Miami Mini Maker Faire Proudly Presents “Music Makers Showcase”
Miami Mini Maker Faire, an all-ages festival of creativity and innovation that celebrates the Maker Movement, will expand in its third year to feature a “Music Makers Showcase,” highlighting unique, inventive, regional musicians.
Havana-based singer and instrumentalist X Alfonso and Miami’s favorite electro-funk/dance duo Afrobeta will perform along with local beatmaker Guti Talavera as part of the Music Makers Showcase, a free concert being held on Feb. 20 at the National YoungArts Foundation (tickets available here).
“From the first year of Miami Maker Faire, we wanted to host a concert featuring regional artists who embodied the maker spirit – those who excel not just at creating fun and amazing music but also who take a distinctive do-it-yourself approach to things like wardrobe, set design and multimedia production. When the opportunity finally presented itself this year, two names were at the top of our list: X Alfonso and Afrobeta,” said Ric Herrero, founder of MIAMade and lead producer of Miami Mini Maker Faire, which is organized in association with Maker Media and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
X Alfonso is a classically trained musician and one of the pioneers of Cuba’s hip-hop and afro-rock scenes; he has been nominated for a Grammy award and has won a Goya, Spain’s main national film award. His musical mix of hip-hop, Cuban son, reggae, jazz and rock has been featured in Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura series and in the film “Havana Blues,” for which he won the Goya award for best original music in 2006. Alfonso is also the founding director of Fabrica de Arte Cubano, a mixed arts and performance space and world-class model of collective ingenuity in Havana, Cuba.
Since 2006, native Miami dance duo and band Afrobeta has been bringing their distinct blend of electro-funk and colorful pop culture-inspired costumes, props and theatrics to stages across the globe. Lead singer Cuci Amador co-wrote and performed in the video for “Electro Movimiento,” by Puerto Rican hip-hop duo Calle 13. Guitarist Tony Smurfio has toured with Pitbull and Bacilos. Afrobeta has played at large music festivals around the globe, including Glastonbury, Burning Man and New York Fashion Week.
The Music Makers Showcase takes place from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Feb. 20. Concert admission is FREE and open to the public. Download your free tickets through Eventbrite (click here for tickets).
Follow Miami Mini Maker Faire on Facebook and Twitter. For inquiries, please email us at miamimakers@gmail.com.
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