NORTH MIAMI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO HOST 2nd ANNUAL CARIBE ARTS FEST
The North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency will host a multi-genre arts festival promoting the rich cultural diversity of the Caribbean and the Americas on February 4th
The North Miami CRA is excited to announce the 2nd annual Caribe Arts Fest taking place on Saturday, February 4th, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM, at Griffing Park in North Miami. Following last year’s wildly successful event, 2023’s Caribe Arts Fest will continue to feature a multi-genre art festival celebrating the arts of the Caribbean and the Americas.
This family-friendly experience will showcase a wide variety of talents and creations representing and encompassing the culture, essence, and creativity of the Caribbean and the Americas. Last year, the celebration featured GRAMMY nominated Haitian band Boukman Eksperyans. This year, attendees can look forward to GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominated bilingual Latin band Locos Por Juana, reggae group BACHACO, and esteemed Haitian band Harmonik, who will take the stage at 8:00 PM to close out the festival. The day will also highlight more than 40 visual and musical artists showcasing their talents spanning from contemporary and classic to the unconventional and eccentric.
The North Miami CRA is proud to continue the tradition of showcasing the beautiful creativity and diversity the North Miami community has to offer through public art programs and local businesses.
“On the heels of an outstanding inaugural 2022 Caribe Arts Fest, we are thrilled to welcome visitors and residents back to North Miami on Saturday, February 4th, to celebrate the vast culture and essence of the Caribbean and Latin American community,” said North Miami CRA Executive Director, Neil Shiver. “We are extremely proud of the diversity the North Miami community holds, and we strive to continue to host events and festivals that draw more people to experience the beauty of North Miami.”
North Miami’s beautifully renovated public space, Griffing Park, will act as the main stage for the event’s major headliner performances, a wide variety of local artisan vendors, delicious food offerings provided by local food trucks, and an exciting kid-zone where children and parents can create their own artistic crafts. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy a wonderful day in the park.
In addition to taking in the sights, attendees can also to take in the public art presented across Griffing Park. The park spotlights locally crafted and uniquely beautified utility boxes, which are part of the North Miami CRA’s Public Arts program. This initiative seeks to replace blight with bright and enrich the lives of North Miami residents by curating locally designed art installations throughout the community’s public spaces.
The Caribe Arts Fest will take place on Saturday, February 4th, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM, at North Miami’s Griffing Park (1220 NW Griffing Blvd Miami, FL 33161). The festival is FREE and open to all ages. Attendees are encouraged to register online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caribe-arts-fest-2023-tickets-476583503087.
A selection of Caribe Arts Fest featured artists are listed below and a full program can be found below and on the official event website: http://caribeartsfest.com.
Locos por Juana
Locos por Juana is a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominated bilingual band, most notably recognized for their high energy live performances and unique fusion of reggae, funk, cumbia, salsa, and rock. The band, featuring Itawe Correa as its charismatic lead vocalist, talented guitarist Mark Kondrat, innovative drummer Javier Delgado, and electrifying bass player David Pransky, write and produce all their own music. Voted Best Latin Band in 2017 by Miami New Times, this hard-gigging group is booked exclusively via Madison House Presents. The band recently collaborated with Zumba founder Beto Perez on the explosive dance track, “Te Quiero Ver.” The song has become a global streaming and YouTube viral phenomenon.
BACHACO
Since 2007 BACHACO has performed over 300 concerts from Argentina to Canada sharing 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 was conceived and founded by Venezuela Singer-Songwriter Edilberto ‘Eddy’ Morillo in Miami, FL where he regularly meets and collaborates with musicians from everywhere. BACHACO is a true multi-cultural experience. Their music naturally flows in English and Spanish, but the true language BACHACO speaks is the vibe they transmit: High Energy Groove!
Harmonik
Since its grand premiere on August 15, 2008, the Harmonik buzz has crossed borders beyond Florida, Haiti, and across the United States to cities such as Boston, Atlanta, and New York. In just a few months after their grand premiere, this group from Miami quickly became the official boy band of the Haitian music industry.
In 2019, the band released its studio album called “Respè,” with three major hit singles titled “Ou detenn sou mwen”, “Existe,” and “Denye Chans.” In that same year, Harmonik released a live album of its sold-out performance at Casino de Paris.
JAHFE
Jahfe is a crowd-pleasing Miami reggae band that has opened for many of the biggest names in the business including Damian Marley, Steel Pulse and Toots and the Maytals. Jahfe are an eclectic group, composed of heavyweight session players and fronted by Esther Fortune; a commanding reggae frontwoman who, like her band, is capable of effortlessly shifting from rock steady to roots, to dub and back again.
Jahfe also allows elements of rock and hip-hop to influence their sound, which rounds out their eclectic appeal. Get a taste of Jahfe’s infectious vibe and world conscious view in this clip of the band performing live.
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About the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA)
The North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency is an independent government agency tasked with eliminating slum and blight in the heart of downtown North Miami. The NMCRA does this by using increases in taxable values to transform the area into one that again contributes to the overall health of the community. This transformation occurs through various grants and incentives initiatives including: Commercial Rehabilitation and Beautification Grants; Public Private Partnership Developments; Infrastructure Improvements; Neighborhood Improvement Programs; Affordable, Workforce, Market Rate, Luxury and Mixed Income Housing; Affordable/Workforce Housing Development & Renovation; Transportation and Transit Developments.
