Mali “Songbird of Wassalou” performs show at Miami Beach Bandshell as part of award-winning, nomadic music festival
Miami Beach – February 6, 2024 – One of West Africa’s most beloved chanteuses Oumou Sangare is coming to the Miami Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141) for an exclusive concert during Afro Roots Fest on March 30, 2024, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for the show featuring selections from her 2023 release Timbuktu atbit.ly/ARFMB2024Sangare; reserved seating is available and all ages are welcome. This is the 26th season of Afro Roots Fest, and additional concerts scheduled in March and April for Miami Beach, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada.
In March 2020, shortly after the International Wassoulou Festival (FIWA), an event Oumou launched in 2016 to promote her birth region in southern Mali, the artist traveled to the United States. She’d only planned to stay only a few weeks but then COVID lockdown struck, first in New York, then in Baltimore, a place where she quickly felt at home. “Something in that city drew me in straightaway. I felt so good there that I bought a house!” Once settled into her new abode, she spent her days writing songs with the help of an old friend, Mamadou Sidibé, who has been Oumou Sangare’s kamele n’goni (traditional lute) player since the very beginning of her artistic career.
This period of enforced seclusion gave birth to ten of the eleven songs on Timbuktu. The album weaves intimate sonic connections between traditional West African musical instruments associated with the blues, most notably the kamele n’goni and its distant heirs, the Dobro and slide guitar. “Since 1990, I’ve never had a chance to cut myself off from the world and devote myself exclusively to music,” she says. “I think you feel it in the music, but also in the lyrics which are fruit of all those moments when I was able to withdraw into myself and meditate.”
Timbuktu consecrates this artist who rose up from the ghettos of Bamako, Mali’s capital, to become a global superstar and internatonal feminist icon. The first single “Wassulo Don” was issued March 8, also known as International Women’s Day, on World Circuit Records. The track fuses Oumou’s distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues and rock to create a joyous groove. It’s Oumou’s an expression of hometown pride for Wassulu, an area in the south-western corner of Mali where Oumou’s family originates from.
Since the release of her debut album Moussoulou in 1989, there’s been no respite for the Malian singer. Notable waymarks on her rich and fruitful journey include some of the most definitive recordings in the history of contemporary African music: “Ko Sira” in 1993, “Worotan” in 1996 and “Seya” in 2009, the latter nominated for a Grammy Award. Counting among her many notable fans Alicia Keys, Aya Nakamura and Beyoncé (who sampled the classic “Diaraby Nene” for her 2019 Lion King release), Sangaré has long since broken through barriers that separate continents and musical styles.
She also released the singles “Sarama” and “Sira“.Click here to learn more about the artist; high resolution images are availablehere. Event support provided by Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Miami Beach.
For more information, visitAfroRootsFest.com or contact the Miami Beach Bandshell at 786-453-2897.
Buena Vista Social Club star performs ticketed event at Miami Beach Bandshell as part of ongoing, nomadic music festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Miami Beach – January 16, 2024 – Tickets are on sale now for a very special concert featuring one of the founders of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club, singer / guitarist / songwriter Eliades Ochoa. The concert will take place Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Miami Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141), beginning at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome and reserved seats are available online at bit.ly/ARFMB2024Ochoa. Afro Roots Fest is in year 26, with additional concerts scheduled in March and April for Miami Beach, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada.
Ochoa will be performing songs from his new album Guajiro, out now on World Circuit Records, which was produced by Demetrio Muñiz and features guest appearances by Rubén Blades, Joan As Police Woman, and Charlie Musselwhite. Guajiro cements his reputation as one of the most vital artists to come out of Cuba in the last century. Eliades is well known and loved worldwide as one of the original members of BVSC, having famously lent his vocals to that album’s iconic opener “Chan Chan”. In the wake of the super group’s phenomenal reception, Ochoa has released nine albums, won four Latin Grammys, and received a Grammy nomination for 2010’s Afrocubism.
