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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
“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.
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