Bachaco Presents the Miami Beach Reggae Fest 2021: a “Peace & Love” Concert Saturday, September 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Latin reggae group with a 13-year artistic trajectory including more 300 concerts from Argentina to Canada, sharing the stage with the biggest and best talent

Miami Beach, FL – July 20, 2021 – The Miami Beach Reggae Fest 2021, is the latest edition of a Festival created by Eddy Morillo, singer / songwriter and founder of Venezuela’s own Latin Reggae music group Bachaco. It is essentially a vehicle to continue to cultivate the locals’ love for Reggae music with Latin twist, which represent Miami Beach and Greater Miami’s melting pot of cultures and sounds.

“We’re extremely proud to continue the tradition that has become the Miami Beach Reggae Fest, and are proud to welcome fellow Latin Reggae artists Fidel Nadal and Doctor Krapula to Miami,” says Morillo. “We are looking forward to having an amazing, family-friendly day at the beach and thank the Rhythm Foundation and the North Beach Bandshell for hosting us.”

The event is taking place on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the North Beach Bandshell at 7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141, and will be an all ages “Peace & Love” concert featuring three headlining performances:

Fidel Nadal, Argentinian Reggae legend and Latin Grammy nominee known for hit singles such as “Gente Que No” with Todos Tus Muertos, as well as his own “International Love”, and “Emocionado” among others;

Bachaco, performing their Reggae best plus the single “La Policia”;

Doctor Krapula, Colombia’s own Reggae/Ska infused Rock Band with 18 years of history, more tha 500 concerts in 15+ countries, seven album studios, a live DVD and five Latin Grammy nominations, as well as collaborations with Manu Chao, Ska-p, SEEED, Juanes, Café Tacvba, among others.

Doors will open at 4:20 p.m. with a special guest DJ performance by Alesouljah and the live music begins at 5 p.m. Attendance is limited to 1,000 guests and ticket purchase prior to the event is highly encouraged to guarantee availability. General admission tickets start at $39.99 and are now on sale at bit.ly/MBRF2021.

For more information, visit www.MiamiBeachReggaeFest.com.

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ABOUT MIAMI BEACH REGGAE FEST

Originally called “5 de Mayo Beach Fest” in its first 2014 Edition, the Miami Beach Reggae Fest has evolved in its 3rd Edition, becoming the only festival in the region to showcase top Latin Reggae talent, steps from the highly sought-after sands and water of Miami Beach. It’s the perfect environment to enjoy a day on the water plus a sunset and live music under the stars on Miami’s “Best Venue for Locals” (Miami New Times).

Past renowned Latin Reggae artists who have graced the stages are Gondwana (Chile), Los Rabanes (Panama) Laguna Pai (Peru), Ojo de Buey (Costa Rica), Alika (Uruguay), Johnny Dread (Cuba), Sudakaya (Ecuador), and Tarmac (Colombia).

The tradition of supporting Latin Reggae artists to highlight the diversity of our community continues in 2021, and the Miami Beach Reggae Fest welcomes the support of all sponsors, vendors, volunteers and artists who wish to help spread the love and awareness of Reggae Music in all its forms.

www.MiamiBeachReggaeFest.com
IG: @MiamiBeachReggaeFest
FB: Facebook.com/MiamiBeachReggaeFest

ABOUT BACHACO

Since 2007 Bachaco has performed more than 300 concerts from Argentina to Canada, sharing the stage and performing at the same events and festivals as other big names in the reggae and world music scenes such as Stephen Marley and the Marley Brothers, Natiruts from Brazil, Israel Vibration, Toots & The Maytals, Tribal Seeds, Ozomatli, Luciano, Easy Star All-Stars, Midnite, Cultura Profetica, Gondwana, Los Cafres, Los Pericos, Bahiano, Alika, Jarabe de Palo, Los Amigos Invisibles, WAR, King Chango and many more.

Bachaco has also showcased during the SXSW and LAMC music conferences thanks to support from BMI. Bachaco was conceived and founded by Venezuelan Singer-Songwriter Edilberto ‘Eddy’ Morillo in Miami, FL where he regularly meets and collaborates with musicians from everywhere.

