Music

French-Moroccan psych rock group Bab L’ Bluz (literally “The gate to the Blues”) was born in 2017 from the meeting of the Moroccan singer-guitarist Yousra Mansour and the French guitarist/producer Brice Bottin. Both were passionate about Gnawa music, and the analog universe of the 1960s and 70s. The band were joined by musician friends from Lyon, Jérôme Bartholomé and Hafid Zouaoui, with a stellar debut concert live on Radio Nova followed by a round of European festivals. They released their debut album on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records in 2020, where it was acclaimed by critics: Mojo (Top 10 world Album of the year), Songlines Best albums of 2020, The New York Times, Vogue Arabia, BBC, Le Monde, Financial Time, Pan African Music, Uncut, Radio Nova)… Many US audiences first heard Bab L'Bluz on their trance-y, heavy-as-metal showcase in 2025 on KEXP, or from a tour that brought them to clubs and venues. This Miami Beach Bandshell date is their Florida debut.

Cymande are a legendary UK band - funky, pan-Afro psychedelic soul-rock, dosed with calypso, reggae, and modern jazz. After a burst of critically beloved albums in the early 70s, Cymande went on a 40-year hiatus. But their music lived on as new generations of artists discovered and reworked their pioneering sounds, and tracks were sampled by golden age hip-hop icons like De La Soul, The Fugees, MC Solaar, Masta Ace, EPMD, Gang Starr. Now they return to finish what they started. The band re-formed several years ago with compilations, playing major festivals and new music that picks up where they left off in 1974 – a spiritual and sonic follow-up, bringing a fresh edge to their iconic sound. Founding members Patrick Patterson (guitars, vocals) and Steve Scipio (bass, vocals) plus long time members Adrian Reid (keyboardist) and Raymond Simpson (vocalist), rounded out by new members – all led by guiding spirit of an inimitable mix of Caribbean sensibility and English experience. Opening DJ Set by Rich Medina.

Vasily Petrenko, Music Director Ray Chen, Violin NIELSEN Helios Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto SIBELIUS Symphony No 2 Conductor Vasily Petrenko, 2017 Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year, “has brought style and excitement to the RPO ... since taking over three seasons ago” (The Guardian). These qualities will be showcased brilliantly in their performance of Sibelius’ grand and luminous Symphony No. 2. With its gorgeous melodies, luxurious harmonies and a finale that is pure joy, it’s easy to see why the Second Symphony has become one of the composer’s most celebrated works. Joining them on the first half of the program is the enormously popular Ray Chen, who is known to play a “virtuoso lick with a rock ’n’ roll stance, making it look mighty cool to be a violinist” (Violinist.com). He’s sure to be the coolest dude in the room when he takes on Tchaikovsky’s sweeping, melodious and virtuosic Violin Concerto, an undisputed crown jewel of the repertory. But first, the evening opens with Carl Nielsen’s life-affirming Helios Overture, the Danish composer’s radiant evocation of the sun god and his chariot journeying across the sky.

This edition of the North Beach Social, the free monthly musical meet up at the Bandshell, is all about Cuban music. The Garcia Brothers, co-led by young Cuban piano wizard Andy Garcia and his drummer/vocialist brother Yandy Garcia, are fresh arrivals to our city's musical melting pot. They have quickly made a name for themselves as part of Miami's elite musical scene with their style of Cuban fusion featuring contemporary Latin influences. Trained at the renowned Havana conservatories, the young musicians have no trouble keeping up with legendary artists and stars - or developing a buzz for their own projects. With this night, which leads into the annual Global Cuba Fest, they are promising stellar Cuban fusion, and special guests. The night starts with a dance lesson by Salsa Z.

Oigo's superjam brings together members of Electric Kif, Anemoia, Lemon City Trio, Twyn, and The Lab — a powerhouse collective that defines Miami’s modern sound. Expect blistering fusion from Electric Kif’s virtuosic quartet, Anemoia’s hypnotic song-based grooves, Lemon City Trio’s soulful organ-driven jams, and Twyn’s futuristic “jazztronica.” The Lab adds a dose of rock energy to round out the ensemble. Special guests include Anthony “Smurphio” Laurencio — the keyboardist, producer, and co-founder of Suenalo and Afrobeta — whose mastery of synthesis bridges electronic and organic worlds and multi-instrumentalist host Adrian Gonzalez-Arredondo (OIGO). Together, these artists represent the beating heart of Miami’s live music scene — a night where Latin funk, soul, fusion, and electronica collide in pure, joyful experimentation. North Beach Social, the free monthly meet up for music lovers, is presented by Rhythm Foundation with support from the City of Miami Beach.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a tribute to the timeless love songs of Bob Marley and the Wailers, performed by Locos Por Juana for their 13th annual "Locos Por Marley" concert at the Bandshell. Locos Por Juana, a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY-nominated bilingual band, is renowned for its electrifying live performances and genre-blending fusion of reggae, funk, cumbia, salsa, and rock. Fronted by the dynamic Itawe Correa, the group features Mark Kondrat’s vibrant guitar, Javier Delgado’s innovative drumming, and David Pransky’s powerful bass lines—all crafting original, high-energy music. Opening set by DJ Fux

