Wed, 01/14/2015 - 8:15 am

Proving once again that the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art and Dance isn’t your typical concert festival, the lineup includes daily kid and family-friendly programming that commences even before the first note is played by openers Driftwood on February 19th at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park (4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149).

Beginning with the all-new Culture Camp on February 15, festival-goers of all ages can participate in music and dance workshops throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m., participate in a special Community Building Project Workshop co-hosted by Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream fame (Sunday only) and end the day on a savory note with a cooking work shop SundayWednesday, and an all-camp dance.

During the official music segment of the festival, which runs Thursday, February 19Sunday, February 22, the Kids Village tent will offer a daily schedule of activities ranging from arts and crafts and drumming to hula hoops and obstacle courses. Over in the Sustainability Pavilion, story time and family yoga sessions are planned, and families can learn about solar power on the beach, tune up their bikes and learn more about the Global Peace Initiative together. Bike- riders receive half off Sunday tickets, with proceeds going to benefit Heart For Humanity. There will be a bike valet on-site.

A very special “Let Your Freak Flag Fly Parade” takes place on Sunday afternoon. Everyone is welcome to participate in the procession around the festival grounds beginning at 2 p.m. Costume making and parade-crafting begins at 1 p.m. in the Kids Village.  Emerge Miami, the King Mango Strut team and others will lead the parade geared towards positive self-expression and acceptance of all traditions.

Tickets are available online at VirginiaKeyGrassRoots.org/general-info/tickets. Children 12 and under are admitted to the festival for free. For more information, visit VirginiaKeyGrassRoots.org  or call 786.409.5261

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 9:03 am

Georgia-based multi-instrumentalist Zach Deputy cannot stay away from Jupiter for long. His return to Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar Tuesday, September 13, 2016 comes on the heels of a packed-house performance May 8, and is part of a promotional tour for his new release titled Wash It in the Water. Admission is free and 21 and over are welcome; the music begins at 8 p.m.

Deputy’s fourth album is an amalgamation of sunny, soulful new sounds that fuse hip-hop, funk, and folky pop with the spirited rhythms of soca and calypso. Zach’s self-described “Island-infused, Drum ‘n’ Bass, Gospel-Ninja-Soul” is a product of an upbringing that was heavily influenced by a very musical family matriarch.

“When I was a kid my grandma would play a lot of salsa and soca and make me get up and dance to it, so in a way this is me putting my own spin on all that and bringing those sounds into a whole new era.” The first single is called “Chevrolet” and it plays like a joyful soul / church revival held on a Caribbean beach.
 
“Zach’s tropically-infused sound is a perfect fit for Guanabanas and always seems to strike the right chord with our live music devotees,” says Talent Buyer Matt Cahur. “I’m excited about watching him perform his new material and am looking forward to what will likely be another memorable evening of live music.” Cahur also heads Roots Music, Inc., a management and promotional company that produces events such as the upcoming “Reggae on the Other River” concert coming to Guanabanas October 9.
 
Guanabanas, one of Jupiter’s premier live music venues, prides itself on a diverse musical offering as tasty as its award-winning menu. The Noche Latina series, launched just after Hispanic Heritage Month in 2015, features prominent local, regional and national Latin music acts at least once a month. On September 17, Cuban-born singer / composer Danay Suarez will perform for the second time; the series celebrates its first anniversary October 22 with a doubleheader of Miami-based Latin funk by Electric Piquete and the Spam Allstars.
 
For more details about Zach, navigate to www.ZachDeputy.com. For more information about the location, please visit www.Guanabanas.com or call 561.747.8878.

Tue, 10/18/2016 - 7:17 am

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 through education. Show is all-ages; admission is $5. For more information, visit www.CommunityArtsandCulture.org

Wed, 11/16/2016 - 8:57 am

Damian J. Sanchez revels in carrying the torch for jazz in Miami. Winning the 2015 Buskerfest Miami competition allowed the multi-instrumentalist to complete and release his debut recording titled Sessions 33 1/3, and the artist will make it official on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 305 Brews in Wynwood (3535 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137). Showtime is at 8 p.m., there is no cover, and all age are welcome.
 
“This debut album serves as a global jazz revue, a little bit of everything for everybody,” says Sanchez. “It captures all the different periods of jazz, while establishing a new and singular voice in this music through original compositions, and our unique ‘genre-crossing’ technique.” In other words, the release is an attempt to survey the entire history of jazz in one compilation, from beginning to end.
 