Bachaco’s musical diversity is what makes it a true multi-cultural experience. The lyrics naturally flow in English and Spanish but the true language Bachaco speaks is the vibe they transmit: High Energy Groove! The band’s hit singles “Good Morning”, “Sunfire Girl” and “Keep Your Head Up” are the group’s best Reggae songs. Their new Reggae songs will make you groove and have you jammin’ every track as each flows with its own influences of Dancehall, Ska, Rock, Hip-Hop, Dub and Latin Reggae.
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​Bachaco has toured multiple times throughout the United States. In 2014, Concert Channel Sessions broadcasted Bachaco Live from Hollywood, CA during prime time to over 20 countries including: Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Telemundo’s “Premios Tu Mundo” 2014 awarded the band a Gibson Sponsorship on National TV for winning Budlight’s “Buscando Mi Ritmo” live music reality TV summer series with their Latin Dancehall Single “Tú” featuring international telenovela rockstar Jose Guillermo Cortines from the Dominican Republic.
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Ojo de Buey from Costa Rica featured Bachaco at the Miami Reggae Festival to celebrate the release of their New Single and Video “Una Sola Nación”, a song they wrote together and recorded at Live House Studios in Miami, FL with producer Mariano Aponte (Puerto Rico), which speaks about coming together as humans.

In 2014, Bachaco headlined the Miami Beach Reggae Fest with Gondwana (Chile) where they performed together on stage their Reggae Rock collaboration “Cruzando Fronteras”.
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Bachaco’s best songs, the Latin Roots hit singles “Jamaican Cumbia”, “Cumbia Pa’ La Nena”, and “Ni Una Lagrima” have been featured on MTV Tr3s, MTV Latin America, CNN en Español, Telemundo, iTunes’ “New and Noteworthy”, Sirius XM Radio, About.com, MSN Latinzine, BMI.com, Gibson.com, AOL Radio’s Rock Latino Top 10, Terra.com, ZUMBA, Venevision Internacional, Miami New Times, Miami.com, El Nuevo Herald (Miami), Viernes Magazine (Miami), Batanga.com, Boom Magazine (Miami), LatinRapper.com, VIPLatino.com, Inity Weekly (Colorado), Brightest Young Things (DC), Reven Magazine (South Carolina), Que Pasa Mi Gente (Charlotte), Nativo Rock (Orlando), The Atlantic Current (South Florida), RCKLG (Argentina), Guacamaya FM (Nicaragua), Rio Live Reggae Radio (Ecuador), KeysWeekly.com (Key West), Remezcla, PulsoBeat.com, ItsInMiami.com, YardHype.com, PuertoRicoUnder.com,and many other media outlets throughout the U.S. and abroad.

www.bachacomusic.com
IG: @bachacomusic
FB: Facebook.com/BachacoMusic
YT: YouTube.com/BachacoMusic

MEDIA CONTACT
MutCommunications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277

Afro Roots Returns to Miami Beach May 1 Featuring Roosevelt Collier and Friends, Plus More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fans welcome to a socially-distanced layout including performances by Vieux Farka Toure, Philip Montalban, Fulu Miziki, Richard Bona, Weedie Braimah and more TBA

Miami Beach, FL — March 30, 2021 — Last year, the pandemic forced Miami-based non-profit Community Arts and Culture (CAC) to scrap all scheduled Afro Roots Fest performances due to safety concerns and restrictions. It’s annual Miami Beach concert became a “Virtual Fest” that was live streamed and watched by thousands in dozens of countries world-wide. This year, the show will once again welcome fans in person, and feature a lineup of regional and international acts, and most importantly, welcome live music fans back safely. 

The concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141), beginning at 7 p.m. The master of ceremonies will once again be world music legend Georges Collinet, host of the award-winning Afropop Worldwide syndicated radio program, which is heard locally on WDNA. Tickets are available online by clicking here. 

“We are excited to get back to presenting live music to a live audience, and look forward to having Roosevelt Collier with special guests Richard Bona and Weedie Braimah, and Philip Montalbán entertain folks live, and Vieux Farka Toure and Fulu Miziki do so virtually,” says Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias. “This event could not have been possible without the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council, the Rhythm Foundation, the Broadmore Hotel, and Afropop Worldwide.”

Soft spoken by nature, South Florida-bred Collier does his hollering on the pedal steel guitar. Brought up in the “sacred steel” tradition of the House of God Church, Roosevelt built his reputation alongside his uncles and cousins in The Lee Boys, known for their spirited, soul-shaking live performances. Seated front and center, “The Dr.” leaves an indelible mark on listeners, flooring audiences with his lightning-fast slide work on the pedal steel.

