Community Arts and Culture presents the 28th annual Afro Roots Fest in Islamorada April 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Florida Keys Brewing Company and MoradaWay Arts and Cultural District to host a day of live music featuring Cortadito, Everglades Songbook Suite, Sanba Zao, and Famato, plus percussion and instrument building workshops

Islamorada, FL – February 18, 2026 – The nonprofit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC) has by now become synonymous with curating and producing the longest-running world music event Afro Roots Fest. On Saturday, April 4, 2026, the award-winning festival returns to the Morada Way Arts and Cultural district,  and  the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036) beginning at 12 noon with a series of workshops , and featuring Cortadito (Cuba), the Everglades Songbook Suite (U.S.), Sanba Zao (Haiti), Famato (Guinea, West Africa), percussion and instrument-making workshops, vendors, and more. Free event, with a few ticketed workshops, all ages welcome. 

“The flavor of this year’s festival is decidedly Caribbean, with a dash of West Africa, and I am proud to once again present these acts to the global music fans of South Florida,” says Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and producer, Jose Elias. “It’s my pleasure  to continue to bring world music programming to the Florida Keys, and I am looking forward to this year’s event.” Elias is known for his work with  Cortadito, and will perform with his other project, the Everglades Songbook Suite ensemble. 

Since its origins thirteen years ago, Cortadito has evolved into one of the torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band named the Miami New Times’ Best of Miami “Best Latin Act” in 2009, the band focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. Last year, Cortadito released a full-length album titled The Guajiro Triangle which features guest performances by Nestor Torres and Aymée Nuviola, and includes a fourth single and video titled “Lo Que te Cuento es Poco”.

The vastly resplendent Everglades has inspired countless works of literature and art, including the musical project “Everglades Songbook Suite”, which was created by Elias. A 2016 Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) fellow, Jose wrote 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 Live Arts Miami and AIRIE. 

In 2022 , the project received the support of the Kennedy Center to produce a pop up concert event at the Long Pine Key Amphitheater inside the park, then later in Key West  at the Studios of Key West. The performance included artists from around the world and served as a collaborative effort which featured different composers as well.

Born Louis Lesly Marcelin, Sanba Zao is a master drummer and Haitian roots music legend. He was also a professor at L’Ecole National des Arts, Haiti’s national arts school, and has devoted his life to teaching and promoting the culture and music of Haiti. Marcelin ran an elementary school called the Bazilo Ecole Communautairei, which was one of the first to reopen after the 2010 earthquake that devastated his home country. Sanba Zao has also sings and tours with Lakou Mizik and performed with other Haitian groups such as Group Sa, Foula Jazz, and Djakata.

Famato is a West African musical ensemble based in Gainesville, FL that plays traditional music from Guinea, particularly from the Mandinka tribe. The group’s name is a Sanso word that means “come and see”, and is led by Aboubacar “Amo” Soumah, a master drummer from Guinea, West Africa. They play instruments such as the Djembe drum and the balafon combined with vocals.

Anchoring the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, FBKC is the Upper Keys first microbrewery. They always have a great selection of favorite beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers, on draft. There is plenty for everyone to enjoy here. Take a tour of the brewery, enjoy a flight of beers, check out the local artwork, play games, or just relax and listen to some world music. Located at Mile Marker 88, the Tasting Room is open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Workshops include Percussion for Peace Workshops led by master artists Soumah and members of Sanba Zao, as well as community partner Power of Percussion. Families and youth can participate in instrument-building workshops through The Inheritants Project, CAC’s Miami-based Afro-Indigenous youth music and dance initiative. This, along with programming by musical instrument maker Eddie Osborne will run from noon to 4 p.m., with the live music going from 4 to 9:30 p.m. 

Event support is provided by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, FKBC, the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, Keys NICE, Walking Together, and Keys Arts. Future events to be presented by CAC include a Son Del Mundo concert scheduled for May 8 and the Asere Social Club coming June 26. 

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com.

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

Community Arts and Culture celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Son Del Mundo concert events at the Florida Keys Brewing Co. September 13 and 14

Community Arts and Culture celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Son Del Mundo concert events at the Florida Keys Brewing Co. September 13 and 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Islamorada, FL – August 19, 2025 – Miami’s premier Cuban folk music ambassadors Cortadito will celebrate the release of their new album The Guajiro Triangle and honor Cuban music icons the Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC) on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036) beginning at 6 p.m. 