Upon his return to Miami from Memphis in 2013, Damian sensed a dearth of jazz in Miami. Spurred by the perceived negative opinion of the musical style in South Florida, Sanchez set out to not only preserve the music and educate listeners, but to expand upon the works created by those who came before him.
 
The new release contains 10 tracks ranging from traditional, early 20th century jazz, to Sanchez’s modern day take on jazz fusion, covering everyone from Louis Armstrong to Keith Jarrett. Sanchez recorded them in part at the Miami International University of Art & Design, and partly during Sebastian Vega’s Wynwood Sessions, in March of 2014. Damian had a hand in the production of the tracks, mastered the tunes himself, and even takes a turn on vocals on “Fotos En Un Album Sin Tu Amor” (Pictures in an Album without Your Love), a Spanish-language jazz / blues number.
 
Featured players on the recording are: Carlos Avila on trombone, Shay Eishen, drums, Mike Bishop on guitar, Axel Aleman (bass), and Sanchez on all woodwinds, nylon string guitar, and vocals. The collection was edited and mixed by Andrew Yeomanson, AKA DJ Le Spam at City of Progress Studio in North Miami. Recording credit goes to Vega. Damian designed all of the album artwork and wrote the liner notes.
 
These days he’s focused on the jazz projects that live under the Damian J Project umbrella, which include: TRAD305 (New Orleans-based nascent jazz), Los Havana Knights (of origins of Latin jazz in Cuba), SwinginSensations (covers the 30’s and 40’s swing / big band era), and Made From Scratch, an electronic scratch / improv collaboration.

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 12:26 pm

The sixth installment of the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance is scheduled to take place February 21-28, 2017. This year, the event will not only take place on its traditional Key Biscayne home, but will also feature mainland satellite happenings in Wynwood and Midtown, and on North Beach. Grassroots festival mainstays Donna the BuffaloThe Blind Spots, and Big Mean Sound Machine join Miami’s Locos Por Juana and FABI as early headliners announced; more acts are soon to be revealed.

So far, there are official events planned at The Wynwood Yard (56 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127), Concrete Beach Social Hall (325 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127), Lagniappe House (3425 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137), and the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141). The full schedule will be released shortly, but tickets to all events an on-site camping are now available online at http://bit.ly/VKGR2017.

“We’re proud and excited to be back for a 6th year,” says festival organizer and spokesperson Selena Hodom. “I’m looking forward to producing yet another successful winter event and continuing the Grassroots tradition here in South Florida.”

The organization is looking to get back on track after underwhelming ticket sales for the recent Shakori Hills festival, which was interrupted for a day by a Hurricane Matthew's strike on North Carolina in early October 2016. In spite of the weather, the festival highlighted scores of bands, including a contingent from Miami that included Elastic BondElectric Piquete and Cortadito.

The Virginia Key edition will once again showcase non-profit political, social and environmental activist organizations, and host music and dance workshops, yoga and a Kid’s Village. Also returning: the beer garden & vinyl lounge, sustainability expo, the Zen Village & Healing Arts pavilion, and live art.

For more information, please visit http://virginiakeygrassroots.com or call 305.767.4460.

### 
 
ABOUT GRASSROOTS

The original Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance began in 1990 as a benefit concert to support a local AIDS organization in Ithaca, NY.  Encouraged by the success of that night, a decision was made to create an annual festival dedicated to raising money for the fight against AIDS, while supporting arts and education.

With the help of countless volunteers, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival has become an internationally-recognized event with a focus on traditional and contemporary roots music and dance from all over the world.  For four days every July, the festival hosts more than 60 performing groups on four stages at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Central New York near the university town of Ithaca.

Twelve years later, the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance was launched on a 75-acre farm in rural North Carolina near the triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Twice a year, in April and October, thousands of people attend the event to revel in great music, sweat it out on the dance floor, celebrate the arts, and build community.

The site has since become the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization created to strengthen the community through music, arts and education.

The festival winters at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, just off the coast of Miami, FL. This year’s edition is the sixth incarnation of the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance, featuring local and national acts.
 
For more information, visit GrassrootsFest.org

 

Tue, 01/10/2017 - 7:22 am

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.

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 9:10 am

The open format for the 2017 edition of the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance promises to spread the event’s vibe throughout Miami. Not only will there music at the festival’s Key Biscayne home, but this year, mainland satellite happenings in Coral Gables, Wynwood and Midtown, and North Beach will literally bring the music to the people. Live performances are scheduled to begin Wednesday, February 22 and will run through the grand festival-closing performance on Sunday, February 26. Camping will be available the 21st through the 27th at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.Long an organization that supports and encourages sustainable mass-transit commuting, all events are either within in walking distance of each other, or accessible by public transportation (buses, Metrorail, and Metromover), Freebee (Wynwood’s free electric runabout car system), or Uber.