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Vieux was initially a drummer / calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts, but secretly began playing guitar in 2001. As a passionate champion for the people of Mali and The Sahel, Vieux founded the charity Amahrec Sahel in 2012. Vieux is also the director of The Ali Farka Touré Foundation, an international organization dedicated to the preservation of Ali’s legacy and the cultural growth of Mali.

Afro-Latino reggae artist Montalbán is an Afro-Nicaraguan singer / songwriter who blends Mestizo, Afro-Caribbean and the indigenous cultures of Miskito, Rama, and Garifuna influences together musically. His albums range from showcasing a mix of Creole English and Spanish to his presenting specific Miskito words in song lyrics. He is an  intense, serious songwriter noted for his thoughtful songs of love, harmony, and hope that call for Africans everywhere to unite. 

Fulu Miziki is a multidisciplinary ensemble of musicians from Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) founded by Old Pisko Crane. For several years, Pisko envisioned an orchestra made from materials found in trash cans and dumps. The instruments vary constantly in search of new sounds. Fulu Miziki’s artists make their own performance costumes, masks and instruments. Their distinct sound supports a Pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and a deep concern about the ecological situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the whole world. For Fulu, everything can be reclaimed and re-enchanted.

The following night, Sunday May 2, there will be a special event at Smart Bites To Go (791 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33127) featuring live music by Xperimento and Pan Afrik, and hosted by DJ Lance-O. Also on hand will be a show called “Travels with Afropopo Worldwide and Georges Collinet“, a lively multimedia experience of video, images, music and stories from the Peabody Award-winning radio show’s field work in Zimbabwe, Congo, Egypt and Mali. 

Collinet himself will also be on hand to meet and greet fans, and discuss his 50 year’s experience as broadcast personality and film-maker, as will Afropop’s founding producers, Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre.

For more information, and the full festival lineup and schedule, 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.

CAC has a track record of community collaborations which have earned the support of many other organizations and sponsors, such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the Moksha Arts Collective, Miami-Dade College, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and the Rhythm Foundation. These harmonious relations help CAC fulfill their co-presenting mission to the community.

In 2018, Executive and Artistic Director Jose Elias was recognized by the Knight Foundation as a Knights Art Champion, which allowed him to donate $10,000 to CAC for the production of the 2019 season of events. In 2019, Afro Roots Fest was named “Best Music Festival” by the Miami New Times in weekly’s “Best of Miami” edition. Organizers produced a “Virtual Fest” successfully live streamed from the North Beach Bandshell  for the first time ever in September of 2020. An all-new membership program launched in March of 2021, just in time for the latest season of events, the 23rd overall. .

For more information, please visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach ft. Fatoumata Diawara and Noura Mint Seymali April 6 at North Beach Bandshell

MEDIA ALERT

Miami Beach, FL – March 13, 2019 – Next month’s Afro Roots Fest concert on Miami Beach will celebrate the feminine spirit of world music with a double bill of African chanteuses and a team of local dancers. Mauritanian Griot Noura Mint Seymali and Malian singer / guitarist FatoumataDiawara will perform at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141) on April 6, 2019, as will the African Watoto Dance Theatre. This is the first official concert of the Afro Roots Fest’s 21st season; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are now available for $28 online through bit.ly/ARFMB19, and will be $35 at the door; all ages are welcome.  

This event is being co-presented with MDC Live Arts and the Rhythm Foundation, and is made possible with the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Department of Cultural Affairs, the Doris Duke Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council.

WHO: Fatoumata Diawara and Noura Mint Seymali

WHAT: Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach

WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141

TICKETS: $28 online now; $35 at the door

Full press release available here; high resolution images and videos are available. For more information, please  visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org or call 305.672.5202.

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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.