The following afternoon, Fusión Vayu will represent Colombian folk music in all of its colorful variations, with selections from DJ Supa Kundukta beginning at 3 p.m. Both concerts are free and open to all ages, to be held in the Beer Garden, and are presented by the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC). 

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to showcase our hispanidad, and we’re excited to be presenting Cortadito and Fusión Vayu to Latin music fans in and around Islamorada,” says CAC Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “We thank the Florida Keys Brewing Company and our fans in Monroe County for their continued support.” Elias is also Cortadito’s co-founder and tresero.

Since its origins thirteen years ago, the award-winning Cortadito has evolved into one of the torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed BVSC. 

The band has just released a third album single called “Guajira En La Madrugada“, written by the late Alberto Pantaleon Hernandez and features guest vocals by the Havana powerhouse Aymée Nuviola. The first two album singles, “A Yemayá” (with Nestor Torres) and “Aqui Te Traigo Me Son” have been well received by critics and fans alike, amassing new followers and thousands of views and streams. The band will have vinyl copies of The Guajiro Triangle for sale at the event.

Cortadito was recently featured on NPR’s Alt Latino podcast and is gaining momentum in various foreign markets like Mexico, Colombia, France, and Spain. The September 13th show will be the first stop of their regional tour which also includes dates in Central Florida and North Carolina.

Comprised of members of Group Barrio Abajo, Fusión Vayu plays the folkloric music of the Caribbean Colombia by using traditional percussion instruments and flutes, with modern instruments, presenting styles such as bullerengue, porro, chandé, and more than 30 other unparalleled musical rhythms. Globally, their home country is known for cumbia and vallenato, but these are just two parts of their musically diverse heritage.

FKBC is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery and is located in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District. They always have a great selection of their favorite beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers, on draft. 

DJ Supa Kundukta will be spinning a variety of music from Hispanic countries throughout the  Antilles and the Americas on Sunday.This event is sponsored by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. 

For more information, visit CACMiami.org.

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

Afro Roots Fest Islamorada Returns to Florida Keys Brewing Company April 4 to 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community Arts and Culture’s 27th annual event to feature acts celebrating the music of the Caribbean islands and the Americas

Miami, FL – March 12, 2025 – One of South Florida’s longest-running music festivals is coming back to Islamorada April 4 through 6, bringing a full weekend’s worth of world music to the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036). The free, all ages concerts will feature Cuban and Colombian folk, Central American and Caribbean reggae, Latin funk, and world music selections. Festival merch items will be on sale, and an optional $10 suggested donation will go to support the organization that produces this free event.   

“I’m grateful to once again be able to bring the Afro Roots Fest to the beautiful Florida Keys ,” says Community Arts and Culture Executive Director Jose Elias. “I invite everyone to come enjoy the ambiance, craft beer, and music from around the globe.” Afro Roots Fest Islamorada is brought to you with the support of The Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Keys ICE, and the Florida Keys Brewing Company. 

Cortadito, Miami’s leading ambassadors of Cuban folk music, has captivated audiences in Islamorada over the past year with their electrifying live shows. They released the first single from their highly anticipated album The Guajiro Triangle on February 7th, and are set to release their second single prior to their upcoming festival performance. Audiences can expect to hear a mix of new material from their album, along with beloved Cuban standards, including iconic songs from the Buena Vista Social Club.

Electric Piquete is an award-winning Latin funk band from Hialeah who put out new music in September of last year, dropping their first full-length recording called Azabache, a collection of new and mostly instrumental music which is now streaming on all platforms and available on CD through Bandcamp. The first single and video is titled “Chunk“, a mid-tempo funk number mixed by Carlos “El Loco” Bedoya (Beyonce, Mick Jagger, Enrique Iglesias. The band is getting ready to issue a second single titled “Guayabera”, and accompanying animated lyric video later this month.

Afro-Latino Reggae artist Philip Montalbán blends Mestizo, Afro-Caribbean, and indigenous cultures of Miskito, Rama, and Garifuna influences in his music. Born and raised in the Bluefields region of Managua, Nicaragua, Philip is an international recording and touring artist whose most recent release is the infectious single called “Miami”.

Group Barrio Abajo plays the folkloric music of the Caribbean Colombia by using traditional percussion instruments and flutes, with modern instruments, presenting styles such as bullerengue, porro, chandé, and more than 30 other unparalleled musical rhythms. Globally, their home country is known for cumbia and vallenato, but these are just two parts of their musically diverse heritage.