Scheduled to play this year are:
 
Locos Por Juana
Donna the Buffalo
Uma Galera
Big Mean Sound Machine
FABI
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Elastic Bond
Telekinetic Walrus
Tamboka
JUke
Bill Kelly
Afrobeta
Nag Champyons
Nativos Jammin Orchestra
The Blind Spots
Electric Piquete
Edan Archer
Krekel and Whoa
Jeb & Tara
Jesus Hidalgo

Official host venues are:
 
The Wynwood Yard, 56 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Dr, Miami, FL 33149  
Concrete Beach Brewery, (325 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127
Garden Food and Bar, 168 NW 26th Street, Miami, FL 33127
Lagniappe House, 3425 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141
University of Miami Patio, Donna E. Shalala Student Center, 1330 Miller Dr, Miami, FL 33146
 
The full schedule detailing which artists will play at what venue and at what time will be posted soon at http://virginiakeygrassroots.com/music/performer-lineup.

“Miami and GrassRoots have come to a wonderful meeting point about being human, respectful to all people, artistic, creative and is such a welcome respite from the turmoil that is the general feeling I get in most of the country now,” said festival coordinator Jordan Puryear. “If you have not seen the evolution of the Wynwood Arts District you will be very pleasantly surprised by the warm and cozy outdoor venues where people bring their kids and enjoy the wonderful breezes of Miami.”

The festival-closer on Sunday, February 26 at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park will feature live performances by Donna the Buffalo, Elastic Bond, Big Mean Sound Machine, FABI and more. Concrete Beach Brewery will host a special pop-up bar, and there will be a selection of food trucks present to go along with lots of beachside outdoor fun. 

GrassRoots Live! will also offer a full schedule of movement, meditation and healing workshops and events to throughout the week of camping and fun. Puryear will offering Tensegrity practice each day for those who would like to explore the ancient movement art of the pre-Colombian Central American people who built the great Chichen Itza pyramid in Mexico.

Tickets to all events an on-site camping are now available online at: http://bit.ly/VKGR2017.  For more information, please visit http://virginiakeygrassroots.com or call 305.767.4460.

Tue, 02/14/2017 - 7:29 am

This year’s edition of the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is taking place throughout Miami and Miami Beach and is called GrassRoots Live! Electric Piquete has performed at the last two year’s editions of the festival and will now make it a third year in a row when they take The Wynwood Yard stage on Friday, February 24, 2017, at 9 p.m.  Also appearing that evening: Nacho Londono and Uma Galera. The show is free and all ages are welcome.
 
GrassRootsLive! will also feature Locos Por Juana, Donna the Buffalo, Big Mean Sound Machine, FABI, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Elastic Bond, the Nag Champayons and more. Full performance schedule is posted here: virginiakeygrassroots.com/performance-schedule. Host venues also include Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, Concrete Beach Brewery, Garden Food and Bar, Lagniappe House, North Beach Bandshell, and the University of Miami Patio at the Donna E. Shalala Student Center.
 
Electric Piquete, two-time Miami New Times “Best Latin Band” award-winners, fuse rock, jazz, funk, Afro-Caribbean, progressive and R&B influences with incendiary results. Last summer they issued their “Singles Collection” digitally and on CD, and released a video for their single “Cut Me Loose”. They also braved Hurricane Mattheew to make their debut at the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in North Carolina. More information: www.ElectricPiquete.com.
 
The Wynwood Yard is located at 56 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127. For more information, please visit www.ElectricPiquete.com or call 305.351.0366.

Tue, 02/21/2017 - 7:21 am

The sixth annual edition of the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is happening throughout Miami and Miami Beach this week. GrassRoots Live! features nearly two dozen national and local acts performing over the course of five days (February 22 – 26) at seven local venues, including a Sunday beach jam finale on Virginia Key.
 
Scheduled to play this year are:
 
Locos Por Juana
Donna the Buffalo
Uma Galera
Big Mean Sound Machine
FABI
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Elastic Bond
Telekinetic Walrus
Tamboka
JUke
Bill Kelly
Afrobeta
Nag Champyons
Nativos Jammin Orchestra
The Blind Spots
Electric Piquete
Edan Archer
Krekel and Whoa
Jeb & Tara
 
The full performance schedule is posted here: virginiakeygrassroots.com/performance-schedule.