In addition to the joint venture with the Little Haiti Community Center called Let the Children Have Music, and the ongoing World Music Tuesdays series at the Wynwood Yard, CAC co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area schools.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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

Road to Afro Roots Miami Beach

MEDIA ALERT

The Road to Afro Roots Travels through North Beach
 

Miami Beach, FL – February 7, 2019 – In keeping with this year’s theme of celebrating women in world music, the Road to Afro Roots shifts back to Miami Beach this month and next with a pair of free events. On the heels of a successful launch last month in Jupiter, the series will see Venus Rising Drum & Dance Ensemble paired up with the African Watoto Dance Theatre on Thursday, February 28, 2019, beginning at 8 p.m. Then, Sol + the Tribu will perform March 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The two evenings serve as a warm up for the Afro Roots Fest concertfeaturing a double bill of African chanteuses in Mauritanian Griot Noura Mint Seymali and Malian singer / guitarist Fatoumata Diawara. They are slated to perform on April 6, 2019, as will the African Watoto Dance Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and pre-sale tickets are now available for $28 online through bit.ly/ARFMB19; they will be $35 at the door. All ages are welcome.

WHO / WHEN:

February 28 – Venus Rising Drum & Dance Ensemble (African, Caribbean, Brazilian and Middle Eastern music and movement styles), and African Watoto Dance Theatre (youth-led West African dance)

March 28 – Sol + the Tribu (electronic music with Afro-Cuban rhythms, cumbia, reggaeton, funk, blues, and hip-hop)

WHAT: the Road to Afro Roots concert series

WHERE: North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141

More information available at www.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.
In addition to the joint venture with the Little Haiti Community Center called Let the Children Have Music, and the ongoing World Music Tuesdays series at the Wynwood Yard, CAC co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area schools.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org.
 

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

Venus Rising Drum & Dance Ensemble
African Watoto Dance Theatre
Sol + the Tribu
Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach – click here for tickets

The Afro Future of World Music is Female!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6 Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach Concert a Celebration of Women in World Music  

Community Arts and Culture, MDC Live Arts, and the Rhythm Foundation present Noura Mint Seymali, Fatoumata Diawara and the African Watoto Dance Theatre at the North Beach Bandshell April 6

Miami Beach, FL – January 16, 2019 – The Afro Roots Fest concert planned for Miami Beach will be all about the feminine spirit of world music, featuring a double bill of African chanteuses and a team of local dancers. Mauritanian Griot Noura Mint Seymali and Malian singer / guitarist Fatoumata Diawara will perform at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141) on April 6, 2019, as will the African Watoto Dance Theatre. This is the first official concert of the Afro Roots Fest’s 21st season; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are now available for $28 online through bit.ly/ARFMB19, and will be $35 at the door; all ages are welcome.  

“For 20 years, Afro Roots Fest has brought the finest in traditional and contemporary African music to South Florida,” says Jose Elias, festival founder and executive director of Community Arts and Culture (CAC). “This year, you can add futuristic to the repertoire as the festival will showcase two extraordinary female artists in Noura Mint and Fatoumata. We are excited about having the Watoto dancers present once again.”

Seymali is one of Mauritania’s foremost musical emissaries, and is known for applying the ancient musical traditions of the griot with a savvy contemporary aesthetic. Faithful to her Moorish roots, her sound is led by the raw music of the azawan, a word in Hassaniya that refers to the ensemble of traditional instruments in Moorish culture; the ardine, tidinit, guitar, and t’beul. She has recently collaborated with Damon Albarn, Baaba Maal, Tinariwen, SpoekMathambo, Oumou Sangare and Shabazz Palaces, and appeared at major music festivals throughout the globe.
 
Born to Malian parents in Ivory Coast, Diawara is also a social activist and actor with an acclaimed movie credit (Timbuktu, 2014). Her music combines electric guitar lines with the ancient African strings of the Kora and kamel ngoni, and a drum kit blended with the timeless rhythms of traditional percussion. She’s touring in support of her latest release called Fenfo (meaning “something to say”), which is Grammy-nominated and features original songs that cover such timeless subjects as respect, humility, love, migration, family, and how to build a better world for our children. The release made the New York Times and President Barack Obama’s “Best of 2018” list, as well as the year-end lists in MOJO, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and fRoots. She has also enjoyed several recent high-profile collaborations (Albarn, Herbie Hancock, SnarkyPuppy, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones) and festival appearances.  

The African Watoto Dance Theatre is comprised of dancers from many genres of the African diaspora. The company’s repertoire includes original choreography in traditional West African dances, and Afro-fusion of modern and contemporary, Haitian folklore, Caribbean, Congolese Soukous, and storytelling. The company promotes the African arts specifically for the local communities that do not have access to an authentic cultural experience.

This event is being co-presented with MDC Live Arts and the Rhythm Foundation, and is made possible with the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Department of Cultural Affairs, the Doris Duke Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council.

