Key West fans can gather at 9 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Green Parrot Bar, 601 Whitehead St., for an unforgettable evening of music by Cortadito, renowned for performing Cuban standards from the early 20th century. The band will be joined onstage by Latin Grammy Award nominee Tomás Diaz, who has performed with musicians ranging from CeliaCruz to Bruce Springsteen. There is no cover charge.
The following two evenings showcase the Everglades Songbook Suite starring Jose Elias playing selections from his compositions and soundscapes that commemorate the otherworldly beauty of South Florida’s Everglades National Park. The Everglades Songbook Suite blends acoustic stylings and natural sounds recorded in the park to create an immersive experience that celebrates its unique ecosystem, flora and fauna.
Both performances begin at 8 p.m. at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St. Friday’s show is set for the facility’s Helmerich Theater, while Saturday’s is to be an open-air experience at the rooftop Hugh’s View. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/ARFKW2022.
“I’m looking forward to sharing the Everglades Songbook Suite with our audiences in Key West for the first time,” said Elias, the Afro Roots Fest founder as well as a featured musician. “As a resident of the Upper Keys, it’s gratifying to see how the festival has evolved over the course of the last four years and how festival patrons continue to embrace it.”
The Memorial Day weekend concerts in Islamorada are to take place at the Florida Keys Brewing Co., 81611 Old Highway. Attendees can expect a tasty blend of craft beer and melodic offerings from some of Florida’s top world-music talents.
Saturday evening’s show, beginning at 6 p.m. at the popular brewery, is to spotlight the Caribbean-influenced world beat mastery of Johnny Dread, paired with the Latin-infused rhythms of Javier García.
Sunday’s musical schedule begins at 4 p.m. Audiences can sway to the sounds of the nine-piece Latin funk band Suenalo, a critically acclaimed South Florida favorite, and the funky New Orleans style of the Bad Apples Brass Band.
Both shows are to take place in the beer garden and admission is free.
Afro Roots Fest is staged by Community Arts and Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing understanding through the cultivation, preservation and presentation of cultural music and arts programs and experiences.
Free concert at the waterfront bar and restaurant to feature music and artists from Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the US
March 23, 2022 – Jupiter, FL – The award-winning Afro Roots Fest, a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC) and now in its 24th season, is headed back to Jupiter. World music fans are in for a treat on Saturday, April 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar (960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477). The lineup features Philip Montalban (Nicaragua), Panafrik (Ghana / USA), Bad Apples Brass Band (USA), and DJ Ephniko (Colombia).
Opened by Jupiter surfers as a sandwich shop in 2004, Guanabanas has grown to become an institution in northern Palm Beach County for three reasons: the lush, tropical setting; great cuisine and cocktails; and live music from both national acts and the hottest names in South Florida.
The event is free and open to all ages before 9 p.m. 21 and over welcome after. More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com. Learn more about the venue at Guanabanas.com.
###
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.
Jomion and the Uklos along with student groups play the Bo Diddley Plaza Friday, April 8, then Weedie Braimah & the Hands of Time, Cortadito and others perform at Heartwood Stage Saturday, April 9
March 21, 2022 – Gainesville, FL – The award-winning Afro Roots Fest, a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC), is coming to Gainesville for the first time in its 24-year history. Co-presented with the Center for Arts Migration and Entrepreneurship (CAME) at the University of Florida College of the Arts, the performances will run over two days at two different locations and a series of free workshops will occur over three days. Workshops and Day 1 of the concert schedule are free and open to the public of all ages.
“Afro Roots Fest has always strived to celebrate the evolution of African music and culture in our South Florida communities,” says CAC Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “This year and thanks to our friends at the University of Florida’s College of the Arts, we have expanded our mission into North Florida, and we couldn’t be more grateful.” Elias is a composer, musician, and producer, and leads the Cuban folk group Cortadito.
First up on Friday, April 8 at the Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601), Jomion and the Uklos from Benin, West Africa headlines a concert that will also showcase some of the university’s best and brightest Afro-centric talent, the UF Afro Pop Ensemble, and the Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to all ages.
The following night, Weedie Braimah & Hands of Time (Ghana), Cortadito (Cuba), and Maca Reggae Samba (Brazil) will appear the Heartwood Soundstage (619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601) in what promises to be an evening of Afro Roots music from two separate continents and the Caribbean. Pre-show tickets are $20 and available online at bit.ly/ARFG2022; admission will be $25 at the door. All ages are welcome.