Jean P. Jam AKA Pokito is a Haitian artist that offers up a special blend of world beat music called “Deep Roots” that combines African, Soca, Caribbean, and reggae influences into one groovy amalgamation. DJ Supa Kundukta (Super Conductor) is the DJ stage name for Elias and he will be spinning a special selection of Afro Beat and world grooves, along with funk, soul, and R&B classics. 

The full schedule is as follows:

Friday, April 4, 6 p.m. | Pokito

Saturday, April 5, 6 p.m. | Cortadito and Grupo Barrio Abajo

Sunday, April 6, 2 p.m. | Electric Piquete, Philip Montalban, DJ Supa Kundukta

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com.

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

Community Arts and Culture Presents a Dia de los Muertos Celebration in Islamorada 11/3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami nonprofit partners with the Florida Keys Brewing Company for event featuring live music and a sugar skull-making workshop

October 15, 2024 – Miami-based nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC) is once again presenting a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Highway Islamorada, FL 33036). The free, family-friendly event will feature live music by Fabi World and Mariachi Veracruz Miami, as well as face painting, and a sugar skull-making workshop. The concert is free and tickets for the face painting and a sugar skull-making workshop are $15 for kids and $25 for adults. 

“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy an afternoon of music, legacy, and love,” says event producer Renee Chavez. 

Mexican musician and composer Fabi Patiño fronts his world beat and rootsy groove trio that also features Nay Roze on violin and vocals, and Gilma Espina on percussion and vocals. Originally from Oaxaca Mexico, Fabi has become an ambassador of the Miami music legacy across the globe.

Mariachis play the traditional music of Mexico, always in full dress and with much gusto. Mariachi Veracruz Miami brings joy and passion to every performance and are highly in demand on the South Florida music circuit.  

FKBC is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery and is located in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District. They always have a great selection of their favorite beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers, on draft.

Event support is provided by the Monroe County Tourism Development Council, FKBC, and the Morada Way Arts and Culture district. For more information, visit CACMiami.org.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURE

Community Arts and Culture is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing world music, lectures, and workshops to underserved communities. For decades, CAC has been enriching lives and promoting cultural understanding through its diverse programs and events.

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

Afro Roots Fest concludes in Islamorada at Florida Keys Brewing Company April 26-28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Multi-cultural music festival features free performances by Cortadito, Venezonix with San Juan USA, Jean P. Jam, Manny Swagg, and Stella Fusion

Islamorada, FL – April 12, 2024 – The award-winning Afro Roots Fest winds its way down U.S. 1 and concludes with a weekend of spectacular concert events at the Florida Key Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036) Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28, 2024. The performances will represent the best in Afro-Caribbean vibes and offer up music from Cuban, Venezuelan, Haitian, and Colombian artists. All performances are free and open to all-ages, and will be held in the brewery beer garden.

The weekend concludes six-week run of live music by world-class artists, drum and dance workshops, and short film screenings that included stops in Miami, Miami Beach, Gainesville, and Jupiter. On Friday evening, April 26, Jean P. Jam will offer up a special blend of world beat music called “Deep Roots” that combines African, Soca, Caribbean, and reggae influences into one groovy amalgamation. He takes the stage at 6 p.m.

Next up Saturday, April 27 is Cortadito (Cuba), who are Miami’s answer to the Buena Vista Social Club. They will perform Cuban folk standards and original music from their upcoming full-length release titled Guajiro Triangle. Supporting them are Venezonix, an Afro-Venezuelan electronica act featuring keyboardist Andres Ponce (co-founder of Nacional recording artists Elastic Bond), plus San Juan USA, a dance group also hailing from Venezuela. Showtime is 6 p.m.

Finally, the dynamic singer / songwriter Manny Swagg‘s unique melding of Latin jazz, Afro-Latin beat, Caribbean folk, and traditional Cuban music takes center stage Sunday, April 28 beginning at 2 p.m. His group will be supported by Stella Fusion‘s smooth Cumbia Salsa funk representing Colombia. Both are making their Afro Roots Fest debuts and will surely bring the beer garden down.