The rugged features, the signature hat, the cowboy boots, and the iconic ‘man in black’ image. The songs from the school of life are imbued with the sort of hard-earned, country-tinged wisdom that can’t be bought. You don’t have to look or listen too hard to understand why Eliades Ochoa is often called “Cuba’s Johnny Cash”. Yet if parallels abound, his new album also shows him to be a singular voice with his own unique style and sound, rooted deep in the Cuban tradition but with an appeal that is as timeless as it is universal.
“We’re thrilled to be able to launch this year’s Afro Roots Fest with an artist as iconic as Eliades Ochoa,” says Jose Elias, founder and artistic director for the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture. “He’s one of the remaining voices of the Buena Vista Social Club and someone whose contributions to the world of Cuban music have been very significant.”
Afro Roots Fest got its start at the now-defunct Tobacco Road in 1999. It has historically celebrated the widespread influence that Africa continues to have on music and furthers the mission of Community Arts and Culture, which present the arts as a tool for education. It is as much about root African culture as it is about the syncretism of it with Western cultural traditions. Past performers have included Amadou & Mariam, Sun Ra Arkestra, Alsarah, Fatoumata Diawara, Fulu Miziki, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure, Toubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others.
Established in 2002, Community Arts and Culture is a 501(c)3 Miami-based nonprofit organization that strives to intergenerationally celebrate and inspire the community through the cultivation, preservation, and presentation of cultural music and arts. Through music-based workshops, lectures, performances, and after-school youth programs, CAC provides under-served areas of South Florida with an accessible platform to participate in cultural programs and experiences.
March 30 will see the debut of the “Songbird of Wassalou” Oumou Sangare from Mali, also at the Miami Beach Bandshell. More details about additional Afro Roots Fest dates and artists are coming soon. Event support provided by the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, and the Rhythm Foundation.
Eliades will be available for interviews the week prior to the show; high resolution images are available here.
For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com or contact the Miami Beach Bandshell at 786-453-2897.
Headliner for 10th installment of international concert series is Portuguese-Angolan composer, percussionist and singer MonÁxi
Pinecrest, FL – October 18, 2023 – The Todo El Mundo Dice AHO (TEMDA) music medicine concert will take place Saturday, November 18, 2023 at PinecrestGardens’ Banyan Bowl (11000 Red Rd, Pinecrest, FL 33156), marking the 10 time the international event has been held. The headliner is none other than composer, percussionist and singer of Portuguese-Angolan heritage, MonÁxi. Support acts include Supaman, festival founders Teresa de Jesús and Jesús Hidalgo, plus The Freedom Family Band and live painter Chris Dyer. Tickets are available online through bit.ly/TEMDA2023. Doors open at 5 p.m., music begins at 6. All ages are welcome.
“This year we will be celebrating with great joy and are honored to have the participation of artists from all over the Americas,” says Hidalgo. “Because of the necessary call to strengthen our links to Mother Earth, to return to our center, and to manifest our empowerment as conscious beings at the highest service, and for all our existence, our action prayer will be ‘IT IS NOW’.” Hidalgo is a multi-instrumentalist who will be performing on vocals with his partner de Jesus.
MonÁxi, whose name means ‘Daughter of the Earth” in the Angolan dialect Kimbundo, uses the djembe (African drum) to open doors to concepts that are still rarely embraced by women. Influenced by Afro-jazz, sacred feminine, and world music, she creates a fusion of contagious music that seeks to touch the soul. MonÁxi shortens distances between the various sounds, presenting vibrant, rhythmic and unpredictable songs. Bringing the richness of the blood that runs in her veins and all of Mother Earth’s inspiration, she speaks openly about her emotions and experiences, sharing her deepest feelings with the world.