A djembe virtuoso, composer, producer, and folklorist of the highest caliber, Weedie has an almost insatiable knack to draw entire audiences into his groove, zigzagging through Africa on a breathtaking rhythmic roller coaster. Braimah’s musical career spans more than 30 years, and he comes from a long lineage of drummers including his mother, Ann Morris, a respected jazz drummer and his father, Oscar Sulley Braimah, a world-renowned composer, and master drummer.
Cortadito’s focus is on performing the traditional Cuban music of the early 20th century. From son montuno, guaracha, boleros, nengon, to bolero son, this dynamic ensemble brings the listener back to a time when Trio Matamoros, or Ignacio Piniero ruled the Cuban music world. From time to time, Cortadito is backed by a variety of guest musicians, which gives the group a sound reminiscent of the Buena Vista Social Club. Cortadito was named “Best Latin Act” by the Miami New Times in 2019.
Created in Salvador, Bahia and after twelve years of playing the Brazilian scene, Maca Reggae Samba is influenced by Jamaican reggae with the purest expressions of samba, a Brazilian rhythm created by African descendants of the Portuguese colony, Brazil. With this new work, a new rhythm is born: reggae samba, offering the public a new expressive possibility where the only rule is nobody can stand still. This rhythm brings movement not only to the stage, but to the public as well, lots of dancing.
Jomion and The Uklos is a family band from Benin, West Africa, led by Samuel “Jomion” Gnonlonfoun, founder of the internationally renowned Gangbé Brass Band. With his brothers JB and Mathieu, and his daughter Rose, Jomion combines traditional rhythms and songs from vodoun (voodoo) culture with reggae, salsa and jazz to create vibrant, relaxed dance music he named Whedo-vodoo-jazz (W.V.J).
Founded in 2021, UF’s African Popular Music Ensemble specializes in the popular music of the African continent, with a special focus on Afrobeat, highlife, soukous, and African jazz. The ensemble, directed by Sarah Politz and Kenneth Metzker both Affiliate Faculty in the CAME, features students from the School of Music, musicians from the Gainesville community, and selected guest artists.
Pazeni Sauti is UF’s only Africa Choir that learns and performs songs from all parts of Africa. It was established to spread awareness and appreciation of diverse African cultures through choral music.
The full workshop lineup, which is free and open to all ages, is as follows:
Thursday, April 7
University of Florida College of the Arts, School of Music
435 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, Music Building 101
Afropop Technology with Kingsley Okyere – 12:50 p.m.
Jomion and the Uklos – 1:55 p.m.
Friday, April 8
University of Florida College of the Arts, School of Music
435 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, Music Building 120
Additional concerts are planned for Jupiter, Doral, Miami Beach, Homestead, Key West, Hollywood and Islamorada. These events are being produced in part through the generosity of the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Gainesville, the UF Center for Latin American Studies, the UF College of the Arts, the UF School of Music, UF CAME, the UF Center for African Studies, Heartwood Soundstage, and Depot Village.
For more information and the full festival lineup, please visit AfroRootsFest.com.
###
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.
The Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship (CAME) at the University of Florida College of the Arts launched in the fall of 2020 and we work to connect networks of scholars, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and advocates to the engines of creative and cultural economics at the heart of migration.
CAME defines the arts as all forms of cultural production, the center seeks to effectively create new models and power alignments that return value entrepreneurship to cultural producers to build more just global futures. Through community-responsive programming, research, and creative production, the center facilitates and extends the innovation, resilience, and ingenuity of diasporic and migratory communities.
Gainesville and Hollywood are new to the concert series lineup, while Jupiter, Doral, Miami Beach, Homestead, Key West, and Islamorada all get return dates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2022 – Islamorada, FL – The award-winning Afro Roots Fest, a multi-county and multi-event concert series organized by Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC) is returning for a 24th season. This time, the festival will add a couple of new stops in Gainesville and Hollywood, a few new partners, return to some familiar territory, add a series of music and dance workshops, and dovetail with the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park.
“Afro Roots Fest has always strived to celebrate the evolution of African music and culture in our South Florida communities,” says CAC Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “This year and thanks to our friends at the University of Florida and the folks at the City of Hollywood, we have expanded our reach into Alachua and Broward counties.” Elias is a composer, musician, and producer, and leads the Cuban folk group Cortadito and creator of the Everglades Songbook Suite, which will debut live on April 24.
The series kicks off on Friday, April 8 at the Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601), as Jomion and the Uklos from Benin, West Africa headlines a concert that will also showcase some of the university’s best and brightest Afro-centric talent, the UF Afro Pop Ensemble, and the Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to all ages.
