|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Afro Roots Fest concludes in Islamorada at Florida Keys Brewing Company April 26-28
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.