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Tobacco Road bar in Miami, Afro Roots Fest has been named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers include Eliades Ochoa, Oumou Sangare, Sun Ra Arkestra, Fatoumata Diawara, Fulu Miziki, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure, and Toubab Krewe, among many others. Since 2018, the event has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate events in markets such as Gainesville, Miami, Miami Beach, and Jupiter.

Anchoring the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, FBKC is the Upper Keys first microbrewery. They always have a great selection of favorite beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers, on draft. There is plenty for everyone to enjoy here. Take a tour of the brewery, enjoy a flight of beers, check out the local artwork, play games, or just relax and listen to some music. Located at Mile Marker 88, the Tasting Room is open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Presented by the Miami-based nonprofit Community Arts and Culture, Afro Roots Fest is dedicated to increasing understanding through the cultivation, preservation and presentation of diverse cultural music and arts offerings. Event support provided by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, Keys ICE, and FKBC.

More information available at AfroRootsFest.com.

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

CAC: The Inheritants Project Celebrates Dia de Los Muertos at Florida Keys Brewing Company on November 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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 at FloridaKeysBrewingCo.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 to Ameyal.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.

For more information, visit communityartsandculture.org/day-of-the-dead. 

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

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.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

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

Afro Roots Fest concludes 25th anniversary season with a weekend in Islamorada May 19-21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three consecutive days of free concerts at the Florida Keys Brewing Company featuring Electric Kif, Cortadito, Miamibloco, Nag Champayons with Johnny Dread, and Grupo Barro Abajo

Islamorada, FL – May 2, 2023 – One of SouthFlorida’s longest-running music festivals Afro Roots Fest will wrap its 25th anniversary season with a weekend of free concerts in Islamorada at the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036). The weekend kicks off at 6 p.m. in the beer garden on Friday, May 19, 2023, with a performance by Electric Kif, and continues with Cortadito and Miamibloco on Saturday, May 20, 6 p.m. Finally, the Nag Champayons and special guest Johnny Dread plus Grupo Barrio Abajo close things out on Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public of all ages.

“We couldn’t think of a better way or place to end the season than with this amazingly diverse presentation of cultures at one of the finest breweries in all of Florida,” says Afro Roots Fest founder and Nag Champayons guitarist and bandleader Jose Elias. “I’m proud to continue to fulfill the mission of our nonprofit to bring African-influenced culture to underserved locations and invite everyone to come enjoy a full weekend’s worth of incredibly talented musical presentations.” Elias is also the executive director of the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC), the organization behind Afro Roots Fest, as well as the bandleader and tres player in Cortadito..  

The Nag Champayons are Frank Zappa and Serge Gainsbourg wrestling Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. It’s Sonic Youth’s plane crashing into Fela Kuti’s boat in the Everglades on the hottest day of summer. “Afro-Floyd,” said one listener. The group began in the early 2000s as an improvisational collective whose name came from the burning of Nag Champa incense during early jams. The group is currently in the studio recording the follow up to the 2015 release Rising Sounds of a Sinking City and 2016 single “Brazilian LSD”. Johnny quite simply transcends reggae music into a unique blend of world beat rhythms. His musical influences are as diverse as his Rasta, Cuban-American background.

Electric Kif are a Miami-based power quartet that explore the boundaries between rock, jazz fusion and electronic drum & bass. Made up of bassist Rodrigo Zambrano, keyboardist Jason Matthews, drummer Armando Lopez, and guitarist Eric Escanes, the band has garnered attention of the live music scene for their eclectic take on groove and their own brand of ‘post-nuclear music’. Their most recent album Dreamlike is Electric Kif’s 4th full length LP and features international heavy hitters Aaron Parks and Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy. In May they also released a special single collaboration with Adam Deitch.

Since their origin ten years ago, Cortadito has become torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. This dynamic ensemble lead by Elias and co-founder / guitarist / vocalist Julio Cesar Rodriguez Delet, leads audiences through “The Guajiro Triangle”, an audio experience spanning the three cities of Miami, Havana, and Santiago, representing the group’s origins.

Co-led by Brian Potts and suOm Francis, Miamibloco is a Samba percussion community nonprofit that turns Afro-Brazilian music and rhythms into the cultural glue that binds Miami’s unique diverse communities together. Their mission is to help people connect, learn, grow, and thrive for a more joyful and equitable Miami through performance and education. They host the seasonal Saideira Social at The Miami Beach Bandshell, where the Miamibloco performance group Bateria Saideira collaborates on stage with high caliber local, Brazilian, and international musicians including Samir Langus, Munir Hossn, Gilmar Gomes, Musiana, Magela Herrera, Oigo, and Mauricio Baia.