High resolution images and videos are available. For more information, please visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org or call 305.672.5202.

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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.
In addition to the joint venture with the Little Haiti Community Center called Let the Children Have Music, and the ongoing World Music Tuesdays series at the Wynwood Yard, CAC co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area schools.
For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org.
 
ABOUT MDC LIVE ARTS
Miami Dade College (MDC) is proud to be the home of MDC Live Arts: Miami’s most eclectic performing arts series. Created in 1990 as Cultura del Lobo, MDC Live Arts has a celebrated history of bringing extraordinary national and international performing artists to Miami. The annual series presents today’s most exciting artists and designs meaningful engagement between these artists, the students of MDC, and the greater community. MDC Live Arts seeks artists from across the globe who push boundaries and honor traditions relevant to Miami’s diverse community, and aims to offer audiences opportunities to discover new ideas, perspectives and forms of expression
More details: mdclivearts.org.
 
ABOUT RHYTHM FOUNDATION
Founded in 1988, The Rhythm Foundation, is a not-for-profit cultural organization that is a foremost presenter of international music in the US. The Rhythm Foundation has presented concerts, festivals and events featuring over 800 established and innovative artists from around the world. Special focus is given to those cultures connecting to South Florida audiences. In 2015 The Rhythm Foundation began year-round management of the North Beach Bandshell amphitheater for the City of Miami Beach.
Learn more at www.rhythmfoundation.com.


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

Sun Ra Arkestra in Concert on Miami Beach 4/7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sun Ra Arkestra and Morikeba Kouyate Mark 20 Years of the Afro Roots World Music Festival April 7

Event at North Beach Bandshell begins at 7 p.m. and is open to all ages; tickets available online

Miami Beach, FL – March 13, 2018 – The Afro Roots World Music Festivalcomes full circle for its 20th anniversary celebration, featuring  Sun Ra Arkestra in concert on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL, 33141).  The music begins at 7 p.m.with special guest Morikeba Kouyate. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/2BtQdOq. This year’s edition of the festival, which is curated and run by the non-profit organization Community Arts and Culture (CAC), features more than 50 international and local acts from all over the world, in venues from Jupiter to Key West.

“The whole concept of the Afro Roots Fest initially came together as a tribute to Sun Ra himself,” says Jose Elias, founder and executive director of CAC. “I had just seen the film A Joyful Noise and it inspired me so much that I put together a band called the Afro Polyphonic Space Orchestra and created the festival around it.”  Fast-forward twenty years, and the tribute has evolved into a successful yearly musical and cultural community program.

Directed by alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, the Sun Ra Arkestra are musical torch-bearers for the late, great keyboardist and big-band innovator born Herman Poole Blount. The Arkestra carry on the traditions set by the cosmic philosopher, complete with full costumes and the “Songbook from Saturn”. They maintain a busy touring schedule and continue to release albums, beginning with 1999’s Song for the Sun. Learn more at www.sunraarkestra.com.

Kouyate, a native of Senegal and an Afro Roots Fest favorite, is a Kora master and a trained Griot, meaning he maintains a tradition of West African oral history through song. His handmade instrument is a captivating 20-string, harp-like beauty, which he wields powerfully in his melodic storytelling. Click https://youtu.be/n0O4eqU-wcA to view a clip of him at the festival’s 16th incarnation.

Named one of “South Florida’s Ten Best Music Festivals” by the Miami New Times in August,  the festival will continue the celebration of its 20th anniversary with a journey into the Florida Keys for the first time on April 28 at the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District (151 Morada Way, Islamorada, FL 33060.

The Miami Beach show is made possible through the support of the Miami–Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, the Miami Beach Cultural ArtsCouncil, and is being presented in part by MDC Live Arts.

For more information, ticket links and the full performer lineup, please visit www.afrorootsfest.com or call 305.672.5202.

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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.