Born Christian Parrish Takes the Gun to the Native-American Crow Nation, Supaman hails from Seattle, WA. A foster child from humble means, he discovered hip-hop during a very difficult childhood and now employs it, along with a deeply and strongly held religious worldview, to empower his people. Supaman’s travels now revolve around educating people about Native American history and culture through music, which has seen him release five solo records since 2007 and garner numerous awards, like the Aboriginal Peoples Music Choice Award.
Hidalgo is a 2013 Latin Grammy-nominated singer / songwriter who is committed to the care, conservation, protection, and awareness of Mother Earth and our connection with ancestral roots. Partner Teresa de Jesús Padron also hails from Venezuela and considers herself a guardian of Mother Earth. She is a singer / songwriter of the path of consciousness dedicated to facilitating ancestral circular dances, sacred circles, and moon dances. When the couple performs together, they aim to balance the sacred feminine and masculine energies with their experience.
The Freedom Family Band’s patriarch Matt was born in Zimbabwe and raised in Zambia and studied performing arts and sound engineering in South Africa. He subsequently stepped into the fields of sound healing and medicine music. Matriarch Katt was born and raised in Naples, FL, and has been a theater and church choir singer most of her life, which she now dedicates to performing medicine music. Matt and Katt create sacred sounds with native flutes, Japanese flutes, didgeridoo (Australian Aboriginal wind instrument), vocals, guitars, ukuleles, shakers, and jaw harps that open the hearts of all who are present.
Dyer’s art reflects a soul with good intentions who is on a quest for a higher frequency of consciousness. A Peruvian-Canadian, he currently resides in Florida and creates everything from skateboard graphics, to visionary paintings, street art, murals, and NFTs. As a world and dimensions traveler, he experiences different cultures and then re-expresses them into his own vision of Oneness.
TEMDA is an international music festival that brings together different artistic disciplines that manifest a solid relationship and commitment to the conservation and preservation of Mother Earth, awakening a new consciousness and a connection with our ancestral wisdom. Founded by the husband-and-wife duo Hidalgo and de Jesus, past concert events have occurred in Miami, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. This year’s lineup gathers a powerful collection of artists on a spiritual mission, and promises to deliver a path-illuminating experience for all.
The host for the evening will once again be veteran radio journalist and co-founder of BOOM magazine Kike Posada. TEMDA will be co-presented by Community Arts and Culture and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the festival – click here to learn more.
For more information about the concert, please visit todoelmundodiceaho.com. High-resolution photos are available upon request.
Visit PinecrestGardens.orgor call (305) 669-6990 for more details about the venue.
El Festival de Música Medicina Todo El Mundo Dice AHO regresa a Pinecrest Gardens el 18 de noviembre
Pinecrest, FL – 18 de octubre de 2023 – El Festival de Música Medicina Todo El Mundo Dice AHO (TEMDA) se presentará el sábado 18 de noviembre de 2023 en el Banyan Bowl de Pinecrest Gardens (11000 Red Rd, Pinecrest, FL 33156), para conmemorar el décimo aniversario del gran encuentro internacional. El Festival contará con la participación estelar de la cantautora y percusionista de ascendencia portuguesa-angoleña, MonÁxi, y también con presentaciones de Supaman, los fundadores del Festival Teresa de Jesús y Jesús Hidalgo, The Freedom Family Band y el pintor en tiempo real Chris Dyer. Las entradas están a la venta por internet, pulsando en bit.ly/TEMDA2023. Las puertas abren a las 5 p.m. y la música comienza a las 6. Todas las edades son bienvenidas.
“Este año celebramos con gran gusto y tenemos el honor de contar con la participación de artistas de todas partes de nuestra América”, dice el fundador del Festival Jesús Hidalgo. “En esta edición nuestra oración de acción ‘ES AHORA’. Es una llamada necesaria a fortalecer nuestros vínculos con la Madre Tierra, nuestras relaciones, volver a nuestro centro, confiar en la presencia pura, y manifestar nuestro empoderamiento como seres conscientes al más alto servicio, para toda nuestra existencia”. Hidalgo es un multiinstrumentista que actuará como vocalista con su compañera de Jesús.