Group Barrio Abajo seeks to raise international awareness of the folkloric musical heritage of the Caribbean Colombia by presenting styles such as cumbia, bullerengue, porro, chandé, and more than 30 other unparalleled musical rhythms. Globally, their home country is known for cumbia and vallenato, but these are just two parts of their musically diverse heritage. Barrio Abajo has performed at various editions of Afro Roots Fest, and is a regular favorite at CAC events.

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Tobacco Road bar in Miami, Afro Roots Fest has been named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers include Amadou & Mariam, Sun Ra Arkestra, Alsarah, Fatoumata Diawara, Fulu Miziki, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure, Toubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others. Since 2018, the festival has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate events in markets such as Gainesville, North Miami, Doral, Hollywood, Islamorada, and Key West.

This year’s edition of the award-winning festival is generously supported by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, and Keys ICE.

More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

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 is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming. For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

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

Community Arts & Culture to Again Present Dia de los Muertos Events in Doral and Islamorada Along with Ameyal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami-based nonprofit and Mexican cultural organization host celebrations at Doral Yard, Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, and the Florida Keys Brewing Company October 17 – November 2

Miami, FL, October 17, 2022 – For 20 years now, Community Arts & Culture (CAC) has prided itself on fostering an appreciation of a vast assortment of cultures, including Afro-Indigenous traditions. Last year, CAC and Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization teamed up to bring twin Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations to downtown Doral and the Upper Keys. This year, the events return to the Doral Yard on Sunday, October 30, and will enjoy an extended run in Islamorada at the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center (FKHDC) beginning today and culminating at the Florida Keys Brewing Co. (FKBC) on November 2.

First up is a special installation of several traditional Dia de los Muertos altar displays at the FKHDC, which is located at 82100 Overseas Highway in Islamorada. Museum admission is required to view the display. Next, is an afternoon of family-friendly fun at Doral Yard (8455 Northwest 53rd Street Doral, FL 33166) including a sugar skull workshop at 2 p.m. and a traditional procession plus live music by Ameyal beginning at 6 p.m. Finally, the sugar skull / procession / live music comes to FKH&DC on November 2 and ends at the FKBC (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036).

“We’re pleased to be again working with Ameyal, the Doral Yard, and the Florida Keys Brewing Co., all of whom have proved to be vital community partners and solid supporters of our artistic and cultural vision,” says CAC Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias. “Our thanks to the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center for joining us this year. We look forward to these great events celebrating our ancestors.”

Established in 2013, the FKHDC is a world-class history and discovery center that accurately reflects the Florida Keys in a multi-faceted and interactive environment. It occupies a two-story, 7,500 square foot facility located in the heart of Islamorada on the property of the Islander Resort. Major themes of interest are the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, the Flagler’s Over-Sea Railway, as well as the area’s fishing and maritime heritage. The FKHDC offers an annual lecture series, as well as undertake projects that fit with our mission and vision. Learn more at KeysDiscovery.com.

The Doral Yard is a community gathering space designed to foster local entrepreneurship and culture, created by the Yard Hospitality and Place Projects teams. 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.

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 at FloridaKeysBrewingCo.com.

Ameyal is dedicated to fomenting and spreading popular Mexican culture by focusing on sharing the richness of its cultural heritage 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 to Ameyal.org.

Events free are open to the public of all ages, but tickets are required for the sugar skull activities in Doral and Islamorada. Limited edition tanks, tees, totes, and hoodies are available to commemorate the 2022 events – there’s a two-step order and payment process live on the web now.

The celebration in Islamorada is generously being supported by the Monroe County Tourism Development Council, Monroe County School District, Florida History and Discovery Center, Florida Keys Brewing Company, and Hot Dog on a Stick. Event support in Doral provided by the Miami–Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Doral Yard, and Hot Dog on a Stick.

For more information, visit communityartsandculture.org/day-of-the-dead.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

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 is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
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Afro Roots Fest 2022 Concludes in Islamorada on Memorial Day Weekend

MEDIA ALERT

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.

Festival information: 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.For more information, please visit CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

Afro Roots Fest to Stage Multicultural Musical Events in Key West and Islamorada

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 Celia Cruz 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.

Festival information: AfroRootsFest.com.

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