CAC also produced the A Day at the Beach Concert Series, which enjoyed a five- year run, in addition to co-producing the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area schools.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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

19th Annual Afro Roots World Music Fest Coming 4/7 & 4/22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19th Annual Afro Roots World Music Festival Features Salif Keita April 7 and Vieux Farka Touré April 22

Both events to be held at North Beach Bandshell, with the Touré show dovetailing into the TransAtlantic Music Festival

Miami Beach, FL – March 21, 2017 – As one of South Florida’s longest-running musical events, the Afro Roots World Music Festival presents some of the most exciting pan-African musicians and celebrates the spread and evolution of the Dark Continent’s culture. This year, the festival’s 19th, performances are spread out over two weekends at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141) and feature the “Golden Voice of Africa” Salif Keita on Friday, April 7, followed by the “Jimi Hendrix of the Sahara” Vieux Farka Touré Saturday, April 22. Tickets for day one are available here: bit.ly/ARWMF19; day two tickets are available here: bit.ly/ARWMF19-2. Start time for both is 6 p.m.

“This year certainly promises to be one of our best, and I’m truly excited about showcasing Salif Keita and Vieux Farka Touré, two world-class artists and musicians,” says Jose Elias, founder and executive director of the Miami-based non-profit Community Arts & Culture. “Our mission with this event has always been to foster an appreciation and understanding of African music and culture, and we feel we have two outstanding examples, and more.”

Keita is considered Mali’s most well-known singer / songwriter, seamlessly combining R&B, rock and jazz into one pan-ethnic sound. Born to a royal family, the artist was disowned by his father upon announcing his intention to purse music. He first rose to prominence as part of the Rail Band, which was renamed Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, before embarking on a solo career in 1984. He has since released more than a dozen recordings, including 2012’s Talé, his latest.

Touré is another Mali national whose sound can be described as ancient West African desert blues meets modern rock. As the son of another well-known guitarist, Ali Farke Touré, he cut his professional teeth as part of the backing band for kora master Toumani Diabaté. Originally a percussionist, he switched to guitar and has enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist, spanning 12 years and nine releases, he latest being 2015’s Touristes, a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Julia Easterlin

The support act for April 7 is Cortadito, Miami’s Cuban folklore masters. On April 22, Sinkane (Sudanese jazz / funk / rock) and Symbi Roots, the all-female Haitian rara band, are both scheduled to perform. A special “Road to AfroRoots” warm-up concert by the Antilles Music Ensemble also takes place at the North Beach Bandshell on March 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. This event coincides with the monthly Food Trucks & Music Night presented by the City of Miami Beach. This show is free and all ages are welcome.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org/afro-roots-world-music-festival or call 800.838.3006.

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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.

CAC also produces the A Day at the Beach Concert Series, which is going on five-plus years now, as well as co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area at-risk children.

For more information, visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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

Fred Wesley Headlines “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Brown Band Alum Fred Wesley Headlines “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy” February 4

Funk forefather to appear with his band The New JBs, plus Roosevelt Collier, DJ Le Spam and kids from the Guitars Over Guns Organization

Miami Beach, FL – January 10, 2017 – When the legendary James Brown issued his famous early 70s edict to “Make It Funky”, trombonist Fred Wesley answered the call. As the leader and musical director for Brown’s renowned backing band The JBs, Wesley is largely responsible for the arrangements heard on some of the Godfather of Soul’s biggest hits. Wesley and his band The New JBs will headline “A Mid-Winter’s Funk Fantasy” on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141).

Hosting the show is Miami-based non-profit organization Community Arts & Culture, which fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures and artistic performances in local communities. Founder and Executive Director Jose Elias offers: “I’m truly excited to offer this funk-tastic lineup that not only includes one of the genre’s godfathers, but also features locals Roosevelt Collier, DJ Le Spam, as well as Guitars Over Guns, who do great work with at-risk youth here and in Chicago.”

The event is part of the ongoing A Day at the Beach Concert Series, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary last fall. Tickets are $30 and available online through http://bit.ly/DATB2017MWFF; doors open at 5 p.m. and the show is all-ages.

An active recording and performing artist in his 70s, the Columbus, GA-native Wesley also served as arranger for another standout funk act, P-Funk. He led the Horny Horns and also collaborated on solo projects by fellow JBs alums Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis. Fred has also recorded and performed with Count Basie, as well as on solo outings by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, and countless other names. This will be The New JBs’ first-ever performance in Miami.

Collier is also known as “The Dr.” because of his mastery of the pedal steel guitar. Brought up in the “sacred steel” tradition of the House of God Church, Roosevelt built his reputation alongside his uncles and cousins in The Lee Boys, known for their spirited, soul-shaking live shows. He’s notably performed alongside artists such as the Allman Brothers, Los Lobos and the Del McCoury Band. A favorite on the jam band scene, Collier will be backed by the Phunk Phactory on February 4th.