MonÁxi , cuyo nombre significa “Hija de la Tierra” en el dialecto angoleño Kimbundo, emplea el ‘djembe’ (tambor africano) para presentar nuevos conceptos de empoderamiento para la mujer. Con influencias de Afro-jazz, sagrado femenino y world music, esta artista de raíces africanas crea una fusión de música contagiosa que busca tocar las fibras del alma. MonÁxi acorta las distancias entre los distintos sonidos, presentando canciones vibrantes, rítmicas e impredecibles. A través de su música, expresa abiertamente sus emociones y experiencias, la riqueza cultural que corre por sus venas y su inspiración que viene de la Madre Tierra.
Nacido como Christian Parrish Takes the Gun, miembro de la nación indígena Crow, Supaman viene de la ciudad de Seattle en Washington. Producto de los hogares de crianza (foster homes), Supaman descubrió su amor por el hip hop a temprana edad durante una etapa difícil de su vida. En la actualidad, el artista nativo americano emplea el género para expresar sus creencias religiosas, empoderar a su pueblo y presentar su visión del mundo. A través de sus giras y viajes Supaman busca educar al público sobre las riquezas culturales y la historia de los nativos americanos. Desde 2007 ha lanzado cinco álbumes como solista y ha ganado números reconocimientos entre ellos el Premio People’s Choice de la la Música de los Pueblos Aborígenes.
Jesús Hidalgo es un cantautor venezolano quien fue nominado al Grammy Latino en 2013. Su música refleja su profundo compromiso con el cuidado, conservación, protección y concientización de la Madre Tierra, además de nuestra conexión con las raíces ancestrales. Su pareja, Teresa de Jesús Padrón se considera guardián de la madre tierra. La cantautora venezolana sigue el camino de la concientización, dedicada a facilitar danzas circulares ancestrales, círculos sagrados y danzas lunares. En sus presentaciones la pareja tiene como meta crear un balance entre el sagrado femenino y las energías masculinas, haciendo uso de sus múltiples experiencias.
El patriarca Matt del Freedom Family Band nació en Zimbabwe, se crió en Zambia y estudió las artes escénicas e ingeniería de sonido en Sudáfrica. Posteriormente incursionó en la sanación a través de sonidos y la música medicina. Su pareja, la matriarca Katt es oriunda de la ciudad de Naples en la Florida. Katt se formó como cantante en el teatro y en los coros de iglesia. Ahora se dedica a la música medicina. En sus presentaciones la pareja crea sonidos sagrados a través de instrumentos primitivos como las flautas nativas y japonesas, los didgeridoo (instrumento de viento de los aborígenes de Australia), vocales, las guitarras, los ukeleles y las agitadoras y arpas de mandíbulas, para tocar el corazón de los presentes.
El arte de Chris Dyer es un reflejo de buenas intenciones y de la búsqueda de una frecuencia más alta de conciencia. De ascendencia peruana canadiense, el artista reside actualmente en la Florida y es creador de muchas cosas, desde gráficos de patinetas y pinturas visionarias hasta el arte callejero, murales y NFT (tokens no fungibles digitales). Como viajero de mundos y dimensiones, experimenta diferentes culturas y luego las reexpresa en su propia visión de la Unidad.
TEMDA es un festival de música internacional que reúne diferentes disciplinas artísticas que representan una sólida relación y compromiso con la conservación y preservación de la madre tierra, despertando una nueva concientización y conexión con nuestras sabidurías ancestrales. Fundado hace una década por la pareja y dúo Teresa de Jesús y Jesús Hidalgo, el Festival se ha presentado en Miami, Colombia, Puerto Rico y México. El cartel de este año reúne una poderosa colección de artistas con una misión espiritual que promete ofrecer una experiencia que iluminará el camino para todos.
