Afro Cuban funk musician Cimafunk and Rhythm and Blues band Kool & The Gang will each perform in “The Final Set” series of two concerts on March 31 and April 1 respectively at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens at the Miami Open tennis tournament that is currently taking place now through April 2.
The Cimafunk “ concert is open to those who purchase a ticket to the Friday, March 31 men’s semifinal evening match in both singles and doubles. The concert will follow the two matches that begin at 7 P.M. Tickets range from $106-$2,950.
The Kool & The Gang concert follows the women’s singles final and the men’s doubles final on Saturday April 1 beginning at 12:30 P.M. Tickets range from $49-$2,950.
Combining music with sports events is hardly new at Hard Rock Stadium, with 30 minute halftime shows being a staple for football fans during Miami Dolphins and University of Miami games over many seasons.
However, having concerts following tennis events is unusual. When the Miami Open moved its tennis tournament from Key Biscayne to the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Open tournament director James Blake saw an opportunity to combine music with tennis to attract more patrons.
“We wanted to showcase the High Rock Stadium with more features at the tennis tournament. The ‘Final Set’ concert series is the next step in showing our attendees we remain committed to continuing to evolve the tournament to create the best possible experience,” said Blake.
Cimafunk is looking forward to showcase his music before an estimated 15,000 plus attendees who will be watching tennis earlier in the evening.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play in front of some big crowds over the last couple of years. This is the first major sporting event where I’ll perform and I’m really excited about it,” said the 33-year-old Cimafunk, who will be performing for sixty minutes following the Friday evening slate of tennis matches.
Cimafunk is expecting his audience to participate in the show, not only by singing along with him, but dancing in the aisles adjacent to the tennis stadium.
“We never go into a show with a set list. We adapt things based on crowd reaction and how funky the vibe is. The funniest part of the show is seeing how people start to feel in their bodies. Every person reacts in different ways.”
“There are a lot of people getting down .I know the same will happen at my concert at the Hard Rock Stadium. The body does not lie. People will break out in trance, dancing to our music.”
Cimafunk was born as Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodriguez in Cuba and is known for mixing the musical styles of funk, hip hop with Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music.
In 2016, Rodriguez changed his name to Cimafunk, referencing the cimarrons (escaped slaves), who formed self-sustaining communities in Cuba during the 19th century.
Cimafunk became a popular artist after releasing his album “Terapia” in 2017 and also had hit songs “Me Voy” (2018), gaining popularity in both Cuba and the United States in 2019.
His most recent CD “El Alimento” (2021) which was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Latin or Alternative Album, will feature many mixes of Cuban rhythms and hip hop/funk melodies, such as the popular “Funk Aspirin” to be featured at the upcoming Hard Rock Stadium concert.
“I want to celebrate the fusion of AfroCuban and African American and let everyone enjoy the celebration at the concert,” said Cimafunk.
Kool & The Gang have been well-known for close to 50 years with hit songs such as “Celebration”, “Cherish” and “Jungle Boogie”. Their hit song “Celebration”, to be featured in their Hard Rock Stadium concert has been added to the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry.
Much like music and theater, tennis is often considered to be an artistic sport, in which audience enjoyment is not only based on which competitor wins a match, but also in the artistry involved in playing tennis.
The 2022 Miami Open men’s singles tennis champion Carlos Alvarez of Spain is a fan favorite of the 2023 tournament for his wizardly accurate backhands, drop shots, forehands and powerful serve to defeat his opponents.
At age 19, Alvarez is the odds on favorite to win the men’s singles championship on Sunday, April 2, having already defeated three challengers on his way to secure the title.
Carlos Alvarez with a happy dog at an onsite appearance at the Miami Open tennis tournament for the Humane Society.