The following night, Weedie Braimah & Hands of Time (Ghana), Cortadito (Cuba), and Maca Reggae Samba (Brazil) will appear at the Heartwood Soundstage (619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601) in what promises to be an evening of Afro Roots music from two separate continents and the Caribbean. Pre-show tickets are $20 and available online at bit.ly/ARFG2022; admission will be $25 at the door. All ages are welcome.
There will also be a full card of workshops to accompany the concerts:
Thursday, April 7
University of Florida College of the Arts
435 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, Music Building 101
Afropop Technology with Kingsley Okyere – 12:50 p.m.
Jomion and the Uklos – 1:55 p.m.
Friday, April 8
University of Florida College of the Arts
435 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, Music Building 120
Weedie Braimah – 11:45 a.m.
Saturday, April 9
The Depot Village
111 SE 4th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Hands-on Brazilian percussion – 11:00 a.m.
Brazilian drumming – 12:15 p.m.
West African dance – 1:30 p.m.
Afro-centric Youth Workshop – 2:30 p.m.
Next up, the series shifts south to Palm Beach County, stopping at Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar (960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477) on Saturday, April 16, beginning at 4 p.m. The lineup features Philip Montalban (Nicaragua), Panafrik (Ghana / USA), Bad Apples Brass Band (USA), and DJ Ephniko (Colombia). The event is free and open to all ages before 9 p.m. 21 and over welcome after.
The following weekend will mark the “Miami-Dade” portion of Afro Roots Fest, when the festival holds three consecutive days of events in Doral, Miami Beach, and Homestead. On Friday, April 22, The Doral Yard hosts Cortadito and friends, featuring JudePapaloko (Haiti), Panafrik, ITAWE (Colombia), and DJ Kumi (Nicaragua). The location is 8455 NW 53rd Street, Suite 106, Doral, FL, 33178, and the show is free and open to the public. Music begins at 7 p.m.
The North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141) is the site of the next concert, which stands as the signature event of the Afro Roots Fest series and is happening on Saturday, April 23. Scheduled to perform are Sinkane (Sudan), Dayme Arocena (Cuba), Son Mandinga (Venezuela), and DJ Lance-O (USA). General admission tickets are $30 and available online atbit.ly/ARFMB2022. Doors open at 6 p.m., music begins at 7, all ages welcome.
Wrapping up the weekend is a limited capacity RSVP live performance of the Everglades Songbook Suite at the Long Pine Key Amphitheater (40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL 33034)within the Everglades National Park on Sunday, April 24, beginning at 4 p.m. Inspired by Elias’ 2016 AIRIE (Artists in Residence in Everglades) artist residency, the performance will feature a variety of musicians from around the world. This event will be part of the park’s 75th anniversary celebration.
The following weekend, Afro Roots Fest heads south on U.S. 1 all the way down to Key West for a run in the Conch Republic. On Thursday, April 28, Cortadito and special guest TomasDiaz (Cuba) play two sets at the Green Parrot (601 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040). Then the next two evenings, the Everglades Songbook Suite will be performed at The Studios of Key West (533 Eaton St, Key West, FL 33040), first in the theater on Friday, then the rooftop on Saturday. More info and tickets:bit.ly/ARFKW2022.
The series then shifts to Hollywood on Saturday, May 21, in more firsts for the festival: first concert in Broward County, first show in Hollywood, and maiden event at ArtsPark at Young Circle (1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, FL 33020). The lineup includes JesusHidalgo (Venezuela), Philip Montalban, GilmarGomes (Brazil), TheResolvers (US), Miamibloco (Brazil), and DJ Le Spam (UK / Venezuela). This show is free and open to the public of all ages, and begins at 4 p.m.
Finally, the festival wraps back in the Keys, at the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036), with a free, all-ages two-day event on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, Memorial Day Weekend. First up in the beer garden is Johnny Dread (Cuba) and Javier Garcia (Spain / Cuba / Ireland) on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m., then Suenalo (multi-ethnic) and the Bad Apples Brass Band beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Afro Roots Fest is generously supported by the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, Keys ICE, the Florida Keys Brewing Company, the City of Hollywood, AIRIE, the Everglades National Park, Live Arts Miami, the Rhythm Foundation, the University of Florida School of the Arts, the City of Gainesville, the Heartwood Soundstage, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, The Doral Yard, the Green Parrot, The Studios of Key West, the Broadmoor Hotel, Afropop Worldwide, and Purehoney Magazine.
More information and the full festival lineup is available online at AfroRootsFest.com.
###
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.