El anfitrión de la velada será una vez más el veterano periodista de radio y co fundador de la revista BOOM Kike Posada. TEMDA es una co presentación de Community Arts and Culture y el Departamento de Asuntos Culturales del Condado de Miami-Dade. Oportunidades de patrocinio para el festival están disponibles – pulsa aquí para ver más detalles.
Para más información sobre TEMDA, visite todoelmundodiceaho.com. Fotographia de alta resolucion disponible.
Favor de visitar PinecrestGardens.orgo llamar al (305) 669-6990 para más detalles sobre el teatro Banyan Bowl.
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CONTACTO PARA LOS MEDIOS Ramirez Media Strategies Deborah Ramírez 786-877-2295 debbie@dramirezmedia.com
Miami-based non-profit hosts a traditional ancestral tribute event in the brewery beer garden
Miami, FL, October 17, 2023 –Community Arts & Culture (CAC) presents a special Dia de Los Muertos celebration on Friday, November 3 at the Florida Keys Brewing Co. (FKBC) beginning at 5 p.m. The event location is 81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036, and will feature a traditional sugar skull-making workshop, and performance by the Ameyal Afro-Mexican Folkloric Ensemble, complete with a procession, followed by all genres of live Afro-Mexican music, dance. The event is free for all ages, registration /tickets are required for the sugar skull workshop.
“Dia de Los Muertos is a day that traditionally reunites the living and the dead, and we are very excited to come together with the Islamorada community on this special day,” says event organizer Renee Chavez. “We look forward to coming back to the Florida Keys and honoring our ancestors in a community celebration.” Chavez is a long-time CAC staffer who coordinates children’s programming and the annual River Serenade, which will take place on Saturday, November 4 at Morningside Park in Miami. Kayak rentals are available by clicking here.
FKBC is the gateway to the Morada Way Arts District in Islamorada and was founded with the hopes of bringing great beer to the island chain and beyond. All of their island-themed beers are brewed with top-quality ingredients to make the best beer possible. The tasting room faces the Old Highway, but there is a private residence for rent on the second level, and an expansive beer garden out back complete with an outdoor stage. Learn more atFloridaKeysBrewingCo.com.
Ameyal is dedicated to fomenting and spreading popular Mexican culture by sharing its cultural heritage’s richness through four pillars: pre-Hispanic dance, traditional music, folkloric ballet, and cultural dissemination. Their intention is to create a welcoming epicenter that supports all stakeholders in the community during the cultivation of Mexican artistic expression. To learn more about them, navigate toAmeyal.org.
The celebration in Islamorada is free and open to the public;tickets for the workshop are available online. The event is generously supported by the Monroe County Tourism Development Council, FKBC, and Hot Dog on a Stick.
Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit 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 organization celebrated 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 26th season of programming.
Miami-based non-profit organization hosts a family-friendly celebration featuring a sugar skull-making workshop, procession, and live music, dance, and art
Miami, FL, October 16, 2023 –Community Arts & Culture (CAC): The Inheritants Project will be back with another Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Doral Yard (8455 Northwest 53rd Street Doral, FL 33166) on Thursday, November 2, beginning at 5 p.m. The festivities will include a sugar skull workshop, a traditional multicultural procession, and all genres of Afro-Mexican live dance and music by Ameyal beginning at 6 p.m.
“Our thanks go once again to such amazing community partners the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Youth Enrichment Program, The Children’s Trust, Music Access Miami Foundation, The Doral Yard, and Hot Dog on a Stick for helping us to celebrate our ancestors and facilitating our mission to maintain traditional cultural arts in urban spaces throughout Miami-Dade,” says event organizer Renee Chavez. “We look forward to coming back to Doral to honor and celebrate our ancestors in the community.”
Chavez is also a long-time CAC staffer who coordinates children’s programming and the annual River Serenade, which will take place on Saturday, November 4 at Morningside Park in Miami.
