FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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.
For more information about the festival, visit AfroRootsFest.com.
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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE
Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) is a Miami-based non-profit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds.
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 at AfroRootsFest.com and through CommunityArtsandCulture.org.
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