Rhythm Foundation in association with Brainville is proud to present internationally acclaimed drummer, producer, and sonic collagist Makaya McCraven and his band. McCraven's "Off The Record" Tour, named after his newly compiled release of four EPs, is the perfect overview of this composer's scope and dynamic range. These four distinct yet interconnected EPs – Techno Logic, The People’s Mixtape, Hidden Out!, and PopUp Shop – all released on music platforms October 31st – mark McCraven’s first recorded offerings since 2022’s In These Times. They return to the signature “organic beat music” approach he first debuted on his 2015 album, and further developed across subsequent releases.

A rising star in flamenco music. Ángeles Toledano's powerful voice and fearless artistry combines tradition with innovation. Toledano explores the duality of heritage and modernity, weaving deep-rooted flamenco cante (song) with contemporary influences. The performance is an emotional journey through strength, vulnerability, and resilience, capturing the essence of flamenco in its purest and most daring form. With this performance, she is accompanied by her longtime collaborator Benito Bernal, one of the remarkable names spoken of as the future of flamenco guitar. Ángeles Toledano comes to the US as part of the promotion of her new release Sangre Sucia, which is nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Album.

Community Arts and Culture, Inc., the organization behind the renowned Afro Roots Festival, presents Son del Mundo, a vibrant celebration of Cuban Son and its global musical influences. Join us on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Miami Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141) to celebrate Cuban Son Day with internationally acclaimed artists El Canario, Renesito Avich, Aymée Nuviola, and Cortadito. Come out and experience the rhythms and melodies that have shaped Cuban Son and inspired music across Cuba, Africa, Colombia, and Brazil in this lively, family-friendly celebration.

CHAMELEON Transforms South Florida Center for Percussive Arts into a Symphony of Drums, Data, and Light South Florida Center for Percussive Arts (SFCPA) will come alive January 30 and 31 with Chameleon, a two-day, multi-sensory performance and art installation merging live music with cutting-edge technology. Created by MF Dynamics with support from MAD Arts and funding by the Knight Foundation, the project reimagines how audiences experience sound and musical movement, turning the entire SFCPA into a playground of rhythm, color, and emotion. Each evening audiences will experience four intimate performances that unfold across both outdoor and indoor environments. The event begins with an outdoor transformation of the SFCPA’s grounds into a stage and large-scale video canvas, inviting the public to witness the blurring of projection and performance. The evening continues inside, where attendees are surrounded by a 360-degree live music and visual environment. Within this space, new technologies will sonify the performers’ pulse and translate their movement and brainwave data into dynamic visual and sonic compositions revealing the living interplay between body, instrument, and environment. Conceived by composer, percussionist, and new media artist Maria Finkelmeier (she/her/hers), Chameleon is inspired by her personal journey as an adoptee and lifelong curiosity about identity, perception, and transformation. Through music, projection, and motion, the work asks: What versions of ourselves exist in the minds of others? As our personas shift from one community to another, we adapt, recalibrate, and reveal new layers of who we are. Chameleon makes these invisible shifts visible and audible, inviting audiences to reflect on how we construct identity in response to the world around us. Performances will feature students from South Florida Center for Percussive Arts with Finkelmeier and Boston-based hybrid artist Greg Jukes. Together, they create an experience that is both deeply human and technically daring, bridging generations, disciplines, and communities through shared rhythm and motion. “Chameleon embodies what happens when art and technology intertwine to reveal something profoundly human,” says Finkelmeier. “We’re not just layering visuals on top of music, we’re uncovering the inner pulse of the performance itself.” What: Chameleon — An Immersive Drum + Tech Experience When: January 30 and 31 at 7:30 PM - Doors open at 6:00 PM Where: South Florida Center for Percussive Arts, Miami, FL Admission: Free - open to all ages and abilities Chameleon is made possible by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, created by MF Dynamics with support from MAD Arts and presented by South Florida Center for Percussive Arts.