Ameyal Afro-Mexican Folkloric Ensemble is dedicated to fomenting and spreading popular Mexican culture by sharing its cultural heritage’s richness through four pillars: pre-Hispanic dance, traditional music, folkloric ballet, and cultural dissemination. The intention is to create a welcoming epicenter that supports all stakeholders in the community during the cultivation of Mexican artistic expression. To learn more about them, navigate to Ameyal.org.
The Doral Yard is a community gathering space created by the Yard Hospitality and Place Projects teams to foster local entrepreneurship and culture. Expanding on The Wynwood Yard concept, the venue brings culinary delights, live entertainment, and round-the-clock events to the downtown area. A 20,000-square-foot space is divided into two indoor/outdoor zones: The Hub and The Backyard, which includes a full liquor bar, a grassy turf area for gathering and dancing, and a stage; the outdoor space is fully covered. Visit DoralYard.com for more details.
This year, Catherine Hollingsworth and Emilio Hernandez are the special guest choreographers. Events are free for all ages, but registration tickets are required for the Sugar Skull workshop.
Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit 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 organization celebrated 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 26th season of programming.
Pinecrest, FL – September 18, 2023 – The 10th annual music medicine concert Todo El Mundo Dice AHO! (TEMDA) will take place Saturday, November 18, 2023 at PinecrestGardens (11000 Red Rd, Pinecrest, FL 33156) and be headlined by composer, percussionist and singer of Portuguese-Angolan heritage, MonÁxi. Also slated to appear: Supaman, Teresa de Jesús, Jesús Hidalgo, and The Freedom Family Band,plus special guest live painter Chris Dyer. Tickets are available online through bit.ly/TEMDA2023.
TEMDA is an international music festival that brings together different artistic disciplines that manifest a solid relationship and commitment to the conservation and preservation of Mother Earth, awakening a new consciousness and a connection with our ancestral wisdom. Founded by the husband-and-wife duo Hidalgo and de Jesus, past concert events have occurred in Miami, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Co-presented by Community Arts and Culture and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the host for the evening will once again be Kike Posada.
Miami nonprofit hosts Cuban folk group and multicultural music selector in Islamorada for a free Hispanic Heritage Month concert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Islamorada, FL – September 14, 2023 – Community Arts and Culture is launching a new program in the Upper Keys to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. On Saturday, October 14, 2023, Cortadito, Miami’s answer to the Buena Vista Social Club, and DJ Le Spam with his VW Bus, will wrap the month-long celebration with an evening of live and selected music in the Beer Garden at the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036). All ages welcome, no cover, music begins at 6 p.m.
“We are excited to add this new program to our roster of events in Islamorada,” says CAC Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “We appreciate the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Keys Brewing Company, without whom this celebration would not be possible.” Elias is also Cortadito’s co-founder, vocalist, tres player, and bandleader.
Since forming more than eleven years ago, Cortadito has focused on traditional folk and acoustic performances of the Cuban country music style known as Son(pronounced sOwn). Through their many interpretations of traditional and original songs, this dynamic ensemble leads audiences through an audio experience referred to as “The Guajiro Triangle”, which alludes to the three cities of Miami, Havana, and Santiago, representing the group’s origins and revealing their musical influences. They are currently recording their first full-length release due out in May 2024.
DJ Le Spam, founder of the Spam Allstars, is 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, and his expansive collection includes Latin, funk, Miami bass, Haitian, jazz, and more. He began digging for records as he toured the world while playing guitar in Capitol recording artist Nil Lara’s band, and continued adding when he formed and toured extensively with his own band. Spam will roll up in a VW bus customized for a self-contained DJ experience.
FKBC is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery, located in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District. They always have a great selection of locally brewed beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers on draft. The tasting room is decorated with thousands of bottle caps from breweries all over North America and Europe, as well as art by locals. The brewery is just down the street on Morada Way, featuring two brewing systems that produce a most delicious island beer. The beer garden is an enchanting space that features live musical events. More details available at floridakeysbrewingco.com.