Andrew Yeomanson AKA DJ Le Spam is an award-winning musician, producer, and funk selector. When not recording local acts, he works to preserve and restore classic R&B and funk at his home studio City of Progress. Yeomanson also leads the premier Miami Latin funk band the Spam Allstars, who recently released a highly-anticipated collection of songs called Trans-Oceanic. He will be spinning records from his collection of rare 45s in between the live acts.

Guitars Over Guns Organization (or GOGO) is the brainchild Dr. Chad Bernstein. Founded in 2008, the volunteer project has offered music and mentoring at seven schools in Miami and Chicago. They work collaboratively with schools and communities to deliver high-impact, arts-based mentoring programs to empower at-risk youth. The GOGO kids ensemble will be performing live, marking the first time many of them will be showcasing their skills in a professional setting.

For more information, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org or call 800.838.3006.

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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.

CAC also produces the Afro Roots World Music Festival, one of the longest-running events of its kind, as well as co-produces the Roots in the Schools program, which brings music to Miami-area at-risk children.

For more information, visit www.communityartsandculture.org.

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

A Day at the Beach Series’ 5th Anniversary is 11/26

MEDIA ALERT

A Day at the Beach Celebrates Five Years of Music at the North Beach Bandshell November 26

A Day at the Beach Concert Series, presented by Miami non-profit organization Community Arts & Culture (CAC), will be celebrating five years of music on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the North Beach Bandshell. Location: 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141.

Scheduled to appear:

Nil Lara
Elastic Bond
Birdman’s Clambake
Aaron Lebos Reality
DJ Ephniko Dialecto

In addition, there will be live painting by local visual artist Amos, crafts for sale by various vendors, and a full liquor bar.

CAC aims to foster appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures. Show is all-ages; admission is $5. For more information, visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org.

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

18th Annual Afro Roots World Music Festival 9/3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Afrobeat Project and Aurelio Martinez Co-Headline Afro Roots World Music Festival September 3

Nigerian rhythms and Garifuna culture highlight the 18th annual event to be held at the North Beach Bandshell  

Miami, FL – August 16, 2016 – The 18th annual Afro Roots World Music Festival, one of the area’s longest-running concert series, will take place on Labor Day Saturday, September 3, 2016, at the historic North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139). Co-headliners Chicago Afrobeat Project and Honduran Garifuna artist Aurelio Martinez will be supported by locals Uma Galera plus DJ Moses. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the first act will go on at 5:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $15 and available online at bit.ly/ARWMF18 at that price until September 2. Admission on the day of the show is $25; all ages are welcome.

The Chicago Afrobeat Project has emerged as one of the genre’s most prominent and successful touring American acts, having mastered a sound that successfully weaves the uniqueness of the Chicago music scene with a distinct Nigerian style of music. The group previously collaborated with drummer Tony Allen (Afrobeat granddaddy Fela Kuti‘s drummer), and are currently promoting their latest release Nyash Up!, which is their fourth official album. It incorporates elements of hip-hop, orchestra-like musical arrangement, rock, jazz and funk.

Also featured at this year’s festival is Aurelio, who was born in the tiny coastal hamlet of Plaplaya on Honduras’ Caribbean coast. He may be one of the last generations to grow up steeped in the Garifuna tradition, which encompass the African and Caribbean Indian roots of his ancestors. Specifically, he is a descendant of a group of shipwrecked slaves who intermarried with local natives on the island of St. Vincent who were deported to the Central American coast in the late eighteenth century. The artist also served his community for years as a legislator.

Local openers Uma Galera are an experimental reggae band who play Latin-tinged grooves laced with rock, funk, ska and more to create what they call “world soul music”. Their fitting name means “one crowd”, as their bouts of musical improvisation inspire unity and grow good vibes. Spinning the best from the different eras and sub-genres of world music will be DJ Moses, a mainstay of the festival for more than ten years now.

The festival is produced by local non-profit organization Community Arts & Culture  and is generously bering underwritten by the Knight Foundation, theFlorida Department of Cultural Affairs, the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council. Event sponsors include Ocean Terrace Holdings, Blackwell Rum, 7th Circuit Productions, and the Rhythm Foundation.

For more information, visit www.AfroRootsFest.com.

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