Local Bands Display “Miami Sound” During Carnaval on the Mile

Miami is generally not known for its live music scene, but that’s not because we don’t have musical talent.

It’s because most people down here treat the local musical talent as they do the local sports teams.

If the teams or bands are not making it to the playoffs or signing huge contracts, then the locals couldn’t be bothered.

And that’s unfortunate because our music scene has evolved to reflect Miami’s culture and diversity, an eclectic fusion of Latin, Caribbean, jazz, funk, hip hop and rock worthy of national attention.

On the bright side, this means that you could have checked out a multitude of local bands for free this past weekend without fighting heavy crowds at Carnaval on the Mile, the annual Latin jazz festival on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.

But since you didn’t, you can still check out some of these bands in the above video.

Above: Matt Jacquette, guitarist of Bachaco, a Miami band with roots from Colombia, Venezuela and Jamaica.

Although more than 30 bands performed on three stages over the weekend, including longtime jazz favorite Spyro Gyra as well as other acts from New York, San Francisco and New Orleans, I highlighted nine local bands in the video.

I’d be interested in knowing which of the nine you liked best.

I like all the bands I featured in the video, but I especially like ArtOfficial, whom I discovered that day. I also like Batuke Samba Funk, whom I also discovered that day.

I’m also a big fan of the Spam All Stars and Locos por Juana, both whom I’ve been following for years.

You can check out some of those bands during this weekend’s raucous Calle Ocho festival, but you will definitely be fighting heavy crowds this time.

The Calle Ocho festival will also present more prominent acts such as one of our favorites, Pitbull, as well as bunch of salsa, cumbia and reggaton acts.

And for the first time in its 33-year history, the Calle Ocho festival will feature country music, so that should be interesting considering it was only two years ago that locals turned rabid on Pitbull after he refused an encore.

We can only imagine how they’ll react if they are forced to listen to country music.

Photos and video by Carlos Miller

Related Links: • Pitbull Dedicates Improvised Rap to Miami Beach 411 (Video) • Calle Ocho Festival Depicts Real Miami • Jada Coles Brings Hipness to Coral Way Corridor Related Categories: Miami: Things to Do, Carlos Miller is a featured writer at Miami Beach 411. He also operates Photography is Not a Crime, a blog about photographer rights, New Media and First Amendment issues. See more articles by Carlos Miller. See more articles by Carlos Miller Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

7 Comments on

"Local Bands Display “Miami Sound” During Carnaval on the Mile"

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Discuss the surrounding area in our hugely popular Miami forum.