This event is made possible with the generous support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Keys Brewing Company.
Also slated to appear are Miami’s El Arka, Neka One, the Bachaco Soundsystem, Venezuela’s Poetiko and El Toro, plus DJ Mad Pee and more
Miami Beach, FL – September 12, 2023 – The Latin hip hop movement is alive and well in Miami, and fans will get a chance to see and hear it in person during Hispanic Heritage Month during the Urban Beach Music Fest on Sunday, October 7, 2023, at the MiamiBeachBandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141). Spain’s MalaRodriguez, a versatile and socially conscious rapper, and SaraSocas, herself a world-renowned battle rapper, top a bill that also features an array of local and international talent, including El Arka, Neka One, Poetiko,and Nelson El Toro and more. DJ Mad Pee will spin selections before and between acts.
“We’re excited to be bringing a show of this caliber to the beautiful and historic Miami Beach Bandshell for the first time,” says promoter and Feel Good Shops owner Edilberto Morillo. “The fact that it is happening during Hispanic Heritage Month is most appropriate. We thank our partners the Rhythm Foundation for the support and for hosting the show.” Morillo is also a singer / songwriter and front man for the Miami-based Latin reggae stalwarts Bachaco.
Born in Cadiz, Mala began her career in the late 1990s by working with some of the Iberian peninsula’s best hip hop producers in JotaMayúscula, Supernafamacho, and Dive Dibosso. Her progressive and feminist lyrics, along with her spitfire delivery made her 2000 Universal Music debut Lujo Iberico put her on the map and delivered her first hit “Yo Marco el Minuto”. She has since release about a half-dozen full-length recordings, including 2020’s Mala, and worked with JulietaVenegas, TegoCalderon, and Calle13.
A relative newcomer to the Latin hip hop game, Sara is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, piano), and holds a degree in journalism and audio-visual communication from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. She made her bones on the Red Bull Batalla circuit, scoring several wins, becoming the first female to win the vaunted Copa Federación en la Final Nacional de la Batalla de Maestros de España. Socas now judges similar competitions. Her most notable release is the hit single “Ahora Me Quiero Más”, and ode to self-love and self-confidence.
El Arka is a Miami-based Venezuelan hip-hop comprised of itoYAboi, OzKilla and Polo who fuse of salsa and cumbia with hip hop influences. Also based in Miami, Neka One combines classic beats with cutting-edge production and raps about love, sorrow, and identity. Born Luis Brito, the Venezuelan independent rapper is better known as Poetiko; his new release is titled “Cuántos Son”. El Toro is known for hard Latin rap and freestyle trap. Additional openers include: BachacoSoundsystem, Ramuse, GipsyMare, Charly Soul, Marco Polo, Maco, and Alimoña Kush.
Named “Best Live Music Venue” in the 2023 Miami New Times “Best of Miami” edition, the Miami Beach Bandshell is a historic sea-side Mi-Mo (mid-century Miami Modern) era structure designed in 1961 by Normal Giller. Its open-air, covered design is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is managed by the Rhythm Foundation. Food, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages will be available for sale on the day of the show. For more information, visitMiamiBeachBandshell.com.
Dunedin, FL – September 11, 2023 – Miami’s Latin funk fusionistas Electric Piquete return to Dunedin Brewery on Friday, September 22, 2023 and just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month. Two-time winners of the Miami New Times’ “Best Latin Band” award, the septet will perform from 9 p.m. to midnight at the microbrewery and live music venue located at 937 Douglas Ave, in downtown Dunedin. Show is free and open to those 21 and over.
“Dunedin Brewery is our home away from our South Florida home, and we always love playing here because the folks who come for the show are true music fans,” says band cofounder and bassist Michael Mut. “They are some of the most receptive and engaging fans we’ve come across.” The band, formed in 2007 by Mut and drummer EdRosado, are currently completing a full-length release featuring eight original songs and one cover tune.
Their influences are as diverse as the Miami region that birthed them, ranging from rock to jazz spiced with everything in between: funk, Afro-Caribbean, progressive and R&B. The band has played virtually all major events in South Florida, and in 2016, graduated to the major festival circuit, travelling to NC to play the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music Arts & Dance, followed by appearances at the Orange Blossom Festival in 2018 and 2022. They made their Afro Roots Fest debut in Key West during 2019 and performed again in Islamorada during 2021. They performed at Shakori Hills again in May of this year.
Dunedin Brewery was founded in 1995 by MichaelNormanBryant, following his deep passion for home-brewing. Officially brewing by 1996, the first keg to be delivered was an Imperial Brown Ale to Skip’s Bar & Grille in Downtown Dunedin. Since that moment, Dunedin Brewery has grown from one employee to nearly 50, currently under the leadership of the founder’s son – MichaelLynBryant. Today, they are a full-fledged microbrewery with a kitchen & live entertainment nearly every night of the week.
For more information, please visit ElectricPiquete.com or call 727-736-0606.
Ongoing Noche Latina series returns to Jupiter waterfront bar and restaurant for free show beginning at 4 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2023 – Two Miami-based acts will be performing at Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar (960 North Highway A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477) on Saturday, September 23, 2023, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The pair of award-winning groups in Cortadito (traditional Cuban folk), and ElectricPiquete (Latin funk / fusion), will take the stage for musical celebrations first from 4 to 7 p.m. (all ages welcome), and then 9 to 11 p.m. (21 and over). The Noche Latina series was first created by Roots Music, Inc. in 2015 to offer area music fans a little more variety.
“It’s always a great time when Cortadito rolls into town, with their spicy Cuban sound and their enthusiastic fan base, and Electric Piquete always brings the Miami funk,” says Roots Music founder and Guanabanas talent buyer Matt Cahur. “We’re looking forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with these two bands and we can’t wait to host them on our stage.” Cahur manages acts, and produces and promotes local and regional concerts.
Named after your favorite caffeinated pick-me-up and voted “Best Latin Act 2019” by Miami New Times, Cortadito’s mesh of Son Montuno, Guaracha, Boleros, Nengon and Bolero Son will transport you back to a time when TrioMatamoros or IgnacioPiniero ruled the Cuban music world. With a sound reminiscent of the BuenaVistaSocialClub, this dynamic Miami-based ensemble has backed world-renowned percussionist SammyFigueroa, opened for legendary Cuban pianist ChuchoValdés and performed at festivals like GroundUP Music Festival and Afro Roots Fest. Learn more about the band at CortaditoSon.com.
Their influences are as diverse as the Miami region that birthed them, ranging from rock to jazz spiced with everything in between: funk, Afro-Caribbean, progressive and R&B. Though mostly instrumental, Electric Piquete does feature vocals and rapping on several numbers; a tight rhythm section and heavy percussion supports melodious horn play. Their repertoire consists of mostly original compositions, but they are well-versed in Latin and jazz standards, borrowing from a range of artists, from Herbie Hancock to Mongo Santamaria. Get more details at ElectricPiquete.com.
From its humble beginnings as a one-time sandwich shop / kayak rental place in 2004-2005, Guanabanas has grown into an “Old Florida” local mainstay. The enchanting open air restaurant has been named “Best Waterfront Restaurant” by the Palm Beach Post and “Best Restaurant” by SouthFlorida.com, been featured on PBS Local,Emeril’s Florida, and Chef Michele Bernstein’s Check Please, and become a favorite hangout of professional athletes and international celebrities. Live music is a staple, with Big Wednesdays plus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday programming.
For more information about the show and the venue, to browse the menu and shop the online store, visit Guanabanas.com or call 561.747.8878.
